http://www.calvaryhillsboro.org/

Subscribe To Watch More: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMljrvWnX5HWCHwB-GAbCsw

Thank you for watching. God bless you and your family!
We would love to hear your comments and please like and share this video.

People are often preoccupied with statistics and iconic events when we begin a new year; this year we finish another Decade.

Some of those iconic news-makers you will be reminded of from the last 20-years:

• 2001 - 9 l l
• 2003 - Iraq War
• 2004 - Facebook
• 2007 - Steve Jobs & Apple iPhone
• 2011 - Osama Bin Laden killed
• 2018 - Apple valued at $1T

What we do know about each of these is that they were not expected.

And what we know about 2020 or the next decade is no matter how smart or wise we are, some things will catch us by surprise.

• Some will be wonderful.
• However some things will test our faith!
I want to give us a Biblical Strategy to help us deal with these unpleasant surprises as we move into the next year. Everyone needs this strategy next year.

Even John the Baptist (JTB) needed this strategy in the account we are looking at in Luke chapter 7.

Luke 7:18-23

I. Expectations Defined By God

John the Baptist was in jail
• Courage to confront King Herod.

While in jail JTB hears about Jesus.
• He sent disciples to ask Jesus if He was truly the Messiah?
• This is an amazing question for a guy like JTB to ask - Why?
• His whole mission was to announce the com-ing of the Messiah.

John 1:29; The next day John saw Jesus coming to-ward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

When Jesus first appeared and John proclaimed Him as the Messiah - there were expectations.
Luke 3:16-17; John answered and said to them all, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you [a]with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

A. Worldly expectations weaken us

• He expected that Jesus would clean house!
• In JTB’s view all those opposing the Messi-ah would be burned up.
And his view was based on OT teaching -

Isaiah 35:4; Say to those with anxious heart,
“Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The recompense of God will come,
But He will save you.”

JTB steps out fully expecting the Messiah to clean house.
• He rebukes Herod and is sent to rot in prison
• Romans remain in control
• No vengeance happens on the Kingdom
• Nothing going according to JTB expectations
His faith is shaken - he begins to wonder if he has it all wrong about Jesus - Maybe someone else is coming?

B. Faith by evidence

A critical point in our lesson - what shook his faith was that things were simply not going the way he expected.

Luke 7:21; At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.

He lists His miracles as a sign and reminder of who He is, that He is the Messiah JTB has been announcing.


Pastor Rich Jones
Pastor Matthew Dodd
Rich Jones Sermons
Rich Jones Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel Worship Center
Calvary Chapel Hillsboro
Calvary Chapel Oregon
Calvary Chapel Beaverton
Calvary Chapel Portland

Tags:
Pastor Rich Jones
Pastor Matthew Dodd
Rich Jones
Matthew Dodd
Rich Jones Sermons

Rich Jones Church, Rich Jones Christian, Rich Jones Christian Church, Rich Jones Bible Study, Rich Jones Prayer, Pastor Rich Jones Faith, Rich Jones Grace, Rich Jones Teaching, Rich Jones Bible Teacher, Rich Jones Bible Verse, Rich Jones Teaching, Rich Jones Transformation, Rich Jones Salvation, Rich Jones Truth, Rich Jones Sermons, Rich Jones Calvary Chapel, Calvary Chapel Worship Center, Calvary Chapel Hillsboro, Calvary Chapel Beaverton, Calvary Chapel Portland, Calvary Chapel Oregon