Expectations Versus Reality, Part 1

7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’ 11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Title - Expectations, Part 1

Series - Expectations

Topic Sentence

People have expectations with regards to what a servant of God is and how a servant of God should behave. Some expectations are right, some are way out of line.

Right and wrong expectations

Wrong -

we compare one minister to another

ex - a pastor with tattered barong and broken shoes

ex - a thin and fat ministers

we measure them according to our established beliefs

ex - my pastor should visit me whenever I have a problem

ex - my pastor should be able to discern it when I have a problem

ex - a pastor is never weak or discouraged, but always enthusiastic and smiling

Disappointment comes when our expectations are not met or satisfied.

Right -

we accept the limits of what humans can do

intead, we recognize the things that God is doing in his life

we refuse to measure him up on the physical side

instead, we recognize the measure of the gift in the person

Expectations on the life of a servant of God

EXPECTATION: Servants of God never doubt - they are always confident and enthusiastic!

REALITY: Servants of God do struggle under circumstances

John went through the scrutiny of the Jewish minds

Matthew 11:7–8 NKJV

Jesus defended John before the Jews

a reed shaken by the wind - because John was asking whether he was the Coming One or not

Matthew 11:2–6 NKJV

2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” 4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

the Jews must have observed John’s boldness and later silence when he was imprisoned

Servants of God do struggle in their faith!

Servants of God also need assurance, even prophets!

Asking question is not a sign of unbelief!

Elijah

he ran away from Jezebel

he wanted to die!

1 Kings 19:1–4 NKJV

1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”

Servants of God do fear and get discouraged, especially after delivering their sermons

EXPECTATION: Servants of God will always reap the good results of their ministry.

REALITY: Servants of God endure suffering as a direct result of their ministry.

Jeremiah - he hated his existence

Jeremiah 20:7–18 NKJV

7 O Lord, You induced me, and I was persuaded; You are stronger than I, and have prevailed. I am in derision daily; Everyone mocks me. 8 For when I spoke, I cried out; I shouted, “Violence and plunder!” Because the word of the Lord was made to me A reproach and a derision daily. 9 Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.” But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not. 10 For I heard many mocking: “Fear on every side!” “Report,” they say, “and we will report it!” All my acquaintances watched for my stumbling, saying, “Perhaps he can be induced; Then we will prevail against him, And we will take our revenge on him.” 11 But the Lord is with me as a mighty, awesome One. Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and will not prevail. They will be greatly ashamed, for they will not prosper. Their everlasting confusion will never be forgotten. 12 But, O Lord of hosts, You who test the righteous, And see the mind and heart, Let me see Your vengeance on them; For I have pleaded my cause before You. 13 Sing to the Lord! Praise the Lord! For He has delivered the life of the poor From the hand of evildoers. 14 Cursed be the day in which I was born! Let the day not be blessed in which my mother bore me! 15 Let the man be cursed Who brought news to my father, saying, “A male child has been born to you!” Making him very glad. 16 And let that man be like the cities Which the Lord—overthrew, and did not relent; Let him hear the cry in the morning And the shouting at noon, 17 Because he did not kill me from the womb, That my mother might have been my grave, And her womb always enlarged with me. 18 Why did I come forth from the womb to see labor and sorrow, That my days should be consumed with shame?

Note - God did not rebuke Jeremiah in his complaint!

Paul - he suffered so much in bringing the gospel to the Gentile

2 Corinthians 1:8–9 NKJV

8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,

EXPECTATION: Servants of God should always have the best in life.

REALITY: Servants of God do suffer poverty, and must learn contentment.

John - he did not conform to the standard of his time

Matthew 11:8 NKJV

8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.

his lifestyle was unconventional

he was a man of the wilderness

Paul - he learned how to abound and to suffer need

Philippians 4:10–14 NKJV

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.

Expectations on the the ministry of a servant of God

EXPECTATION: A true servant of God will perform signs and wonders to vindicate his ministry

REALITY: Many servants of God do not have visible supernatural vindications of their ministry

Note - the Jews demanded sign from Jesus, because the people beleived him to be a prophet.

John could not be a prophet because he did not perform a single supernatural sign

John - he was prophet, even if he did not perform a single miracle!

Matthew 11:9–11 NKJV

9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’ 11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

he was more than a prophet - because he was a forerunner of the Messiah

Jesus quoted Mal 3.1

Malachi 3:1 NKJV

1 “Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the Lord of hosts.

John was the greatest among the O.T. prophets

The greatness of one’s ministry is not measured in the number of converts, the size of building built, or the many signs and wonders he did.

A ministry is great in the eyes of God because the servant of God has faithfully accomplished the work he was called and sent to do!

EXPECTATION: a true ministry will be peaceful and smooth-sailing

REALITY: a true work of God will always arouse oppositions and enemies

John - his preaching sparked violence against the kingdom of God

Matthew 11:12 NKJV

12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

violence - in the form of persecution

John was imprisoned - and later killed

Jesus was opposed in almost every way

Jesus predicted His sufferings

Jesus warned his disciples of persecution!

the violent take it by force - they will find a way to do harm against God’s servants

REALITY: the true ministry and the true church is called to be Christ’s Witnesses - Martyrs!

John 15:26–27 NKJV

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

Acts 1:8 NKJV

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

everyone with the Holy Spirit is a MARTYR of Christ!

Conclusion

Be kind to God’s servants - they carry a tremendous responsibility on their shoulders

and he is nothing better than all of you!

some of them are much weaker than you could imagine

Be kind to God’s servants - the world already looks down on them!

The greatness, the strength, of ministry does not come through the personal strength or personality of the preacher, but through weaknesses!

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 NKJV

9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.