Oh, that's just Pastor _________.

Man and woman of God; what works in you is awesome!

The gifts and calling imparted to you by Holy Spirit allows God's will to be done on earth!

But something happens inside a ministry that will slow down a move of God and leave the essence of your gifts dormant. It will have you leave a service scratching your head and wondering what happened.

It's called familiarity and it happens to most of us.

I remember hearing a pastor say that she enjoyed going out to minister because she was able to minister on a completely different level. That there was a level of expectation in the house for God to move and this released the gift of God in her. She said this was not the case "at home" because there she was just the pastor.

A year ago we visited a friend's church and the first lady introduced her husband. She recalled a similar incident in their home church. She explained that one Sunday she admonished the people to raise their expectations...to unwrap the gift that was in their pastor and receive from God through him. The gift was there to bless them but they had to want it. They had to want a move of God. There had to be expectation. Needless to say that Sunday morning God moved in such a wonderful way.

So many times church becomes routine, parishioners become familiar and levels of expectation drop and the gift of God inside the man and woman of God go untapped. Sure you minister, you lay hands and pray but you find yourself in the same situation as our Lord.

But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching. - Mark 6:4

So how do you encourage expectancy?

Other than prayer, fasting and preaching sound doctrine; I have no other solution. It's certainly not through flashy, fleshy, gimmicky marketing promotions either. Not if you're looking for a real move of God.

I encourage you to continue if you find yourself in this place.

Be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.

Know that God blesses and rewards your faithfulness and your obedience.

The gifts Holy Spirit placed in you work and bless those who'll tap into it.