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 Series Theme:  "Faith Sermons"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title:  15. Living with Expectations

       

Reading : Lk 1:67-70,76-80

   

1. We know about expectations

a) Real Expectations

 

•  “I'm expecting a parcel this week”

•  “She's expecting a baby”

•  “We're expecting their flight at 11.15”

•  I'm expecting a fine day today

  

b) Unreal Expectations

    

•  Compare the following:

•  “I'm expecting to win the lottery”

•  “I'm expecting to fly to Australia tomorrow” (without a ticket?)

•  “I'm expecting to be knighted” (for just being good?)

     

c) Ingredients of Expectations

  

•  Something has happened in the past that brings a strong confidence in the future, e.g.

•  I ordered a parcel, she conceived, they booked the flight, weather forecasters showed the satellite picture

•  It's a strong confidence not a vague hope, e.g. winning the lottery, or being knighted

•  It's a hope built on a fact – going to Australia lacked the fact of a ticket being bought – a fruitless hope.

            

d) Hope from others 

    

•  Husband says, “I'll fix that broken latch” 

•  It's a vague hope – he's been saying it for six months 

•  Teachers who expect much from their pupils usually get it 

•  Parents who expect a lot from their children and spend time with them, get it. 

•  When God says, “I'll do this…” it's a sure hope 

•  He is faithful and WILL do what He says. 

•  Expectation is another way of speaking about hope    

  

    

2. Expectations of Zechariah 

•  The Bible is full of Expectations – we just need to see it

    

a) The facts about Zechariah (Lk 10)

•  Zechariah prophesied under the power of the Spirit

•  John has been born and named

•  v.68 “he has come and has redeemed his people”

•  he speaks of a future event as present fact
•  God has set events in motion – the end is assured

•  v.70 “as he said through his holy prophets”

•  God said it long ago, now the process is under way
•  so we can be assured of the outcome

•  v.76 “And you, my child”

•  John has a divine destiny
•  to prepare for the ‘rising sun” – Jesus
 

b) Zechariah's Assurance

•  past prophecies

•  present encounters and two sons

•  powerful HS enabling

•  i.e. word, experience, Spirit

 

3. Expectations of the Gospel

 

a) Of newness of life

•  2 Cor 5:17 if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

•  Jn 1:12,13 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

•  Becoming a Christian is about becoming a new person – and the old person has gone, hence “being born again (Jn 3)

 

b) Of an Empowered Life

•  1 Cor 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?

•  i.e. the power of God now lives in us to bring that new life

 

c) Of a Changing Life

•  2 Cor 3:18 we…, are being transformed into his likeness ….which comes from … the Spirit

•  The Holy Spirit is working to change us into the likeness of Jesus

•  Gal 5:22,23 the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

•  These are the characteristics that He is working to bring more and more in us

 

d) Of a Fruitful Life

•  Jn 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

•  There is the fruit of the Spirit but also the fruit of achievement as God leads and empowers

•  Jn 14:12 anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.

•  impacting lives, seeing lives changed as God's love is shared in word and power.

   

   

To Conclude

•  As a Christian, is my life lived in expectation?

•  Am I learning from the word God's expectations of me?

•  Am I learning to be sensitive to the Spirit to learn His expectations of what he wants to do in and through me?

•  Am I expecting change in me?

•  Am I expecting change in my fruitfulness of service?

•  Am I expecting change in the depth of my relationship with Him?