A few days ago I was writing a Rich Thoughts TV show and blog about expectation.  I made the following statement.

“I begin each day filled with supernatural expectation about the manifestation of God’s presence, power, provision, protection, promotion, peace and promises.”

As I was typing those words something ignited in my spirit and I knew God had just given me the seven things we can expect to receive from Him.

1.         Presence

The best place for you to be. . .is not in the Presidential Suite of a four-star hotel . . . the Lincoln Bedroom at the White House. . .the luxury suite of a cruise ship sailing through the Mediterranean Sea. . .even though all those places are nice . . . the best place for a believer to be is in God’s Presence.

And the best part is anyone can reach out for God!

As a born-again believer you have the privilege of access into His presence. That is something that we can’t take for granted.  It is beyond awesome if you think about it.

Psalm 118:20 in the New Living Translation says:

“These gates lead to the presence of the Lord, and the godly enter there.”

Not only can you enter into His presence but He even tells you the best time to find Him.

Proverbs 8:17 says:

“I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.”

Not only are we to seek His presence early in the morning but we’re to do so with expectation.

Psalm 5:3 in the New International Version says:

“In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."

Psalm 62:5 says:

“My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.”

One more verse. . .Jeremiah 29:12-14 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you.   Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.  I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will release you from captivity. . ..”

2.         Peace

I never cease to be amazed at how much God loves us.  He sent His only begotten Son to give us abundant life now and throughout eternity.

As a natural father I always want to comfort my daughters or sons when they are troubled or concerned. . .I desire to help them with an inner peace so they can be free of fear and worry.

When Jesus left Planet Earth. . .He gave us a powerful gift. . .found in John 14:27 which says:

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

The Lord will give you His strength and peace in the midst of every adversity.

Psalm 29:11 says:

“The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.”

Philippians 4:7 in the New Living Translation says:

“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

3.         Protection

Have you ever seen in the movies or on television where a criminal would offer to provide protection to a local merchant for a specified amount of money each week?  Generally, the only one threatening the merchant was the one doing the protecting.

You and I have a protection from all adversaries beyond anything the world has ever seen . . . and it’s free.

Psalm 5:11 in the New Living Translation says:

“But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them that those who love your name may rejoice in you.”

Not only does God offer you protection. . .but your enemies become His enemies.

Exodus 23:22 in the Amplified Bible says:

“But if you will indeed listen to and obey His voice … I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.”

Now that’s what I call a real protection plan.

4.         Promises

At least once a week, you are instructed to pause and remember the promises  God has made to you.

Exodus 31:16 in The Living Bible says:

“Work six days only, for the seventh day is a special day to remind you of my covenant-a weekly reminder forever of my promises to the people of Israel.”

God made certain promises to your spiritual forefathers. . .promises that He will never forget and always honor if we embrace them in our own lives.

Leviticus 26:45 in The Living Bible says:

“For their sakes I will remember my promises to their ancestors to be their God. For I brought their forefathers out of Egypt as all the nations watched in wonder. I am Jehovah."

No matter the adversity you may face. . .God will never forget or forgo the promises He made to your spiritual relatives.

Deuteronomy 4:31 in The Living Bible says:

“For the Lord your God is merciful-he will not abandon you nor destroy you nor forget the promises he has made to your ancestors.”

Never ever get discouraged when you don’t see the immediate manifestation of God’s promises to you. . .God is not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19) and everything that He has ever promised you will come to past.

Joshua 21:45 in the New Living Translations says:

“Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.”

Remember, God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34).

Your perseverance while waiting is critical to your future.

Isaiah 30:18 in The Living Bible says:

“Yet the Lord still waits for you to come to him so he can show you his love; he will conquer you to bless you, just as he said. For the Lord is faithful to his promises. Blessed are all those who wait for him to help them.”

You should never forget the person who brought (invited) you to the dance.  In other words, be loyal to the one who helped you get where you are and especially Him who has provided and is fulfilling life-long promises to you.

Jonah 2:9 in The Living Bible says:

"I will never worship anyone but you! For how can I thank you enough for all you have done? I will surely fulfill my promises. For my deliverance comes from the Lord alone."

5.         Power

I’m about to speak a five-word sentence. . .the reality of which can change your life forever.  Here it is:  “God hasn’t left you powerless.”

Acts 1:8 says:

“… ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you … (then) ye shall become witnesses … .”

The power Jesus promises after the Holy Ghost comes upon you in enabling power (dunamis).

The Greek word dunamis means “ability.”

So let’s look at this verse again as I expand the paraphrase for you. “You shall receive the ability after the Holy Ghost has come upon you, and you will be able to witness of me simultaneously in Jerusalem, and in Judea, and in Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”

Now let’s look at dunamis as it appears in Luke 10:19 where God has given to us total power over the devil.

“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

The first word in this verse that is translated power is the Greek word exousia.  It means “delegated power” or better said “authority.”

The second word translated power is the Greek word dunamis which as we’ve just learned means “ability.”  So notice carefully what God is actually saying.  “I give you authority over all the ability of the devil.”

Are you getting a hold of all of this?  You have total authority over all the ability of the enemy.  Remember, “…nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19). 

The Bible literally says nothing shall hurt you.  It also says you have total power (authority) over the devil.  You never have to lose again.  You can always conquer and always triumph in all things.

6.         Promotion

Have you ever been promoted?

From one grade to the next in school. . .from one level of accomplishment to the next in the Boy or Girl Scouts. . .from one rank to a higher one in the military or from one position to a different one at your place of employment? Or from owning one store to opening another?

If you think the promotion was a result of your skills and/or your hard work then I suggest you read, study and meditate on Psalm 75:6-8 in the Message Bible:

“For promotion and power come from nowhere on earth, but only from God. He promotes one and deposes another.”

Your promotion comes from the Lord. He gives you the power and favor for advancement in every single area of human endeavor.  Believe me, I learned this the hard way. God is the One who gives us the ability to prosper.

Once you come into the realization that you work for the Lord. . .not the federal government. . .not American Airlines. . .not Wal-Mart but for Him. . .then you will be positioned for serious promotion through the kingdom of God.  That’s why we should do everything as unto Him.

7.         Provisions

When you give God your best. . .what is most precious to you. . .He will give you provisions above and beyond your wildest expectations.

In Genesis 42 through 45, there’s a story told about Joseph.  It’s the second year of the famine and the warehouse in Egypt is full. 

One day, Joseph is out on the porch and he sees his brothers. . .the very ones who had sold him into slavery.  He gives his brothers an audience.

Joseph’s brothers don’t realize who he is because he looks like an Egyptian, but he knows who they are.  The men are seated at a banquet table having the opportunity to experience riches that are available even in a famine. 

When the whole thing comes to a close at dinner that night, he gets them a few little sacks of corn and they go back home.

Genesis 42:25 says:

“Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them.”

Before his brothers leave, Joseph puts them on the spot.  He knows their brother Benjamin is the most precious thing in their daddy’s house. 

He makes certain they know that if they come back and don’t bring Benjamin—they won’t see his face again.  They will be stuck in that line over there with the thousands of others who want grain.  They won’t have privileged access to the supply sergeant of the world. 

Just to be sure they understand, Joseph binds his brother Simeon before their eyes and keeps him in Egypt.

The brothers get home distressed but with some food for now so the pressure of the famine is taken off them for a season.  After a while their food runs out again.  Jacob gives his sons some money and says, “Go get us some more food.” 

They said, “Daddy, money’s not going to do it.  He said we have to bring Benjamin also.” 

Jacob said, “Why did you tell him about Benjamin?  Blabbermouths!  What did you have to go tell him about Benjamin for?”

Then they said, “Daddy, we didn’t tell him about Benjamin.  He knew about Benjamin.  He knew what was precious in our lives.” 

Finally, they send Benjamin, and through a series of circumstances, Joseph realizes that the precious is now entrusted to him.  As he reveals himself, they no longer go home with sacks of grain.  They now carry wagon-loads of grain.  Everybody in Egypt is eating out of sacks but they’re eating out of wagons.

When we give God our best. . .what is precious to us then He will release into our stewardship wagon loads of blessings.

And I’d say. . .the seventh “P” carries a lot of potential. . .that could be an eight “P” but I believe I’ll make it another message.

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