Keith Battle - Living with Great Expectations - Part 3

I’m going to conclude a series right now called «Living with Great Expectations,» and this is part three. This will be the synopsis, so please tell someone, «I’m glad you made it to church today.» Most churches wouldn’t skip the offering because this is how we live, but I’m going by faith. Amen. You find a way; God will make a way. Amen. Let me just clarify: this service is brought to you by you. There is no cover charge; it doesn’t matter what giant church you attend, you’re going to hear great music and great singing, but there’s no fee to enter. You didn’t have to pay for a link to access us online; it’s free. So, we are funded and fueled by donations. Amen. That’s how it works. I thank all of you who give to our church. Now, let’s dive into this word. I’m going to use Psalm 23 for this final part of the series «Living with Great Expectations.» If you’re here, let’s stand. Yeah, let’s stand. I’m doing everything differently today. Psalm 23—I’ll read this Psalm to you. If you’re joining us from Zion Landover or Zion Greenbelt and you’re physically able to stand, please do so. If you’re at home watching online, we wouldn’t know if you were standing or not. Amen. You might look a little strange standing in front of your laptop, but if that’s how you’re locked in, I’m with you. I appreciate you. I don’t take my Zion online audience lightly; through platforms like Roku TV, Apple TV, Facebook Live, and YouTube Live, you all carried us through a pandemic. We were closed for almost 30 months. So, I don’t take you for granted. I remember it was just us. I remember it was just us; I was talking to blue chairs. Thank you for your presence. Psalm 23 reads like this, beginning in verse one. I’m reading from the New Living Translation: «The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Your rod and Your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil; my cup overflows with blessings. Surely Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.» Amen. You may be seated.

«Living with Great Expectations.» I believe that while this scripture has its controversies in interpretation, the logical summation of the verse remains true: as the Bible says, «As a man thinketh, so is he.» A person’s thoughts impact their life. I believe that the quality of our life is directly tied to our thinking—how we process situations and circumstances. Our perspective has a significant impact on what we attract into our lives. You have to understand that Jesus Christ didn’t only come so that we may have eternal life, but He also came so that we may have life more abundantly. Jesus’s mission was not just to grant us access to Heaven; it was to enrich our lives. In life, you tend to get what you expect. That’s why it’s important to expect to be blessed. You must expect that you’re going to overcome. I expect to be healed. I expect to do well in the job interview. I expect a good night’s sleep without tossing and turning. I expect my hard work to pay off. I expect to be the head and not the tail. I expect my children and their children’s children to be blessed. You have to live with that level of expectation, and that’s not spooky or new-age; it’s called faith. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Faith looks into a future I have yet to experience and says, «I expect it to be well.» I expect my business to grow. I expect to attract clients and customers who are willing to pay me what I’m worth. I expect to stop dealing with people who want discounts and half-off deals; that’s why my business isn’t growing. I expect God to increase my revenue. I expect to meet my revenue goals and financial goals because I have written them down. I expect goodness and mercy to follow me all the days of my life. Is there anyone here who understands what I mean when I discuss expectations? I don’t expect these blessings because I’m so great; it’s a mindset shift. It’s not arrogance; it’s the realization that I must shift my thinking from what I am capable of doing to what God is capable of doing in my life. He’s my accelerator; He’s my increase; He’s my multiplier; He’s the one who makes it all possible.