Hold On Cause I'm Coming -Perseverance Part1 Series

June 26, 2005

Morning Worship

Text: Psalm 40:1-17

Subject: Part 1 in the Perseverance Series

Title: Hold On, Cause I’m Coming!

One of the most difficult things for me to do is wait. It’s not that I am not a patient man, I am, but the waiting game is hard for me. As we have waited for an explosion of new people in this church for the last 3½ years, there have been times when I wonder what is going on. Why aren’t the new people coming in? Is there something about me or is it a stigma with this church body or what? At any rate the wait is not easy for me. It just seems like something should be happening and it’s not. Or is it? I think there is more happening than we can see with our physical eyes. If our spiritual eyes were opened we would see the battle that is raging over this church.

An old song from the sixties had these words:

Don’t you ever, be sad

Lean on me, hen times get bad

When the day come, and you know your down

In a river of trouble, your bout to drown

Hold on, cause I’m coming

Hold on, I’m coming

I’m on my way, your lover

If you’re cold, I will be your cover

Never have to worry, because I am here

You don’t need to suffer, cause I am near

Hold on, cause I’m coming

Hold on, cause I’m coming

Hold on, cause I’m coming

Hold on, I’m coming

In our passage today we see David, the Psalmist, experiencing the same thing we are going through here. AS he goes through trials he must wait for the Lord to answer. We are called to persevere even when it seems as though there is no relief in sight. Jesus is saying, “Hold on, cause I’m coming.”

I. THE JOY OF WAITING (1-3)

If we look at the scriptures we see a lot of common concepts that are scattered throughout. One of those is that God doesn’t always answer as quickly as we would like. Look at the promise made to Abraham. He was a hundred years old when he received the son of promise. Joseph was sold into slavery and spent years in jail before the dreams that God gave him came to pass. David suffered through many trials in his life as well. He was sent to the fields as a shepherd, opposed by a giant, hunted by a king, his kingdom overthrown by a son and his relationship threatened by an illicit affair with a soldier’s wife. And in the midst of all the junk in his life he begins this psalm by writing, “I waited patiently for the Lord…” Friends, it’s easy to get a word from God, or a vision of what He is going to do in your life. The hard part is waiting. But there is an indescribable joy that comes from waiting. That joy comes from knowing 1) that God hears your cries. “And He inclined to me…) 2) That He not only hears but answers. The word translated “inclined” can also mean, “to bow down, to take aside, or to offer.” Look at those three translations of the word in the context of this Psalm. He “bowed down” and “brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay…” He “took me aside” and “set my feet upon a rock and established my steps…” and He has “offered” me new life. “He has put a new song in my mouth – Praise to our God. Many will see and fear and will put their trust in the Lord.” There is joy to be had in waiting. Isaiah wrote, “but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength…” The word wait means to have expectation. Those who expect something from the Lord shall renew their strength. I waited patiently…

(Because David expected something from God.”) Psalm 30, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”

II. THE EFFECT OF TRUSTING (4-8)

Two different times when Saul was chasing David, David had the opportunity to kill the king. Isn’t it so tempting to take matters into our own hands and try to make things happen the way we think they ought to go? Let’s look at what these next verses say about that very thing. “Don’t respect the proud nor turn aside to lies…” What is it that makes men of God take their problems into their own hands? It’s pride! I want to pastor a bigger church. I want to have all the right programs. I want this church to be known as a great church. I – I – I … “sacrifice and offering You did not desire.” We have to stop and rely upon what God wants. “Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust…” What is the effect of trusting God? We are blessed! “Many, O Lord, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them they are more than can be numbered.” God desires the best for us. But it has to come in his timing. Verse 8, “I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.” We can know God’s will for us according to His own word. Do you have difficulty waiting on and trusting in the Lord? Then you need to look back over your life and count your blessings. Looking at God’s work in your life is a faith builder. As your faith is built the more you will understand that God blesses those who trust in Him.