Expectation’s Impact on Perspective

Expectation’s Impact on Perspective
Speaker: Pastor Bailey
Key Text: Hebrews 11:8–10 (KJV)

In this powerful and deeply thought-provoking sermon, Pastor Bailey takes us on a spiritual journey exploring how our expectations shape our experiences and perceptions—not just spiritually, but in every aspect of our lives. Drawing from Hebrews 11 and the story of Abraham, Pastor Bailey teaches that faithful expectation is not passive optimism, but an intentional lens through which we engage the world around us.

Abraham “looked for a city… whose builder and maker is God.” He lived with divine anticipation. Pastor Bailey unpacks this idea with vivid, real-life illustrations—from the color distortion of shooting glasses while driving to missing a family member in need because of a distracted mindset. These moments drive home the sermon’s central truth: we often don’t see what we’re not looking for.

Expectations act like a filter. If we expect fear, failure, or conflict, we begin to see and even generate it in our lives. But if we walk through our day with eyes of faith—believing that God can move, speak, and use us—we begin to see opportunity in the ordinary and ministry in the midst of brokenness.

Pastor Bailey compares the perspectives of the 12 spies sent into the Promised Land (Numbers 13). All twelve saw the same things, but only two—Joshua and Caleb—returned with faith. The other ten were blinded by fear. Their expectations of defeat distorted their perception and robbed them of victory. It’s a sobering reminder that our mindset can either magnify our problems or reveal God’s possibilities.

From Job’s fearful confession to the transformational power of prayer, this message calls believers to align their spiritual lens through daily communion with God. As Pastor Bailey says, prayer doesn’t just prepare us—it positions us to see what God wants to show us.

Whether you’re facing hardship, walking in uncertainty, or simply going through the motions, this sermon challenges you to stop and ask: What am I looking for today? Because what you expect to see will determine what you notice—and ultimately, how you live.