BE EXPECTING (Kent Smith Notes 12/24/23)

(Optimistically, confidently, positively, faithfully)

EXPECTING

Luke 2:21 - 33

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Be Thankful

Be Encouraged

Be Generous

Be at Peace

Be Amazed

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POSITIVE EXPECTATION

IS ROOTED IN PERSONAL CHARACTER

Simeon was righteous and devout.

We can expect God to do great things because He always does.

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Isaiah 54:1-4

“Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child;Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed;For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerousThan the sons of the married woman,” says the Lord.2 “Enlarge the place of your tent;Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not;Lengthen your cordsAnd strengthen your pegs.3 “For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left.And your descendants will possess nationsAnd will resettle the desolate cities.

4 “FEAR NOT, FOR YOU WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME;And do not feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced;But you will forget the shame of your youth,And the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.

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POSITIVE EXPECTATION

IS OPTIMISTIC AND FORWARD LOOKING

Simeon was looking forward to God bringing peace and comfort to the nation of Israel.

The positive person does not focus on all that has gone wrong in the past but looks forward to what God has promised for the future.

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Isaiah 9:2-7 The people who walk in darknessWill see a great light;Those who live in a dark land,The light will shine on them.3 You shall multiply the nation,You shall increase their gladness;They will be glad in Your presenceAs with the gladness of harvest,As [g]men rejoice when they divide the spoil.4 For You shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders,The rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian.5 For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult,And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;And the government will rest on His shoulders;And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,On the throne of David and over his kingdom,To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousnessFrom then on and forevermore.The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.

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POSITIVE EXPECTATION

FLOWS FROM SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT

The Holy Spirit was upon Simeon,

And the Holy Spirit spoke to him.

The promises of God are never rescinded and

allows us to have confidence in the future.

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Daniel 3:14-18 Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; [p]and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Hebrews 13:5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”

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POSITIVE EXPECTATION

IS FOUNDED ON OUR ASSURANCE OF SALVATION

Simeon was content to depart in peace because

He knew that God’s salvation had come.

When we know we are saved, we always have

Something GREATER to anticipate.

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Too many folks are concerned about a SPIRITUAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE, when they should be looking for SIGNS OF LIFE!

Psalm 33: 6-12

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,And by the breath of His mouth all their host.7 He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;He lays up the deeps in storehouses.8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.9 For He spoke, and it was done;He commanded, and it [b]stood fast.10 The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations;He frustrates the plans of the peoples.11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever,The plans of His heart from generation to generation.12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.

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“EXPECT GREAT THINGS -

ATTEMPT GREAT THINGS”

William Carey, 1761 - 1834

The founder of the modern missionary movement

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“What would you do if you knew you could not fail?” First Lady Elanor Rosevelt.

AS A CHURCH MAY WE BEGIN TO PRAY FOR WHAT GOD WANTS TO ACCOMPLISH AMONG US IN THE NEXT YEAR.

Read the book of Haggai a few times over the next two weeks. See what God may be saying to you about our church.

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