Aligning Expectations with God's Purpose During Advent
Summary
In this season of Advent, we find ourselves reflecting on the tension between expectation and reality. As we celebrate the birth of Christ, we often set high expectations for our spiritual journey, our relationships, and our lives. Yet, reality frequently falls short, leaving us with unmet expectations. This is a common experience, not just during the holidays but throughout our lives. We see this vividly in the story of Peter, a disciple of Jesus, who had great expectations of the Messiah and his own role in God's plan.
Peter's journey is a powerful illustration of how our expectations can be misaligned with God's purposes. At Caesarea Philippi, Peter boldly declares Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Jesus affirms this confession, yet Peter's understanding of what it means to follow Christ is soon challenged. When Jesus speaks of his impending suffering and death, Peter rebukes him, revealing his expectation of a triumphant, earthly kingdom. Jesus' response, "Get behind me, Satan," highlights the danger of human expectations that are not aligned with God's will.
Peter's story continues with his denial of Jesus, a moment of profound failure and heartbreak. Yet, this moment is crucial for Peter's growth. It is in the depths of his disappointment and grief that Peter encounters the grace and restoration of Christ. After the resurrection, Jesus offers Peter a chance to reaffirm his love and commitment, preparing him for the future challenges he will face as a leader in the early church.
This narrative reminds us that hard moments are not necessarily bad. They are opportunities for growth, refinement, and deeper reliance on God. As we look forward to the new year, let us align our expectations with God's purposes, trusting that He is actively working in our lives today. Our hope is not just in the past or the future but in the present reality of Christ's presence with us.
Key Takeaways:
1. Expectation vs. Reality: Our expectations often clash with reality, leading to disappointment. Like Peter, we must learn to align our expectations with God's purposes, recognizing that His plans may differ from our own. This alignment requires humility and openness to God's leading. [32:45]
2. Misplaced Expectations: Peter's expectation of a triumphant Messiah was rooted in human concerns rather than God's plan. We must guard against allowing our desires and assumptions to overshadow God's will, seeking His guidance in all things. [41:32]
3. The Role of Hardship: Difficult moments, like Peter's denial of Christ, are not inherently bad. They are opportunities for growth and transformation, refining our faith and preparing us for future challenges. Embrace these moments as part of God's refining process. [52:39]
4. Restoration and Hope: Jesus' restoration of Peter after his denial demonstrates the power of grace and forgiveness. No matter our failures, Christ offers us hope and a chance to reaffirm our commitment to Him. This hope is a present reality, not just a future promise. [55:48]
5. Living with Present Hope: Our anticipation of Christ should not be limited to the Advent season. Jesus is alive and active today, offering hope and guidance in every season of life. Let us live with the expectation of His presence and work in our lives each day. [01:01:16]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [32:45] - Setting Expectations
- [34:20] - Advent Reflections
- [36:16] - Peter's Confession
- [39:05] - Misunderstanding the Messiah
- [40:26] - Jesus' Rebuke
- [41:32] - Human vs. Divine Concerns
- [42:25] - Peter's Journey
- [43:27] - Personal Expectations
- [44:32] - God's Refining Work
- [45:32] - Blind Spots and Growth
- [46:58] - Peter's Denial
- [51:14] - Facing Our Failures
- [52:39] - The Necessity of Hardship
- [55:48] - Restoration and Hope
- [57:56] - Preparing for the Future
- [59:15] - Lessons from Peter's Story
- [01:01:16] - Present Hope in Christ
- [01:03:20] - Anticipation for the New Year
- [01:05:22] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 16:13-23
2. Luke 22:54-62
3. John 21:15-19
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Observation Questions:
1. In Matthew 16:16, what does Peter declare about Jesus, and how does Jesus respond to this declaration? [36:16]
2. How does Peter's understanding of Jesus' mission differ from Jesus' explanation of His purpose in Matthew 16:21-23? [41:32]
3. Describe the sequence of events that lead to Peter's denial of Jesus in Luke 22:54-62. What are the key moments in this passage? [46:58]
4. In John 21:15-19, how does Jesus restore Peter after his denial, and what does this signify for Peter's future role? [55:48]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does Peter's initial confession of Jesus as the Messiah reveal about his expectations of Jesus' role and mission? How might these expectations have been shaped by cultural or personal beliefs? [39:05]
2. How does Jesus' rebuke of Peter in Matthew 16:23 highlight the difference between human and divine concerns? What does this teach about aligning our expectations with God's will? [41:32]
3. In what ways does Peter's denial and subsequent restoration illustrate the process of spiritual growth and transformation? How does this process relate to the concept of grace and forgiveness? [55:48]
4. How does the narrative of Peter's journey from denial to restoration challenge or affirm one's understanding of failure and redemption in the Christian life? [52:39]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when your expectations did not align with reality. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience about aligning your expectations with God's purposes? [34:20]
2. Consider an area in your life where you might have misplaced expectations. How can you seek God's guidance to realign your desires with His will? [42:25]
3. Identify a recent hardship or challenge you faced. How can you view this experience as an opportunity for growth and deeper reliance on God? [52:39]
4. In what ways can you actively seek restoration and hope in your relationship with Christ, especially after moments of failure or disappointment? [55:48]
5. How can you cultivate a daily awareness of Christ's presence and work in your life, beyond the Advent season? What practical steps can you take to live with present hope? [01:01:16]
6. Think of a specific expectation you have for the upcoming year. How can you ensure that this expectation is rooted in the hope and guidance of Christ? [01:03:20]
7. Reflect on a personal blind spot that has been revealed to you. How can you address this area with humility and openness to God's refining work? [45:32]
Devotional
Day 1: Aligning Expectations with Divine Purpose
In life, our expectations often clash with reality, leading to disappointment and frustration. This is a common experience, not just during the holidays but throughout our lives. The story of Peter, a disciple of Jesus, vividly illustrates this tension. Peter had great expectations of the Messiah and his own role in God's plan. At Caesarea Philippi, Peter boldly declares Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Jesus affirms this confession, yet Peter's understanding of what it means to follow Christ is soon challenged. When Jesus speaks of his impending suffering and death, Peter rebukes him, revealing his expectation of a triumphant, earthly kingdom. Jesus' response, "Get behind me, Satan," highlights the danger of human expectations that are not aligned with God's will. This narrative reminds us that aligning our expectations with God's purposes requires humility and openness to His leading. [32:45]
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: What is one expectation you have that might not align with God's purpose? How can you seek His guidance to realign your expectations today?
Day 2: Guarding Against Misplaced Expectations
Peter's expectation of a triumphant Messiah was rooted in human concerns rather than God's plan. This is a common pitfall for many of us, as we often allow our desires and assumptions to overshadow God's will. Peter's journey is a powerful illustration of how our expectations can be misaligned with God's purposes. We must guard against allowing our desires and assumptions to overshadow God's will, seeking His guidance in all things. This requires a conscious effort to prioritize divine concerns over human ones, recognizing that God's plan may differ from our own. By doing so, we open ourselves to the transformative work of God in our lives, allowing Him to lead us in ways that align with His greater purpose. [41:32]
Proverbs 19:21 (ESV): "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."
Reflection: Identify a desire or assumption you have that might overshadow God's will. How can you actively seek His guidance to ensure your expectations are aligned with His plan?
Day 3: Embracing Hardship as a Path to Growth
Difficult moments, like Peter's denial of Christ, are not inherently bad. They are opportunities for growth and transformation, refining our faith and preparing us for future challenges. Peter's story continues with his denial of Jesus, a moment of profound failure and heartbreak. Yet, this moment is crucial for Peter's growth. It is in the depths of his disappointment and grief that Peter encounters the grace and restoration of Christ. This narrative reminds us that hard moments are not necessarily bad. They are opportunities for growth, refinement, and deeper reliance on God. Embrace these moments as part of God's refining process, trusting that He is actively working in our lives today. [52:39]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: Think of a recent hardship you faced. How can you view it as an opportunity for growth and deeper reliance on God?
Day 4: Experiencing Restoration and Hope
Jesus' restoration of Peter after his denial demonstrates the power of grace and forgiveness. No matter our failures, Christ offers us hope and a chance to reaffirm our commitment to Him. After the resurrection, Jesus offers Peter a chance to reaffirm his love and commitment, preparing him for the future challenges he will face as a leader in the early church. This hope is a present reality, not just a future promise. It reminds us that no matter our failures, Christ offers us hope and a chance to reaffirm our commitment to Him. This hope is a present reality, not just a future promise. Let us live with the expectation of His presence and work in our lives each day. [55:48]
1 Peter 5:10 (ESV): "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."
Reflection: Reflect on a failure you have experienced. How can you embrace Christ's grace and forgiveness to reaffirm your commitment to Him today?
Day 5: Living with Present Hope
Our anticipation of Christ should not be limited to the Advent season. Jesus is alive and active today, offering hope and guidance in every season of life. As we look forward to the new year, let us align our expectations with God's purposes, trusting that He is actively working in our lives today. Our hope is not just in the past or the future but in the present reality of Christ's presence with us. This narrative reminds us that hard moments are not necessarily bad. They are opportunities for growth, refinement, and deeper reliance on God. As we look forward to the new year, let us align our expectations with God's purposes, trusting that He is actively working in our lives today. [01:01:16]
Hebrews 10:23 (ESV): "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful."
Reflection: How can you actively live with the expectation of Christ's presence and work in your life today? What steps can you take to cultivate this awareness daily?
Quotes
But even though it seems like Peter has a really firm understanding of what he just said, we quickly find out that maybe Peter has also missed the point a little bit. You see, up until this point, the disciples have seen what Jesus did, and for years and years and years and years and years, the people have been waiting for the Messiah. [00:39:28] (23 seconds)
In this moment, Jesus calls out Peter and he says, listen, you are not thinking about God's concerns. Your expectation is not God's expectation. Your expectation is your expectation. We have an example of great expectation. And in some ways, it's not even a malicious expectation. It's a misplaced expectation. But Jesus is saying, it's not God's, it's yours. [00:42:06] (31 seconds)
She's been realizing that God is doing a work in her. God is refining, refining things out of her and setting her up for something that she doesn't even know yet. She can't see the end result, but she can see the present reality of God working in her life. Great expectation that is not focused on the Lord or the Lord's expectation leads to great letdown. [00:44:39] (32 seconds)
As we continue through the story, we start to see Peter has some very major blind spots and blind spots are dangerous. Blind spots are dangerous. Unaddressed blind spots are really dangerous. When you don't have someone to call you out on them, when you don't have somebody to point out the things that you need to work on, right? They're very, very dangerous because you continue to live in that and you have the wrong expectations and you set the wrong perspective on life. [00:46:02] (34 seconds)
Hard is not the same thing as bad. Let that sink in for just a second. Hard is not the same thing as bad. Peter needs this moment. He needs it. It is essential for Peter to have this moment. And we're going to see why in just a second. But let's turn it back to us for a second. For some of you guys, 2024 was the best year of your life. It was awesome. You loved it. [00:53:04] (40 seconds)
And the beautiful part about that and the beautiful thing that we see in this passage of Scripture throughout Peter's story is that Jesus is there the whole time. He knows what Peter needs. And even though it's hard, he's working to prepare Peter for a future thing that he doesn't even know about. But many times we get so focused on the present circumstance that we forget that Christ is not dead. [01:00:22] (32 seconds)
And he lives a perfect life, and he dies, and he rises again from the dead. And then guess what? He doesn't die again. He ascends into heaven, which means right now Jesus is alive, and he's active. Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, Jesus is alive and active. Whatever season of life you are in right now, Jesus is alive, and he's active. He is not dead. It's not something that we just remember. [01:01:16] (24 seconds)
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