Expectation II: Strength to Bring Forth

Expectation: Strength to Bring Forth

Isaiah 37:3

'… This day is a day of trouble … for the children have come to the birth, and there is no strength to bring forth'.

Next engines to thrust us into more of Gods grace have come alive. We have a great future. We will see fruit in areas we experienced barrenness in 2011. God is able to do what he said he would do. The more He is able to work in us the more He can work through us. He works in us to develop inner strength so that we are able to wait (Hebrews 6:12), to have/ bring forth (Isaiah 37) and to hold/keep. We keep what we receive by walking in the Spirit. Sin saps spiritual strength (Judges 16:6; 1 John 1:9). Effectiveness in Christ relies on inner strength to believe God.

This message is about gaining strength to bring forth (Isaiah 37:3) - Strength to PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens) to avoid crises of expectation. Lack of inner strength can result in loss of the baby. Before there is birth, there is a carrying and expecting. Travailing comes before birthing. Things do not happen only as you expect but as you execute. To execute is to apply power. Power is ability to make things happen. Jeremiah prophesied that the nation of Israel would be in captivity for seventy years. So they expected to return  some day to their land. However, seventy years later they were still in captivity until Daniel learnt about Jeremiah’s prophecy from the books (Daniel 1:1-2). He did something about bringing forth the reality of the promise. He sought God in prayer. The woman who was healed from an issue of blood (Mark 5:25-34) was among many others with needs,  hoping to find miraculous solutions from Jesus. She received her miracle not only by expecting – or  by thinking ‘if I only touch his clothes I will be healed’, but by taking action. She pressed through the crowd to touch the helm of Jesus’ garment to bring forth her miracle. Mental imagination of a desired result is not enough. She acted out her expectation. Hanna, also, prayed and acted on her expectation (1 Samuel 1:11). She received Samuel as a result.

Faith is action (James 2:17). Faith begins as an attitude of confident expectation based on God’s Word and character, and is completed by a practical expression. Action brings forth the fruit of faith. You have to do something to show your faith. They that know their God shall do exploits. Heroes of faith were noted for things they did (Hebrews 11). Action begins with prayer. The heart of prayer is listening. Prayer leads to further action of obedience. Obedience can take various forms. It can be more praying, sowing, fishing, laying of hands, giving, forgiving, act of love/serving, or speaking.  

Nothing is too hard for God (Luke 1:37; Jeremiah 32:17, 19, 27). Sing oh barren woman (Isaiah 54:1-3).  Sometimes seasons of barrenness create a positive desperation. The quality of prayer tends to improve with desperation.  The babies born out of barren and impossible situations are born for special assignments (Isaac, Joseph, Samuel, John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, etc). They are a product of faith, patience, prayer, perseverance, waiting, desperation and travail. Our harvest of souls is great and is like these babies, born for a special assignment.

The current season of prayer is part of strength building and travailing in faith to bring forth what we are carrying. Our travail socked in praise will culminate in more praise. When God speaks, faith comes and travailing turns to praise. Things are getting better.

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa