Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at . . . the hour of prayer. And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along . . . When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!” And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” Acts 3:1-6

Some of the most effective and miraculous things happen in the in-between, seemingly random moments.

These guys, Peter and John, were on their way to a prayer meeting and encountered a person in need. They didn’t have any cash on them, but they had something far better. You may not feel like you have everything figured out, but you have something substantial in your life that is transmittable—“What I do have I give.”

“. . . Be ready in season and out of season.” (2 Timothy 4:2a)

In the most unassuming moments, major things can take place. When Jesus was tired from His journey, wanting water at the well, He encountered a lady with a troubled past, who was dismissed by society. And yet, after her encounter with Jesus, she became the catalyst for her entire Samaritan city (John 4).

There is always going to be a broken person “on the way to the temple,” when you’re tired from traveling, when you’re at the grocery store or your kid’s soccer game. And if you stay sensitive to the subtle promptings of the Holy Spirit you can end up benefiting the lives of the people you encounter.

Renew your willingness to obey God in the middle of your daily routine. Every day get up with an expectation that the anointing of the Holy Spirit can and will flow through you.

Press On!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2010 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!
Romans 5:3b-5 The Message*

God wants all of us to be ready for what is up ahead in terms of our call and fruitfulness. The presence of lethargy signals the absence of faith, and that’s why many people in a crisis situation become numb with fear. A percentage of people, though, respond to adversity with clarity and boldness.

Alert expectancy is not baseless optimism, but bold and courageous faith in God. If we know God hears us, we know we have the requests we ask of Him (1 John 5:15). Faith is getting the truth of God’s faithfulness inside you and then speaking to your mountains.

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

When you face obstacles properly, spiritual muscles grow. God is working to establish you with enough proven character to weather the next steps of what He has called you to do and be. God is calling you to step out of mind-numbing stagnation and provide leadership in your home, your work, and your world.

God bless you!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright ©2010 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. *Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Abide in Me, and I in you. . . I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5

God has made us His garden, and the Gardener wants us to realize that our branches are designed to bear a lot of fruit: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

Expect results from fellowshipping with God. It’s pretty simple. As we abide in Him and He abides in us, we can expect fruit when we pray for the sick, when we give, and when we serve.

Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. John 4:35b

Expect to see your life bear fruit. The Lord of the harvest is looking for people that He can use. So lift up your eyes with expectancy. On your worst day you still have this amazing potential to see more of Jesus flow through your life and to bear more fruit more of the time.

Expect God to watch over His Word to perform it. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples” (John 4: 7-8). Our best days are up ahead and as we raise our expectancy level and trust God, we will bear increasing fruit throughout our life!

God is faithful!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2010 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.