Sunday Morning Podcast March 25, 2018. Bro. Dave Goble.
TEXT: MARK 11:1-11
1 And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,
2 And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.
3 And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.
4 And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.
5 And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?
6 And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.
7 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.
8 And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.
9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.
11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.
Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion: shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation: lowly and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass.
They had great expectations because they were familiar with this prophesy to be fulfilled through the flesh. The prophesy of a king, bringing Salvation to the Jews. They thought it was to be something that they could see with their eyes, to experience a literal kingdom. They had great expectations. Many of us have them. But are our expectations only in our own natural everyday desires? Or are our great expectations higher than that of a tangible nature? Is our greatest hope only in things found in this life? Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:19 “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” On the other hand, if my only goal to serving God is to make heaven, well that’s a beautiful reason, but if that’s it, it’s a tough way. God has so much more for us in this life. God wants us to have great expectations with the life He so generously has given us. He wants us to have His abundant grace, when the extreme pressures of life threaten our hope. It can’t depend on our temporal human happiness. Bad things happen to good people. Job is a good example of that. He served God blamelessly, and yet God allowed him to lose all his belongings and children. But God in His grace encouraged Job not to give up hope.
If you don’t have God’s great expectations with abundant grace, it’s because you are living according to your own strength. Walking in the flesh. Your strength is insufficient to live victoriously for Christ. Jesus’s grace is sufficient and will resolve your problems. God’s grace and strength is essential to victory! But you must be attached and anchored in Christ. Don’t hand your great expectations of hope, grace and strength to Satan in discouragement! Jesus was our example, and overflowed with grace even when His crucifixion and darkest days of persecution came. But He had to be willing to suffer being unhappy in His flesh. He had to have great expectations of His Father’s abundant grace. If you want those great expectations, God has need of your all. Are you willing? Are you anchored in God’s grace?
Of Great Expectation…..