Sermon Tone Analysis

Title: The Necessity of Expectancy

Theme: The Need of Seeing Vision Through

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

(Jeremiah 29:11-13)

Although we live among a people who have hearts that disregard the things and the people of God, we can have expectancy that God will use us.

Let me give you some Biblical history.

The prophet Jeremiah’s message was rejected at home and because of his faithfulness to deliver such an unpopular message, the Lord gives him another message for those whom God had carried off into captivity in Babylon.

It is believed that Jeremiah had heard that the Israelites were having trouble submitting to their circumstances, just as some Christians do today.

God has Jeremiah write a letter which tells the Israelites not to listen to the false prophets and diviners who were only deceivers.

The people of God in Babylon were told not to listen to the dreams that the Israelites encouraged the false prophets to have.

The Bible says these false prophets were prophesying lies in the name of the Lord.

God has Jeremiah write in this letter, “…I have not sent them…” (Jeremiah 29:8-9)

In Old Testament times God allowed His disobedient children to be carried off into captivity as well as having them put into slavery for willful sin.

The Book of Romans tells us, today, God allows the willful sinner’s mind to become depraved.

(Romans 1:28) The willful sinner’s thinking becomes futile and their hearts are darkened and they become filled with every kind of wickedness.

(Romans 1:21, 29) In the King James Bible we read of Jesus saying, “…Verily, verily, I say unto you, whosoever, committeth sin is the servant of sin.” (John 8:34) Just as the Lord allowed the disobedient Israelites to become servants to the Babylonians, God allows the disobedient to become servants to sin today.

Babylon in the New Testament is used literally and symbolically.

Please note, in the Book of Revelation, Babylon is used symbolically four different times and she is referred to as a place of sin which causes others to sin.

For example, in Revelations 14:8 she is a place “…which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”

In Revelations 16:19 she is a place that receives the full wrath of God.

In Revelations 17:5 Babylon is “…the mother of prostates and of the abominations of the earth.”

In Revelations 18:2 “She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable [thing].”

It is my understanding, when referring to Babylon symbolically she represents all that is sinful and antagonistic to the Kingdom of God and to His children

I would propose to you that the world we live in today is not a friend of grace.

It is very antagonistic to the Kingdom of God and to conservative Christians.

However, although we live among a people who have hearts that disregard the things and the people of God, we can have expectancy that God will use us.

Can the child of God live a life of expectancy in the times we live today?

Just what should be in the heart and life of the child of God who wants to be used of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Paul had expectancy

The deceiving prophets in Babylon were giving the Israelites a false hope of going back to Jerusalem.

However, God sent a message in a letter, just like He has a message in the Word of God for Christians who are always looking to go somewhere else to serve the Lord.

The message from God through Jeremiah to a people who lived in a land of wickedness was, “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.

Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters.

Also seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile.

Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

(Jeremiah 29:5-7)

In other words, settle down I have proclaimed a time for your deliverance out of this land of people who are against God and His people.

In reality we will be living on this earth among a people who are antagonistic toward the things of God until Christ comes for His bride.

Until that happens, we are to build houses, raise families, and pray for this country.

We are to be very aggressive in the building of our own godly families and also in building the family of God.

The family of God is those who are adopted through faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.

The apostle Paul tells us that “In love 5 [God] predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”

(Ephesians 1:5) This is one of the most positive sentences in the Bible and Christians become children of God only by adoption and grace.

The apostle Paul also tells us this truth.

“Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation… because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.

And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

(Romans 8:12, 14-17)

Christ left the abode of God and walked this guilty sod to achieve His Father’s will for the redemption of sinful mankind.

The apostle Paul said “I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith...” (Philippians 1:23-26) The apostle Paul had expectancy, for he said I am “Convinced of this.”

Thus, Paul was enabled to achieve all that the Lord had called him to do.

It is a necessity that Christians have expectancy that God will keep His promises.

Just as Jesus and the apostle Paul believed.

Our Lord Jesus spoke a promise to us.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

(Matthew 28:18-20)

We can have expectancy to do great things with God.

Even though we live in a land where the people are prone to sin and long to lead others into sin, even though we live in a time where people are antagonistic to the Kingdom of God and to conservative Christians, we can have expectancy to do great things with God.

The apostle Paul had expectancy for he writes “…a great door for effective work has opened to me.” (1 Corinthians 16:3)

One such great man of faith is Pastor/Teacher James Braga.

He has been used of God to teach many a student of God the joy of knowing that a great door of effective work has been opened to them.

He teaches his students to become men of the Word, walk in continual prayer and get messages ready.

They are to live a life expecting God to open doors for them to preach the Word.

This is only done as they “study to show themselves approved as a workman to God.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

They let the Holy Spirit plant truth into their hearts and minds, then they prepare messages as if God was going to open a door for them.

Many of them have prepared Biblical messages, not knowing where or when the door will be opened to preach it.

On many a Saturday night they would read through a message they had completed months ago so they could be ready for Sunday morning, hoping that a door would open.

Even so, they often find themselves sitting in a congregation, listening to and prayerfully supporting another man who is proclaiming the truths of God’s Word.

After months of testing for the fruit of faithfulness and obedience, these prepared men of God see doors begin to open, thus enjoying what the apostle Paul came to know.

Success is not in numbers, but in faithfully preparing, enduring, and expecting to do the Lord’s work.

The success of their ministry does not come from learning the tricks of the trade.

This is only accomplished as the preacher spends much time in secret with Christ, holding daily to uninterrupted, unhurried communion with the Lord and His Word.

The true proclaimers of God’s word live in the Word of God.

They have sacrificed something to make time to study and to be molded by the Word of God.

Throughout their lives they spend hours every week in diligent study and they saturate themselves with it until it grips their hearts.

Such men know the “Necessity of Expectancy” before they are used of the Lord and their life reflects preparation.

They do their part in getting prepared, joyfully wait upon the Lord and cling to His promises.

God will use anyone who is willing to follow and obey His will for them

Those who end up in the preaching and teaching ministry full time expect the Lord to use them, thus, they make proper preparations and so do laymen.

There is a well known layman in the Old Testament who showed great expectations that the Lord would use him because God had called him.

The Prophet Amos’ occupation says that he was a shepherd, but the Hebrew word for shepherd (noqed) suggests that Amos was something more than a mere watcher of the flock, although he did spend much time with flocks of sheep.

The Prophet Amos also described himself as one who took care of sycamore-trees.

The proper reading of what Amos was saying about himself was that he was successful in fig cultivation and in the shepherding and merchandizing of sheep.

What the Holy Spirit wants you get from all this is the fact that God called a busy and prosperous man away from his secular pursuits to undertake a work of the Lord.

God’s people needed a word of exhortation from the Lord and He sent a faithful man to do the job.

God will use anyone who is willing to follow and obey His will.

He can take you out of your busy successful schedule and use you briefly on Sunday morning, on Sunday or Wednesday night, or any other time He needs you.

Just like Jesus and the Apostle Paul, Amos had expectancy that God was going to use him and that God’s Word would be fulfilled.

He needed to have expectancy because in Amos 7:12 we read that he was sharply addressed by the priest Amaziah.

The priest told Amos to “Get out…!

Go back to the land of Judah.

Earn your bead there and do your prophesying there.”

(Amos 7:12) Amaziah had no concept of divine inspiration and was very likely accusing Amos of being paid from someone in Judah to prophesy in Bethel.