Sermon Tone Analysis

Title: High Expectations

Theme: Grasping the Promises of God in the Lord’s Work

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

(Jeremiah 29:11)

Special promises found in the Word of God

Often after men and women of God have taken time to fast, pray and surrender their hearts over to the cleansing work of God they will be lead of the Holy Spirit to special promises found in the Word of God.

As the Holy Spirit brings revelation of these promises, illumination of these truths will keep obedient Christians steadfast, faithful, and joyful in their work with Jesus Christ.

I would propose to you that there are promises of God found in His Word that bring “High Expectations” in service to the King of kings and Lord of Lords.

Christians can expect success in their labors with the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “…stand firm.

Let nothing move you.

Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Galatians 6:9 says, “…at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Just what can the obedient children of God expect in their labors with the Lord and in their walk with Christ?

There are four truths that the Holy Spirit of God wants you to grasp as you labor diligently in the work of the Lord.

He rewards those who earnestly seek Him

The first truth worth grasping in this message today is that the obedient, faithful Christian can expect to be rewarded as he diligently seeks the Lord in faith.

Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

Let the Holy Spirit of Christ put these truths deep within your heart.

“He rewards those who seek Him.”

Those who enjoy God’s promises in service to Him are those who have genuine faith.

Faith (pistis), means to be loyal and steadfast in devotion and allegiance to the Lord.

(Practical Word Studies of the New Testament)

The practical application is that this child of God denies and sacrifices himself because he trusts in God.

He knows that the Lord will work out all things towards God’s good purposes.

Therefore, he cast himself totally upon God’s grace and lives a life of faithfulness to the Lord Jesus.

The Christian who enjoys God’s rewards is the one who does not doubt what God’s Word says about his salvation, provision, or strengthening in time of need.

The child of God who enjoys God’s rewards is the one who overcomes that temptation to back off his calling and give up.

He does not give in to the lust of the flesh, he is not lured away by the world’s temptations nor continue to listen to Satan’s lies.

He never slackens or surrenders, his faith keeps him keeping on.

(Practical Word Studies of the New Testament)

The Christian who enjoys God’s reward is the child of God who has Holy Spirit illumination of the Triune God and he fully trusts that God’s promises will be fulfilled.

(The New Bible Commentary) He believes what God has revealed about Himself in the written Word, the Bible.

His life expresses peace, and a desire to be obedient.

He knows that sin keeps Him out of fellowship with Lord and he trusts only in the shed blood of Christ for the restoration of that fellowship.

He pays strict attention to God’s oracles, attends to God’s ordinances, faithfully depends upon the Holy Spirit’s enabling to complete what he has been called to do, and makes effort to be actively involved in the lives of God’s people.

(Matthew Henry Commentary)

Reward getters are those who are worshippers of Christ.

They are surrendered to the Holy Spirit and understand that their real reward is what God told Abram in a vision, "Do not be afraid, Abram.

I am your shield, your very great reward."

(Genesis 15:1) They know that Jesus is the greatest reward that anyone can receive.

Because Christ is their reward Christians will get ready for service like an athlete trains for competition.

Good athletes make time for conditioning.

They eat right, build muscle, and protect themselves for that which could cause permanent damage, thus, eliminating themselves from the competition.

Christian athletes feed upon God’s Word, pray and apply God’s Word into their lives.

They protect their eyes and ears from that which may cause permanent spiritual damage.

They protect their relationship with Christ and do not take it for granted.

They have a conviction about God’s moral character and laws, and they know that He not only exists but He really cares about them and about everything that is happening on this earth.

(The Expositors Bible Commentary)

The Bible tells about King Asa, who reformed Judah and reigned in Jerusalem from 911-870 B.C. (Who’s Who in the Bible) He was a great grandson of Solomon and the Bible says, Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD.”

(1 Kings 15:11) In Biblical history we read that the “…Spirit of God came upon Azariah… He went out to meet Asa and said to him, ‘Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin.

The LORD is with you when you are with Him.

If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.’”

(2 Chronicles 15:1-2)

This passage of scripture holds a great promise to the child of God who expresses true faith by a surrendered heart to God’s will.

At the same time holds a curse to all who reject the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

The warning is for those who refuse to gain His counsel through the written Word, who waste their Holy Spirit gifts and talents upon themselves and do not exercise them for the glory of God.

There are blessings for the child of God who sacrificially exercises his Spiritual gifts for the good of the Body of Christ and for the well-fair of the lost.

They will know God’s greatest reward, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and will enjoy a Holy Spirit led and empowered life on this earth.

In the time when the prophet Azariah’s words came to King Asa there was great distress, Israel was without the one true God, without priests to teach God’s decrees, without precepts and laws.

The inhabitants were in great turmoil and it was not safe to travel about.

One nation was being crushed by another and the Bible says “…God was troubling them with every kind of distress…” (2 Chronicles 15:3-6)

In Deuteronomy 28:1-14 we read of the blessings of God for a nation for obedience.

America and the church have most certainly enjoyed those blessings.

Deuteronomy 28:15-68 speaks of the cruses for a nation that disobeys the Word of God.

America and many in the church are experiencing His chastising right now.

The church of Jesus Christ in our day is called to reform a nation that has strayed from her God-fearing roots.

America needs a true spiritual awakening and the church needs a true restoration back to the written Word of God.

The prophet had good news for Asa in the work of reformation.

His words are for the obedient church today as she battles for the souls of mankind, “But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”

(2 Chronicles 15:7)

The child of God who lives out his faith in Christ may seek the Lord for wisdom, strength and provision.

He will have the greatest reward, Jesus Christ.

He will be involved in the “Great Commission.”

He will know what Moses knew and experienced, the promises of God fulfilled.

When God sent Moses to free the Israelites from the bondage of slavery He gave Moses this promise, “I will be with you…” (Exodus 3:12)

The lost are in bondage to sin.

The flesh, the world and the devil holds mankind captive and they need to hear about the great deliver, Jesus Christ, the only one who can set the captive free.

Christ gave a commission to the eleven.

The promise and command He gave to them goes on to their successors, the ministers of the gospel.

These truths are applicable to all His followers as well.

The Lord Jesus gave pastors and teachers as well as apostles for the purpose of equipping the Body of Christ for works of service.

(Ephesians 4:11-13) Otherwise the “Great Commission” could not carry on.

(Matthew Henry Commentary; The Bible Knowledge Commentary; The Bible Exposition Commentary; The Teacher’s Commentary; Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary)

Matthew 28 gives Christians the same promise that was given to Moses as they go forth under the authority of Christ to preach the gospel.

Jesus Christ says, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

(Matthew 28:20) As God sent Moses, He sent His apostles and this promise goes on to His obedient servants as they teach others how to become disciples of Christ.

Obedient Christians in making disciples of Christ will have His comfort (John 16:7) and have His present help (Psalm 46:1).

He will carry them through difficulties, plead their case before God, be in all their services, strengthen them in all their suffering.

He will make their ministries effectual in due time.

He will break down the strongholds of Satan.

The King James Bible says that Christ will be with us until “the end of the world.”

As long as this dispensation continues the Lord will be with His church empowering those who are now faithfully working with the Lord.

He will continue to rise up followers that will answer to the call to make disciples after we are gone.

The Lord’s work will continue on and on and on until this world as we know it has passed away and the Lord makes all things new.

Even when the faithful are mistreated or cast away by persecution, Christians will steadfastly keep on.

They have the heart of John Calvin who was banished from ungrateful Geneva.

He wrote, “Most assuredly if I had merely served man, this would have been a poor [reward]; but it is my happiness that I have served Him who never fails to reward His servants to the full extent of His promise.”

Satan has many ways to make the servants of God think that their labors are in vain.

Hebrews 11:6 says otherwise and it is a truth to be grasped.

God rewards those who earnestly seek Him.