What do you expect?

I recently heard a pastor named Dean Fujishima say "faith is expectation" and I've been thinking about that as I read the scripture and pray.  The point Dean was making was related to praying for healing.  He said that when we ask God to heal someone, having faith means expecting that it is going to happen.  This seems to make sense to me.

The kind of faith Jesus seems to be looking for as I'm reading through the Gospel of John is a faith of expectant action. "Pick up your mat and go home" he says to a guy who has not walked for 38 years. The guy has to act with the expectation of being able to do what had previously been impossible. The same thing happened just before that in chapter 4 when Jesus tells a man to go home and his son will be fine. The man has to take Jesus at his word and head home without any evidence expecting that his son is healed. As he goes, his son is healed. It's the same with the ten lepers, and all the heros of faith in Hebrews 11 that acted "as if" even without any evidence, but only God's promise.

If, as Jesus' brother James said, faith without works is dead, this seems to be why. Acting in expectation that God will come through on his promise is what faith is all about.  I think that is why last Sunday was so powerful at Mountain View, with dozens of people coming forward for prayer and anointing.  I had been praying and fasting and expecting God to act in a powerful way.  I had others praying.  We prayed with all the teams before the service.  We created a sense of expectation. And we got what we expected.

What do you expect?  Do you throw up prayers expecting nothing but hoping something sticks?  Do you lower your expectations so you won't be disappointed?  Or do you ask God for what you need and what you believe is his will with confident expectation that he hears you and will respond?  You get what you expect.  Noodle on that one for a few days.

This Sunday at Mountain View, I expect God is going to set someone free from something that has bound them up for a long time.  I expect God is going to move powerfully in the worship and teaching.  I expect people are going to put their faith in Jesus for the first time and be filled with God's Spirit.  I expect that we will have thirty more people in each service than we had last week.  I expect these things because I believe they are God's will and I am praying for them.  Would you pray with me and come expectantly?

Expectantly,
Todd

DINNER FOR 8's Connecting the Mountain View Community with old friends and making new ones.  We are looking for hosts for our upcoming Dinner for 8's, open your home and provide dinner for 6-7 others in our community.  Dinner dates to choose from: 3/9, 3/10, 3/16, 3/17, 3/23 and 3/24.  Contact Cassie Snow at cassie@mountainviewchurch.com or Patti Hardin at patti@mountainviewchurch.com if you would like to host.   JR. HIGH: PUMP IT UP EVENT Saturday, February 18th  7:30-9:45pm  All the Jr. High students and their friends are invited to our Pump it Up Party. Night of pizza, friends and Inflatable bounce house madness. Drop off at Pump it up (26242 Dimension, #100, Lake Forest, CA 92630). For more info contact Ryan Autry 290-4295   Kidzone Sky High Event  Sunday, February19th  12:45pm All 1st-5th graders and their friends are invited to our event immediately following 2nd service.  Parents feel free to join us! Otherwise bring your 1st-5th grader to Taco Bell (Oso and Antonio) at 12:45pm with $ for lunch, $10 to jump,jump,jump! And a completed waiver form is a must! We will plan to leave Taco Bell @ 1:30. Jump from 2:00-3:00 and be back to Taco Bell by 4:00. If you have questions please email JaneAnn Kelso at janeann@mountainviewchurch.com   Sky High is located at 2970 Airway Avenue in Costa Mesa    ASH WEDNESDAY WORSHIP SERVICE      February 22nd   7:00pm at Newsong Church in Irvine If you come from a traditional church background or if it's all new to you, you will have a lot to gain from this evening.   Newsong is located at 18842 Teller Avenue in Irvine   PRISON  MINISTRY If you are interested in being a part of the Kairos Prison Ministry or would like more information please contact Craig Owings at pitts.special@yahoo.com News NEW! Text Updates Text MVCLIFE to 41411 to get weekly text updates sent to your phone.   How can I give? You can give offerings in the boxes on Sunday mornings, you can set up your online banking as an monthly gift to Mountain View and mail your donations to : Mountain View Church P.O. Box 2058 Mission Viejo, CA  92690 Give securely online here   Weekly Messages are available on iTunes Download or subscribe to the weekly sermon podcasts here       Weekly Events   JR HIGH A.D.D. MID-WEEK Tuesdays 7:00pm in Las Flores Contact Ryan Autry for more info at ryan@mountainviewchurch.com   HIGH SCHOOL MID-WEEK Tuesdays 7:00pm in Laguna Hills Contact Brandon Brickley at brick@mountainviewchurch.com

CONTACT US: 949.458.6888 website: www.mountainviewchurch.com online community: www.mymountainviewchurch.com Mountain View Church Office 27075 cabot road, #107   laguna hills, ca 92653