Text: 2 Samuel 23:13-17
Memory verse:
“For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.” Proverbs 23:18 KJV
William Carey, the “Father of modern Protestant missions,” once said, “Expect Great Things From God. Attempt Great Things For God.” Inspired by Matthew 28:18-20, he broke through various limitations to win souls, reaching the unreachable and touching the untouchable.
Carey didn’t measure his goal by his fears but by the size of his God. Today’s text showed how three David’s soldiers risked their lives and broke through the camp of the Philistines just to get water for him.
Is your goal challenging enough? Don’t set a goal by the size of your fears but by the size of your God. The goal that doesn’t cost you anything or stretch you will not motivate you enough to achieve your target. Unlike goals that stretch you, goals that don’t take anything from you have no capacity to maintain the needed momentum for success. Goals must be high enough so that a person has to stretch to reach it. It must also not be too low or too easy to accomplish. Many goals fail because they are too easy or they are just not challenging enough.
Therefore, it is not sufficient to just have expectations. God wants you to have great expectations. He wants you to expect great things from Him. He is a great God, and He does great things.
Jesus said, “…he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.“ (John 14:12). Did you see what the believer will do? Greater works than Jesus’!
Look at this also: ”…Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.“ (Psa 81:10). God expects you to ask without restraint. Psalm 2:8 also confirms it: “Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession” (NLT)
God has given us the ground to expect the unbelievable and the unimaginable from Him. Yes, He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (Eph 3:20).
Friends, like a switch that turns on the light, if you are truly expecting great things from God this year, dare to put your faith to work by attempting great things for Him. Get out of the comfort zone and stretch yourself to win souls, to serve, and to advance His kingdom.
Prayer points
1. Father, please do great things and advance Your kingdom through me this year, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, please, help me to stretch my faith and to break out of my comfort zone to win souls and to serve You, in Jesus’ name.
Today’s declarations
1. I am not only expecting great things from God this year, but I am also attempting great things for Him.
2. I stretch my faith and not my fears when I set high goals.
Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng