Expectation
Sunday Sermon / Getting Ahead Sermon Series
May 6th, 2007
Intro: Getting Ahead: Week One / Satisfaction,
Here’s the bottom line issue: Without drawing your deepest level satisfaction from God, you will never be truly satisfied with anything in life.
Week Two / Control
Isaiah 55:8 "8 …my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
Therefore, not every thought in your head is a good one!
(Consider that one, you just may be wrong! Some people never even consider that!)
• Not every emotion is based in God’s reality
• Not every one of your plans is Godly
• Not every one of your “ways” of doing life is godly or from God.
You must cooperate with God’s Holy Spirit to filter every thought
Today we’re going to see how our expectations are vital to the outcome of our lives.
Text:
Isaiah 55:10-11
10"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
I. Want God’s best
“10 …water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout…”
You will eventually get what you expect to get.
You will also get more than you expect:
The Greek siege of Troy had lasted for ten years. Legend has it; the Greeks devised a new ruse: a giant hollow wooden horse. It was built and then Greek warriors. The rest of the Greek army appeared to leave, but actually hid. Meanwhile, a Greek spy convinced the Trojans that the horse was a gift despite the warnings of a few. The horse was even investigated but in the end, the Trojans accepted the gift. In ancient times it was customary for a defeated general to surrender his horse to the victorious general in a sign of respect.
The Trojans hugely celebrated the end of the siege, so that, when the Greeks emerged from the horse, the city was in a drunken stupor. The Greek warriors opened the city gates to allow the rest of the army to enter, and the city was pillaged ruthlessly, all the men were killed, and all the women and children were taken into slavery.
This is the how the devil operates. He promises much and delivers little and in the end his ways will cost you dearly.
1 Timothy 6:9-10 (NASB) “9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
But God does things much differently,
Hebrews 11:6 “… anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
a. God is already ahead.
i. So if you want to get ahead in life, get in behind God and follow Him.
Isaiah 22:22 "Then I will set the key of the house of David on his shoulder, When he opens no one will shut, When he shuts no one will open.
ii. His path leads to success, fulfillment and everlasting life.
iii. God will not fail, He cannot fail and no one will ever truly succeed with Him.
Look, “11…it shall accomplish… (it) shall succeed…”
b. The World is driven by a whole other set of ideals
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
1 Timothy 6:6-10 (NASB) 6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
II. Know God’s best
Have you ever seen the message, “Notice: Urgent message inside” on your mail? Now most of us realize that usually this is a “scam”, but this Book contains letters that are urgent and do have messages in it that will change your life.
“11 so shall my word be…”
• To teach and train
• To save and to sanctify
Ray C. Stedman, “The great tragedy of the church today is the neglect of the Scriptures. People no longer know what the Bible teaches. They no longer think biblically, to think the thoughts of God after him.”
Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge Because you have rejected knowledge…”
Another Pastor wrote, “How can it be that so many of us find ourselves starving for acceptance, happiness, money, knowledge and everything else in this world - when we’ve got a flood at our fingertips? My friends - this should not be.”
a. Study God’s Word with Expectation
Realize, God doesn’t want to squash your dreams.
i. He wants to prune you so that you will bare even more fruit.
ii. God created you with your talents, likes and dislikes, you are His design.
iii. However, He didn’t design into you sin.
iv. By His Word, God builds up what needs it and removes what needs removed.
John 15:2 (NIV) “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
b. The Word will do exactly what you need as you need it.
i. Spiritual, emotional and physical healing
ii. Teach, correct, instruct and guide.
iii. God’s Word is powerful.
III. Ask of God’s Best
Do you need wisdom? Then ask God to give you some! Take up your Bible and read!
• Study “wisdom” in Scripture. And through that process God’s Spirit will give you wisdom.
• He guarantees it.
James 1:5 NIV “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”
a. Ask the Morality question:
• “Will my actions go against anything God has clearly instructed?”
• This will quickly eliminate many of your destructive choices.
• God will not lead you into sin. He doesn’t tempt anyone.
b. Ask for God’s Opinion:
• “God what is your best for me here?”
• This may not be a morality question, but you still need to know God’s heart.
• As He gives you wisdom you may experience a peace in your heart.
• It may be a passion that burns in you
c. Ask the “Conscience” question:
• “Will this choice violate my conscience? Will I feel as though I compromised by doing this?”
• One aspect of the Conscience question, is asking, “What’s my motive?”
• Your motive will tell you if your anywhere near God’s best.
James 3:17 (NIV) But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
If you will decide to live this way, your path becomes much clearer, much easier.
• Let God’s Word form you.
• Have Biblical Expectations!
• Set your heart on the Kingdom. Pursue righteousness. Do not waste your time and energy.
IV. Wait for God’s best.
When the snow is flying, most people aren’t thinking about harvest time.
God shows us here that he lays the seed and waters the seed. The rain and snow come down.
That is in season and out of season he is faithful to water the seed; Summer and winter.
God is tending you life!
You may wonder, “When will I see the fruit?” That will happen in season.
The harvest will come, there will be enough, it will be sufficient for food and for replanting.
V. Expect God’s best.
a. His purpose for me will be accomplished.
2 Corinthians 1:20 (NIV) “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.
I expect God will:
• Give me guidance
• keep me from falling
• I expect that God will give me the Holy Spirit.
• Answer my prayer
• Go before me and hem me in
Psalm 139:5 “You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.”
b. We should expect more.
i. It isn’t that we should expect less in life; rather we should expect more.
ii. The important factor is that we must expect the right things.
iii. When our hearts are aligned with His, our expectations can and must be great.
iv. For we have decided to cooperate with the King of Kings.
Conclusion:
These bold expectations are so bold, not because of my own merit, but they are bold because of His merit and His promises to those who believe.
