Embracing Unexpected Promises: Faith and Recognition
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the theme of "Unexpected Promises" as part of our ongoing series. We explored how promises can become unexpected due to a lack of patience or belief in the one making the promise. We examined the life of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, whose arrival and actions were often unexpected despite numerous prophecies. From the angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary, to the disbelief of Joseph, and the rejection by religious leaders, Jesus' life was filled with unexpected moments that fulfilled God's promises.
We focused on the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24. These disciples were disheartened and had lost hope in the promises of Jesus' resurrection. They did not recognize Jesus when He appeared to them, illustrating how sadness and loss of expectation can blind us to God's presence. However, as Jesus recounted the scriptures and broke bread with them, their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him. This story teaches us the importance of staying grounded in the Word of God to keep our expectations alive.
We also heard a powerful testimony from Michelle Bazell, who experienced great loss but found healing and renewed faith through the community and the Word of God. Her story reminds us that even when promises seem dead, God is still at work, and His promises will come to pass.
In conclusion, we must reset our expectations and hold on to God's promises, even when they seem delayed or impossible. By staying in the Word and recounting our encounters with God, we can reignite our faith and see His promises fulfilled in our lives.
### Key Takeaways
1. Promises and Patience: A promise becomes unexpected when there's a lack of patience or belief in the one making the promise. Just as the disciples on the road to Emmaus lost hope, we too can lose sight of God's promises when we grow impatient. Trust in God's timing and remain steadfast in faith. [44:00]
2. Recognizing Jesus in Our Journey: The disciples did not recognize Jesus on the road to Emmaus because their sadness and loss of expectation blinded them. Similarly, we can miss God's presence in our lives when we are overwhelmed by our circumstances. Stay grounded in the Word to keep your spiritual eyes open. [51:05]
3. The Power of Scripture: Jesus recounted the scriptures to the disciples, reigniting their faith. When we fall out of love with the Word, we lose our expectation of God's promises. Make it a priority to study and meditate on the scriptures to keep your heart burning with faith. [01:00:37]
4. Testimonies of Faith: Sharing our encounters with God can reignite our faith and the faith of others. Michelle Bazell's testimony of finding healing and renewed faith through the community and the Word of God is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness. Speak about God's promises and your experiences to encourage yourself and others. [01:04:24]
5. Faith in Action: Faith without works is dead. It's not enough to talk about God's promises; we must act on them. Change your actions to align with your faith, and you will see God's promises come to pass. Start living as if God's promises are already being fulfilled in your life. [01:38:10]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[41:00] - Opening Prayer and Introduction
[42:14] - Unexpected Promises
[44:00] - Lack of Patience and Belief
[45:09] - Jesus, the Unexpected Messiah
[46:12] - Joseph's Disbelief
[47:20] - Rejection by Religious Leaders
[48:26] - Post-Resurrection Encounters
[49:44] - The Road to Emmaus
[51:05] - Jesus Shows Up Unexpectedly
[52:20] - Sadness and Loss of Expectation
[53:55] - Losing Hope in the Messiah
[55:18] - The Craziest Point of the Story
[56:59] - Leaving the Place of Promise
[58:33] - Jesus Reminds Them of the Promises
[59:06] - Breaking Bread and Recognition
[01:00:37] - Rediscovering Love for Scripture
[01:01:14] - The Danger of Losing Love for the Word
[01:02:29] - The Importance of Knowing the Word
[01:03:10] - Returning to Jerusalem
[01:04:24] - Sharing Encounters with God
[01:05:38] - Jesus Recounts the Promises
[01:06:01] - Understanding the Scriptures
[01:07:20] - The Promise of the Holy Spirit
[01:08:04] - The Day of Pentecost
[01:09:16] - A Suddenly Type of Promise
[01:10:25] - Testimony of Michelle Bazell
[01:13:21] - Trust and Patience in God's Timing
[01:14:21] - Holding on to God's Promises
[01:15:35] - Zero Expectation
[01:16:44] - Walking Away from the Promise
[01:17:19] - Losing Belief in the Word
[01:18:26] - Resetting Expectations
[01:18:56] - Declaring God's Promises
[01:19:26] - Opening the Altars
[01:19:58] - God Shows Up Unexpectedly
[01:20:27] - Holding to God's Promises
[01:29:24] - Nearing Emmaus
[01:32:01] - Desperation for God
[01:32:32] - Talking to God
[01:38:10] - Faith in Action
[01:39:33] - Changing Actions
[01:41:46] - Closing Prayer
[01:42:53] - Next Week's Topic: Unexpected Prophecy
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Luke 24:13-35 - The Road to Emmaus
2. Matthew 1:18-25 - The Birth of Jesus Christ
3. Acts 2:1-4 - The Day of Pentecost
### Observation Questions
1. What were the two disciples discussing on the road to Emmaus, and how did Jesus join their conversation? ([51:05])
2. How did Joseph initially react to the news of Mary's pregnancy, and what changed his mind? ([46:12])
3. What was the reaction of the disciples when Jesus appeared to them after His resurrection, and how did He prove His identity? ([01:06:01])
4. What significant event happened on the Day of Pentecost, and how many people were present to witness it? ([01:08:46])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the disciples on the road to Emmaus did not recognize Jesus initially? What does this tell us about their state of mind? ([51:05])
2. How does Joseph's initial disbelief and later acceptance of Mary's pregnancy reflect our own struggles with unexpected promises from God? ([46:12])
3. In what ways did Jesus use scripture to reignite the faith of the disciples on the road to Emmaus? How can this be applied to our own lives? ([01:00:37])
4. What does the sudden arrival of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost teach us about God's timing and fulfillment of promises? ([01:08:46])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt disheartened like the disciples on the road to Emmaus. How did you eventually recognize God's presence in that situation? ([51:05])
2. Joseph struggled with disbelief when he first heard about Mary's pregnancy. Have you ever doubted a promise from God? How did you overcome that doubt? ([46:12])
3. Jesus used scripture to reignite the faith of the disciples. How can you make studying and meditating on the Bible a priority in your daily life? ([01:00:37])
4. Michelle Bazell shared a testimony of finding healing and renewed faith through community and the Word of God. How can you share your own encounters with God to encourage others? ([01:04:24])
5. The Day of Pentecost was a fulfillment of God's promise. Are there promises from God that you are still waiting for? How can you remain patient and faithful during the waiting period? ([01:08:46])
6. The disciples' sadness blinded them to Jesus' presence. Is there a current situation in your life that is causing you to lose sight of God's promises? How can you refocus on His Word to regain your faith? ([52:20])
7. Faith without works is dead. What specific actions can you take this week to align your life with the promises of God? ([01:38:10])
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting in God's Timing
Promises and Patience: A promise becomes unexpected when there's a lack of patience or belief in the one making the promise. Just as the disciples on the road to Emmaus lost hope, we too can lose sight of God's promises when we grow impatient. Trust in God's timing and remain steadfast in faith. [44:00]
"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" (Psalm 27:14, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a promise from God that you have been waiting for. How can you actively trust in His timing today, even if the fulfillment seems delayed?
Day 2: Recognizing Jesus in Our Journey
The disciples did not recognize Jesus on the road to Emmaus because their sadness and loss of expectation blinded them. Similarly, we can miss God's presence in our lives when we are overwhelmed by our circumstances. Stay grounded in the Word to keep your spiritual eyes open. [51:05]
"And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight." (Luke 24:31, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by your circumstances. How can you make space today to recognize Jesus' presence in your current situation?
Day 3: The Power of Scripture
Jesus recounted the scriptures to the disciples, reigniting their faith. When we fall out of love with the Word, we lose our expectation of God's promises. Make it a priority to study and meditate on the scriptures to keep your heart burning with faith. [01:00:37]
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105, ESV)
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to deepen your engagement with the Bible? How can you make scripture a more integral part of your daily routine?
Day 4: Sharing Encounters with God
Sharing our encounters with God can reignite our faith and the faith of others. Michelle Bazell's testimony of finding healing and renewed faith through the community and the Word of God is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness. Speak about God's promises and your experiences to encourage yourself and others. [01:04:24]
"And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death." (Revelation 12:11, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a recent encounter with God or a testimony of His faithfulness in your life. Who can you share this with today to encourage their faith?
Day 5: Faith in Action
Faith without works is dead. It's not enough to talk about God's promises; we must act on them. Change your actions to align with your faith, and you will see God's promises come to pass. Start living as if God's promises are already being fulfilled in your life. [01:38:10]
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one area of your life where your actions do not align with your faith. What practical steps can you take today to bring your actions in line with your belief in God's promises?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "A promise becomes unexpected when there's a lack of patience for the time frame since the promise was made, or a lack of belief in the person making the promise." [44:00] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Jesus can show up your journey in the middle of your circumstance all of a sudden. When you're not expecting him to, God can just show up and be right there as you're walking down the road, as you're having a conversation, as you're trying to figure out what am I going to do about this problem? What has gone wrong and how am I going to get through this? God can show up." [52:20] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When you lose the expectation of your promise, sadness can set in so deep in your soul that it's written all across your face. You may be standing face to face with God in the flesh, but that sinking feeling of the loss of your promise dominates your entire character." [53:55] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Some of us have lost our expectation of God's promises in our life because our heart no longer burns within us as we read and study the word of God. It's dangerous when the scripture stops burning within our heart." [01:00:37] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Some of you need to start talking about the promises of God for your family. The promises of God for your marriage. The promises of God for your future. The promises of God for my calling. I'm gonna talk about it because God promised it to me. I may be not believing it. It may be a long time. It may look like it was buried, crucified, dead. But I'm gonna talk about it." [01:19:26] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "When you no longer expect your promise, then you start seeing God for less than who he is. When you lose hope in the Messiah and what all Jesus can do in your life, you know that he's the Alpha, you know he's the Omega, but you lose sight of him in the middle of your pain." [55:18] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Some of you are letting your sadness keep you from seeing your Savior standing right in front of you." [56:15] (7 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Some of us, we've lost our promise, our expectation, and we're in a vicious cycle because we go to the word we don't seem to understand. We get frustrated and we get aggravated. Well, these things aren't happening in my life and those aren't happening in my life and I'm not understanding the scripture. Spend some more time with God. Let him open your understanding of the scripture. Let him open your understanding of his word." [01:06:37] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "If you want to regain your belief, if you want to reset your expectation and the promises of God, you gotta start talking about your encounters that you have with God Almighty. Come on, some of you now to find people in your life and start recounting the blessings of God and stop relaying the prayer request. We all got needs. We all got problems. Let's talk about the blessings." [01:04:24] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Some of you have walked in the doors this morning with absolutely zero expectation for the promises that God Almighty has made to you because of things that have happened, because of things people said and done to you, losses maybe that you've suffered, hurt and pain that's come your way. You see those promises nailed to a tree. Life drained from them now buried in a tomb somewhere in your past." [01:15:35] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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