EXPECTANCY
and EXPECTATIONS in PRAYER
part 2
by Doug
Fortune
Do
we approach prayer with expectations or with expectancy?
That might depend on whether we approach prayer as a
relationship based upon function. Once again we see the same principle coming
into play. Although there may be a "functional outcome" to prayer, or
in other words an "answer" to prayer, we cannot approach prayer in
the same functional relationship as getting our car fixed. Unfortunately that
may be often how we approach Father... the heavenly Mechanic that will fix our
problems.
In our task-oriented western culture, we read verses
like John 14:13-14 and expect certain pre-conceived results, kind of like a
cause and effect formula; "And whatsoever ye
shall ask in My NAME, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the
Son. If ye shall ask any thing in My NAME, I will do it."
Perhaps we have assumed that the magic formula is tacking the words "in
Jesus' name" on the end of our prayers?
In
Biblical symbolism when we look at the NAME of a thing it speaks of the NATURE
of the thing.
My children have my family name and (whether they
like it or not) they have my nature also! Nature implies relationship and
character. So to pray and ask in Jesus' name is really to pray in His
"nature" rather than human nature. The only way we can pray in His
"nature" is within the context of intimate relationship with Him...
what Jesus called being ONE with Him; "That they all
may be one; as thou, Father, art IN ME, and I in Thee, that they also may be
one IN US... I IN THEM, and Thou IN Me, that they may be made perfect in
ONE..." (John 17:21, 23) I believe that to pray in Jesus'
name is really a matter of HIM praying THROUGH us within this relationship of
oneness. In the context of intimate relationship with Him is where our
character is formed and His "nature" is revealed in us.
What
if we approached prayer with expectancy?
An expectancy of pursuing and cultivating
RELATIONSHIP with Father through Christ! What if we approached prayer as time
to simply BE with Him, to commune with Him?... no agenda, no pre-conceived
expectations, just desire for Him! Often times (but not always) it is in this
place of expectancy, simply BEing with Him, that He will "speak" to
us. When I say "speak" to us, I don't necessarily mean in an audible
voice, as He "speaks" in many ways. Remember, our expectancy is to be
for HIM, whether or not we hear Him "speak."
This leads me to a verse most of us are familiar with; "So then
faith cometh by HEARING, and hearing by the WORD of God." (Romans
10:17) As we read this verse we must realize that it speaks of the outcome
first, which is "faith," then works backwards to "hearing,"
and then to the origin which is the "word of God." However, in order
for us to understand it clearly we must start with the origin, which is the
"word of God."
The word translated as "word" in this verse
is rhema in Greek. Its' meanings include that which is or has been uttered by
the living voice, the thing spoken, any sound produced by the voice and having
definite meaning.
The verse tells us that hearing is "by" the
rhema, living, spoken "word of God." The word translated as
"by" in this verse is dia in Greek, it is a primary preposition
denoting the CHANNEL of an ACT, or through. So now we see that hearing is the
CHANNEL of an ACT produced by the rhema, living, spoken "word of
God." And what is the ACT that is produced by this channel of hearing?...
it is FAITH!
In the King James Bible the verse says, "So then
faith COMETH by hearing..." However the word "cometh" is not in
the original text (it is probably in italics in your Bible). It should read,
"So then faith by hearing..." That particular word translated as
"by" is ex in Greek, it is a primary preposition denoting ORIGIN- the
point whence motion or action proceeds. So we see that the origin of faith is
not something we muster up by effort, mental exercise, or sheer will-power...
the origin of faith is "hearing," which is the point whence motion or
action proceeds!
So in all this we see that the "living, spoken
word," "faith," and "hearing" all point to ACTION!
What I am saying is that although we are to approach
prayer with expectancy (not pre-conceived expectations), when we have a
"word from God" we can have an EXPECTATION of ACTION!
This is the difference between presumption and true
faith. Presumption is all about expectations.
Even Jesus Himself said, "I
can of mine own self do NOTHING: as I HEAR, I judge..."
(John 5:30) I love the way the Amplified Bible expresses this thought, "I am able to do NOTHING from Myself [independently, of
My own accord--but only as I am taught by God and as I get His orders]. Even as
I HEAR, I judge [I decide as I AM BIDDEN TO DECIDE. AS THE VOICE COMES TO ME,
so I give a decision], and My judgment is right (just, righteous), because I do
not seek or consult My own will [I have no desire to do what is pleasing to
Myself, My own aim, My own purpose] but only the will and pleasure of the
Father Who sent Me." (John 5:30)
Did you catch that?... I decide as I am bidden to
decide... as the Voice comes to me I give a decision! My friend, when we have a
"word from God" we can have an EXPECTATION of ACTION!
Presumption/
expectations are all about control.
Faith/
expectancy is all about abandonment.
Now consider what we saw earlier with the
"observer effect." The FAITH borne of hearing, whose origin is the
rhema living spoken word creates a "blank canvas" of abandonment upon
which the manifestation of the "word from God" can be
"painted" into our reality!
This leads us to Hebrews 11:1; "NOW
FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we]
hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their
reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the
senses]." (Amplified Bible) What kind of faith is this?...
it is "NOW faith!" The origin of "NOW faith" is the living,
spoken, rhema word of God.
"NOW faith" brings the manifestation of
what God has spoken INTO the NOW! Approaching prayer with expectancy (not
pre-conceived expectations), does NOT cancel out faith! It is the litmus test
between presumption and true faith.
Expectancy
and expectations
Two common words sounding so similar, yet so opposite
in effect. We can choose to pray in faith/ expectancy or we can choose to pray
with presumption/ expectations. This simple choice can determine, to a certain
degree, the quality of our prayer life. At the root of this choice is the issue
of control.
In reality, at the very root of our life, is the
issue of control. I don't know about you, but I desire to live in faith...
expectancy... abandonment.
"I dare
not ask either for crosses or for consolations; I simply present myself before
Thee. I open my heart to Thee. Behold my needs which I know not myself; see and
do according to Thy tender mercy..." François de Salignac Fenelon 1651-1751
by Doug Fortune
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