Hungry Expectancy: Living the Jesus Model
There’s something electric about the anticipation of a holiday—the countdown, the packing, the sense that something good is coming. That same expectancy belongs in our spiritual lives too. Not just natural excitement, but supernatural hunger for what God is about to do.
Jesus Himself set the tone. In John 16:7 and 12, He speaks of the coming Holy Spirit—promising more than His disciples could yet grasp. Then in Acts 1:1–8, we see the build-up: Jesus instructs them to “wait” in Jerusalem. But this waiting wasn’t passive. It was charged with obedience, unity, and prayer. It was worship.
Acts 2 marks the pivotal moment. The Spirit is poured out, and the church is filled—pleroo—completely equipped for life and ministry. The result? Acts 17:6: “These men have turned the world upside down.” The outpouring wasn’t just emotional—it was empowering.
So what does hungry expectancy look like today?
It starts with posture.
Acts 1:14 shows the disciples “all together in one accord.” Unity wasn’t just agreement—it was a shared heart. They prayed passionately and persistently. That prayer fuelled hunger. That hunger drew heaven.
It’s about purpose.
We wait not for waiting’s sake, but to be clothed in power. The Holy Spirit equips us inwardly for transformation and outwardly for mission. The power is the game changer.
It’s about the pause.
WAIT becomes a PAUSE acronym for expectancy:
• P = Persistent prayer. Don’t give up.
• A = Active pursuit. Like Smith Wigglesworth, press in.
• U = Unity. A heart posture, not just consensus.
• S = Surrender. Let go of our agendas. Make room.
• E = Encouragement. Share testimonies. Let the Spirit be our encourager.
Let’s cultivate it. Let’s live it. Because hungry expectation draws God. And when He comes, everything changes.
Holy Spirit, fill us afresh. Teach us to wait with hunger, to pray with passion, and to live with expectancy. Equip us for life and ministry. May we be those who turn the world upside down—for Your glory.