The Joy Choice: EXPECTATIONS
Philippians 1:27-30.
 JOY: The inner reaction we have when we experience the
power of God’s grace.
 Connecting with Jesus, Connecting with Others, Connecting
with Our Eternal Hope.
Check your expectations. Looking at problems with
the backdrop of heaven will minimize them.
Pray with joy as Paul did. Philippians 1:3. We should
have a “Whatever Happens” Attitude (Philippians 1:27) because God is in control.                                                                                                                                                        Often our expectations don’t line up
with our experience. Disappointment comes in the distance
between experience and expectation. Often we need to
modify our expectations and thus guard our joy.
Why is it important for believers to monitor their
expectations?
 Point 1: We could drift away from our purpose in life.
2 Timothy 4:10 “…Demas, because he loved this world, has
deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.”
 Point 2: We could miss an opportunity that God has
for us. 2 Corinthians 2:12-13 “Now when I went to Troas
to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had
opened a door for me….”
 Point 3: We chose wrongly and hurt the cause of God.
Mark 15:6-15 tells us the people chose Barabbas over Jesus.
Perhaps it was because Jesus did not meet their
expectations of the Messiah, one who would conqueror
Rome, but a warlike man such as Barabbas did.
God allows suffering so we can experience more
grace. In 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 God tells Paul “My grace is
sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore Paul rejoiced and took delight in his weaknesses.
Practicing a “Whatever Happens” Attitude will bring
joy as you acknowledge control. Praise God for His
amazing grace and the resulting joy!