“Why Your Anticipation is Powerful.” - Philippians 2:12–18.

In our culture today, the word?“anticipation”?has been reduced to mean a?feeling?of?“dreaded expectation.” But to this the late Meriwether Lewis?said, “I have always held it a crime to "anticipate?evils, and I will believe it to be a comfortable road until I am compelled to believe differently.”?I included that quote because?the original meaning of the word,?“anticipation”?come from the Latin word?“anticipatio,”?which isn’t based on a “derived?feeling,” of expectation, but on?“action”?and?“preparation.?

Biblically to “anticipate”?is “to be driven by the Spirit of God”?to?“foresee,”?and “act in advance” to “what is being brought to your attention.”?In Exodus 12:11, Moses instructed the Israelites?“...thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord’s Passover." So, just as?God?“stirred?up His anticipated purpose for the Israelites,”?so?by faith allow the Holy Spirit to “open your eyes, to His purpose,” to?“make room”?and “know what’s yours by faith.”?

???So,?“anticipation"?is?“getting ready for what God has told you is coming.”?

• Noah began building the ark, by faith,?“in anticipation of a flood when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear to save his family.”?- Hebrews 11:7.?
• Nehemiah discovered this?“when Judah’s enemies schemed to stop him leading the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s city walls and gates”?- Nehemiah 6:3.?

??Anticipation will attract opposition, but?remember, “anticipation is an expression of faith,”?in the face of?the enemy who’s trying?“alter God’s plan for your life.”??So,?“anticipation”?must be “a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks?by faith,”?“when?the going gets tough,”?and?“you may feel like giving up.”??But?it’s?here?“you need to?persevere.”?Because?“when anticipation has been lost,” “God’s plan is to restore it.”?

So, “don’t give up!”?Allow the Holy Spirit?“to restore your anticipation”?for?“the fulfilment of God’s promises”?and?“the dreams He has placed in your heart”?for “your destiny,” “your family,”?and?“your ministry.”?Because:?

• It’s?time to go back?to God’s?original promise – Hebrews 13: 5-6, and?
• It’s?time to go to Scripture for the truth about who God is, and who He says you are – John 1:12, and??
• It’s?time to allow the Holy Spirit to?spur you on, to continue acting in faith?- Romans?8:1-17.?

So, to?anticipate is to position yourself for God’s purpose.”?Anticipation is more than?“expectation,” “it's faith in motion.”?Therefore, your?“anticipation,”?and?“acts of obedience,”?“led”?and?“empowered by the Holy Spirit,”?will?bring breakthrough?“when you take possession of God’s promise by faith.”?

Author: Plez Lovelady, Jr., PhD