Spiritual Anticipation Expectancy - C. R. Oliver (novel books to read .TXT) 📗

Spiritual Anticipation
(Expectancy)

Luke 21:25-28

'And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.' NKJV

Introduction:

Perhaps no Bible reference summarizes the subject of spiritual anticipation more, or reveals its parameters better, than the one quoted in Luke. Clearly there are two groups on earth expecting different outcomes from the same set of events. 

The unredeemed become more fearful, dreading the unfolding of events chronicled somewhere in their corporate psyche. Whether by native intuition or from some other source of information, they know in the depth of their being these events are significant and open the flood gates for the end times. Creation begins to groan for the revealing of the Sons of God and expresses those birth pangs throughout the universe (sun, moon, stars). Governments, void of wisdom and full of filth and ignomy, show signs of coming apart at the seams, both in their abilities to govern and to maintain their economies. Together the nations and creation simultaneously produce problems and situations which are beyond the control of human power. The result of such tumult on all sides is anticipation of THE END. "Men's hearts failing" means more than heart attacks; it speaks to the "faint of heart," for everything is coming unglued and nothing is for sure or "nailed down." The landsliding avalanche of issues is greater than the framework of society. Doom, despair and misery are everywhere and no one stands up to assure them; no hope is proffered them ... only a certain fatalism akin to the days of Noah. 

Opposite this group are the redeemed of the Lord, who, when they hear the first creaking in the ship of State, break out in a smile. As times worsen and neighbors begin to show concern and as the partying crowds suddenly become aware something is gravely wrong and massive change has come to their doorstep, the redeemed break out into laughter. When the sun, moon, stars manifest their glory in obeisance to the Lord's coming (Though these signs are distant in outer space), just at that point, the more personal events of the roaring sea come into play and the crowds of saints go wild because they know "their redemption draws nigh." Hilarious singing and confident testimony, like Paul from the jail at Philippi, break out in homes and businesses for now a different kind of rejoicing is heard in the village streets. The redeemed know what comes next on the schedule. 

He, who has been anticipated (expected), is about to arrive! 

God's people should be the most expectant, joyful, people on earth. Their song in the night is about to be turned to rejoicing in the morning. Moment by moment they draw closer to the King, and "this old world will soon see who is boss." Already, as the signs increase, expectancy sharpens and intensifies. 

(Alas, many in the church currently react to world news as those having no hope. Perhaps it is time for a return of the old timey "repent now" message which moves toward an altar call. Such are greatly needed. [Even though a pastor recently announced, "The days of that kind of preaching are over."]) 

Unhappily, there is a third group made up of those who have once walked with the Sons of God, but now have made themselves candidates for fear and trembling:.

Hebrews 10:26-31
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. And again, 'The LORD will judge His people.' It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

However, to that wonderful group who fellowship in the flame, there pours out of the heart of God literally hundreds of Scriptures encouraging His saints to hold fast to their hope--because it will bring a reward.

Hebrews 10:22-23
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 

Colossians 1:23
if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, 

Romans 8:24-25
For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

In a time when the media blasts the world's dire conditions continuously, and the internet carries more and more of casualty and hideous circumstance, we are told to tighten our grip on our hope and the promises of God. No generation before has been bombarded with such graphic pictures, within an instant, from the far reaches of the earth. Never have the "propagandizers" had such a field day with the emotions and the minds of millions, spewing their spin and misinformation and erroneous interpretation of muddled facts, than today. (Similarly, the sword rattling of the Roman Empire threatened the sanity of ancient occupied areas with such overwhelming power that Simon told the saints they must deal with such through the power of their expectancy in Jesus. Peter addressed the saints of the Diaspora [whether by Jewish religious persecution or Roman repressive action] with hope, as they were scattered and off times alone and living in timidity or under duress.)

Although the following is a lengthy passage, read it intently and examine its underlying message.

1 Peter 1:1-16

To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith - the salvation of your souls. Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven - things which angels desire to look into. Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

"Hold on to Holiness and expect the drawing near of your redemption!" What a great message for today's believers!

Yet, pulpits have become re-broadcasters of news sources, while "prophets" produce page and video of awful judgment and desperate times ahead. Often the pulpit has become the destroyer of hope. 

The "rapture" preacher dismisses the whole spectrum with the flip of his wrist and says, "Fear not, we will be 'out'a here in a flash.'" BUT, the pressures of the days leading up to the coming of our Lord are graphically shown to be "saint tolerant." Simon said, "Rest your Hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you." 

(Note: Across the world there should be training classes for pastors to help them encourage their parishioners to "hold fast." Our expectation is not in an event, but in our Lord!) 

Paul, in his defense before the courts, said it this way:

Acts 24:13-15
Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. I have hope in God ...

"Hope" carries with it Divine Spiritual Expectancy along with Anticipation that God will come on the scene.

HOPE: NT:1680 elpis (el-pece'); from a primary elpo (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence: KJV - faith, hope. (Note: sometimes the KJV translates elpis as hope and sometimes faith.)

Look now at the Old Testament counter part of this definition:

OT:3176 yachal (yaw-chal'); a primitive root; to wait; by implication, to be patient, hope:
KJV - (cause to, have, make to) hope, be pained, stay, tarry, trust, wait.

Just like Paul declared his reliance on expectant hope, so did David in the Old Testament.

Psalms 71:13, 14
Let them be confounded and consumed Who are adversaries of my life;
Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor Who seek my hurt. But I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more

In the 1 Peter passage cited before, Simon ended his treatise on hope by emphasizing holiness. Those who "have this hope" continually purify themselves according to the following passage:

1 John 3:2,3
Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

In a day when headlines read, "Praise the Lord and pass the beer," followed by an article showing how many Christians are relaxing their beliefs in reference to alcohol, sex, abortion or church unity, a gauge arises. Purity becomes the barometer used to determine the sincerity