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Breaking Through To Breaking Through To Freedom”””””Freedom”””””
Part 1Part 1
““Unmet Expectations”Unmet Expectations”
Matthew 11:1-15Matthew 11:1-15
When there is some kind of expectation When there is some kind of expectation
in a person’s in a person’s mindmind and and heartheart, a crisis of , a crisis of
beliefbelief comes when those expectations comes when those expectations
are not met.are not met.
Unmet expectations challenge Unmet expectations challenge what we what we believebelieve. .
When John heard in prison what Christ When John heard in prison what Christ
was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him,
“Are you the one who was to come, or “Are you the one who was to come, or
should we expect someone else?” (vv.2-3)should we expect someone else?” (vv.2-3)
Unmet expectations challenge Unmet expectations challenge what we what we believebelieve. .
• John was John was arrestedarrested and put in and put in prisonprison
because he boldly told Herod Antipas that because he boldly told Herod Antipas that
his living arrangement was a sin.his living arrangement was a sin.
Unmet expectations challenge Unmet expectations challenge what we what we believebelieve. .
Unmet expectations challenge Unmet expectations challenge what we what we believebelieve. .
Unmet expectations challenge Unmet expectations challenge what we what we believebelieve. .
Unmet expectations challenge Unmet expectations challenge what we what we believebelieve. .
Unmet expectations challenge Unmet expectations challenge what we what we believebelieve. .
Unmet expectations challenge Unmet expectations challenge what we what we believebelieve. .
• Disappointment and despair can cause Disappointment and despair can cause
doubtdoubt..
• he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you
the one who was to come, or should we the one who was to come, or should we
expect someone else?” expect someone else?”
• ““behold the Lamb of God who takes away behold the Lamb of God who takes away
the sin of the worldthe sin of the world” (John 1:29).” (John 1:29).
Unmet expectations challenge Unmet expectations challenge what we what we believebelieve. .
• ““He must increase, I must decrease”He must increase, I must decrease” (John (John
3:30).3:30).
• ““This is my son whom I love and with Him I This is my son whom I love and with Him I
am well pleased” am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).(Matthew 3:17).
Unmet expectations challenge Unmet expectations challenge what we what we believebelieve. .
• ““His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he
will clear the threshing floor and gather will clear the threshing floor and gather
his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he
will burn with unquenchable fire”will burn with unquenchable fire” (Matt (Matt
3:12). 3:12).
Refusing to deal with our doubts can Refusing to deal with our doubts can lead to a lead to a meltmelt downdown of our of our faithfaith..
Jesus replied, “Go back and report to Jesus replied, “Go back and report to
John what you hear and see: The blind John what you hear and see: The blind
receive sight, the lame walk, those who receive sight, the lame walk, those who
have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the
dead are raised, and the good news is dead are raised, and the good news is
preached to the poor. (Matthew 11:4-5)preached to the poor. (Matthew 11:4-5)
Refusing to deal with our doubts can Refusing to deal with our doubts can lead to a lead to a meltmelt downdown of our of our faithfaith..
• Disappointing circumstances can create Disappointing circumstances can create
unbeliefunbelief. .
Refusing to deal with our doubts can Refusing to deal with our doubts can lead to a lead to a meltmelt downdown of our of our faithfaith..
Blessed is the man who does not fall Blessed is the man who does not fall
away on account of me.” away on account of me.”
Anyone who can still Anyone who can still believebelieve in Jesus in Jesus
even though He does not meet all their even though He does not meet all their
expectationsexpectations is blessed. is blessed.
Spiritual giants can have Spiritual giants can have momentsmoments of of doubtdoubt and still be spiritual giants and still be spiritual giants
• Question # 1: The Question # 1: The corecore of a great man of a great man
• "What did you go out into the desert to "What did you go out into the desert to
see? A reed swayed by the wind?see? A reed swayed by the wind?
• Repent – all of you for the kingdom of Repent – all of you for the kingdom of
heaven is at hand.heaven is at hand. (Matthew 3:2) (Matthew 3:2)
Spiritual giants can have Spiritual giants can have momentsmoments of of doubtdoubt and still be spiritual giants and still be spiritual giants
• Question # 1: The Question # 1: The corecore of a great man of a great man
Repent – and by the way in the presence Repent – and by the way in the presence
of your repenting – take no more than of your repenting – take no more than
the amount is appointed to youthe amount is appointed to you (Luke (Luke
3:12)3:12)
Spiritual giants can have Spiritual giants can have momentsmoments of of doubtdoubt and still be spiritual giants and still be spiritual giants
• Question # 1: The Question # 1: The corecore of a great man of a great man
Do violence to no man. Don’t accuse Do violence to no man. Don’t accuse
anyone falsely. Be content with your anyone falsely. Be content with your
wages wages (John 3:14)(John 3:14)
Spiritual giants can have Spiritual giants can have momentsmoments of of doubtdoubt and still be spiritual giants and still be spiritual giants
• Question # 1: The Question # 1: The corecore of a great man of a great man
““Who has warned you people to flee Who has warned you people to flee
from the wrath to come? Repent and from the wrath to come? Repent and
bring fruit worthy of repentance.” bring fruit worthy of repentance.” (Luke (Luke
3:7-8)3:7-8)
Spiritual giants can have Spiritual giants can have momentsmoments of of doubtdoubt and still be spiritual giants and still be spiritual giants
• Question # 2: The Question # 2: The prioritiespriorities of a great of a great
manman
If not, what did you go out to see? A man If not, what did you go out to see? A man
dressed in fine clothes? No, those who dressed in fine clothes? No, those who
wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces
(v.8)(v.8)
Spiritual giants can have Spiritual giants can have momentsmoments of of doubtdoubt and still be spiritual giants and still be spiritual giants
• Questions #3: The Questions #3: The missionmission of a great man of a great man
Then what did you go out to see? A Then what did you go out to see? A
prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a
prophet. This is the one about whom it is prophet. This is the one about whom it is
written: written:
Spiritual giants can have Spiritual giants can have momentsmoments of of doubtdoubt and still be spiritual giants and still be spiritual giants
• Questions #3: The Questions #3: The missionmission of a great man of a great man
“‘“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’ who will prepare your way before you.’
Spiritual giants can have Spiritual giants can have momentsmoments of of doubtdoubt and still be spiritual giants and still be spiritual giants
• Questions #3: The Questions #3: The missionmission of a great man of a great man
I tell you the truth: Among those born of I tell you the truth: Among those born of
women there has not risen anyone women there has not risen anyone
greater than John the Baptist; yet he who greater than John the Baptist; yet he who
is least in the kingdom of heaven is is least in the kingdom of heaven is
greater than he.greater than he.
Spiritual giants can have Spiritual giants can have momentsmoments of of doubtdoubt and still be spiritual giants and still be spiritual giants
• Questions #3: The Questions #3: The missionmission of a great man of a great man
““You know it is not lawful for you to have You know it is not lawful for you to have
her. And you know living with her is her. And you know living with her is
adultery and you are breaking God’s adultery and you are breaking God’s
commandment and God will judge you commandment and God will judge you
for it.”for it.” (Matthew 14:4) (Matthew 14:4)
Spiritual giants can have Spiritual giants can have momentsmoments of of doubtdoubt and still be spiritual giants and still be spiritual giants
Spiritual giants can have Spiritual giants can have momentsmoments of of doubtdoubt and still be spiritual giants and still be spiritual giants
• Questions #3: The Questions #3: The missionmission of a great man of a great man
• ““Are you the one who was to come, or Are you the one who was to come, or
should we expect someone else?”should we expect someone else?”
Bottom Line:Bottom Line:
Jesus does not live in Jesus does not live in youryour boxbox!!
Bottom Line: Jesus does not live in Bottom Line: Jesus does not live in youryour boxbox!!
From the days of John the Baptist until From the days of John the Baptist until
now, the kingdom of heaven has been now, the kingdom of heaven has been
forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay
hold of it. hold of it.
Bottom Line: Jesus does not live in Bottom Line: Jesus does not live in youryour boxbox!!
For all the Prophets and the Law For all the Prophets and the Law
prophesied until John. And if you are prophesied until John. And if you are
willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who
was to come. He who has ears, let him was to come. He who has ears, let him
hear. – Matthew 11:12-15hear. – Matthew 11:12-15
Bottom Line: Jesus does not live in Bottom Line: Jesus does not live in youryour boxbox!!
• RemindRemind your your heartheart that God is not that God is not obligated to do things according to my obligated to do things according to my plans: plans:
For I know that the Lord is great, and that For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps (Ps 135:5-earth, in the seas and all deeps (Ps 135:5-6)6)
Bottom Line: Jesus does not live in Bottom Line: Jesus does not live in youryour boxbox!!
• Remember that the Christian life is a life of Remember that the Christian life is a life of
faithfaith..
Bottom Line: Jesus does not live in Bottom Line: Jesus does not live in youryour boxbox!!
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me How long, O Lord? Will you forget me
forever? How long will you hide your face forever? How long will you hide your face
from me? How long must I take counsel in from me? How long must I take counsel in
my soul and have sorrow in my heart all my soul and have sorrow in my heart all
the day? How long shall my enemy be the day? How long shall my enemy be
exalted over me?... exalted over me?...
Bottom Line: Jesus does not live in Bottom Line: Jesus does not live in youryour boxbox!!
But I have trusted in your steadfast love; But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt
bountifully with mebountifully with me (Psalms 13:1-2, 5-6). (Psalms 13:1-2, 5-6).
Bottom Line: Jesus does not live in Bottom Line: Jesus does not live in youryour boxbox!!
• Embrace the insight of the Psalmist. Embrace the insight of the Psalmist.
• Chooses to Chooses to trusttrust in the steadfast love of in the steadfast love of
God (v 5) God (v 5)
• Chooses to Chooses to taketake joyjoy in what is supremely in what is supremely
valuable: valuable: redemptionredemption (v 5) (v 5)
• Chooses to Chooses to praisepraise the Lord for his the Lord for his
goodnessgoodness (v 6) (v 6)