Embracing Divine Expectancy and Our Spiritual Obligations
Devotional
Day 1: Divine Expectancy
In moments of divine expectancy, believers are called to remain open and attentive to the Spirit's movement. This is a time when God is preparing to do something extraordinary, and it is crucial to be fully present and engaged. The anticipation of God's work should fill us with hope and readiness, as He is poised to work in powerful ways in our midst. This expectancy is not just a feeling but a call to action, urging us to participate actively in what God is doing. [55:41]
Isaiah 43:19 (ESV): "Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
Reflection: What specific area of your life are you expecting God to move in, and how can you prepare your heart to be open and attentive to His work today?
Day 2: Purposeful Encounters
Every encounter with God is filled with purpose, and believers are on the brink of a divine explosion. These moments defy patterns and expectations, requiring us to be open and receptive to God's work. It is essential not to miss any opportunity to be part of what God is doing, as He moves in unexpected ways. This calls for a readiness to embrace the divine encounters that God orchestrates, trusting that each one is significant and transformative. [56:11]
Habakkuk 1:5 (ESV): "Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent encounter with God that seemed unexpected. How can you remain open to recognizing and embracing these purposeful moments in your daily life?
Day 3: Obligation to the Savior
Believers have a primary obligation to Jesus Christ, aligning themselves with His divine plan and seeking to please Him. This involves working the works of Him who sent us while it is still day, driven by a love for Jesus that compels us to be part of His mission. Living a life that honors Him requires dedication and a commitment to His purposes, recognizing that our ultimate goal is to serve and glorify Him. [01:07:35]
John 9:4 (ESV): "We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work."
Reflection: In what ways can you align your daily actions with Jesus' mission, and how can you ensure that your love for Him is the driving force behind your commitments?
Day 4: Love for Our Neighbor
Believers are called to love their neighbors as themselves, sharing the gospel and the love of Christ with them. This involves being attentive to their needs and being willing to share the hope found in Jesus. Our love for others should compel us to action, prompting us to reach out and make a difference in their lives. This is not just a duty but a reflection of Christ's love working through us to transform the world around us. [01:15:06]
1 John 3:18 (ESV): "Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."
Reflection: Identify one neighbor or friend who needs to experience the love of Christ. What practical step can you take today to demonstrate His love to them?
Day 5: Personal Accountability
Believers have an obligation to themselves to live a life that will stand before the Lord with a crown of righteousness. This involves being faithful to the work of the Lord and living a life that reflects His love and grace. Our ultimate goal is to present our lives as a gift to Jesus, striving to be accountable for our actions and choices. This accountability is not a burden but a privilege, as it aligns us with God's purposes and prepares us for eternity. [01:22:12]
2 Timothy 4:7-8 (ESV): "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing."
Reflection: Consider one area of your life where you need to be more accountable to God. What steps can you take today to ensure that your life reflects His love and grace?
Sermon Summary
In this gathering, there is a palpable sense of expectancy, and I assure you, God will not disappoint. We are on the brink of something extraordinary, and I urge you not to miss any opportunity to be part of it. Every moment spent in the presence of the Lord is purposeful, and I believe we are on the cusp of a divine explosion in this area. The Spirit of God is moving, and we must be attentive to His work.
Our obligation is to engage in the work of the Lord. This is not about financial gain or routine gatherings; it's about receiving everything we can from Jesus. There is no pattern to how God moves, and sometimes, the most unexpected moments are when we receive the most. Therefore, I encourage you to come with faith, expecting God to do great things in your life.
We are called to be part of a divine encounter, a moment in history where God's glory descends, and nations are transformed. As we approach the end of this millennium, I believe we are on the verge of a tremendous outpouring of the Lord. This is a time for us to be part of something greater, to witness and participate in the work of God.
Our obligation is threefold: to our Savior, to our neighbor, and to ourselves. We must work the works of Him who sent us while it is still day. Our primary obligation is to Jesus Christ, to align ourselves with His divine plan and to please Him. We are also obligated to our neighbors, to love them as ourselves, and to share the gospel with them. Finally, we have an obligation to ourselves, to live a life that will stand before the Lord with a crown of righteousness.
This is not a burden but a privilege. We are called to be part of the end-time harvest, to bring others into the kingdom of God. Let us not be complacent but be active in sharing the love of Christ with those around us. As we do, we will see lives transformed and the kingdom of God expanded.
Key Takeaways
1. Divine Expectancy: There is a sense of divine expectancy in our midst, and God will not disappoint. We must remain open and attentive to the Spirit's movement, as He is preparing to do something extraordinary in our area. This is a time to be fully present and engaged, expecting God to work in powerful ways. [55:41]
2. Purposeful Encounters: Every encounter with God is purposeful, and we are on the brink of a divine explosion. We must not miss any opportunity to be part of what God is doing, as He is moving in ways that defy patterns and expectations. Our role is to be open and receptive to His work. [56:11]
3. Obligation to the Savior: Our primary obligation is to Jesus Christ, to align ourselves with His divine plan and to please Him. This involves working the works of Him who sent us, while it is still day. Our love for Jesus should drive us to be part of His mission and to live a life that honors Him. [67:35]
4. Love for Our Neighbor: We are obligated to love our neighbors as ourselves, sharing the gospel and the love of Christ with them. This involves being attentive to their needs and being willing to share the hope we have in Jesus. Our love for others should compel us to action. [75:06]
5. Personal Accountability: We have an obligation to ourselves to live a life that will stand before the Lord with a crown of righteousness. This involves being faithful to the work of the Lord and living a life that reflects His love and grace. Our ultimate goal is to present our lives as a gift to Jesus. [01:22:12] ** [82:12]
John 9:4 - "We must work the works of him who sent me as long as it is day; night is coming, when no one can work."
2 Corinthians 5:11 - "Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men."
Matthew 28:19-20 - "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."
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Observation Questions:
What does the speaker mean by "divine expectancy" and how does it relate to the movement of the Spirit in the sermon? [55:41]
How does the speaker describe the purpose behind God's blessings and encounters? [01:01:30]
What are the three obligations mentioned in the sermon, and how are they prioritized? [01:07:35]
How does the speaker illustrate the concept of personal accountability before the Lord? [01:22:12]
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Interpretation Questions:
In John 9:4, Jesus speaks about working while it is day. How does this relate to the urgency expressed in the sermon about participating in God's work? [01:03:19]
The sermon mentions an obligation to our neighbors. How does this align with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20? [01:15:06]
The speaker talks about the burden of the Lord being placed upon individuals. How might this burden manifest in a believer's life, and what is its significance? [01:11:42]
Reflecting on 2 Corinthians 5:11, how does the knowledge of the Lord's judgment motivate the speaker's evangelistic efforts? [01:15:52]
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Application Questions:
The sermon emphasizes being attentive to the Spirit's movement. What practical steps can you take this week to be more open and receptive to God's work in your life? [55:41]
Consider your current obligations to Jesus, your neighbors, and yourself. How can you better align your daily actions with these priorities? [01:07:35]
The speaker encourages sharing the gospel with others. Identify one person in your life who needs to hear about Jesus. How can you initiate a conversation with them this week? [01:15:06]
Reflect on a time when you felt a divine encounter or blessing. How did it impact your faith journey, and how can you use that experience to encourage others? [01:01:30]
The sermon speaks about personal accountability before the Lord. What specific area of your life do you feel needs more alignment with God's will, and what steps will you take to address it? [01:22:12]
How can you actively participate in the "end-time harvest" mentioned in the sermon? What role do you see yourself playing in expanding God's kingdom? [01:12:35]
The speaker talks about living a life that will stand before the Lord with a crown of righteousness. What changes can you make in your life to ensure you are living in a way that honors God? [01:22:12]
Sermon Clips
I believe everything that happens in the Kingdom has a purpose. I believe in Divine encounters. How many believe in Divine encounters? I believe there are moments in history, church history, that are just ordained of the Lord when the glory comes down, and you can look at church calendars of three and 400 years and see where they just peaked out and entire nations melted under the power of God. [01:00:13]
We must work the works of Him who sent me as long as it is day. Night is coming when no man can work. I'm going to talk about our obligation for the next few minutes to the work of the Lord. Now there are some people in this room that don't know the Lord, and I want to tell you, friend, why you're so miserable. [01:03:19]
You were born to know the Lord. You were born to know your Creator, and as long as you spend your life outside of that relationship, you will be miserable regardless, my friend, of the money you make, of the relationships you have, of the friends that surround you. When you're alone, when you're by yourself, when you turn your head to the pillow, when you shut the door, turn out the light, you're by yourself. [01:04:32]
We are under obligation, friends, first of all, to our Savior Jesus Christ. You better get your priorities right, friend. People ask me all the time how I can keep working the way I work. I don't work for my salvation. That's received. I've received it. I love it. I thank God for it, but I work because I love Him. [01:07:35]
I want to please the Lord. My number one obligation is to My Savior Jesus Christ, and I want to tell you the last thing He said to us before He departed this Earth. He was looking at His disciples. He's looking at everyone in this room. I want you to imagine Jesus pointing His finger in your face and saying this. [01:09:04]
Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel. That's what you do. You understand me, Peter? That's what you do, John. You understand me? By the way, Peter, you're going to die for this cause. They're going to lead you away, Peter. You know, Mark Twain once said, he said, it's not the scriptures that I don't understand in the word that bother me. [01:11:29]
Obligation to my neighbor. I'm talking about the obligation to the work of the Lord. The first one is your obligation to your Savior Jesus Christ for saving you, and then our obligation to our neighbor. Does anyone feel that? Do you feel the burden of the world? Do you feel the pain of the world in these meetings? [01:15:06]
I will stand before the Lord, and I want to love my neighbor, and I want to hear it from Jesus. You loved them as yourself, Steve. You are just as concerned about them as you were your own family, Steve. You took care. I was reading in John Lake's book, a book that your pastor gave me. [01:16:59]
I believe there are crowns. I believe there is a reward. I believe there's coming a day where I will stand before the Lord, and one of the reasons I work so hard is because I'm going to have to face that moment in time. I may be standing in line with a host, I don't know, or it may flash just in an instant, but I will be there. [01:22:12]
I want to see the most precious diamonds and rubies and emeralds and sapphires. I want to see platinum and gold and silver. I want to see the most beautiful crown that was ever created pass into the last Angel's hands and then into the Lord's. Stay with me, friends. I don't want a cardboard Crown. [01:25:57]
Our obligation in the work of the Lord is to Jesus primarily just to bless the Lord. I want Him to look upon us, look upon you in these meetings, look upon you in the days to come, and just be pleased that you're doing His work, and then to your neighbor because you got a genuine burden. [01:30:25]
I want you to experience the power of the Lord just like some of you already doing. You brought me your friends already tonight with joy on your face, man, that here they are. I told you I was going to bring them, and here they are. Could you imagine if everybody took an effort like that, what could happen? [01:31:58]