Expectations Versus Reality, Part 2

Intro

Text - Luke 24.13-24

Luke 24:13–24 NKJV

13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. 17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” 18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” 19 And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”

Title - Expectations Versus Reality, Part 2

Background

The 2 men on the road to Emmaus reflected the spirit and attitude of all the disciples of the Jesus -

none of them expected that he will rise from the dead

this, even though he told them a number of times

it appears that their mindset were still in accordance with the Jewish expectation of the messiah as their tradition taught them

Jewish expectation

the messiah will deliver Israel from their enemies

the messiah will usher in a new age for the

the reality

Jesus died on the cross

the kingdom is nowhere to be seen

the TRUTH is

the Messiah has come - it is Jesus

the Messiah has conquered the real enemy of the people of God - sin - through His death

the Messiah brought with Him the kingdom of God - but it must be entered by a new birth experience

The Jewish mindset is no different from the mindset of most believers today!

we come to Christ with our set of expectations

we view the things in the church according to our own expectations

Our Expectations of the Church

the church is full of sinless, perfect, individuals

church people do not commit sin anymore

there are no more strife and misunderstandings among Christians

The Reality of the Church

The church that Jesus built is composed of men and women whose lives were broken and destroyed by sin.

These people are in different stages of development, and many are far from being perfect.

These people continue to struggle in their weaknesses, fighting against temptations that try to bring them back into sinful living.

This same church is also filled with the presence of the Perfect One - her Lord and Savior!

He covers his people’s imperfections with His perfect sacrifices

He is at work - healing and restoring their lives to health and spirituality!

Main Points

Why do expectatations fail?

When our expectations are governed by human standards

note - human standards are not consistent at best

Human standards (actually, misconceptions)

the church is just like any other religion

the bigger the better

true churches are those with huge memberships and big temples

people in a true church do not commit mistakes/sins

The real church of Jesus Christ is -

composed of men and women whose lives have been destroyed and stained by sin, yet they are gathered together because they believed that God can heal them, restore them, transform them, by His Word and by His Spirit.

not defined by the number of people, size and quality of their temples, nor by the education of its ministers - but by the Presence of God through the Holy Spirit, and by the Truth that governs her life

God is present when the center of the life of the Church is the Word of God

When expectations are governed by painful experiences

Past experiences can cloud our expectations

they can make us question people’s sincerity

Ex - Nathaniel - John 1.46 “46 And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.””

they can make us doubt God’s promises of healing and restoration

Ex - the king’s officer in time of famine - 2 Kings 7.1-2 “1 Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord: ‘Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.’ ” 2 So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, “Look, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” And he said, “In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it.””

Ex Martha - John 11:21-27 “Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.””

they can make us doubt our own motives

Reality is -

We are NOT exempted from pain and problem

no one is!

Our painful experience does not define the Church of God

the church is still God’s people

Our painful experience does not change the character of God

God is still good, and merciful, and gracious

God still understands, loves us truly

Our painful experiences will not go away as long as we use them to define the world around us.

When our expectations are mismatched with the objects of expectations

We have high expectations on people, but low expectation on God!

Example - the 2 disciples going to Emmaus

they were disappointed at what happened to Jesus - he suffered, died, and now his body is missing

but they failed to remember much less believe that He has most likely fulfilled His promise - he will be raised from the dead on the third day

Real life scenarios

When we are offended, and walk away -

we expect Christians to not make mistake, but we cannot trust that God is able to correct and mold them.

When we need help, and we are frustrated -

we expect people to help us, but we cannot expect God to do the helping.

Reality check - expect man to fail, make mistake - but love them just the same!

because God loves them for what they are!

because God still uses them for His glory!

Place your high expectations on God - He does not fail!

He is the God that cannot fail!

Romans 3:3–4 NKJV

3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? 4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.”

He is the Faithful God

2 Timothy 2:13 NKJV

13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.

He is the God who cannot lie!

Titus 1:1–2 NKJV

1 Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,

Conclusion

So, why stay in Church, when there so many failures inside?

I stay because it is God who placed me in this church!

I stay because I have hope in God

those who leave church are people who have given up their hope in God

those who remain in church are all hoping and trusting that God will help them become better people for His glory!

I stay because I love these people of God!

they need me and my prayers, as much as i need them and their prayers

Song -

What a Faithful God