THE ART OF WAITING FOR THE FULFILLMENT OF GOD’S PLAN
Reading:
Hab 2:1 I will climb up into my watchtower now and wait to see what the LORD will say to me and how he will answer my complaint.
Hab 2:2 Then the LORD said to me, "Write my answer in large, clear letters on a tablet, so that a runner can read it and tell everyone else.
Hab 2:3 But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.
Introduction:
Certainly, God is an organize God and he has a plan for our future. He is firm in His promise mentioned in Jer 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
We may be waiting for specific fulfillment of God’s plan in our lives which God promised to us during our prayer.
• It might be your job promotion
• Salary increase
• Dream house
• Spouse (for single)
• Healing
• Salvation of love ones
Waiting is not an easy job; let us meditate on God’s Word reveal to us through prophet Habakkuk. The art of Waiting for the fulfillment of God’s Plan in our lives
I. WAIT PRAYERFULLY (Build up your Faith)
Hab 2:1 I will climb up into my watchtower now and wait to see what the LORD will say to me and how he will answer my complaint.
Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
• Pray expectantly (Faith)
• Pray consistently (Effort)
• Pray accordingly (Base on God’s Word)
Bible Based Prayer Checklist
1. Relationship Check
1Pe 3:7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
Mar 11:25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.
2. Motive Check
Jas 4:3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
3. Life Style Check
Jas 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Pro 15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
4. Faith Check
Jas 1:6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
Jas 1:7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;
Mat 9:29 Then he touched their eyes and said, According to your faith will it be done to you;
5. God’s Will Check
1Jn 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
Joh 9:31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will.
II. WAIT ACTIVELY (Build up others)
Hab 2:2 Then the LORD said to me, "Write my answer in large, clear letters on a tablet, so that a runner can read it and tell everyone else.
• Read God’s Word
• Meditate God’s Word
• Spread God’s Word (tell everyone else)
Jos 1:8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
III. WAIT PATIENTLY (Build up your character)
Hab 2:3 But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.
• God’s plan may come slowly
• God’s plan will come steadily
• God’s plan will come surely
Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.
CONCLUSION:
• Noah wait 120 years until it began to rain
• Abraham wait 99 years before the promise son (Isaac) came
• Moses wait 40 years in the desert before the promise deliverance of Israel from Egypt took place
• Joseph spent several years in prison before he became ruler of Egypt
• David wait until the death of Saul before he became king
Even Jesus Wait for 30 years before He started His ministry.
I like the attitude of Prophet Habakkuk when he said:
Hab 3:17 Though the fig-tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
Hab 3:18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.
God’s delay is not God’s denial.
If you have been blessed, encouraged or inspired by this sermon then it’s your turn to be an encouragement too. You can do it by sending email to this contributor at spy2rb@yahoo.com or post comment on the discussion box below.
