Expectancy

"27She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” (Mark 5:27-30 ESV)

This passage is amazing. We could write a book based on the observation and application of these few verses. But for today’s purpose, I’d like to focus on one thing: expectancy.

When you acknowledge God’s presence in worship what do you expect? Do you come to church expecting God to move in a powerful way or are you attending, going through the motions to appease your soul? I want to encourage you to be prayerful about expectancy. There is no value in singing or raising your hands if it does not carry the undertone of a humble heart and a contrite spirit. When we come to the house of God, we must come with an expectant spirit for there is a great power in expectancy.

Expectancy is a catalyst for momentum. When people get excited about vision and direction they begin to move. Part of the reason we move is because we are expecting to get some where with a favorable result. What, then, are the results you seek when involved in corporate worship?

My personal prayer over the last few months is that salvation would take place during worship. I’m confident that when people are faced with the reality of Christ they must make a decision to follow or not to follow. My petition is that they choose to follow.

My expectation is that when we pursue after Christ and worship Him with all of our hearts, souls, minds and strength that we will experience and bask in His tangible presence being transformed into His likeness. I’m not one for hooting and hollering, just raw passion fueled by truth. I try very hard to discern what is from the Spirit and what is not, so a show or human display is not what I desire to see. I will know about your worship by how you live much more than by how you act. I expect genuine response to the person of Christ.

What do you expect? What do you desire when you worship in the corporate gathering?