Patria Rancho - 12-28-2025

Overview

• Sermon theme: Expectation in God for 2026, using David and Goliath as primary example.
• Speaker background: Saved in 1978; former Roman Catholic; passionate about Bible teaching and daily Scripture reading.
• Key message: Raise expectations, prepare practically, overcome critics and temptation, and trust God to exceed expectations.

Biblical Example: Cleopas On The Road (Luke 24)

• Two disciples met resurrected Jesus but did not recognize Him.
• They had hoped Jesus was the Messiah but their expectations were confused.
• Jesus rebuked them for not believing the prophetic scriptures.
• Lesson: Wrong expectations blind us; Scripture explains God’s plan.

Main Illustration: David And Goliath (1 Samuel)

• Goliath described as huge, heavily armed, extremely intimidating.
• David, a young shepherd, expected God's intervention based on past tests.
• David’s preparation: staff, sling, five smooth stones, shepherd’s bag.
• Outcome: David confronted Goliath with faith plus preparedness and prevailed.
• Lesson: Expectation must be coupled with readiness, skill, tools, and proven testimony.

Lessons On Expectation

• Many people have small expectations (7-inch frying pan metaphor).
• Expectation in God differs from hope in self, government, job, or relationships.
• God does not disappoint those who genuinely expect in Him.
• Two spiritual postures: flat-footed (low expectation) vs. tippy-toes (curious, expectant).
• Past failures can rob future expectation; must choose forward-focused living (Philippians 3:13; Isaiah 43:18-19).

Challenges To Expectation

• Critics and naysayers:
  • Expectation attracts critics (example: David’s brother Elab).
  • Critics discourage, mock, or cite past failures; must not yield to them.
• Temptation:
  • Expectation also attracts temptation that can derail progress.
  • Requires crucifying the flesh and resisting impulse to fail moral standards.
• Weariness and world hardship:
  • Harder times may come, but God preserves and uses faithful people.

Practical Readiness And Discipline

• Expectation is more than emotion; it requires preparedness and proven practice.
• Actions that show real expectation:
  • Time in Scripture and prayer daily.
  • Habit evaluation: sleep, diet, exercise for health expectations.
  • Financial disciplines: example 80/10/10 principle (80% living, 10% savings/investment, 10% giving).
  • Parental involvement: monitoring friends and social media for children’s spiritual outcomes.
  • Regular self-audits: evaluate time, money, energy, priorities, routines, successes, failures.

Rewards Of Expectation

• Biblical examples where God exceeded expectations: Hannah, Job, and others.
• Expectations are often rewarded and can lead to promotion, provision, and blessing.
• God’s nature: omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent; capable of exceeding human expectation.
• Encouragement: Present lives and needs to God and expect greater outcomes in 2026.

Practical Takeaways / Action Items

• Replace small expectations with faith in God’s possibilities.
• Prepare concretely for desired outcomes (skills, resources, plans).
• Do an “autopsy” on past failures to learn and improve.
• Resist critics and temptations; build accountability and discipline.
• Establish measurable spiritual habits: daily Bible reading, prayer frequency, church attendance.
• Apply practical disciplines for health and finances that align with spiritual expectations.

Decisions

• Invitation for salvation or rededication presented near sermon end.
• Simple prayer offered for those choosing to accept Jesus, with follow-up resources available (Following Jesus resource at exit kiosk).