Reigning in Grace
Your expectation is a vessel. When you enter the house of God, you bring that vessel with you. And God fills it—so you can take it back with you. ...
April 27, 2025
Bring Your Expectation
Your expectation is a vessel. When you enter the house of God, you bring that vessel with you. And God fills it—so you can take it back with you. Without expectation, it’s as if you’ve brought nothing to hold the blessing. And if there’s no vessel, what can God fill?
Expectation, not time, is the key to healing. Many have heard the phrase, “Time heals all wounds.” But truthfully, it is not time that heals; it is God who heals.
Psalm 147:3 – “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds”
When you step into God’s presence with expectation, you position yourself to encounter Him.
We’re Not in Church for a Ritual
We don’t gather just to enjoy two fast songs, two slow songs, and a sermon. We are in church for something more: to encounter God. Over and over again, we must remind ourselves—we are in church to encounter God.
Called to Reign
We are called to Reign in Grace. Every believer is not just called to survive; we are called to thrive. If you are merely making it through life, hoping to eventually reign in heaven—there’s good news: you are called to reign here, now.
There is no battle that you’re meant to be stuck in. There is no limitation that can truly limit you. God has paid for your freedom with the precious blood of Jesus. Be free. You are not only forgiven of your sins—you are redeemed from everything that tries to oppress you. Whether it’s emotional wounds, financial struggles, or mental health challenges—Jesus came to set you free from all of it.
David: A Streak of Victories
One person in Scripture who exemplified this truth was David. His life was marked by a streak of victories—one after another. Unlike many biblical figures who had moments of defeat, David seemed to conquer every enemy that came his way. Yet his story began in obscurity.
David was a shepherd boy, overlooked in his own family. When the prophet Samuel came to anoint one of Jesse’s sons, David wasn’t even invited to the gathering. He was considered insignificant, unworthy of consideration. But God had a different plan.
God Uses the Ordinary
God isn’t looking for the most qualified. He’s looking for the most surrendered. He chooses ordinary people and makes them extraordinary.
1 Corinthians 1:27 – “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise”
The only qualification required is surrender. Stop blaming the devil—many times, what stands between us and God is our own mind. In prayer, we learn to bypass the mind and connect with the mind of Christ.
Facing Goliath
David’s most famous battle was against Goliath—a giant almost ten feet tall, armored with 57 kilograms of bronze, and armed with a spear like a tree trunk. He was born for war, a warrior since childhood. His very presence caused psychological warfare.
1 Samuel 17:10–11 – “The Philistine said, ‘I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.’ When Saul and all Israel heard these words… they were dismayed and greatly afraid”
Even though King Saul had previously defeated enemies like the Amalekites, he and his army were frozen by fear when Goliath appeared. Morning and evening, Goliath issued his challenge, and no one dared to answer—until David.
Giants Have Origins
Goliath was from Gath, a city known to be inhabited by surviving giants. These were believed to be of demonic origin—hybrid beings born from the union of fallen angels and humans in the days of Noah (Genesis 6:4). Though many were wiped out in the flood, some remained and were later driven out by Joshua and Caleb during the conquest of Canaan.
Opportunity in Challenge
When David saw Goliath, he didn’t see a giant—he saw an opportunity. He wasn’t intimidated by Goliath’s stature or weaponry. His question was simple:
1 Samuel 17:26 – “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
David didn’t compare the size of Goliath to himself—he compared him to God. When others saw a threat, David saw a breakthrough waiting to happen. Your opportunity is often hidden inside your greatest challenge. Don’t complain about the challenge—press through it and you’ll find your victory on the other side.
Victory Through God’s Power
David used what he had—a slingshot. He was not trained for battle, but he was trained to trust God.
When he released the stone, God guided it to the one vulnerable spot on Goliath’s forehead. Goliath fell. David ran, took Goliath’s sword, and cut off his head. Interestingly, the Bible says David took Goliath’s head to Jerusalem and buried it outside the city. This act foreshadowed a greater victory to come.
Jesus: The Greater David
David’s descendant—Jesus—fought an even greater battle. When He was crucified at Golgotha, the place of the skull, it was a fulfillment of the promise in Genesis 3:15, that the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent.
Genesis 3:15 – “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
Jesus didn’t fight with a sword. He overcame temptation in the wilderness. He healed the sick, cast out demons, and finally, He conquered sin, death, and the devil.
Colossians 2:15 – “Having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross”
Both David and Jesus fought battles no one else would. David stood against Goliath. Jesus stood against sin and death. Their victories came because they knew who they were.
The Power of Identity
The name David means “beloved.” David’s victories didn’t begin when he became king. They began when he discovered his identity. He wasn’t fighting for acceptance—he was fighting from acceptance.
Likewise, Jesus began His ministry only after God declared,
Matthew 3:17 – “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”
Jesus hadn’t performed a single miracle yet. And yet, the Father was already pleased with Him.
You Are God’s Beloved
When you receive Jesus, you are adopted into God’s family.
Romans 8:15 – “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!'”
The Holy Spirit within you constantly reminds you: You are God’s beloved.
This truth is deeply personal. For me, Matthew 3:17 is the verse that launched me into ministry. Even today, if I close my eyes and listen to God’s voice, I hear, “Son, you are my beloved.”
You didn’t earn this identity. It’s a gift. The greatest response you can give to God’s love is not to try to earn it or prove yourself. It’s to simply receive it humbly. When God says, “I love you,” don’t try to impress Him. Don’t rush to perform. Just receive it and say, “Yes, Lord, You love me.”
Three things that happen when you know you are beloved
You know, sometimes our flesh thrives on doing something for God. But the new covenant is not about doing; it’s about being. When you become, you do. You don’t need to earn His love; you can simply receive it and become His child. You don’t pray or read the Word to earn His love. You just believe what He has said and receive it fully. When God says something, take Him at His word. Amen!
Let me share three things that happen to you when you have the revelation that you are the beloved. When you know that you are truly the beloved, these three things will always happen in your life.
1.No Fear
There will be no fear in your life—no fear of the future, no fear of the stock market crashing, no fear of the economy. There will be no fear because the antidote to fear is the love of God. If you are struggling with fear today, be confident in His love. 1 John 4:18 says, “Perfect love casts out all fear.”
1 John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”
The root of every fear is shame. Fear tries to hide the shame within us—the fear of rejection, the fear of failure. But when you encounter the love of God, it covers your shame, and there’s no fear.
In Isaiah 54:4, God says:
Isaiah 54:4 – “Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; do not be confounded, for you will not be disgraced. You will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood will be remembered no more.”
Remember, when Adam and Eve sinned, they hid because of shame. But when you encounter God’s love, your shame is covered, and fear is replaced with boldness. The Samaritan woman, when confronted with her shame by Jesus, trusted Him, and through her encounter with Him, she realized that while He exposed her shame, His love was covering her. What shame is limiting you today? Expose it and let God’s love cover it.
2.You Operate From Authority
When you have no fear, you begin to operate from a place of authority and confidence. 1 John 5:4 says, “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” Are you born of God? Then you are an overcomer! But you must know this truth deep in your heart for it to set you free.
Take the example of elephants. When they realize their strength, they operate with confidence. Likewise, when you know your identity as a child of God, you can overcome. You are called to be an overcomer, and this attitude comes from knowing you are His beloved.
3. You Fulfill Your Purpose
When you know who you are and are secure in your identity, you can effectively serve and fulfill your purpose. Even Jesus, the King of Kings, who had every reason to be served, came to serve. He washed the feet of His disciples, including the one who would betray Him, because He was secure in His identity. When you know who you are, you can serve without fear of offense or failure. So, what happens when you know you are beloved? There’s no fear in your life, you operate with authority, and you fulfill your purpose.
How Do We Do This?
By meditating on the Word. I’ll tell you what I do: every day, before anything else, I take a moment to acknowledge, “Thank you, God, that I am Your beloved.” You must get into a peaceful posture where you are sure of your identity in Him. There’s a lot of noise around us—everything trying to get our attention. But set it all aside and say, “Lord, I love You because You love me first. I know I am Your favorite. I know I am Your beloved.” Do you know who was Jesus’ favorite disciple? John. John referred to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” He wasn’t focused on how much he loved Jesus, but on how much Jesus loved him.
This is the principle: be confident that you are the favorite, the beloved of God. In your world, everything revolves around you because you are His beloved. When facing panic attacks or struggling with fear, meditate on the truth that you are God’s beloved. When sleepless nights come, don’t try to numb the feelings by watching TV. Instead, meditate on God’s Word.
Speak it out until you are convinced in every fiber of your being that you are His beloved, that He loves you, and that He has plans for you to prosper, not to harm you.If you do this right, you’ll walk with boldness. Giants will still stand in front of you, but you’ll know that with God’s love, you can conquer them.
Your Identity and Dominion
You are not meant to live a defeated life. You are not meant to live a limited life. Break free from the cage. Be confident in God’s love. You are seated with Christ in heavenly places. When you face challenges, remember who you are—an overcomer, seated high with Christ. When I used to commute, I would declare, “The city knows me because I am the favored one of God.” No matter what the world sees, I am confident in my identity as God’s beloved.
Victory Through Worship
David changed the entire worship atmosphere in Israel. He understood the difference between the Tabernacle of Moses and the Tabernacle of David. The Tabernacle of Moses focused on sacrifices, while the Tabernacle of David was about worship and celebration. David, when bringing the Ark of the Covenant to his palace, led with reverence and celebration, worshiping God in the presence of the people. He celebrated every six steps, and in his heart, every action was an act of reverence toward God.
This is the kind of worship God is calling us to—a worship that celebrates His love, His power, and His presence.
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