Tuesday, April 10, 2012

April 11, 2012


"I call with all my heart; answer me, LORD, and I will obey your decrees. I call out to you; save me and I will keep your statutes. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises. Hear my voice in accordance with your love; preserve my life, LORD, according to your laws. Those who devise wicked schemes are near, but they are far from your law. Yet you are near, LORD, and all your commands are true. Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever."  Psalm 119:145-152
Have you ever beem disappointed with God?
It's okay to be honest, we are friends here.
Okay, I will go first! I have been disappointed with God.
I found it to be an extremely gut-wrenching soul-searching experience. In order to resolve this faith crisis I had to face some hard options, "Was God insensitive to my need?" or "Was He unable to meet my need" or "Was He unwilling to do so?" or "Were my expectations unrealistic?"

Given those considerations I had to finally conclude that my expectations of God were unrealistic because I just couldn't come to the other conclusions. I know my God cares and I know He is able and I know He is willing.

So, this brings us back to the question, "What should I expect from God?"

We REALLY need to know some answers, but where should we go?

Between now and the end of May join us for a study of some of the great Biblical heroes and we will learn from them about their expectations of God! I am talking about godly leaders like David, Joshua, Moses, the Three Hebrews, Daniel and the Children of Israel in the wilderness.

The study will get specific with the encounter between David and Goliath, but first, here's a big picture matrix to work with as put together the pieces.

Realistic expectations of God will be consistent with:

God's Word

God will never act in a way that is inconsistent or in violation of His Word. Make sure that your expectations of God are consistent with the truths and teachings of the Bible.

If you want to know what to expect from God, become more familiar with His Word!

You will see that demonstrated in the stories of David, Joshua, Moses, Daniel, et al.

God's Will

Nor can God move contrary to His will or His nature. You should not expect Him to do so.

If you want to know what to expect from God, become familiar with God's will!

Again, you will see that true in these stories of these biblical Heroes!

God's Way

Don't expect God to act in a way that contradicts His Word or His Will or anything incompatible with His nature.

If you are expecting God to respond to your need according to your plan, prepare to be disappointed!

If you want to know what to expect from God learn His ways as Moses did:   "He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love." Psalm 103:7-8

Expect God to respond to any and every situation consistent with His Word, according to His Will and in His Way.

Any other expectation is unrealistic and destined for disappointment.