The Power of Expectation
Ex. Of expectations … Italy Pizza, “Happily ever after”, new baby
“Unmet expectations cause disappointment, leading to anger, dissatisfaction, despondency and depression”.
What were Post Crucifixion expectations?
: “Make the tomb secure” Matt. 27:62 the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day.
Mark 16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
Joseph and Nicodemus take the body down, wrap and anoint. Women come to bring more spices. Jewish custom is for the body to lay 1 year in a grave carved into rock. Spices and ointments cover the smell of decaying flesh. After a year, when only bones remain, the bones are removed and put into a permanent resting place, often in a box called an ossuary.
THEIR EXPECTATION WAS DEATH AND DECAY.
What is our expectation for our lives… marriages … finances … children … business
Do I surrender under attack?
Do I fade in adversity?
Do I stay down when I fall?
Do I justify my actions while blaming others?
Prov. 24:10 If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength!
Prov. 16:3 Commit your works to the LORD, And your plans (thoughts) will be established.
Psa. 55:22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
Testing and Attack
Joseph – Daniel – Jesus
Eph, 6:16 … take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Art of HEARING the Voice of God
- In the Old Testament, only the prophets/priest seemed to know the ______________
“For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death.”
”My sheep hear ___________and I know them, and they follow Me.“ John
- One of the greatest desires of all serious Christians is to know the will of God.
THERE are Different voices that are trying to Guide you. We are commanded not to follow the voice of the flesh. The voice of your flesh is the expression of your desires and feelings.
“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:6
Recognizing God’s Voice: – Important Truths about the Voice of the Holy Spirit
”For as many as are _____________ , these are sons of God. For you did not receive the Romans
The voice of the Holy Spirit is the most ________________ that we need to hear in these times.
…for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. John 16:13
The voice of the Holy Spirit transmits ________________________
- The Voice of the INNER Witness
“The Spirit itself BEARETH WITNESS WITH OUR SPIRIT, that we are the children of God: Romans 8:16
The question is, “How can I distinguish the voice of this inner witness?
It is NOT ____________ __________ . The inner witness is NOT a physical feeling.
2. The Voice of the CONSCIENCE “Why You Must Listen to Your Conscience
God has given everybody a conscience. The conscience is that quiet inner voice that checks us when ____________________
For if OUR HEART CONDEMN US, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 1 John 3:20,21”
“And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a CONSCIENCE VOID OF OFFENCE toward God, and toward men. Acts 24:16”
“As you continue to ________the voice of your conscience, it becomes deadened and hardened.
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their CONSCIENCE SEARED with a hot iron; 1 Timothy 4:2”
3. The inner Voice of PEACE.
”And let the peace of God Rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.“ Colossians
“The Greek word translated “rule” is the word brabeuo. It means “to be an umpire”, “to arbitrate”, “to direct” and “to govern”.”
The inner witness is an awareness of Peace. “I have peace about this issue. I know it shall be well with me.” You begin to have a quiet assurance and confidence about the will of God.
4. The inner VOICE is a Strong CONVICTION. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth THE SPIRIT of his Son into your hearts, CRYING, Abba, Father. Galatians 4:6 . The inner witness makes you __________about what the Lord is saying.”
5. The inner VOICE is REPETITIVE. The inner witness is the repeated voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart. …the Spirit…crying, … Galatians 4:6.
As the Spirit cries continually, it creates an ________________in you.
6.The inner VOICE is an inexplicable KNOWING.
After you have heard the voice of the Spirit several times, you begin to know what to do
7. The Voice of the Holy Spirt in your Dreams. And a vision (Dream) appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” “Acts
Anointed:
Adjective:
1. consecrated or made sacred; to God.
2. by divine authority; chosen for a sacred, high, or special vocation or purpose:
3. or made effective for God’s purposes by the special activity of the Holy Spirit:
Noun:
4. the person or people chosen or declared chosen by God:
David kept Abishai from killing King Saul, because it would be wicked to attack the Lord’s anointed.
- In the Old Testament, Priests and Kings are anointed for service as well as items that designed for worship.
Ex. 19:5-6 Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine. 6 And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”
1 Peter 2:4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house a to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Eph. 4:17-29 …No longer live as the Gentiles (substitute “Egyptians”)…
Eph. 2:10 For we are His workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them
Psa. 139:16 …all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
“the Anointed”: speaks of a person , a place, or an object.
The purpose of Anointing in the Old Testament was to or set apart.
In the New Testament it is seen as the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to Empower
the life of a believer.
“CHRIST” means The one.
“Christians” are followers and partakers of the Anointed one.
OIL ANOINTED TO CONSECRATE
Ex. 30:26-29 …It will be the sacred anointing oil. 26Then use it to anoint the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law, 27the table and all its articles, the lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense, 28the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. 29You shall consecrate them so they will be most holy…
God’s recipe for Anointing oil (Ex. 30:22-24)
- Myrrh: Purity or
- Cinnamon: known for Sweetness: speaks of Forgiveness & Compassion.
- Calamus: “sweet flag” : Fragrance & (alabaster box).
2 Cor. 2:15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being
saved and among those who are perishing.
- Cassia: “to bend the neck in deference” : Humility, Filled & Fruitful
Psa. 1:2-3 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and
night. 3He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit
in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. - Olive oil: symbolizes . Prophetically spoke of Atonement: the bitter olive becomes sweet after going through the crushing process.
When you think about suffering, what comes to mind? Do you envision bedraggled children with distended stomachs, a hospital patient hooked up to life-sustaining medical equipment, or a courageous veteran dealing with the aftermath of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Adversity seems to be a common denominator to human existence, but what does the Bible have to say about suffering?
Jesus spoke to His disciples about suffering. One of the most well-known verses reads, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24 ESV). The Greek word for cross in this verse is staurós. It refers to the crossbeam which the lowest criminals carried as they trudged toward their execution. The cross symbolized degradation and indescribable pain as well as sacrifice.
While the invitation to eternal life is free, it comes at a price–certain suffering.
ARMED & ANOINTED
Tuesday “Digging Deeper” notes
1 Sam. 15:1 Samuel said to Saul, “I am the one the Lord sent to anoint you king over his people Israel..
- Battles the Amalekites
- Keeps the best sheep and cattle, Destroyed the weak
[ Obeyed when the it lined up with what they wanted to do ] teen mentality - Prophet goes to the meeting place, but Saul left to go to Carmel,
(vs. 12) “There he has set up a monument in his own honor” - Saul’s response: “The Lord bless you! I have carried out the Lord’s instructions.”
- When confronted, Saul BLAMES soldiers
- Samuels answer: (vs. 23) “For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.”
1 Sam. 16:1 Fill your horn with oil and be on your way
- he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!”
- For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Joshua 1:9
And after all the nation had been circumcised, they stayed there in the camp until they were healed. 9Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the of Egypt from you.” So that place has been called Gilgal to this day.
REPROACH
2781 Cherpah (kher-paw) Hebrew word
- Taunt of the enemy – Goliath with Israel.
- Condition of shame or disgrace
- becoming the object of reproach (black sheep of family, outcast)
Psa. 69:19-21 You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor; My adversaries are all before You. 20 Reproach has broken my heart, And I am full of heaviness; I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none; And for comforters, but I found none. 21 They also gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
Isa. 25:8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.
SOAR in 2024
Pastor Shawn Murphy
Isa. 40:31 but those who hope (wait) in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will SOAR on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary;
they will walk and not be faint.
Have a KNOWLEDGE and WISDOM on how to use Thermal currents and orographic updrafts.
- Eagle, No fear – uses the wind and heat
- Not grounded by adversity
S. – Submission & Surrender
O. – Obedience
A. – Armed & Anointed
R. – Righteous & Resilient
Submission / Surrender is of me and of him. Becoming like Christ.
John 3:30 He must increase; I must decrease.
2 Cor. 3:17-18 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we all, who with unveiled faces reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory…
Greek Metamorphoumetha – “Transform or change after being with”
1) SPIRIT … transformed …
2) SOUL … transformed …
SURRENDER is the cocoon of SANCTIFICATION.
- SUBMISSION brings my life to a greater purpose ().
Gal. 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me…
Eph. 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - SUBMISSION God’s will above my own
LK. 22:42 “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”
This brings God’s direction to your life & He orders your steps. Prov. 3:5-6
- SUBMISSION is the behind spiritual warfare
James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you
Eph. 6 speaks of Spiritual armor…
Helmet of Salvation and Breastplate of Righteousness
Key Steps:
- Must be Born Again – John 3:3
- Baptized – Acts 2:38
- Kingdom Connection – Church – Eph. 2:19
- Acknowledge and operate in my grace (gifting). Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12
- Daily Life Choice : Worship – Word – Prayer
- Become a Giver – Matt. 6:19-21
- “A life lived in service is not a sacrifice…It is an Honor” Queen Elizabeth