A Heart of Expectancy

Mark 6:1-3 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue.  And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things?  And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon?  And are not His sisters here with us?”  So they were [deeply] offended at Him [and their disapproval blinded them to the fact that He was anointed by God as the Messiah]. 

Mark 6:4-6 But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” 5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. 

We are all susceptible to falling into the trap where we start seeing Jesus as common. 

When I go to church this morning ______ is going to happen? 

Luke 5:17-26 Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem.  And the power of the Lord was present to heal THEM.

Luke 5:18-26 Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. 19 And when THEY could not find how THEY might bring him in, because of the crowd, THEY went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. 20 When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies?  Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to THEM, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk?’ 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” — He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 25 Immediately he rose up before THEM, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And THEY were all amazed, and THEY glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange [wonderful] things today!” 

Do we want to be THEM or do we want to be THEY? 

2 Corinthians 1:18-20 As surely as God is faithful, our word to you does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” 19 For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.”  He is…God’s ultimate “Yes,” He always does what He says. 20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!”  And through Christ, our “Amen” ascends to God to His glory. 

1.  Expectancy says “yes” to changing atmospheres.

Luke 5:17 Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by… 

• God is attracted to expectant hearts.  

2.  Expectancy says “when” not if.

Luke 5:19 And WHEN they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down…

3.  Expectancy says “we” not me.

Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us.