A Waterfall of Expectations
Dr. Bob Abramson
Have you ever been close to a waterfall? I can remember as a teenager going to a beautiful waterfall in the upper peninsula of Michigan (a Midwestern state in the United States). It’s called Tahquamenon Falls. After walking through the woods for about fifteen minutes, the vista suddenly opens up to a view of this majestic, roaring outpouring of water, tumbling over the side of a cliff into a pool below. It is an awesome sight to behold. Thinking about it now, brings me to remember the wonders of God, as Creator of all things beautiful.
The sweetness of my memories of this waterfall in the forest brings to mind something else that’s sweet in my memories. Have you ever had a spring roll, drenched in Chinese sweet sauce? It’s one of my favorite things, though I must admit I cannot enjoy the sauce anymore, because sugar is unhealthy for me. Nevertheless, I can easily recall the sweetness of the spring roll drenched in this sauce.
I wanted to share these two images of sweet memories because they bring me to tell of two of my sweetest memories of all. One is coming to know Jesus and the other is discovering how sweet it is to be baptized in the Holy Spirit; and, then to experience the ongoing joy of my subsequent relationship with Him. First, look below to what the Prophet Joel said; and then, what Luke wrote concerning Pentecost in the Book of Acts.
Joel 2:28-29 (NKJV)
“And it shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions.
{29} And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
Acts 2:1-4 (NKJV)
“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. {2} And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. {3} Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. {4} And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
When God pours out His Spirit, He also pours out His blessings like a waterfall of sweetness into your spirit. If your heart is hungry for the outpouring of God’s Spirit, it will surely come. Position yourself to get under it as often as you can. If you will, then tomorrow’s blessings are on the way. You may have been encouraged by past blessings… or you may have been discouraged by your past difficulties. Regardless of the way it has been, be assured that it’s all about your tomorrows! God cannot pour His Spirit and His blessings into your yesterdays. He desires to fill your tomorrows with the sweetness of His presence, grace and power. Get ready. Position yourself for the outpouring. It’s coming to your tomorrows!
The thought of God’s sweet tomorrow invites your anticipation and expectation for the great outpouring that’s coming. Tomorrow could be your time for great opportunities. It may have been good, bad or ugly in the past, but we all have to believe that it’s going to get better for us in our days ahead. Just look to Jesus. Get under the outpouring and expect the blessing.
One of the greatest blessings you and I should look forward to, as our hearts becomes receptive to the outpouring that accompanies a hunger to be filled with God’s Word, will be our personal growth. From this point on, our growth is fully a function of the future. It’s time to step into the future. It’s time for you to break out with Jesus. It’s time to let Him lead and guide you into the future. This is God’s invitation and prophetic promise to you. It was offered by the Prophet Mica about twenty-eight hundred years ago:
Micah 2:12-13 (NKJV)
“I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob,
I will surely gather the remnant of Israel;
I will put them together like sheep of the fold,
Like a flock in the midst of their pasture;
They shall make a loud noise because of so many people.
{13} The one who breaks open will come up before them;
They will break out,
Pass through the gate,
And go out by it;
Their king will pass before them,
With the Lord at their head.”
Three Expectations for Your Future
In his First Epistle to the Thessalonians, as Paul was encouraging the Thessalonian church, he also provided three expectations for your future and mine.
1 Thessalonians 3:11-4:1 (NKJV)
“Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. {12} And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, {13} so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. {4:1} Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;”
First, Paul tells us to expect an incredible increase of God’s love, His holiness and His anointing – poured into us. God wants to interrupt what has been good or not so good and make it great! Now is the time. Seek a deeper relationship with God and expect that the old things are behind you. Good things are ahead! Paul tells you and me to expect this incredible increase. It’s available to those who love God. We must be willing to press on to obtain this increase.
Let me share with you the significance of this “increase.” “Increase” means “to expand and make room for a greater capacity, to become progressively greater in size, amount, number and intensity.” It’s time for increasing excellence in your life and also, in the church. Lay hold of your portion. It’s your future and your destiny. Don’t be left behind. Refuse to be denied. Reach for the prize!
Philippians 3:13-14 (NLT)
“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, {14} I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”
Second, we are to expect the personal presence of God to abound in our lives. This will be evidenced by holy fire from God poured out in unlimited measure, to and through you and me! When John the Baptist was asked about the expectation of the Messiah coming, his response to those who asked the question might have generated the same excitement that we can now experience.
Luke 3:15-16 (NLT)
“Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah. {16} John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
Expect that today there is a river of fire that will not burn you up. It will burn something out of you and burned something into you! It’s a river whose streams make glad the city of God. It’s a river of zeal for the Lord. It’s a river of empowerment and understanding. I encourage you to pause and feel the fire. It’s time for a deeper encounter with God in this river of fire. Anticipate it! Expect it! Swim in it! Catch the fire! Burn for Jesus! Let the zeal for the Lord of Hosts consume you!
God is still the same God. His anointing is always available and it’s powerful. It’s only a prayer away. His glory is demanding to be seen. Will we block it, or will we bring it down among us with our worship, and beyond that, with the testimony of lives?
Third, we are to expect that an outpouring of God’s will, His purposes and glory will go forth from within you to others you have been appointed and anointed to reach. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 tells us that this happens when we receive and apply the biblical instruction we need to have a life that pleases God. I would invite you to live that life of which Matthew 5:14-16 speaks. Be a light, shining to the world, through how you represent Jesus. The waterfall of sweetness you bring will pour itself out on others. Then, God will be glorified and you will be blessed to be a blessing.
Dr. Bob Abramson