Expect The Unexpected

1. Introduction: Expect the Unexpected

• Life is full of surprises, moments that shift our perspective, and experiences that remind us of God’s divine plan.
• Often, what we expect is different from what God has in store.
• Personal testimony: Former corrections officer, now pastor of the very men I once guarded.
• We must be ready to expect the unexpected in the circumstances of life and in God’s purpose.

1. The Power of Expectation

1. Expectations are built on relationships.
• When you meet a stranger, you have few expectations.
• As you get to know someone, expectations develop based on their behavior.
• Expectations lead to different emotional responses:
• If met → you are pleased.
• If exceeded → you are thrilled.
• If unmet → you are disappointed.
2. Many Christians struggle with expectations of God because they are strangers to His promises.
• They profess Christ but do not know His Word.
• They don’t know what to expect from Him because they don’t understand His promises.
3. Faith grows through knowing God.
• The more we read His Word, the more we understand what He has already done and what He will do.
• Faith is the victory that overcomes the world.

1. God’s Timing vs. Our Timing

1. Galatians 4:4 – “In the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son.”
• He didn’t send just a son; He sent His own Son.
• There is no greater gift than Jesus Christ.
2. Our impatience vs. God's perfect timing.
• We want our problems solved quickly, but God operates in His divine timeline.
• Isaiah 55:8-9 – His ways are higher than ours.
• The more impatient we become, the longer we often have to wait.
• God's time is perfect: If we arrive before He has prepared the way, things will be out of order.

1. God Can Do the Impossible

1. He is a healer.
• Exodus 15:26 – “I am the Lord who heals you.”
• Matthew 9:35 – Jesus healed every disease and sickness.
2. He is a provider.
• Philippians 4:19 – “My God will supply all your needs…”
• Psalm 50:10 – He owns the cattle on a thousand hills.
3. He is a deliverer.
• Isaiah 61:1 – He sets captives free.
• John 8:36 – “Whom the Son sets free is free indeed!”
4. He is a way-maker.
• Exodus 14:21 – Parting of the Red Sea.
• Matthew 17:20 – Faith can move mountains.

1. The Second Coming of Christ

1. Jesus came the first time in the fullness of time.
• God sent His Son to redeem us.
• If He fulfilled His promise before, He will do it again.
2. We expect Jesus to return.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 – The trumpet will sound, and the dead in Christ shall rise.
• John 14:3 – “I will come again and receive you to Myself.”
• Just as He fulfilled prophecy in His first coming, He will fulfill it in His second.
3. Doubters will question, but God does the impossible.
• The virgin birth seemed impossible – but it happened.
• Redemption seemed impossible – but it happened.
• Adoption into God’s family seemed impossible – but it happened.

1. Jesus Fulfilled the Law, Not Erased It

1. Jesus was born under the same law that sentenced us to death.
• Romans 3:23 – “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
• Romans 6:23 – “The wages of sin is death.”
2. The grace of God didn’t erase the law – it fulfilled it.
• Matthew 5:17 – Jesus came to fulfill the law, not abolish it.
• Salvation doesn’t mean sin stops being sin; it means Jesus paid the price for us.

1. Redemption and Adoption

1. Redemption means we are set free.
• Jesus took our place.
• Instead of serving our death sentence, He died for us.
2. Adoption means we belong to God’s family.
• Romans 8:15 – We are adopted as sons and daughters of God.
• Galatians 4:6 – “Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’”
3. Through adoption, God hears Jesus’ voice in us.
• When we pray, God hears Jesus saying, “Daddy, my child needs help.”

1. The Greatest Exchange

1. Imagine standing on death row.
• You are guilty and awaiting execution.
• An innocent man walks in and says, “I will take your place.”
• You are set free, and He takes your punishment.
• This is what Jesus did for us.
2. More than just redemption – adoption.
• He not only freed us but gave us a new identity as God’s children.
• We don’t just escape punishment; we gain eternal belonging.
3. God responds to the voice of His Son.
• When we pray, God hears Jesus saying, “Father, help them.”
• Because we are in Christ, we receive His blessings, provision, and healing.

1. Call to Action: Accept Jesus' Redemption and Adoption

1. If you need redemption, today is the day.
• Romans 10:9 – “If you confess with your mouth… you will be saved.”
2. If you need assurance, today is the day.
• Accept that Jesus took your place and receive your new identity as God’s child.
3. Prayer of Salvation:
• “Lord Jesus, I thank You for redeeming me. I thank You for paying the price for my sin. I thank You for dying my death so that I could receive Your life. Today, I accept You as my Savior, and I am set free—because whom the Son sets free is free indeed. Thank You for adopting me and making me Your child. I receive Your peace, Your joy, and Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Scripture References List:

1. Galatians 4:4-6 – In the fullness of time, God sent His Son.
2. Isaiah 55:8-9 – God’s ways are higher than ours.
3. Romans 3:23 – All have sinned.
4. Romans 6:23 – The wages of sin is death.
5. Matthew 5:17 – Jesus came to fulfill the law.
6. John 8:36 – Whom the Son sets free is free indeed.
7. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 – The Second Coming of Christ.
8. John 14:3 – Jesus promises to return.
9. Exodus 15:26 – God is our healer.
10. Philippians 4:19 – God will supply all our needs.
11. Isaiah 61:1 – He came to set captives free.
12. Romans 8:15 – We are adopted into God’s family.
13. Matthew 17:20 – Faith can move mountains.
14. Exodus 14:21 – Parting of the Red Sea.
15. Romans 10:9 – If you confess, you will be saved.