Expect the Unexpected

If you would please stand for the reading of God's word. And if you brought your Bibles, turn them to the book of Acts to the third chapter and the first verse. This morning we continue to consider the greater things that God can do in your life with this series great expectations.

I want you to begin to understand the power of your expectations and how they impact the outcome of your life. The first message in this series is entitled, "You will never guess what happened to me today." Have you ever used that phrase? I mean, it's always the start of a good story.

You will never guess what happened to me today. Nobody follows that with not much. Sometimes you hear the phrase and it's an exciting one. You will never guess what happened to me today. And if you're talking to somebody who hears you in that tone, they go, "What?" Or you can share it in the downward more demure way.

You will never guess what happened to me today. And if the person loves you, they go, "What?" And if they don't like you, they go, "What?" Regardless of why you share it or what story you're getting ready to tell, you use the phrase whenever what you expected to happen was the last thing that did happen and the last thing you saw coming was what happened.

Trust me, growing up in a family of five, WITH ALL FIVE children being under the age of 12 at one time, if my parents knew what was facing them when they pulled that two-tone Lincoln station wagon out of the driveway, you know, the one with the party seating in the back, the fold up chairs.

Yeah, we had that one. If they knew what we were going to get into whenever we got where we were going, they would have locked us in our rooms until we were 18. Because most of the stories about what happened in our world were filled with, you will never guess what happened to me today.

Acts 3:1 Bible says, "Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the 9inth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called beautiful to ask alms from those who entered the temple. who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked for alms and fixing his eyes on him with John, Peter said, look at us.

So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, read this with me. Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand and he lifted him up and immediately his feet and his ankle bones received strength.

So he leaping up stood and walked and entered the temple with them walking, leaping and praising God. Heavenly Father, your power is not only present in this room, but it is alive. and what you have done you will do and can do again. So today I am asking in the mighty name of Jesus that every life that is in this room who hears this message and those who are joining us and watching from all over the world the same healing power and presence of the Holy Spirit that was in this young man that day be in this room this day and change those who desperately need to feel you in their life this morning.

It's in your name that we pray and ask all of these things to all of God's children. Said, "Praise the Lord." >> Praise the Lord. >> You may be seated. But when you look at Acts the 3, what you see are several circumstances that expectations are one thing and outcomes are another.

And the first place that I see this taking shape is actually in the first verse. It's not in the obvious healing of a lame man. The first thing that I recognize as an expectation that is greatly exceeded is found when we see Peter and John on their way to the temple at the hour of prayer.

The first verse says, "Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour." I think it's a remarkable fact that Peter and John are still going to the temple to pray. They're doing the little things, the faithful things, the things that they were taught to do by Jesus when he prayed and he was faithful.

And the reason that I think it's remarkable that Peter and John are doing this is because if you consider what they've been through in the past several weeks, they might come to the conclusion that they don't need to do these simple things anymore. They don't need to read the Bible.

They don't need to pray. They don't need to go to church. I mean, after all, just about five weeks ago, six weeks ago, they walk into Jerusalem with Jesus and people tear off their cloaks and throw them on the ground so that the donkey he's riding on doesn't even touch the dirt.

They're screaming hosana and waving palm branches. That's not a normal parade on your way in. And then a few days after that, they see Jesus arrested and they see him crucified. And then two days after that, they see under the power of the Holy Spirit the risen Savior.

Not only do they see the empty tomb, but they have breakfast with Jesus at the Sea of Galilee. And then they're commanded to go back to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit. And they watch Jesus ascend into heaven. Then they sit in the the upper room until 120 are gathered.

And 40 days after the resurrection, they get to see cloven tongues of fire rest upon their heads and they feel the wind and the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit and they all speak in new tongues. And then they go out into the streets of Jerusalem and Peter shares a message OF THE GOSPEL AND 3,000 PEOPLE are saved. >> THERE'S ABOUT 3,000 IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW.

THINK ABOUT THIS. Peter and John have done some stuff. They watched him walk on water. They helped him feed 5,000 with fish and bread. They saw Lazarus come out of the grave. They heard him calm storms and waves. If there's two people who could tell us today, been there, done that, it's Peter and John. >> And yet, instead of being so heavenly minded, they're no earthly good, they're still going to the temple, and they're still doing the little things that make them faithful.

How many times do we hear people say, "Oh, I've been going to church all of my life. I don't need that. I've heard all of those messages." This book is alive. >> And this book is powerful. When you read it, it reads you. And you may have read it before, but you never saw it like this because you're not the same person you were the last time you touched it.

And the wonderful thing about the word of God is the longer you read it and the more that you understand it, the deeper it gets and the better you begin to see what a mighty God we serve. Luke chapter 16 says, "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful in much."

People often want to ask God for more, but they won't do the little that God is requiring. Peter and John are on their way to God's house. What you need to know is that there are things that you can only find in God's house. It's why David said, "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord."

And God's house is God's presence. In his presence is the fullness of joy. It's in his house where burdens are lifted and yolks are destroyed. It's in his house where the sick receive strength and health. It's in his house where troubles vanish. It's in his house where sins are forgiven.

You can't find this at the club. You can't buy this online. You can't watch this on TV. Whenever you get into God's presence, you suddenly begin to feel what David felt when he said, "In your presence is the fullness of joy." Child of God, if you love to be in God's house, in his presence on his day, give the Lord a hand clap of praise.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ changed everything. In my new book, From the Tomb to Triumph, I take you through this resurrection truth from the suffering of the cross to the empty tomb and into the authority every believer is called to live in today. This month, for your gift of any amount to support the work of Hegy Ministries, we want to send you Pastor John Haggy's new book, From Tomb to Triumph: Claim the Victory of the Resurrection.

And with your love gift of $125 or more, we'll send you our handcrafted Genesis 123 olivewood anointing oil set box from Israel. And with your gift of $500 or more, in addition, you'll also receive the Prophecy Study Bible and His Glory Revealed. >> The Risen King reigns now and his power is at work in you. >> Call the number on your screen, use the QR code, or go to jhm.org/spring.

The second place that I see these unmet expectations is actually in the very next verse. It says, "A certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried whom they laid daily at the temple which is called beautiful." You have an ugly problem in a beautiful place. The reason that this gate is called beautiful is because it's the eastern gate at the temple mount.

And every morning when the sun would come up over the Mount of Olives and shine down on Mount Zion, this gate was made of pure Corinthian bronze. The sunlight would hit the bronze and it looked like golden beams bouncing off of the limestone walls and streets of the city of Jerusalem.

One historian said it actually looked as if the arms of God were extended out to invite people into his temple. And yet, as beautiful as this scene would be, sitting there on a pillow just outside the gate is something that is far less glorious. It's a grown man with withered legs on a pillow.

A grown man full of potential but not living up to any measure of it because the bones in his feet and his ankles are weak. A grown man able to communicate. Having the opportunity to mentally, educationally, and in every way grow, develop, and succeed, but has no fruit to show for it because the bones in his feet and his ankles are withered.

It's a beautiful place, and yet it's got this blemish. How many lives when you look at them from a distance? But the closer you get, you start to see the blemishes. How many places in your life whenever you consider them, I mean, all the big stuff is good, but it's just the little things that need to be better.

Have you ever met anybody who's got major problems with minor issues, and the minor issues are causing major problems? He's got a leg. He just can't use it. He's got a mind and a mouth because he's sitting on a pillow asking for alms. But as good a communicator as he might be, we'll never hear his true gifts because he's not able to go into the temple.

You see, the Bible, the law said that the lame and the blind could not enter. That's why he's sitting outside the temple and not inside the temple. He's close to the presence of God, but he's not in the presence of God. He's in proximity, but he's not participating.

Every Sunday, there's people in this church who are in the proximity of God's presence, but they won't participate. All you got to do is watch them during worship. We're playing a fast song. We're playing a slow song. We're playing no song. >> It's not enough to be in the room.

YOU'VE GOT TO ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE IN WHAT'S GOING ON. And this poor man on the pillow laying from his mother's womb, he's close to the answer, but he can't receive from the answer because he's got a little issue and it's causing major problems. Here he sits asking for alms.

Here he sits begging for change. He's hoping that someone's sympathy will throw a quarter into his cup. And while the Bible uses the word alms, the picture is he's begging change, change, change. The Pharisees, they're too important. They've got business inside the temple. they they they can't be bothered by this man.

So, they just ignore him. They don't even look his direction when they walk by. The Sadducees and the scribes, they're a little bit more judgmental. You see, they've studied the scriptures and they know that God visits iniquity to the third and the fourth generation. So, they're debating who sinned that this man would be in this circumstance and in this way.

They're trying to figure out who's to blame for his condition. And what some people in church need to understand is that there's not always somebody to blame. Sometimes it's just the way that it is until God moves. >> But what this individual begging for change on this pillow DOESN'T EXPECT IS THAT down the road ARE PETER AND JOHN.

AND PETER AND JOHN AREN'T Pharisees puffed up with pride. AND PETER AND JOHN AREN'T DOCTRINAL THEOLOGIANS who are too arrogant to look at this man and consider him in need. Peter and John have been with Jesus and they've seen Jesus touch the untouchable and they've seen Jesus love the unlovable and they've seen Jesus do THE IMPOSSIBLE.

SO WHAT THIS GUY DOESN'T KNOW is that PETER AND JOHN ARE WALKING HIS WAY. And what Peter and John have seen causes them to believe that Jesus is the one who can make that guy change. >> I have a QUESTION FOR YOU. WHAT DO YOU EXPECT when you come to church? >> WHAT YOU EXPECT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH WHAT YOU RECEIVE.

AMEN. >> And if you come for traditional reasons or you come for personal reasons or you come for no reason at all, then that pretty much gives you the understanding and foundation of what you can expect to receive. But when you realize that in this room is the presence of the living God and in this room is the power TO DO WHATEVER YOU ASK OR whatever you need or whatever you believe.

SUDDENLY YOU MIGHT START TO EXPECT SOMETHING TO CHANGE. MY PRAYER FOR THIS church is that every TIME WE GATHER, WE START TO EXPECT TO SEE PEOPLE HEALED. We start to expect to see lives changed. WE START TO EXPECT TO SEE CHAINS OF ADDICTION BROKEN. WE START TO EXPECT TO SEE FAMILIES RESTORED.

WE START TO EXPECT TO SEE ABUNDANCE POURED OUT. WE START TO EXPECT TO SEE POWERS AND PRINCIPALITIES DEFEATED AND CONQUERED. WE DON'T CONSIDER IT A SPECIAL SUNDAY WHEN THESE THINGS HAPPEN. AND we consider the the day that the Lord HAS MADE THAT WE MIGHT REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT.

Peter and John are on their way to the temple. Weeks ago, you can read it in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus breathed on them and said, "Receive ye the Holy Spirit." Now, if Jesus breathed on you and wanted you to receive something, how many of you would think you received it? >> Okay, for the rest of you with bad rotator cuffs, next time I ask a question, that rotator cuff's getting healed and that hand's going up.

And then just a week ago, a few days ago, Acts chapter 2, they're in the upper room. The Holy Spirit comes and rests upon them. They speak in NEW TONGUES. THEY GO OUT. THEY SHARE THE GOSPEL. 3,000 get saved. >> Then they experienced it. But now they're GOING TO DO SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVEN'T DONE BEFORE. they're going to apply it.

You see, there's a difference between the information you receive and the information you experience and the information you apply. How many of you know where to find good tortillas? >> See, look at all those healed rotator cuffs right there. Ask a question about the Holy Spirit. You're like, "Yeah, okay."

Tortillas. Oh yeah, pick me. Now, how many of you know how to make good tortillas? Totally different group. Totally different group. The find good tortillas, you've experienced it. The make good tortillas, you've applied it, you know. Peter and John have not only received the Holy Spirit and experience the Holy Spirit, but now they're going to apply the Holy Spirit.

If we, the church of Jesus Christ, are going to see him move in power and in might, if we are going to see him change the world, we have got to quit experiencing him. We have got to quit receiving him and we have got to start applying him because that's when he can change the lives of those who are not in his presence.

So now the stage is set. You've got a beggar expecting change and you've got two men filled with the Holy Spirit looking to change the beggar. Change. Here comes Peter and John. Peter looks at him and says, "I know who can fix that." And he walks over to his pillow and he tells the man sitting there begging for change, "Hey, look at me."

Now, this beggar has an expectation, a shekele, a dime, a dollar. And Peter far exceeds his expectations. Peter tells him, "Silver and gold, I don't have what you think you need. I I ain't got it." Beggar and take my cup then. He says, "But what I do have," you see, church, you can't give it until you've got it.

He said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have, I'm going to give it to you." And then he reached down and he touched him. Don't ever underestimate the power and the impartation of touch. We often ask our leaders to come to this altar and we ask them to pray for those who are in need.

And you'll see our leaders anoint them with oil according to scripture. Why? Because there is power and impartation in the touch. He said, "What I do have, I'm going to give it to you in the name. What I do have, I'm going to give it to you in the name In the name. >> In the name.

I don't care if YOU WANT TO SEE PEOPLE GET UP FROM THEIR BED AND WALK OR YOU WANT TO SEE MARRIAGES RESTORED OR YOU WANT TO SEE LOST MEMBERS COME BACK TO CHRIST OR YOU WANT TO SEE mountains move or you want TO SEE THE DEVIL DEFEATED OR YOU WANT TO SEE ADDICTIONS BROKEN.

WHATEVER YOU WANT DONE, THERE'S ONLY ONE name that you can do it in, and that's the MIGHTY AND THE MATCHLESS NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. His name is the name that is above every name. His name is the one that makes sinners into saints. His name is the one that cures cancer and moves mountains.

His name is THE ONE THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING. Give the Lord a hand clap of praise. Stand to your feet. I'm going to say this in closing. He said, "In the name of Jesus Christ, >> rise up and walk." And immediately, immediately, the Bible says, the bones in this man's feet and ankles, the little things that were causing major problems, immediately, bam, he's fixed.

And it says he leapt. He said, "I couldn't do this before." And then he started walking. Walked a little bit. And then it says he was running AND HE WAS JUMPING AND HE WAS PRAISING GOD. >> AND DO you know what he did? He didn't run down the STREET TO THE STORE.

HE TURNED and went right into the temple. THE ONE PLACE THAT HE'D gotten close to but couldn't go into. That's the first place he went. And the first people who saw him coming were the ones who had laid him at the gate. >> And they said, "Hey, here comes Bill."

Bill's not in your Bible. It's just the name I put on him. And he came running and he's jumping and he's leaping AND HE'S FILLED WITH JOY. AND THEY SAID, "BILL, WHAT HAPPENED?" And Bill said, "You will never guess. What happened to me today? Jesus Christ told his disciples that they would be able to do greater things than they had seen him do.

How was he able to make this promise? simply because the same power that was alive in him was available to them through his word. That power is available to you today if you put your faith and your hope in Jesus Christ. Thank you for joining us. We look forward to seeing you again very soon. >> In a world filled with noise, one message still brings peace.

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