breaking through to freedom””””” part 1 “unmet expectations” matthew 11:1-15

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)


• 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.


• 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).


• ““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).


• ““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)


• Disappointing circumstances can create Disappointing circumstances can create

unbeliefunbelief. .


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)



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)



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)



““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)


• 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)


• 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:



“‘“‘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.’



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.



““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)



• ““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.


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


• 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)


• Remember that the Christian life is a life of Remember that the Christian life is a life of

faithfaith..


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?...


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).


• 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)

breaking through to freedom””””” part 1 “unmet expectations” matthew 11:1-15

Documents

unmet expectations challenge

unmet expectations matthew

spiritual giantsquestion

moments of doubt

wages john

world john

great manwho

great manrepent