Expectation

What Did You Expect?

Expectation-

*A strong belief that something will happen or will be the case in the future

*The act or the state of expecting; to wait in expectation

* The act or state of looking forward or anticipate.

“Expect”- to anticipate, await, look for, hope for, watch for, bank on, plan for, foresee, or envision.

SYNONYMS FOR EXPECTATION: expectancy, anticipation, hope, trust.

Jesus and John the Baptist Luke 7:

John had a question for Jesus

¹⁸  While John (the Baptist) was in imprison for preaching the truth; his disciples reported to him about all the wonderful miracles and the works Jesus was doing. So John sent two of his followers to go ask Jesus a question. ²⁰ When they came to Jesus they said John the prophet sent us to ask you a question: Are you the coming Messiah we’ve been expecting, or are we to continue to look for someone else? ²¹ Without answering, Jesus turned to the crowd and

*healed many of their incurable diseases

*His miracle power freed many from their suffering

*He restored the gift of sight to the blind

*He drove out demonic spirits from those who were tormented

²² Then Jesus said, “Now go back and tell John what you have just seen and heard here today.

*The blind are now seeing.

*The crippled are now walking.

*Those who were lepers are now cured.

*Those who were deaf are now hearing.

*Those who were dead are now brought back to life.

*The poor and broken are given the hope of salvation.

²³ And tell John these words: ‘The blessing of heaven comes upon those who never lose their faith in me, no matter what happens.’ ”

So Jesus did and he said. Jesus Demonstrated and Testified. Your life in Christ is a demonstration and a testimony. It is a declaration of your Identity in Christ. Question: What do you expect? What is your personal expectation as a son and daughter of the Most High God? What do you expect as an heir and a joint heir with Christ?

Jesus asks Questions

^24-26 After John’s disciples left, Jesus began to talk about John to the audience who was crowded around him. Jesus asked them some questions:

Q. “What kind of man did you expect to see out in the wilderness?

Q. Did you expect to see a man who would be easily influenced and shaken by the shifting opinions of others?

 Q. Who did you go there to see?

Q. Did you expect to see a man decked out in the splendid fashion of the day living in the lap of luxury?

Q. Or did you discover a true prophet out in the lonely wilderness? Yes, John was a legitimate prophet. Even more than that, ²⁷ he was the fulfillment of this Scripture:

‘See, I am sending my prophetic messenger
who will go ahead of me
to prepare hearts to receive me.

²⁸ “Throughout history there was never found a man as great as John. Yet those who now walk in God’s kingdom realm, though they appear to be insignificant, will become even greater than he.”

“What kind of man did you expect to see out in the wilderness?” “Were you expecting to see a man who would be easily influenced and shaken by the shifting opinions of others?” “Who did you go there to see?” What was your expectation about his appearance, did you expect to see him sharp from head to toe living a luxurious life? We all have these expectations however our individual expectations need to align with the Word of God concerning our lives. You and I are among those who now walk in God’s kingdom realm.

Just as Jesus challenged their expectations, He is challenging our expectations today. While challenging our expectations Jesus is simultaneously giving us revelation into our true identity. If you are poor you don’t really expect naturally to pay cash for a Lamborghini on any given day. However, if you are the child of a king who has a dynasty and you are the heir, you have been given authority to the access of the dynasty. The king has given you complete legal authority. Everything the king owns, you own at the snap of your finger. Your expectation is that you can purchase a fleet of Lamborghini’s if you so desire. So what we expect matters. We expect based on who we are. Who we are speaks to our Identity.

If you study the life of John the Baptist you will see that he was much more than he appeared to be. He was the fulfillment of prophecy. John the Baptist Prepares the Way Matthew 3:  In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea ² and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” ³ This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”

Things are not always as they appear. First John was filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb. He probably appeared insignificant dressing in clothes made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. John preached this message “, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:”( Referring to Jesus) Matthew 3:11.

Shift.

Shift your focus, shift your expectation from what you see in the natural realm to what is in the spiritual realm. What do you expect? 2 Cor. 4:18 tells us “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal”. Our expectation is not on what we see with our natural eyes, not on the physical tangible things, not limited to the limitations of daily life experiences. The questions that Jesus asked his followers were personal and spoke directly to their sight, their vision, their expectations. Jesus showed the connection between what they expected to see and discovering what was truth. Looking at the natural man John the Baptist probably looked rough around the edges. I’m sure word spread about him, how he looked, how he talked, where he lived, how he ate, his message. You may expect to see one thing but through your identity in Christ and the revelation of the Holy Spirit you can see deeper truths, you can discern and see beyond the surface. Ephesians 2:6 gives further insight into the true identification of the Believer. “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus”.

You have to know who you are and understand your true identity. In Luke 7:28 Jesus told us throughout history there was never found a man as great as John the Baptist. Yet those who now walk in God’s kingdom realm (that’s us) though they appear (we are not always what we look like, and we don’t always look like what we’ve been through, we may not look like who we are, where you are today does not look like where God is taking you) to be insignificant (Everyone is significant in God’s kingdom, everyone is precious and special, everyone has purpose, destiny, assignment, everyone is victorious thru Christ, everyone is more than a conqueror) will become even greater than he. In John 14:12 Jesus said “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Jesus told us that the Comforter would come, the Holy Spirit. When Jesus left he said, I go to prepare a place for you and where I am you will be also. Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father making intercession for the Saints. And where are we? We are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Many people today are obsessed with appearance, outer appearance, the surface, what other people see and say, expect. Be more concerned about your true identity than that surface stuff. It is time for you to expect to see kingdom benefits in your life based on your identity as a son and daughter of God. Look at yourself and believe, expect, accept, and receive what the Father says about you.

Discover the truth of who you are in Christ Jesus. Do you know who you are? Really, Who are you? So, What do you expect? What do you expect to see in your life? Do you expect to see that the blessings of the Lord that maketh rich and adds no sorrow with it (Proverbs 10:22). Do you expect to be healed, delivered and set free? Are you expecting to see miracles, signs, and wonders? Are you expecting the Lifter of men to walk into your room? Do you expect that God will meet all of your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19). Do you expect to be a true worshipper of Jesus, worshipping him in Spirit and in truth. Do you expect to drink of the well, the rivers of God? Do you expect to be that tree that’s planted by the rivers of water? Are you expecting that you shall live and not die and declare the works of the Lord?

Questions:

What did you expect?

We can all ask ourselves this question. Rhonda, Did you expect the pain, mistakes, disappointments, and frustrations of your past to stop you or define you or place limitations on you. “Jeremiah 1:4-5. Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jesus asked them What did they expect to see? Your expectation is important. The decisions you make are influenced by your expectation. Your outcomes in every area of your life are influenced by your expectations. You see we can expect one thing but discover another. You can expect, through fear a bad outcome. Yet you can discover Romans 8:31 ³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? It’s about the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit moving through you. 1 Corinthian 2:4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power. “So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit’, says the Lord Almighty. Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Jeremiah 29: 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Connect your expectations with God’s expectation.

I want to encourage you to begin to expect the unexpected. Expect to see all the promises of God in your life. Expect to have a close and intimate relationship with Jesus. Expect to hear his voice and see his plans for you come to pass. Expect to be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire. Expect God to meet all of your needs and for your desires to match his desires for you, then expect to see God give you the desires of your heart. Can you see it? Can you see yourself worry free, with the joy of the Lord strengthening you, can you see yourself refreshed and restored. Can you just imagine the Lord God Almighty, the Lord who is Strong, the Lord who is mighty in battle, the Victorious One bringing years and years of restoration to you. Picture it, expect Joel 2:25 “And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm and the caterpillar and the palmer worm, My great army which I sent among you”. Imagine you walking in close relationship with God, partnering with Holy Spirit and following God’s instructions and directions; being restored. Your expectations are not based on you, your expectations are based on your faith in God, the Word of God, Scripture, Bible.

What are you expecting God to do for you today? Think about it. Is it aligned with the Word and character of God? Yes. Expect it. Release your Faith in the living Jesus over it. Begin to speak over it in the name of Jesus: I anticipate___________. I await___________. I look for ___________. I hope for _____________. I am watching for____________. I bank on ____________. I plan for______________. I foresee____________. I envision________.

Jesus said, ‘The blessing of heaven comes upon those who never lose their faith in me, no matter what happens.’ Luke 7:23….Expect It