RECEIVING MORE THAN YOUR DESIRABLE EXPECTATION – The Church Of Christ, 15 Grey Street, Warri

Theme: The Divine Encounter

Text: Acts 3: 3-8

By: Bro. Ekaragha Isaac (Deacon)

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Desirable means something that you would like to have or do, worth having or doing.
Expectation simply means something hope for or belief that something will happen because it is likely.
Divine means something connected with or coming from God.
Encounter means to experience or discover something or meet somebody, especially something or somebody new, unexpected or unusual.

INTRODUCTION

From the foregoing scripture, the lame man had seemingly accepted his physical disability and living on charity with resignation. To him, all hope to ever regain his strength to walk as normal person had remained a mirage based upon the scripture account that he had been lame from birth. Expectedly, his only means of sustenance was nothing but with recourse to charity at the beautiful gate of the temple from kind-hearted worshippers. This trend has been ongoing on regular basis until his divine encounter with peter and john. Then, the rest was history. His earnest expectation at that point in time shortly before his divine encounter with the apostles was nothing but financial benevolence from them.

Divine however, he receives more than he had expected – divine healing of mobility and perhaps, freedom from ever remaining a beggar for the rest of his life. A new dawn has taken place in his life.

Now, in the circumstances, what are those pains, challenges or desires covertly or overtly circumscribing your full comfort? Do you think that the Lord cannot handle them? Is there anything too hard for the Lord to do? Genesis 18: 14. Do not forget that even Christians may sometimes undergo some difficult moments in the course of running the heavenly race, but the good Lord is so faithful to surely provide some abundant means of succor eventually. 1 Cor. 10:13 But to man, the solution may seem too long to achieve.

Now are there marital or barrenness challenges you are silently undergoing? Do not be discouraged; with God, there are no impossibilities as there are promises of fertility, procreation and multiplication for His children. Luke 1:37, Gen. 1:28, 1 Sam. 1:11, 20.

Is it challenge of ill-health? Our God is the great source and restoration of good health because he created us in his own image and likeness. Gen. 1:26. Not only king Hezekiah’s health restored, but his life was prolonged by additional fifteen years, He got more than he expected 2 Kings 20:5-6.

Is it challenge of wisdom, job opportunities, promotion, educational advancement? God has all the solutions to these challenges.

King Solomon requested for wisdom but God granted not only wisdom but riches and honour in addition. 1 Kings 3:9, 13. What of Joseph having been made a prime minister in a foreign land in Egypt; and David, a mere shepherd becoming a king in Israel, thus receiving more than they had expected? Gen. 41:41-44, 1 Sam. 16:13.

Is it persecution, captivity, deliverance or conversion challenge? God has the answers.

He delivered Shedrack, Meshack and Abednego from the fiery furnace. Daniel 3:18, 24-25. Paul and Silas case was no exception. Acts 16:26, 30-31.

FACTORS NECESSARY FOR MAKING EXPLOITS IN THE CHRISTIAN RACE.

Faith or trusting in God is of great necessity for pleasing and provoking God to do the impossible. 3:18, Acts 16:26.
Prayerfulness notwithstanding trying moments. Acts 16:25-26
Determination (by keeping hope alive) Acts 3:2, Daniel 3:18
Not blaming others for the woes generated by you. 3:12