Stir up Expectations

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

November 28, 1999

Goal: That the hearers renew their sense of awe at what God has done and wait expectantly for the unexpected.

The Church marks the beginning of another year the first Sunday of Advent. We observe its coming and going without thinking about the fact that it comes and goes without any effort on our part. To us it passes by like the familiar channels on a television when the remote button is pressed. We see each year come and go as the one before with relatively few changes, if any. Without our even knowing it our expectations become dulled, our senses immune to change, our spirit dry and weak from lack of use. Our expectations of God slips into only what we want them to be, not giving thought to what His will is for us. So, what do you expect in the year ahead? Will there be a wedding? A fancy vacation? Death? Do you expect Christ to return? When we review salvation history, we find that God often does what we do not expect. What is interesting is that The Lord has provided all the information we need to expect the unexpected. He gives us knowledge and wisdom to know His plans for us and the whole of creation. But, when expectations are dulled we loose touch with His reality, living only for today in our own reality. Today the Lord gives us opportunity through Word and Sacrament to let the Holy Spirit stir us again to expect the unexpected.

Consider the unexpected things He did to the people of His own choosing. Isaiah, speaking as the mouth of God, says: “I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us--… according to His compassion and many kindnesses. He said, ‘Surely they are my people, sons who will not be false to me’; … In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.”

Now there is nothing unexpected of God in that, is there? We expect God to be kind and generous and forgiving and merciful. I am sure the people of Isaiah’s day had the same expectations, they had experienced much goodness from God. But listen to the next verse very carefully. Isaiah 63:10 says, “Yet they (God’s people) rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he (God) turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.” That is not expected of a loving, merciful God. Yet, the Scripture is sure and does not change, God becomes their enemy as a result of their rebellion.

I doubt very much if they could have acknowledged their sin, however. They probably all said things like, “I believe in God!” “I believe that He redeemed me!” They even ask, “Where is your zeal and your might? Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from us?” The thing unexpected rises out of the truth that God is righteous and holy, not desiring any to be lost. Nor will any be lost if they continue in him. But you see, that is the problem. They do not continue in him. They rebel and turn to those things that are creature, not creator. Thus they make other things their god, to which God responds with judgment: “Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.” (Romans 1:24-25) Let me ask you a question. What is the spiritual condition of people who claim they don’t need to gather with other believers for worship, but can worship god in the woods, or in the natural beauty of creation? Are they expecting the unexpected?

Nevertheless, we thank the Lord for doing the unexpected. Few expect God to give His Spirit and Righteousness in Baptism? Few people expect forgiveness and strength for living a holy life to come to them in the Lord’s Supper. Few expect the fellowship with all of God’s people that we know from believing the words of the prophets and apostles. Even we who are new creatures in Christ do not always expect the abundance of his gifts in our congregations because every year comes and goes as the one before. There seems to be nothing else to learn or know about the living God. That, my friends, God calls rebellion and sin. Who taught us that we can continue to live in sin and expect to receive God’s goodness? God? Heaven forbid! That is not what Christ is all about. Neither is this what His people are all about. Thank God.

Grace is the first and essential spiritual gift. Listen to Paul’s thanksgiving prayer for the Corinthian believers. “I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge—because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.” It is in the apostolic message that God works the unexpected. He works faith, knowledge, testimony, perseverance and strength. But most of all He works an eager expectation of the unexpected, that is, His return in judgment and glory. You might even say it this way, He Stirs Up Expecations of His Truth In Us. In this way, He prepares us for the world to come. Peace is the natural result of God’s grace indwelling us. It is not the kind of peace that says God will not judge us, but says rather, Christ will come again to judge both the living and the dead. Because of that knowledge, we have the peace and quiet assurance that our Lord cares for us in all things. Why else would He confirm His truth in us? Thus, we are enriched in every way. “Therefore,” Paul says, “you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.” See how His Word works to Stir Up Expectations? Isn’t it great to know that?!

The Lord will do the unexpected. The Lord who has established the knowledge of the unexpected in us will make his and our joy complete. The Holy Spirit will continue to gift our understanding and knowledge of God. It is just as the apostle says, “He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” What wonderful news this is. God is able and willing to work in us all that we need to stand in the day of judgment, forgiven, and sinless in His sight. It is through His Word that the Lord will keep us strong in the faith. It is through the Word that the Lord will bless us with every spiritual blessing. It is through the Word confirmed in us that right expectations are stirred. How do I know this for sure? By the Spirit of the living God who says, “God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” What unexpected joy and peace is derived from His Word.

In this new year of the church, will we be prone to seek His Word, or to simply expect things to continue as they always have, with our thoughts and judgments put before His?

Let us pray: Stir up, we implore you, your power, O Lord, and come that by your protection and Word we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and be saved by your mighty deliverance; for you have done the unexpected. You are doing the unexpected, and You will do the unexpected among us. Amen.