Have Something to Look Forward to

Anticipation

2 Peter 3:12 NCV

12 as you wait for and look forward to the coming of the day of God. When that day comes, the skies will be destroyed with fire, and everything in them will melt with heat.

The

Ketchup Comercial

Anticipation makes Life Interesting

Simon Bar Kokhba: Briefly led revolt in Palestine and gave Jews short lived control.

Herod The Great: Saw Jesus ans a threat and tried to have him killed as a child.

How Do You Keep the Grinch from Stealing Your Christmas?

See God’s Encouragement.

Zach was not able to see God’s work because He was discouraged.

Luke 1:7 HCSB

7 But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years.

He questions God standing right in front of Him.

He questions God standing right in front of Him.

Luke 1:18 HCSB

18 “How can I know this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”

Luke 1:20 HCSB

20 Now listen! You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

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When you can’t See God at work it silences your witness.

You can’t see Him working so You have nothing to say.

We need to see the miracles of God if we want to be able to keep our hearts open before Him.

Zach was going trhough the motions…and he was a good dude. But he was discouraged in his , what appeared to him to be a fruitless labor.

Guard against discouragement.

Reflect on your Faith

Luke 1:67–79 HCSB

67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: 68 Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and provided redemption for His people. 69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, 70 just as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets in ancient times; 71 salvation from our enemies and from the clutches of those who hate us. 72 He has dealt mercifully with our fathers and remembered His holy covenant — 73 the oath that He swore to our father Abraham. He has given us the privilege, 74 since we have been rescued from our enemies’ clutches, to serve Him without fear 75 in holiness and righteousness in His presence all our days. 76 And child, you will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, 77 to give His people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. 78 Because of our God’s merciful compassion, the Dawn from on high will visit us 79 to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Note The Following.

Luke 1:72 HCSB

72 He has dealt mercifully with our fathers and remembered His holy covenant —

HE REMEMBERED HIS HOLY COVENANT.

Even Though he was

Keeping the Grinch off Your Doorstep

how do we

How do we keep from Losing Hope?

how do we see God’s Encruagement?

Nurture Anticipation. God is going to do something. Jus not sure when or how.

1. Keep going through the Motions.

I know this sounds crazy. but praising God anyway, says that while your feelings are not lining up. YOu are refusing to let them lead you to action. Instead you are choosing Logic.

Habakkuk 3:17–18 HCSB

17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will triumph in Yahweh; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!

Hab 3

Luke 1:9–10 HCSB

9 it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 10 At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside.

2. Reflect on Faith

Not just your journey? But the journey of others the reason for this season. Is to celebrate the faith that has been given to us.

2 Peter 3:12 HCSB

12 as you wait for and earnestly desire the coming of the day of God. The heavens will be on fire and be dissolved because of it, and the elements will melt with the heat.

2 Peter 3:11–12 HCSB

11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness 12 as you wait for and earnestly desire the coming of the day of God. The heavens will be on fire and be dissolved because of it, and the elements will melt with the heat.

Hebrews 11:39–40 HCSB

39 All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.

Doing this gives us a larger perspective. We are bigger than ourselves. It might not be that the vision you have will be fulfilled in your time. It could be just in your line.

3. Don’t Argue with God’s Messengers

3. Don’t Argue with God’s Messengers

Luke 1:18 HCSB

18 “How can I know this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”

bad things come of it. Zac was put in a time out for 9 months because he was argumentative with God’s messenger.

Who are God’s messengers today?

Pastor’s, Teachers, Evangelists etc.