Expectant Hearts

Expectant Hearts

(Acts 1:1-11)

Yearly Theme:  “Kindness is… Action”

Series Title:  “Suffering Servant”

April 23^rd, 2023

Something to think about:

What is “expectation?”  How would we define it?  A good definition of “expectation” is “actively anticipating what is to come.”  This type of expectation is not some idle form of waiting, but rather, a committed form of movement in the direction of what is expected.  “Expectation” can take on two types:  Realistic and unrealistic, or healthy and unhealthy.  Healthy or realistic expectations are those that we can generally count on happening with a certain level of confidence.  Unhealthy or unrealistic expectations are characterized by excessive pressure on ourselves, or others, to do or make things happen that aren’t necessarily reasonable.  The world has conditioned us toward the latter; thus, we ultimately end up lowering our expectations.  But is this a good thing?  I don’t think so. 

The lowering of expectations, especially within the Church, is a way of inviting mediocrity and apathy.  The lowering of expectations drives people to merely go through the motions, to get stuck in routines and cycles without purpose or meaning.  But this is not what we were created for.  Humans were created to live with purpose and meaning in life, and as a result, we are called to live with healthy expectations rooted in faith and belief in Christ.

As we move further into the resurrection narrative of Jesus today, we come to a passage in Luke’s writing in the book of Acts.  After having spent 40 days on the earth giving witness to His resurrection from the grave, Jesus is now ready to leave the disciples.  However, He does so with promises:  1) to send the Holy Spirit, and 2) to return someday.

It's a healthy set of expectations that Jesus left His followers with, and it’s with expectation that we too move and have purpose within GOD’s will as His followers today.

Let’s take a look at Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples before ascending to heaven:

Turn in your Bible to:  Acts 1:1-11

Here’s the takeaway:

Key Point:  “As faith-filled believers in Christ, we are to wait expectantly on His return.”

But what does it mean to wait “expectantly”?  It means…

• Wait on the  .

Acts 1:4-5 (NLT),  ⁴ Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before.  ⁵ John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

• Give witness of  to the world.

Acts 1:8 (NLT),  ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.  And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

• Keep moving forward in the grace of  the  .

Acts 1:9-11 (NLT),  ⁹ After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him.  ¹⁰ As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them.  ¹¹ “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven?  Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

Something to take home:

We typically find what we’re looking for, either good or bad.  If we truly believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then we have no excuse for hoping and looking for the best, even in the worst of times.  Why?  Because we have a hope that goes beyond this life and we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit who is our Comforter in difficult times.  As believers in Christ, we know the end of the story; we know that Jesus conquered sin and death.  We also know that if we are in Him and He in us, there is nothing that can separate us from His love. 

So, today, what are you expecting?  What do you expect in your relationships?  It’ll probably happen.  What are you expecting in your workplace?  You’ll probably get what you expect.  What are you expecting in your relationship with Christ?  If it’s anything less than freedom and hope, maybe your expectations are unhealthy and unrealistic, or maybe you’ve set the bar too low.  Jesus didn’t come to set us free from sin and death so that we can muddle through life.  He came to give us life abundantly.

Key Point:  “As faith-filled believers in Christ, we are to wait expectantly on His return.”