The Disappointed Expectations of Christmas
- Theological Disappointment
Isaiah 9:7 CSB –
He will reign on the throne of David
and over his kingdom,
to establish and sustain it
with justice and righteousness from now on and forever
Jeremiah 17:25 CSB – kings and princes will enter through the gates of this city. They will sit on the throne of David; they will ride in chariots and on horses with their officials, the men of Judah, and the residents of Jerusalem. This city will be inhabited forever.
Deuteronomy 18:15 CSB – The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.
Isaiah 52:13, 15 CSB –
See, my servant will be successful;
he will be raised and lifted up and greatly exalted.
15 …Kings will shut their mouths because of him,
for they will see what had not been told them,
and they will understand what they had not heard.
Isaiah 11:10, 12 CSB –
The nations will look to him for guidance,
and his resting place will be glorious.
He will raise a banner for the nations
and gather the exiles of Israel;
he will assemble the scattered people of Judah
from the four quarters of the earth.
Luke 24:25-27 CSB – He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.
Isaiah 55:8-9 CSB –
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
and your ways are not my ways.”
This is the Lord’s declaration.
9 “For as heaven is higher than earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
- Circumstance Disappointment
Matthew 1:18-19 CSB – [Joseph] discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.
Matthew 1:20-21 CSB – But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 CSB – Rejoice always, 17 pray constantly, 18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 84:11-12 CSB – For the Lord God is a sun and shield.
The Lord grants favor and honor;
he does not withhold the good
from those who live with integrity.
12 Happy is the person who trusts in you,
Lord of Armies!
Great Expectations! Expectations to Defeat Christmas Saboteurs
- Expect to Be Thankful—no matter what!
John 16:33 CSB – I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 CSB – Rejoice always, 17 pray constantly, 18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
- Expect to Serve – not to be served
The Christmas story from Philippians
Philippians 2:4-8 CSB –
Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
6 who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited.
7 Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.
And when he had come as a man,
8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.
Luke 14:8-11 CSB –
“When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, don’t recline at the best place, because a more distinguished person than you may have been invited by your host. 9 The one who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in humiliation, you will proceed to take the lowest place.
10 “But when you are invited, go and recline in the lowest place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ You will then be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Expect God to Be with You—in every circumstance
Matthew 1:23c-24 CSB – they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”
Isaiah 9:2-3 CSB –
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
a light has dawned
on those living in the land of darkness.
3 You have enlarged the nation
and increased its joy.
The people have rejoiced before you
as they rejoice at harvest time
Isaiah 9:6 CSB –
For a child will be born for us,
a son will be given to us,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
He will be named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
1) Accept Jesus as Savior
2) Listen: Pray & Read Bible daily
3) Obey—moment by moment
