HIGH EXPECTATIONS
Romans 8:16-25
* In 1999 the Broadman Holman Publishers released a book written by Dr. Thom Rainer entitled, “High Expectations.” The thesis of this book is that churches who expect much from their members get much. Conversely, it is true that if a church expects little, it will get what it expects. Dr. Rainer made his case after hearing from & studying several dozen churches from almost every state in the Union. You see, when you have HIGH expectations for anything, it will change your approach, and outlook.
* This morning I submit to you that our expectations about Christ and what HE can and will give to us, will impact our approach to life, our activities in life, and our outlook beyond life. If you and I keep our focus and find our hope only in this life we will be, like Paul writes, most miserable. And that is not a good place to be. But if our hope is built on nothring
* When Jesus comes into our life, we can and should have high expectations. He expects much from us and He expects much for us. Because of our connection to Him, through our coming to faith, the bar for our life and our future should be raised to a higher level than humankind can image. So let me ask, “Why should we have high expectations” and then, let me offer 5 reasons to expect much.
1. My Partnership with Christ – Quite honestly, I have mixed emotions about the sound of this thought. By definition, partnership is the sharing the profit and losses, the good and the bad, the triumphs and failure, and the joy and the suffering. Here’s the thing, I think I like the profits, the good, the triumphs, and the joys, but I prefer NOT to have to share the cross. Yet the Bible says that I am a partner and share with Him in an inheritance, an abundant life, and one day a home in heaven.
* Verse 17 says we are co or joint heirs with Jesus. This means we are in it together. We suffer like He did so that we can enjoy the glory that He does. Think about this; He was rejected. If we live for Him, we will be rejected. He was despised. If we become like Him, quite likely we’ll be despised. The list goes on. Whatever this world did to Him, they may well do to His followers. Why is this? The Bible says that “we” are the light of the world. When we let our light shine, it reveals the wicked-ness with which this world has become so comfortable. The very name Jesus is a dividing factor. Today, if one can pray in a public forum, they are instructed NOT to use the name of Jesus. Jesus is an offense to the sinfulness of this world, and you and I are His representatives.
High Expectations – Pg 2
* Last week I ended the message with the story of the elderly missionary couple coming home from a lifetime of work in Africa. If you remember the husband was disturbed that President Roosevelt got all the attention upon the ship arriving home in New York. Bothered by this the man prayed about not being anyone to greet him when he got home and the Lord reminded him, “You’re not home yet.”
* Here is what we need to learn from that story. We may never have wealth, fame, accolades, or the like in this world. But as a partner with Jesus there is more to come. Which brings us to the next reason,
2. My Perception through Christ - They say perception is reality. When we perceive that this life is “the best it can ever be”, then we give IT our full and undivided attention. When we do this, we set the bar of expectation very low compared to the expectations which God has for us. God wants the very best eternity has to offer for us and that “best” is only in Christ.
* While it’s true that our partnership with Christ may cause us heartaches on earth read verse 18 with me. (read) The scripture says, “Whatever we suffer down here is overshadowed by what lies ahead for us.” This was a concept which Paul was clearly coming to understand and teach because in the very next letter he would write, he gave the same message to the church at Corinth. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
* Have you ever wanted to give up? You are trying to live for Christ, then something happens, and a little voice says, “What’s the use?” If you listen to this voice and respond—you will quit. First, every one of us should know and realize that these urgings are directly from the enemy. He wants you to quit. Next, understand enemy does not want the best for us. If you are a believer then the enemy KNOWS he cannot separate you from your eternity. But he can make you ineffective and miserable for now. He will make a stab at keeping you away from the assembly.
* Watch this; we don’t give up EVEN THOUGH our ‘outer person’ is being destroyed. What is destroying this outer person? Paul follows that it is our “momentary light afflictions.” Does Paul live where I live? What does he mean by “momentary” (my afflictions never seem to cease), “light” (I’d hate to see heavy), and “affliction” (finally, a word I can get my hands around). But the payoff is found in our perceptions; whatever we are experiencing down here in no way compares to the wonders over there. In 1 Corinthians 2 Paul tells us that the best is yet to come. Candidly, we cannot even imagine what God has planned for us.
High Expectations – Pg 3
3. My Past apart from Christ –When I read verses 20 and 21, I am reminded of where I came from. Bill Gaither is a name which most people recognize. If you read the titles of his songs, you’ll see the progression of his spiritual journey. He began with “He Touched Me” until later down the road he penned, “The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.” One of his later songs relay this message, “Thanks to Calvary I don’t live here anymore.” It does us well to remember from where we came.
* In verses 20 & 21, Paul reminds us of our past. As God’s crown creation, even us, by our sin, were estranged from the life of God. We were living a life of futility, emptiness, frustration, purposelessness, aimlessness, and of idleness. Apart from God’s grace we had no hope; we were in bondage to corruption and were destined for a place of eternal death.
* I submit that when we forget our past, we tend to take for granted our present, and presume on our future. When we forget where we came from we are tempted to believe that we “deserve” God’s grace and are good enough to “pay our own way” into God’s family. When because of Adam’s sin, God kicked the first couple out of the Garden; corruption began to take over humankind. It is this corruption which permeates our world today. But let’s be a little more personal. It is the corruption which permeates our hearts. It is what makes us selfish, self-centered, and self-seeking. It is that which raises its ugly head as pride and arrogance. It causes a man to take the life of a family member. It’s ugly, but it very alive and present in our world. Apart from Christ, I am corrupt, controlled by corruption, and having no hope.
* How long has it been since you have “reviewed and remembered” where God found you. When you do this, you will be reminded of where He wants you to go and when He wants you to be.
4. My Pains for Christ –I understand this is an unusual way to state this, but follow this though process. In verse 22 & 23 “there’s a whole lot of “groaning” going on.” In verse 22 & 23, some form of the word “groan” is used. Then it ties the pains to “labor pains.” Need I say more to describe the type of moaning which is going on? Having watched Deb go through childbirth twice, I have as much of an understanding as a man can have about “labor pains.” Most of the time, a man watches and wonders how his wife can endure such pain. Quite likely, most moms will tell us that they endure the pain because of the coming new life.
High Expectations – Pg 4
* A mom has the high expectation that her baby will be beautiful, healthy, and a real blessing for years to come, and that makes the moaning, groaning, and the intense pain, worth it.
* In Romans 1 we are told that creation witnesses to the existence, the greatness, and the character of God. Then the Holy Spirit comes into our lives and “convicts us” of our sin and need for a relationship with God through Christ. If you can remember when the Holy Spirit of God began to “speak to you” about your need for Christ, it created within you a pain of sorts. Let me describe this pain in simple terms.
* Until confronted by the Holy Spirit of God we are permeated with our own self interest. Our life is wrapped up in “number one.” We have believed our own press. When the Holy Spirit speaks to us about our need, He challenges everything we believe and have lived our lives for up to this point. This challenge creates in us a struggle which can rightly be described as a “pain” or a “groaning.” It is at this point we are faced with a decision. It is a decision which has plagued mankind since the first century. It is a decision which was voiced by Pilate in Jerusalem when he asked the question, “What will you do with Jesus?”
* You see, the pains (groaning) which we feel before we come to Christ are spiritual pains given to us in anticipation of new birth. It goes without saying that any new birth carries with it, “high expectations.” But that is not all; we are given one more truth about a life lived like this.
5. My Promise in Christ – When we make the decision to respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and receive Christ as our personal savior, the future expectations should be beyond imagination. There is an old pop song which says, “It’s just my imagination, running away with me.” In Christ, you can indeed let your imagination run wild about the wonders and glories which awaits you. Additionally, you will never even come close to realizing all that God has in store for us. When we submit and surrender to the wooing of the Spirit of God, coming to Him like a trusting Child, then the Spirit takes residence inside the heart of our lives as the “firstfruits” (that is, the first part of God’s takeover plan) and we look forward all that God has in store for us. 1 Corinthians 2:6 sheds light on what lies ahead. (Lyrics - I know who holds tomorrow)
* In Christ, we have connections with the one who is already in tomorrow. He sees the past, present, and future. In Him we have High Expectations.
