What are we to do with disappointment? Who is to blame? What causes us to become disappointed?
Turn in your bibles to:
John 1:29-34
John the baptists pronouncement is the fulfillment of the prophesy found in Malachi 3:1. So here we have a decleration by John that the Son of Man and the Kingdom of God is at hand.
Now turn to:
Matthew 11:2-6
What happened to “Behold the Lamb of God”? John is now wondering if Jesus is really the 'one'. So he sends out his disciples asking Jesus “Are you the one who is to come?”
What occured between John 1 and Matthew 11 is that John had been thrown into prison and a spirit of disappointment had taken root in his life–
Disappointment is cirtical spirit that has been left unchecked by the truth of God’s word.
Adversity is intended to be like a prevailing wind upon a tree. It strengthens, intensifies and causes roots to grow deeper and stronger but it never destroys the tree. Disappointment is the result of us coming into agreement with the lie that the world brings satisfaction.
Belief is the balm that sooths and heals adversity – the scar that remains is wisdom.
Disappointment is produced by many factors… some of which are seen in these passages:
1. Circumstances
· For most of his life John was liberated and free to come and go – he was unrestricted in his actions.
· Now his physical circumstances limited and hampered his physical liberty – he was restricted.
Illness – loss – disability – lack – not getting what you think you deserve…
· Whenever I look at the immediate (even over the course of an entire life) as eternal I become susceptible to being disappointed – any circumstance is temporary.
The mind that has not been transformed by God allows circumstance to determine the ‘goodness’ of God. Here is the issue: The goodness of God is a cornerstone for a culture to move and maintain a revival. If God is good only when I feel good not only have I become a “feeler” and not a “believer” - I have created a God that looks just like me.
2. Influence of the world –
· Initially, John came from the wilderness. His perspective on the world was limited. He was not brought up in the religious ideas of the day. The Spirit led him into the truth about the person of Jesus Christ.
· Now under the influence of a tyrant - in prison, the world came crashing down around him. One can assume that various ideas and teachings about God were heard throughout the city and prison – If left unrestricted by the truth of God’s word disappointment will eventually produce skepticism.
· In both cases (the beginning and the end of Johns ministry) he had little or nothing as far as possessions. The influence of the world’s belief as to what success looks like may have caused him to take a look at his life and become disappointed in what he did not possess.
· When I use an inferior system (the world) to arrive at a conclusion – the conclusion must be inferior.
· If my mind is led by the world’s system – I will embrace a false spirituality. I will embrace a form of godliness but deny the source of it’s power.
· The world is not our home - So when I am disappointed in the world (people, places, things) I am in essence proving what that system was designed to do - bring me into an understanding of the only hope - the Kingdom of God and the person of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:11 urges us a ‘sojourners’ to abstain from the passion (snare) of the flesh (the world).
- The word for “sojourner” is (par-ep-id’-ay-mos)
· 3 words; para (along, among) / epi (upon, in) / demos (used for residents of a heathen –foreign- city)
So the overall meaning of the word 'sojourner' is “To be among and reside in a city of which you are not a citizen”
Which leads us into another area where disappointment resides
3. Significance –
· John went from having a tremendous ministry of repentance in which thousands of people came to him. to being isolated in prison with very few people (only a few disciples) maintained any connection to him.
When I begin to compare what ‘was’ to what is ‘now’ I with either become puffed up or will be disappointed. Neither of which are of any use.
· My significance is not in what I possess – it is in who possess me.
Faith sees – faith sees from the eternal to the temporal: “So we do not loose heart (get disappointed). Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. As we look to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen… for they are eternal.” 2 Cor 4:16-18
Disappointment occurs when my affection is directed toward any system other than God’s Kingdom. What I choose to treasure is the realm from which I see reality. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be…” (Matthew 6:21)
The danger in allowing a spirit of disappointment to enter your heart is that you will begin to question Jesus:
- If John, ‘who was the greatest prophet born of a woman’ questioned the person of Christ… we must guard our heart against believing these lies..
- it's important to NOTE: Jesus was not offended in the questions from John’s disciples – you and I are allowed to ask Jesus questions – and gently he will remind us of what He has done.
It’s when we do not go to Jesus and ask questions that the seeds of the enemy are planted:
Here is the process initiated by a critical spirit that leads to disappointment that leads to unbelief:
1. We are asked to believe not determine – disappointment determines.
2. Disappointment determines the end of the matter – in establishing an end I have removed the eternal.
3. If I remove the eternal I am lift without hope.
4. Without hope I cannot have faith.
5. Without faith I embark into unbelief.
As I reflected upon John in prison my mind took me to Paul in prison. it is interesting to examine John the Baptist’s response to prison and Paul’s:
- John says… are you the one?
- Paul says… Rejoice in the LORD always; again I say rejoice - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).
so, what is the 'all things' Paul was speaking of? The 'all things' is contentment. – “I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger and abundance and need.” (Philippians 4:12)
What was the difference? One encountered the resurrected Christ the other did not.
Jesus says – “I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” (Luke 7:28)
Meaning that a born again believer has greater spiritual capacity under the New Covenant than any prophet outside the dispensation of grace.
Both John and Paul were part of the “kingdom of God” –
- John had a theology (idea) about who Jesus was – Paul understood (through experience) who Jesus was
- John wondered about the power of the resurrected Christ – Pauldemonstrated the power of the resurrected Christ. (John did not demonstrate any miracles)
- John hoped for the promises of God – Paul possessed and experienced the promises of God.
Have you encountered the resurrected Christ?
- John encountered ‘the Son of God’ – Paul encountered his Lord.
- One spoke of Him – the other lived for Him.
- One was baptized into repentance – the other was baptized by fire.
- One knew about Jesus from birth – the other knows about Jesus today.
Have you encountered the resurrected Christ?
- One told of what Jesus would do – the other demonstrated what Jesus is doing.
- One had a prison of four walls – the other had a prison made of flesh.
- One repeated what the Scriptures said – the other understood what the scriptures said.
Have you encountered the resurrected Christ?
This morning – the resurrected Christ wants to encounter you.
The one who - was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has bore our grief’s and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:3-5)
My disappointment is not God’s disappointment.
God’s goodness is independent of my present circumstance.
God has not disappointed me – the world has disappointed me.
Jesus has overcome the world and it’s disappointments and troubles.
I can only be disappointed if what is expected is not provided and I have experienced enough to expect that God will provide what he promised.
Where is the crossover to living a life that is not disappointed?
1. What I desire is where I will position my heart.
2. The position of my heart determines where I give my affection.
3. What I have affection towards is what I will reflect.
4. That which I reflect is what I take delight in.
5. What I take delight in is what I will give myself to.
6. What I give myself to is what consumes me.
7. What consumes me is what I will honor.
I carry with me whatever consumes me. My shadow will cast what ever is overshadowing me.
It’s time to break off the cirtical spirit that leads to a spirit of disappointment. How?
Rejoice in the LORD always – again I say rejoice…
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