What Were You Expecting

ILLUSTRATION- Times when I wasn’t sure what to expect.

Ephesians 3:14–21 (NLT) — 14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. 20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

ILLUSTRATION- Finally getting upgraded to business class on a flight back from Argentina and sleeping through nearly all of it.

KEY POINT- Do you realize the power of God that is in you? What are you expecting? What are you reaching for?

MAIN POINT- Jesus has made his home in your heart and has called you appointed you for today. Don’t live a normal life, live a supernatural life. Everyday wake up with expectation in your heart!

I showed up tonight expecting to expereince God’s presence… I prepared this sermon expecting someone to get transformed by the preaching of God’s word…

KEY- My expectations as to what God is going to do is rooted in God’s character and his promise to me.

Ephesians 3:16 (NLT) — 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.

POINT- What keeps people from experiencing a supernatural life? I believe it has so much to do with expectation.

Acts 3:1–11 (NLT) — 1 Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money. 4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money.

The man was EXPECTING some money… He gave his attention with expectation… But don’t forget its more than we could ask or imagine, in other words God works beyond my wildest dreams.

6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” 7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did,

God often works his miracles in “As you do” form…

the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. 8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them. 9 All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. 10 When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! 11 They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.

I read this story in amazement, but what breaks my heart is the thought that so many believers still lie crippled ineffective, unmotivated, at the “temple.”

QUESTION- How is it that we could have such power in us, but remain so “crippled” in our walk with God?

1. We allow our condition to affect our expectation.

Acts 3:2 (NLT) — 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple.

2. We allow our disappointments to affect our expectation.

Acts 3:2 (NLT) — 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple.

3. We allow our low expectations to affect our expectation.

Acts 3:3 (NLT) — 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.

KEY POINT- Sometimes we think we are asking for a lot, but its so minimal compared to what God wants to do.

CONCLUSION…

What are you expecting?