The King: is coming and he won't be what you expected

Expectations are sort of a 2 edged sword. When grounded in the truth, they can build anticipation or become a burden. Like graduating high school or college…so excited about the next thing…but terrified that we have to leave what we know.

Expectations can have a similar effect when they are in things that aren’t real either. For example, when we don’t trust people, expectations can lead us to make false assumptions about people…or they can lead to despair…even when our expectations are grounded in lies, they can lead us to depression because we fear what might be.

Expectations are heavy.

When we hope in things we don’t understand,

When we hope in things that are beyond our reach

When we hope in ideas that we never claimed, but were put on us by others

Expectations are Dangerous

When the hope is groundless

When we expect the wrong outcomes

When they are contextually impossible

Expectations are a reality

We expect Safety

Kindness

Grace

Tolerance

But what happens when these don't come? How do we respond?

This what John speaks to, when our expectations are thrown to the air

That’s where we find ourselves today.

WE have expectations for Christmas and they are based on what happened last year…the last time “they” came over.

Same with a king…the people had expectations…a king would rescue them, defend them, conquer for them...

But John delivered a different message. It started out very familiar:

Luke 3:3–6 NLT

3 Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. 4 Isaiah had spoken of John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him! 5 The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth. 6 And then all people will see the salvation sent from God.’ ”

Good News

That’s what we want…that’s what we need…Salvation.

This is the king that they expected....

But then this woolly man changes the story:

Luke 3:7–9 NLT

7 When the crowds came to John for baptism, he said, “You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? 8 Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. 9 Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.”

Wait a minute!

Woah there....what are yall doing…comging down here just because it’s the Godly thing to do…yall don’t believe htis…or your lives would show it.

Yall are relying on your geneology when your heart is dead.

The peace and prosperity…the blessing....the fruitfulness that you hoped for can’t come to you all because you are dead wood…you are going ot be cut down and thrown out in order to make room for a new people who produce fruit.

Can you imagine the reaction when the God the expected was not the God who was coming?

What’s going on?

How would you respond?

Luke 3:10–11 NIV84

10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked. 11 John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.”

Isn’t that what we want? We want specifics in our spiritual life.

Pray this prayer.

Give this much.

Study this book.

Go to this church.

We want clear steps.....they weren’t any different:

The King is coming, what do we do? Should we clean up the town? prepare a celebration? Should we plant an orchard? Build a temple or a palace? What do we do?

John’s answer, surprisingly simple....not at all what they expected. Simple things that everyone could participate in. John told them to live differently.

Luke 3:12–14 NIV84

12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” 13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. 14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

Don’t take advantage of people

Don’t abuse your position for personal gain

If you are trusted with authority, a badge, or a gun, use it to honor God and your neighbor rather than make more of yourself.

While you may work in places that take advantage and work against the kingdom of God, use your position to actually promote the grace of God.

When this new king arrived, things would change....so, you prepare by getting ready for his reign…work for the kingdom. Show your allegiance by doing what the king would want you to do.

Luke 3:15–18 NIV84

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them.

The people began to get excited about John, but he had to make sure they knew he wasn’t the messiah and he knew he had a role to play…just as everyone else. John’s was to preach this good news…theirs was to serve the Kingdom…The kings was to tend to the harvest.

Expectantly Waiting

We have expectations today about when Jesus comes again. Many expect Jesus to make things right…and he will, at least that’s what the Bible tells us, but not right as we think it should be, but right as God says is was intended to be.

So what do we do while we wait?

WE wait well…we wait while we participate in his kingdom practices. We wait knowing that he can make anyone he wants into his child…he ccan transofrm them in a moment.

We wait as we seek to be pruned by his spirit into fruitful disciples.

We wait as we we trust that God is the one who can sort out the harvest from the chaff.

As we wait, we rejoice that he is that God…our God who can do far more than we can imagine.

WE wait as we take care to love him with our little cracked up, bruised, and imperfect heart until he comes and makes all things new.