Raising the Bar for Expectations
Main Text: Malachi 3:13–18; 4:1–3 (NKJV)
“Your words have been harsh against Me,” Says the Lord, “Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’ You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God; What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, And that we have walked as mourners Before the Lord of hosts? So now we call the proud blessed, For those who do wickedness are raised up; They even tempt God and go free.’ ”
Malachi 3:13–15 (NKJV)
“Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, And the Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the Lord And who meditate on His name. ‘They shall be Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him.’ Then you shall again discern Between the righteous and the wicked, Between one who serves God And one who does not serve Him.”
Malachi 3:16–18 (NKJV)
“For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the Lord of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch. But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves. You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this,” Says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 4:1–3 (NKJV)
2026 Vision: All Things New
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
II Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)
Declaration:
“I’m becoming who God wants me to be.”
At Lily Baptist Church, our 2026 challenge is to:
Believe — Trust God, trust the process, hear God clearly, and respond in worship.
Belong — Honor God, honor yourself, honor others, and create an environment for healing.
Become — Represent God everywhere, be the light in the room, and live as an ambassador for Christ.
Series Review
Throughout this series, God has continually challenged His people to rise above low standards and meet His standard.
We began with Raising the Bar for Worship, where God confronted halfhearted, poorly prepared worship and called His people back to honor and reverence.
We continued with Raising the Bar for Covenant, where God reminded us that covenant relationship requires commitment from both sides.
In Raising the Bar for Relationships, we learned that our relationships matter because they can either draw us closer to God or pull us away from Him.
In Raising the Bar for Social Justice, we learned that God is actively concerned about justice, but His work of justice begins by refining His own people.
In Raising the Bar for Responsibility, we learned that God’s people have a responsibility to provide the resources needed for worship, evangelism, outreach, Christian education, fellowship, spiritual growth, and administration.
Now we conclude the series with one final question:
Is it worth it?
Is raising the bar worth it?
Is serving God worth it?
Is obedience worth it?
Is worship worth it?
Is sacrifice worth it?
Is faithfulness worth it?
Malachi closes by addressing the expectations of God’s people.
1. Raise Your Expectations About Serving God
Key Scripture
“You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God; What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance…?’”
Malachi 3:14 (NKJV)
The people had become discouraged.
They looked at their obedience and asked, essentially:
“What are we getting out of this?”
They saw proud people prospering.
They saw wicked people apparently succeeding.
They watched others ignore God and still seem to get ahead.
So they concluded:
“It is useless to serve God.”
That same temptation still exists today.
Sometimes believers begin to ask:
- Why should I keep praying?
- Why should I keep serving?
- Why should I keep giving?
- Why should I keep forgiving?
- Why should I keep doing right when people who do wrong seem to prosper?
- Why should I keep raising the bar?
The problem is often not that God has stopped being good.
The problem is that our expectations have become too small because our knowledge of God is too shallow and our testimony is too quiet.
We Don’t Know Enough About God
What has God already done?
He has:
- Given us life.
- Sustained our health and strength.
- Provided daily bread.
- Forgiven our sins.
- Promised never to leave nor forsake us.
- Healed us.
- Kept us.
- Guided us.
- Provided for us.
- Given us another chance.
“For in Him we live and move and have our being…”
Acts 17:28 (NKJV)
The more we know about God, the more we understand that serving Him is never useless.
We Don’t Testify Enough
We also forget because we don’t talk enough about what God has done.
Testimony reminds us:
God still heals.
God still provides.
God still saves.
God still answers prayer.
God still opens doors.
God still restores.
When one believer tells another what God has done, faith rises.
Reflection Questions
- Have you ever wondered whether serving God was “worth it”?
- What blessing from God have you recently taken for granted?
- Are you more aware of what God has not done yet than what He has already done?
- When was the last time you told someone what God has done for you?
- Could your discouragement be connected to forgetting God’s faithfulness?
Personal Challenge
This week, write down five specific things God has done for you and share at least one testimony with another person.
2. Raise Your Expectations About God’s Attention
Key Scripture
“Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, And the Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him…”
Malachi 3:16 (NKJV)
The people wondered whether God noticed their service.
God answers by showing that He is paying attention.
God listened.
God heard.
God remembered.
God recorded.
That means your faithfulness is not invisible.
Your prayers are not ignored.
Your worship is not wasted.
Your service is not forgotten.
Your sacrifice is not unnoticed.
God cares deeply about those who fear Him and meditate on His name.
The text says:
“‘They shall be Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘On the day that I make them My jewels.’”
Malachi 3:17 (NKJV)
God describes His faithful people as His jewels.
That means they are valuable to Him.
Precious to Him.
Owned by Him.
Remembered by Him.
Covered by Him.
God is not indifferent toward those who serve Him.
Key Truth
You may feel overlooked by people, but you are never overlooked by God.
Reflection Questions
- Have you ever felt like your service to God went unnoticed?
- Do you believe God remembers the things no one else sees?
- How would you serve differently if you were fully convinced that God sees everything you do?
- Are you serving for recognition from people or approval from God?
- What hidden act of faithfulness can you continue even if nobody applauds you?
Personal Challenge
Do one act of service this week that no one else has to know about. Do it simply because God sees and God remembers.
3. Raise Your Expectations About God’s Distinction
Key Scripture
“Then you shall again discern Between the righteous and the wicked, Between one who serves God And one who does not serve Him.”
Malachi 3:18 (NKJV)
The people could not see a difference between serving God and ignoring Him.
God says:
“You will see the difference.”
There may be seasons when righteousness and wickedness appear to produce the same results.
But God promises that the distinction will become clear.
There is a difference between:
- Peace and temporary pleasure.
- Joy and entertainment.
- Favor and popularity.
- Purpose and success.
- Salvation and prosperity.
- Being blessed and merely having things.
The righteous may struggle, but they are not abandoned.
The wicked may prosper temporarily, but temporary success is not the same as eternal security.
Reflection Questions
- Do you sometimes measure blessing only by money, status, or comfort?
- What benefits of serving God cannot be measured financially?
- Where have you seen a difference between a life with God and a life without Him?
- Are you comparing your life to people whose spiritual condition you do not fully know?
- What does true blessing look like to you now?
Personal Challenge
This week, stop measuring your life by someone else’s visible success. Thank God daily for one spiritual blessing that cannot be bought.
4. Raise Your Expectations for Healing
Key Scripture
“But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings…”
Malachi 4:2 (NKJV)
God moves from remembrance to reward.
He promises that the Sun of Righteousness will arise with healing in His wings.
This imagery points to hope.
After darkness comes light.
After pain comes healing.
After struggle comes restoration.
After long seasons of waiting, God can still rise over your situation.
Expect Healing
Healing may come:
- Physically.
- Emotionally.
- Spiritually.
- Relationally.
- Financially.
- Communally.
God’s people should not lower their expectations simply because they have endured a difficult season.
Key Truth
Darkness does not cancel the promise of sunrise.
Reflection Questions
- What area of your life needs God’s healing?
- Have you lowered your expectations because you have been disappointed before?
- Are you still expecting God to move?
- What would healing look like in your present situation?
- Can you trust God’s timing even when healing is delayed?
Personal Challenge
Identify one area where you have stopped expecting change. Begin praying about it again with renewed faith.
5. Raise Your Expectations for Increase
Key Scripture
“And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.”
Malachi 4:2 (NKJV)
This image communicates abundance, nourishment, strength, and freedom.
The stall-fed calf had been well cared for and fully supplied.
God is telling His people that He is able to move them from scarcity into abundance.
Not merely financial abundance.
God can increase:
- Your faith.
- Your wisdom.
- Your peace.
- Your influence.
- Your capacity.
- Your opportunities.
- Your ministry.
- Your effectiveness.
- Your spiritual maturity.
This connects with the entire series.
When we raise the bar:
God can increase our capacity to worship.
God can increase our covenant faithfulness.
God can increase the health of our relationships.
God can increase our influence for justice.
God can increase our resources for ministry.
Reflection Questions
- In what area do you need God to increase your capacity?
- Are you asking for more while being faithful with what you already have?
- What would spiritual abundance look like in your life?
- Could God be preparing you for increase right now?
- What would you do differently if God gave you more influence or resources?
Personal Challenge
Pray:
“Lord, increase my capacity so I can do more for Your Kingdom.”
Then identify one area where you need to prepare for what you are asking God to provide.
6. Raise Your Expectations for Victory
Key Scripture
“You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this,” Says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 4:3 (NKJV)
Israel knew what defeat looked like.
Jerusalem had been conquered.
The temple had been burned.
The people had experienced captivity.
Now God reverses the picture.
Instead of being conquered, His people would experience victory.
The message is clear:
Your present struggle is not necessarily your final position.
God can turn defeat into victory.
He can turn captivity into freedom.
He can turn ashes into testimony.
He can turn mourning into joy.
When we walk in God’s will, we can expect Him to accomplish what we could never accomplish alone.
Key Truth
We do not raise the bar because we believe in our own strength. We raise the bar because we believe in God’s power.
Reflection Questions
- Where have you accepted defeat too quickly?
- What past loss has shaped your expectations for the future?
- Do you still believe God can give you victory?
- What does victory look like spiritually in your present season?
- Are you expecting God to change your circumstances, your character, or both?
Personal Challenge
Choose one area where you have been speaking defeat and replace that language with faith-filled prayer and Scripture.
Living the Message
This entire series has challenged us to raise the bar.
Raise the Bar for Worship
Give God your best.
Raise the Bar for Covenant
Take your relationship with God seriously.
Raise the Bar for Relationships
Treat people according to God’s standard.
Raise the Bar for Social Justice
Allow God to make you just while you seek justice.
Raise the Bar for Responsibility
Use your resources for God’s Kingdom.
Raise the Bar for Expectations
Believe that faithful service to God is worth it.
Believe. Belong. Become.
BELIEVE
Trust God enough to expect Him to keep His promises.
BELONG
Encourage one another with testimonies of God’s faithfulness.
BECOME
Live like someone who expects God to use your life for His glory.
Our declaration remains:
“I’m becoming who God wants me to be.”
And becoming requires us to expect more from ourselves because we expect more from God.
Final Reflection
The people asked:
“What profit is it that we have served God?”
God answered:
I hear you.
I remember you.
You belong to Me.
I will distinguish you.
I will heal you.
I will increase you.
I will give you victory.
So is it worth serving God?
Yes.
Is it worth raising the bar?
Yes.
Is it worth remaining faithful when you cannot yet see the reward?
Yes.
Because God is faithful.
When we are faithful to honor God, He remembers.
When we remain faithful through darkness, the Sun of Righteousness will rise.
When we remain faithful through scarcity, God can bring increase.
When we remain faithful through opposition, God can give victory.
The righteous can declare:
We will be the head and not the tail.
We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus.
The last shall be first, and the first shall be last.
Raise the bar—and raise your expectations.
Personal Study Questions
As you review this message, prayerfully consider:
- Do I truly believe serving God is worth it?
- What has God already done that I need to remember?
- Am I regularly sharing my testimony?
- Where have disappointment and delay lowered my expectations?
- Do I believe God notices my faithfulness?
- What kind of healing am I expecting?
- Where do I need God to increase my capacity?
- What area of defeat do I need to surrender back to God?
- How has this entire Raising the Bar series challenged me personally?
- What standard is God calling me to raise next?
Invitation
God created you and loves you. Sin separated us from Him, but God’s love is greater than our sin.
Because He loved us, God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. Jesus was buried and rose again so that we could be forgiven and receive eternal life.
If you are ready to trust Jesus, pray:
“God, thank You for creating me and loving me. I realize I have sinned in my life and I’ve been separated from You. I ask You to forgive me for my sins. I believe You sent Your Son Jesus to die and pay the penalty for my sins. I believe He rose from the dead according to the Bible. I confess Jesus as Lord of my life and Savior of my soul. I ask that You send Your Holy Spirit into my heart. In Jesus’s name, Amen.”
If you prayed this prayer, let us know. Visit the Become a Member page on the Lily Baptist Church website.
Remember:
God hears.
God remembers.
God distinguishes.
God heals.
God increases.
God gives victory.