The Demand of Expectations—Fulfilling Our Responsibility in Christ

Matthew 28:18-20 NIV, “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority  in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”

Luke 10:19 NKJV, “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

Romans 8:37 NIV, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

When Jesus gave us the Great Commission, He placed a high demand on our lives as believers. We are called not only to preach the gospel but to heal the sick, raise the dead, and set captives free. The expectation is great, but so is the power and authority He has given us to fulfill that expectation. The Bible is full of promises that empower us, but it also contains warnings that remind us of the responsibility we carry as followers of Christ.

God’s promises are not passive; they are active, living words meant to be acted upon. The promise that we are “more than conquerors through Christ” (Romans 8:37) means that we are expected to win in every spiritual battle we face. This promise gives us the confidence to command evil to flee in every situation, knowing that our victory is assured in Christ.

Jesus didn’t give us authority over the enemy just to hold onto it; He gave it to us to exercise it. Luke 10:19 KJV reminds us that we have been given the authority to trample over all the power of the enemy. This means there is an expectation that we will use this authority to defeat evil, whether that be in our own lives or in the lives of others. Every time we command evil to flee and stand firm in our identity in Christ, we are fulfilling that divine expectation.

With every promise comes responsibility. We expect God to intervene when we demand evil to leave and the blessings to come. God’s expectations are not burdensome but empowering. He has equipped us with everything we need to fulfill the demands He places on us. The Great Commission, for example, is a call to action: to heal, deliver, and teach in His name. The expectation is that we will step out in faith, using the authority and power we have been given.

But it’s not just about the external acts of ministry; it’s also about living a victorious, Godly life. We are expected to overcome sin, resist temptation, and walk in holiness. God’s Word gives us both the promise of His help and the warning to be vigilant: 1 Peter 5:8 NIV says, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” We must actively resist evil, and God expects us to win because He has already provided the tools for victory.

Demand and Expectation in Practice

1. Healing and Deliverance: Jesus expects us to use the authority He has given to heal the sick, cast out demons, and set people free from bondage. This is not optional. The demand to heal and deliver is connected to the power He has placed in us through the Holy Spirit.

2. Living Victoriously: We are not meant to live defeated lives. God’s expectation is that we overcome every challenge by relying on His strength and promises. We can conquer sin, fear, and discouragement because of the authority we have in Christ.

3. Spiritual Warfare: There is a demand on us to engage in spiritual warfare, commanding evil to flee and protecting what God has entrusted to us. We are more than conquerors, and God expects us to live like it every day.

Warnings for the Unfaithful Servant

In Matthew 25:14-30 NIV, Jesus tells the parable of the talents, illustrating that those who do nothing with what God has given them will be held accountable. There is a clear warning here: God expects us to be fruitful, to use the authority and gifts He has given us to expand His kingdom. To sit back and do nothing with what we’ve received is to miss the point of His promises.

Expecting Results from God’s Promises

There’s a connection between the demands God places on us and the results He expects from our actions. But we are not left to accomplish these things on our own. Jesus is with us, empowering us by His Spirit. When we obey, we can expect results. Healing will manifest, captives will be set free, and we will overcome every attack of the enemy because God is faithful to His promises.

Declarations:

• I have been given authority in Christ to heal, deliver, and set the captives free.

• I am more than a conqueror through Christ, and I win every spiritual battle I face.

• I step out in faith, fulfilling the Great Commission with power and confidence.

• I refuse to live in fear or defeat; I walk in the victory and authority Jesus has given me.

• Every promise of God is active in my life, and I expect to see His power at work through me.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for the promises and authority You have given me in Christ. I choose today to live according to the expectation You have placed on me—to heal, to deliver, to bring Your kingdom to earth. Help me to rise to the demands of the Great Commission, knowing that You are with me every step of the way. I declare victory in every situation, knowing that I am more than a conqueror through You. Strengthen my faith and give me boldness to step out and fulfill the call You have placed on my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Final Thought - The Scripture emphasizes the connection between God’s promises and the responsibility He gives us, encouraging believers to step out in faith, fulfill the Great Commission, and walk in their authority in Christ.