Making preparation for good things

One of the greatest principle in the Bible to receive promises, whether it is a word or prophecy is to make adequate preparation for that thing. You have to be ready to receive what God is giving you. How do you go about it? We need to find out from the Bible what the people of old did in order to receive from God.

Luk 24:36-53 KJV 36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? 42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. 43 And he took it, and did eat before them. 44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things. 49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. 50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

Heb 11:1 Heb 11:1 KJV Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hope is confidence expectation of good things. Faith give substance to expectation of good things, what i want to share is the role that faith plays when we expect good things

The word “good things” in the new testament is “agathos” and it means: of good constitution or nature, useful, salutary, good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy excellent, distinguished, upright, honourable

I know for sure you are expecting good things, i am also expecting good things to happen and manifest, receive them in Jesus name
whenever expectation meets anointing, miracles is the answer,
The text we read was about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. He told them to tarry in Jerusalem in order to receive the promise of God which is the Holy Spirit.

In that text the Lord Jesus promised them that Holy Spirit will be coming, in many other places in the Bible He made promises.
Behold, I send the promise, &c.— That is, I will shortly send; the present being used for the future tense, as it is frequently in scripture
The promise which the Father had made to them “through” the Saviour. See Mat 10:19; Joh 14:16-17, Joh 14:26, especially Joh 14:16-26 Joh 15:26
In order words He wants them to go back to Jerusalem and wait there.
They were to wait for the promise

Luk 24:49 KJV And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Act 1:4-5 KJV 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

The Greek word for “tarry” is “kathizo”̄and it means to make to sit down, to set, appoint, to confer a kingdom on one, intransitively, to sit down, to sit, to have fixed one’s abode

In order words they were to sit there, as the word used signifies: they were to sit still, and be silent; they were not to begin to preach;
So the Bible says they travelled back to Jerusalem and entered into the temple.
My question is what were they doing while waiting for the promised Holy Spirit?
Between the time Jesus gave that promise and its actualization, what were they doing? How did they prepared?
Were they just tarrying or waiting, just sitting day by day waiting for the promise?

Because there are many christians today saying they are waiting on the Lord, waiting for God. When you ask them about their state of affairs, they said well we are waiting on God after all Isaiah says they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. Many have been waiting for years and yet the promise is yet to be received.
So how did the Apostles waited?
The Lord has promised them, they believed and they went, so what were they doing while waiting?

Between the time when Jesus was crucified and died and the time He went to heaven was forty days and between the time He went to heaven and the time they received the promise was ten days

but what were they doing while waiting, if we know what they were doing then we too can learn from it and receive what has been promised.
Between the time when we receive the word, the prophecy and the time of its actualization and physical manifestation, what should we do to prepare for it and hasten it.
Luke tells us what they were doing while waiting for the August visitor

  1. They were in attitude of praise and thanksgiving
    Luk 24:53 KJV And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

They were expecting to receive what has been promised, the Bible says they were praising and blessing God.
Why were they praising God? The promise has not come so why were they blessing God? In the natural we praise people after they have done something for us

  1. They were praising God in anticipation and expectations
  2. They praised God because its already a done deal, no doubt about it
  3. They were praising God So putting themselves into fit posture to receive the comfort that Christ had promised them. Thanksgiving set you up into a position of receiving from God.
    one of the evidence that you believe His promise and believe God is that you will be full of praises and thanksgiving
    Because God is not a man that he should lie neither the son of man that he should repent? the fact that God has spoken it ought to make us rejoice, anticipates with delight, because God is faithful to His word, that what he promised according to Rom 4:18 He is able to do
    Look at the example of Abraham

Rom 4:20-21 KJV 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

how do we know that Abraham was strong in faith? it was not because he was prophesying and speaking in tongues or reading the Bible loud, he didn’t even have one, the Bible says he was giving glory to God.
Even though Isaac was not yet in his hand, Sarah has not yet conceived yet he was glorying God.
if you are full of faith, you will be full of thanksgiving, Col 2:7 not of complain and murmuring

Col 2:6-7 KJV 6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

You will be like Hannah after leaving the temple she changed her countenance, Bible says she was no longer sad unlike many Christian today; there is no difference between the time when they went to Church and when they are coming back, the neighbour don’t notice the difference.

1Sa 1:18 KJV And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

Evidence of her faith and believe in the word of the Eli was that her facial appearance changed, she was able to eat, she was no longer sad. every yoke of sadness is hereby terminated today in Jesus name.

  1. What else were the disciples doing while waiting? were they just folding their hands and says we are waiting on God?

Act 1:12-14 KJV 12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey. 13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

These all continued … – The word “continued” denotes “persevering and constant attention.
With one accord – Greek: “homothumadon” – “with one mind.” The word denotes the entire harmony of their views and feelings. There were no schisms, no divided interests, no discordant purposes.

In prayer and supplication – These words are nearly synonymous, and are often interchanged. They express here petitions to God for blessings, and prayer to avert impending evils.
to supplicate means to To humble oneself before (another) in making a request; to beg or beseech.

To entreat for; to ask for earnestly and humbly.
why were they supplicating again for what Jesus had promised them and said the reason why he has to go is to be able to send the holy Spirit. Why do they have to supplicate for the promise again?

Joh 16:7 KJV Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him

The prayers was an act of their will to receive what has been promised

Prayer has become earthly licence for heavenly intervention
it is an expression of their free will and agreement with God
because the prayer is an agreement with God, it is also his receiving of what was promised. The things of God does not automatically come to pass. you have to pursue it, Jer 29:13 and you shall find me when you diligently seek me. Heb 11: 6 says He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.
i found out that this is the pattern and a principle in the Bible
After Elijah had prophesied the release of rain, he asked Ahab to go and eat but he himself did not go and eat. What did he do?

1Ki 18:41-42 KJV 41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,

James 5:17-18 tells us what he was doing, praying earnestly for rain

What was Elijah doing again? He was receiving what has been promised. God said i will send rain again, Elijah prophesied it and not to make it happen he waited on the Lord, made preparation in serious prayer to receive
When God promised David that his lineage will rule over Israel, David didn’t throw a party but rather went into the house of God and prayed that GOD will do what He has said.

2Sam 7:25 KJV And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.

Why will David prayed like that? David prayed that God will do what he has said. Why must he ask God to do what has already been said?
David did not only prayed but he also physically prepared material for the building.

1Chr 22:14 KJV Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.

The Apostles while waiting for the promised Holy Spirit were in praising God and prayers
in Chapter two of Acts, after ten days of waiting, praising, blessing and praying, anticipation, devotion and expectation the Bible says the Holy Ghost came, answer came

Act 2:1-2 KJV 1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

it was while they were in the attitude of waiting that the Holy Ghost came,
They didn’t wait for 2, 3, 4, 5 days and became discouraged and left the temple and say may be Jesus is no longer sending Him, may be Jesus has forgotten, they continued persistently and obstinately, they were stuck to their desire and waited until they received.


They waited untill they received, because Jesus had said they should wait untill they were endued with power from high. Many people have asked me for how long should i wait or be patiently waiting on God? the answer is in what Jesus told His disciples, wait until you receive, if it takes 10days, 2weeks, 1month, 5years, wait. Waiting here is in faith and patience which is active faith over a prolong time. This is what expedite and facilitate the quick receiving of the promise.
This should be our attitude, we should with perseverance and patience wait. Hebrew says

Heb 6:12 KJV That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises

The disciples received what they were waiting for because they made preparation through gathering together in one place and praying till the promise came.

What are the preparation you are making to receive what God has promised?
Bible says faith without work is dead. that work is the corresponding action of faith, what are you doing now as evidence of your faith?

A woman was tired of insults and and wanted to pack out of her compound but the husband has no money for rent, but the woman went to market and bought ‘Ghana must go bags’ and packed all the family loads into the bags anticipating and believing that money for rent will come. She made preparation. It was not too long before her family packed into a good apartment.

A woman was diagonized not to have womb but when she got to the house she said no, God is a miracle working God, she tied wrapper together and and tied them to the tommy and start acting like a pregnant woman every day, she was spitting, trying to throw up the way pregnant people do, it was not long before she became pregnant
Three months after i sat for Jamb while waiting for admission, i will be in my room dressed up and called myself a university undergraduate, demonstrated how i will will be walking in school.

A man was on a low grade salary level but started paying tithe of higher level, it was not quite long before he was promoted
My boss in interdrill bought new set of clothes and said that he will not wear them till he is invited for interview that will change his life. it happened, he is in Oman now

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This is the way the kingdom operates, we study Bible to know how things work in the kingdom. In the natural they say seeing is believing but in Christianity, you have to believe before you will see.

Jesus said unto Mary and Martha in John 11 that if they believe they shall see the glory of the Lord. The logical thing would be that Lazarus rose up an was shouting from inside the tomb say ‘open door’, then they would have reason to roll away the stone, But Jesus said roll away the stone.

Many of us don’t want people to embarrass us, mock us, ridicule us and laugh us but untill these things i mentioned are taking place you are not operating in faith. If you say let me have money first before approaching land agent or propose to a lady you are not different from an unbeliever, thats what they do. Where is our own testimony as faith people?

Isa 54:2-3 KJV 2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; 3 For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.


The promise is in verse 3 but he asked Zion to act his faith and anticipate the increase by doing something to demonstrate that truly Zion believes
Elisha told the widow woman to create capacity to receive the blessing. the woman would have said please let the oil start flowing first then i will go and borrow vessels from my neighbours, but she believed and she saw the glory of God.

2Ki 4:3 KJV Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

If you truly believes and you are expecting good things you will demonstrate your faith by making preparation, buy wedding gown, sow your suit, talk to event planners, talk to architect, start studying GMAT and aptitude test, prepared your CV, learn how to answer interview questions, practise and rehearse how to answer questions.

Don’t wait till you receive a letter, create space in your wardrobe for new clothes coming, make business plan and don’t wait for money first, the people of the world says ‘get capital’ but Proverb says ‘wisdom is the principal thing’, get idea first then capital will show up, nobody will want to lend you money if you don’t have a good captivating business plan and proposals. Go and learn how to drive, rent a store even though there is nothing to be put into it, start dressing like a CEO, talk and carry yourself like a CEO. buy baby materials, display them, let people mock and laugh you, in no distant future your miracle will show up.
Enlarge your coast, enlarge your thinking capacity, think outside the normal

My mentor could not receive bigger money because he has no plan on ground on what and what to spend it on, until he wrote it down before God begin to bring financial prosperity into his life. Many of us cannot handle $200,000, we will start screaming and unable to sleep why? we think small, we don’t have wherewithal to do something great.
he that walk with the wise shall be wise but a companion of fool shall not go unpunished.
Prayers
Every power mandated and assigned to hinder the manifestation of my glory, my marriage, my job, my business, power in my compound, power in father’s house die by fire now in Jesus name
I receive the grace to manifest, i manifest fruitfulness, productivity, capability, breakthrough all around, major breakthrough, i receive idea, life transforming idea. This week i walk in prosperity, i walk in power

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