SOUNDING OUT:
Expectation and Anticipation

  Expectation and anticipation can play a wonderful part in the believer's life. The promises of God are true and God will absolutely bring them to pass as we believe and walk out upon them. As they come to pass God is glorified and we are rewarded. We should always expect God's Word to come to pass, because His promises are Yea! and Amen!

  The Word of God establishes God’s will for us. God had it written down so we would have permanent access to His declared Word and will. When we read the promises of His Word we know it is His good will to bring them to pass. The more we appreciate and reverence His words the more delightful they become and the more our anticipation for their fulfillment is increased. He is not only willing but able to bring them to pass.

  God’s Word declares Who He is. As we learn more and more about His love and grace, we gain confidence to go to God without reservation. After all, He is our loving Heavenly Father. “Hath He spoken and shall He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19)

  This wonderful Word of God is as true today as it was the day it was written. We can rely on it and trust in it, for God is both able and willing to perform that which He has said. Abraham expected God to perform His promise to him, and God so graciously did.

  Do you remember the official and public opening of the ministry of Jesus Christ? After Jesus Christ was baptized by John in the Jordan he went into the wilderness to prepare himself for his ministry.

  Here we see Jesus confronted by the tempter. Jesus’ first recorded words after the baptism of John were, "It is written!" What was written? The Revealed Word and Will of God was written back many years ago in the Book of Deuteronomy. Moses wrote it by revelation from God. But the Word that was written so many years before was just as true and as powerful on the lips of Jesus Christ as it had been on the lips of Moses.

  The Greek language has very precise verb tenses. The phrase "It is Written" is in the perfect tense. In the indicative mood like this is, the perfect tense is used to communicate action in the past with its effect or completion in the present. The writing of Deuteronomy 8:3 was not just completed. It had been finished and recorded many years ago. Jesus’ use of the perfect tense here demonstrated his recognition of the power and impact of this wonderful Word of God in the present.

  He remembered this wonderful Word of God written so many years ago and spoke it to bring it's impact into the present situation in which he was involved. He didn't say it was written. He said it is written. Yes, it was written many years ago by Moses, but it was still written and it still was God's Word and Will at the moment in which he spoke it. He called upon the Word of God and brought its power and impact into the situation with which he was presently confronted. He knew the power of the Word and expected it to back down the adversary as he spoke it. Jesus controlled the situation being more than a conqueror in it as he spoke this word of the Lord recorded in Deuteronomy 8:3. He expected that Word to produce the desired effect in his life and it did.