What to you expect when you pray?
11/29/2020
Years ago, during our first pastorate we put a slogan on the wall where everyone could see it on their way out.
Do not expect a $1,000,000 answer to a 10 cent prayer.
This is still true today. As whole ten cent prayers are just as popular today as they were forty-two years ago when we put that sign up. The sad truth is that people are still expecting a million-dollar answer to their little ten cent prayers. The way I have been hearing people lately I am beginning to wonder if they even expect a ten cent answer to their ten cent prayer.
Please read the following from a new book by Rev. David D. Wilson called, A Study on Titus & Philemon.
C.I. Wilson
This reminds me of another person who looked with anticipation while expecting to receive. This man, being crippled from birth, was carried every day to the gate of the temple to beg for his living. One day, he saw Peter and John coming to the temple. As they came close, he began to ask alms of them. He hoped, perhaps even expected to receive money from them. However, he received a lot more than he dreamed of. Peter and John told him that they had no money, but in the name of Jesus to rise up and walk. When he accepted what they offered, he immediately received his healing with great joy. He went into the temple walking and leaping and praising God.
Acts 3:1-8
1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
When we pray, we need to expect God to hear us and to answer. For when we expect to receive, we shall receive, because we have put our faith into action. Paul is telling us to look with expectation for our blessed hope, the coming of our Redeemer and Saviour, Jesus Christ. His coming is even at the door. My friend, if you are not looking for Jesus to return, I can assure you that you will not see Him when He comes.
Used with the publishers permission.