Traction: Expectant Faith for Miraculous Moments with God

Devotional

Day 1: Cultivating Expectation, Not Entitlement

It is vital to approach God with a heart full of expectation, rather than a spirit of entitlement. Entitlement demands that God prove Himself, seeking His hand for what He can do for us, often leading to anger when our demands are not met. True expectation, however, flows from a humble and hungry heart, desperate for His presence and submitted to His will. This posture allows us to receive His power and breakthrough, recognizing His sovereignty and goodness in every circumstance. We are invited to seek His heart above all else, trusting in His perfect timing and boundless love. [56:28]

Bible passage: Matthew 12:38-39
Some religious leaders and teachers once came to Jesus, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you." But Jesus answered them, "A wicked and unfaithful generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to them except the sign of the prophet Jonah."

Reflection: In what areas of your life might you be unknowingly approaching God with a sense of entitlement, perhaps demanding a specific outcome rather than humbly seeking His will?

Day 2: Small Acts, Great God, Incredible Traction

We often strive for momentum, putting immense effort into our endeavors, only to feel like we're taking one step forward and two steps back. Yet, the scriptures reveal a different path to traction: pairing simple acts of obedience with unwavering faith in a great and mighty God. He delights in taking the little we offer—our meager resources, our humble efforts—and transforming them into something incredible, far beyond what we could achieve on our own. Never underestimate the power of God to multiply your small acts when they are offered in faith and obedience. [01:03:17]

Bible passage: John 6:11-13
Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were seated, and likewise with the fish, as much as they wanted. When everyone had eaten their fill, Jesus told his disciples, "Gather the leftover pieces so that nothing is wasted." So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces from the five barley loaves that were left over by those who had eaten.

Reflection: What "small act of obedience" or limited resource in your life could you offer to God this week, trusting Him to multiply it for His kingdom's advancement?

Day 3: Encountering Jesus in Supernatural Revelation

There are moments in our spiritual journey when God desires to reveal Himself in such a profound and supernatural way that it leaves an indelible mark on our hearts and minds. These are not everyday occurrences, but they are divine invitations to behold Jesus in His glory, to grasp the immeasurable depth of His love, and to experience His presence in a tangible, unforgettable manner. Such encounters can reshape our understanding of who He is, filling us with a sense of His incredible love, grace, mercy, and power, creating testimonies we will cherish for a lifetime. [01:14:42]

Bible passage: Matthew 17:1-5
After six days, Jesus took Peter, James, and John, his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There, before their eyes, He was transformed; His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as dazzling white as light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared, talking with Jesus. Peter, overwhelmed, said to Jesus, "Lord, it is wonderful for us to be here! If you wish, I will set up three shelters here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud declared, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!"

Reflection: When have you experienced a moment of profound spiritual insight or a tangible sense of God's presence that you still remember vividly? How did that encounter shape your understanding of Jesus?

Day 4: Divine Strategies for Kingdom Ministry

God's kingdom advances not merely through human planning or clever strategies, but through divine, supernatural interventions that empower His people for ministry. He often provides clear direction, opens unexpected doors, and equips us with Holy Spirit-inspired strategies in our workplaces, families, and communities. When we align ourselves with the King's business, seeking to advance His purposes, we position ourselves to witness miraculous provision, favor, and opportunities that are undeniably from Him. This confidence allows us to step out in faith, knowing that God is actively at work, powerfully advancing His kingdom through us. [01:18:24]

Bible passage: Acts 16:9-10
During the night, Paul had a vision: a man from Macedonia was standing there, pleading with him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us!" As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we immediately prepared to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.

Reflection: Where in your daily life—be it at work, with family, or in your community—do you sense God inviting you to participate in His kingdom work, and what specific "Holy Spirit-inspired strategy" might He be revealing to you?

Day 5: God's Compassion for Your Personal Needs

Beyond grand revelations and kingdom-advancing strategies, God deeply cares about the intimate, personal struggles and needs of each individual. He knows your heart, your hidden burdens, and the areas where you long for breakthrough. Just as He intervened in the life of the woman who suffered for years, He invites you to approach Him with desperate expectation, pushing through any obstacles to draw near to Him. Trust that His great compassion will meet you in your unique circumstances, bringing healing, provision, and miraculous intervention in ways only He can orchestrate. [01:20:23]

Bible passage: Matthew 9:20-22
Just then, a woman who had been suffering from a bleeding condition for twelve years came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of His cloak. She thought to herself, "If I can just touch His garment, I will be healed." Jesus turned, saw her, and said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And from that very moment, the woman was healed.

Reflection: What deeply personal need or long-standing struggle in your life are you holding onto, and how might God be inviting you to approach Him with a renewed, desperate expectation for His compassionate intervention this week?

Sermon Summary

This year I’m pressing into one word: traction. I want us moving forward—momentum that overcomes the stalls and setbacks that make faith feel like one step forward and two steps back. There’s a place for faithful endurance, for steady, obedient service while we wait. But there’s another side of our life with God: sudden, supernatural intervention. Scripture is full of moments when God steps in decisively—parting seas, walls falling, loaves and fishes multiplying, chains dropping off prisoners—because He delights to advance His kingdom in ways we cannot manufacture.

We must live without entitlement but with expectation. Entitlement judges and demands; expectation listens and positions itself. Worship enlarges our hearts to believe the impossible; I felt that in worship recently when the sense of God’s bigness made anything seem possible. Small, faithful acts matter—Joan bottling water with Scripture is a simple obedience that, when paired with prayer, can become the seed of a life-changing encounter. The feeding of the 5,000 shows Jesus takes little and makes it enough; the woman with the long illness shows He cares about intimate, personal brokenness as much as public miracles.

The Spirit is the key engine of traction. Psalm 127 reminds us that without the Lord our labor is in vain; the Latin motto on Edinburgh’s crest—without the Lord, frustration—could be the subtitle for many wearied lives. As we cultivate fellowship with the Holy Spirit, He guides ministry, opens doors, and orchestrates divine appointments that no marketing plan could produce. I’ve seen this in a young man’s life: a moment in worship, leaders praying, and by the next day obstacles removed and a door opened for him to serve and grow—an instant intervention that came after years of faithful perseverance.

So I’m calling us to raise expectation in three areas: behold Christ (moments of revelation), pursue Spirit-led ministry (divine openings and provision), and pray for personal miracles (healing, restoration, dignity). Let us increase our capacity to believe, to act in small obedient faith, and to walk in close fellowship with the Spirit so that this year becomes a year of traction and testimonies for God’s glory.

Key Takeaways

1. Trade entitlement for expectant faith Entitlement demands proof and positions us as judges, which hardens the heart and pushes God away. Expectant faith adopts a posture of hunger and humility—ready to receive without controlling the outcome. Expectation increases spiritual sensitivity and invites God to move in ways that transform both circumstance and soul.
2. Small obedience invites mighty multiplication A tiny, faithful act can be the conduit for a kingdom miracle when offered in humility and prayer. Multiplication is not magic but partnership: God often chooses human smallness to magnify His glory. Practically, this reframes ordinary acts—bringing water, a whispered prayer—as strategic places to trust God for exponential fruit.
3. Fellowship with the Spirit matters Intimacy with the Holy Spirit changes decision-making from human strategy to divine direction. When the Spirit is consulted, doors open that no plan could force; movements happen through relationship, not marketing. Cultivating this fellowship requires listening, obedience, and willingness to be led into unfamiliar places.
4. Expect miracles in personal places God’s interventions are not only public spectacles; He specializes in redeeming private shame, chronic pain, and long seasons of loss. Personal miracles restore dignity and reorder life trajectories, showing that God notices the smallest, loneliest struggles. Hold out for those intimate breakthroughs even when years of effort have yielded little.

Bible Study Guide

Alright team, welcome! So good to be together. This past Sunday, Pastor Graeme really stirred our hearts with a powerful message about "traction" – about moving forward with God and experiencing His supernatural intervention. He challenged us to trade entitlement for expectation, to see how our small acts of obedience can lead to mighty multiplication, and to cultivate deep fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

Let's dive into our discussion guide and see how we can apply these truths to our lives this week.

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### **Traction: Moving Forward with Expectation**

**Bible Reading:**

* **Matthew 14:13-21** (The Feeding of the Five Thousand)
* **Psalm 127:1-2** (Unless the Lord Builds)
* **Matthew 9:20-22** (The Woman with the Issue of Blood)

**Observation Questions:**

In Matthew 14, what was Jesus' initial response when He saw the large crowd, and what did He instruct His disciples to do regarding their hunger?
According to Psalm 127:1-2, what is the outcome of human labor and watchfulness if the Lord is not involved in building or watching?
The sermon contrasted "entitlement" with "expectation." How did Pastor Graeme describe the difference in posture and outcome between these two approaches to God?
In Matthew 9, what specific action did the woman with the issue of blood take to seek healing from Jesus, and what was her belief about what would happen?

**Interpretation Questions:**

The sermon emphasized that "small obedience invites mighty multiplication," using the story of Joan bottling water with Scripture verses and the feeding of the 5,000 as examples. How do these stories challenge our typical understanding of what it takes to make a significant impact for God's Kingdom?
Pastor Graeme shared the testimony of Patrice, where significant obstacles were removed "in an instant" after years of faithful perseverance. How does this testimony balance the sermon's emphasis on "sudden, supernatural intervention" with the reality of "faithful endurance"?
Psalm 127:1-2 states that "unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain." The sermon connected this to the motto "without the Lord, frustration." In what areas of life might people experience this "frustration" today by trying to build or achieve without God's leading?
The sermon highlighted the woman with the issue of blood as an example of expecting miracles in personal places. What does her desperate act of reaching for Jesus' cloak reveal about the nature of expectant faith, especially when compared to the Pharisees' demands for a sign?

**Application Questions:**

Pastor Graeme called us to "trade entitlement for expectant faith." Reflect on a recent situation where you might have approached God with an entitled attitude (perhaps demanding proof or judging His timing). How could you reframe that situation with an expectant posture (one of hunger, humility, and readiness to receive)?
The pastor encouraged us that "small obedience invites mighty multiplication," using Joan's water bottles as a tangible example. What is one "small, faithful act" you could commit to this week, paired with prayer, believing God for exponential fruit in someone's life or a specific situation?
"Fellowship with the Spirit matters" was a key takeaway, with the Holy Spirit guiding ministry, opening doors, and orchestrating divine appointments. What is one practical step you can take this week to cultivate closer fellowship with the Holy Spirit, perhaps by listening more intentionally or seeking His guidance in a specific decision?
The sermon urged us to "expect miracles in personal places," like the woman with the issue of blood. Is there a "private shame, chronic pain, or long season of loss" in your life that you've stopped expecting God to intervene in? How can you intentionally raise your expectation for a personal breakthrough in that area this week?
Pastor Graeme outlined three areas to raise expectation: beholding Christ (moments of revelation), pursuing Spirit-led ministry (divine openings and provision), and praying for personal miracles (healing, restoration, dignity). Which of these three areas resonates most with you right now, and what is one specific prayer you can pray daily this week related to that area?
The pastor prayed for our hearts to grow in capacity to believe, like the Grinch's heart growing three sizes. What is one specific belief about God's power or willingness to act that you want to see grow in your heart this year, and what might be hindering that growth?
The sermon mentioned the danger of seeking the hand of God and not His heart. How can you ensure that your pursuit of "traction" and miracles this year is rooted in a deeper desire for God Himself, rather than just what He can do for you?

Sermon Quotes

The word we’re feeling from God this year is "traction"—momentum, moving forward, overcoming obstacles. We serve a God so big and mighty he can clear any obstacle that stands in our way.

Sometimes we get entitled. We want a quick fix, seeking the hand of God and not his heart. When he doesn't deliver, we get angry with him.

You have to kill that entitlement inside you because it's not good for you. But when entitlement dies, our expectation can take a big knock and we must remember the other truth of God.

Never underestimate what our great God can do when you pair a simple act of obedience with faith and prayer.

Real traction comes from the Holy Spirit as we pursue Jesus; no matter how hard you work, it is only through the blessing and favor of our Lord that we truly gain traction in life.

If you imagine a moment with Jesus to grasp the fullness of God, our God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above and beyond what you can ever imagine or think.

I believe there will be moments of supernatural revelation of who Jesus is—encounters so real and powerful you'll remember them and tell your grandchildren about them decades from now.

The reason we have testimonies is because if God has done it once, he can do it again; there are many more people who need that same intervention.

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Traction: Expectant Faith for Miraculous Moments with God

Devotional

Day 1: Cultivating Expectation, Not Entitlement

Day 2: Small Acts, Great God, Incredible Traction

Day 3: Encountering Jesus in Supernatural Revelation

Day 4: Divine Strategies for Kingdom Ministry

Day 5: God's Compassion for Your Personal Needs

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Quotes

Chatbot

Traction: Expectant Faith for Miraculous Moments with God

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