The Waiting Room
“Refining Moments”
We began a series titled the Waiting Room with the purpose of discovering what God reveals to us in these moments of waiting.
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Now I want to add one of my favorite verses:
Psalm 66:10-12 (NIV)
For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. 11 You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. 12 You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.
Today we’re talking about Refining Moments. In the past two weeks:
- Acknowledged God’s Supreme Authority
- Quiet, Still and Humble Ourselves
Today we see this period of waiting, as period where God is refining us, tweaking us and making minor (or major!) adjustments in us
The Process of Refining Silver
- Extreme heat burns away the imperfections
Allowing God to refine us is not something we are eager to get in line for, because it’s work!
But one thing I have learned from my time in God’s Waiting Room is that God won’t move us out or forward until we do.
1. Refine Your Spiritual Discipline
This is where I believe allowing God’s Refining Process begins.
2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NIV)
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
I see this verse in three parts:
1) A call to fan the flames (the embers are hot!)
2) Reminder to be bold with the Love God gives us
3) To be self-disciplined
That last part is the one I want to focus on. I do this because I think in it is the key to fanning the flames spiritually in our own lives.
What is the feeling you get when you hear the word “Discipline”? For me growing up, it was not a fun word. It was a word that I heard when I was in trouble for something I did wrong.
discipline
• the controlled behavior resulting from such training
• activity or experience that provides mental or physical training
- (verb) train oneself to do something in a controlled and habitual way
self-discipline: doing these things on your own w/out any outside prodding
When we look at these definitions, self-discipline as seen in 2 Timothy is more about “training ourselves” to make habits from the Fundamental Spiritual Disciplines, so that we can foster growth spiritually!
The process of refining ourselves spiritually, we’ve got to start a spiritual fire!
Hebrews 10:22-23 (NIV)
Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
It is impossible to “Draw Near to God” and walk away unchanged. I will be as bold to say that if you tell me you’ve drawn near to God and you feel like nothing happened, then you did not truly draw near.
False Appointments (Not Drawing Near)
- Hollow Traditions (Worship, Communion)
- Empty Prayers
- Reading God’s Word w/ an Agenda
- Giving Expecting a Return
If you have allowed any of these to become your definition of Drawing Near, your Waiting Room is self-imposed. You put yourself in a space that God will not communicate or move in your life.
Draw Near because you long to be closer with God, not because a pastor motivated you, or worship made you feel good, or a bible study really motivated you. Be self-disciplined! FEED YOURSELF!
Return to the Basics
- Continuous Prayer Dialogue (Be real!)
- Read God’s Word Expecting Only His Words, not your answers
- Worship out of adoration
- Give because God gave to you
Fan the flames!
2. Refine Your Heart
When we Draw Near to God he begins to reveal the imperfections in our own hearts
Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT)
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
I think it’s noteworthy that in the verses just previous to these David is bemoaning whom he considers evil in that their actions promote hatred for God.
Can you imagine having HATRED for God, not because you’re an atheist or don’t like religion, but because of the sin in your life? Most of us can’t, because we don’t always see our sin as “that bad”, but it is!
Just as dark and light cannot exist in the same space, neither can sin and God!
David recognizes this in others and immediately cries out to God—not against them, but against himself! He wants God to show him everything that is wrong within him so he can address it. Look at something similar in:
Isaiah 6:5 (NIV)
"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
This sorrow we see is not a guilt or shame to belittle or degrade us. This is a righteous reminder that we need repentance constantly!
2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV)
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
Godly sorrow is A constant reminder that we need more Jesus!
A. Our Sin Can Withhold God’s Blessings
Have you ever been out driving, doing the speed limit and driving safely, when someone whizzes by you driving recklessly? And in that moment of real piety said something like, “Where’s a cop when you need one?” If you haven’t you might be that reckless driver…
Truth is, it is easy for us to point out the flaws, mistakes—sin in others maybe even compare ours against theirs; but we are very slow to turn that scrutiny and attention on ourselves.
Sin is nothing but a blockade. I can look at “so-and-so” and easily go: “Well no wonder things aren’t going well for them! They self-inflicted their pain and struggle.”
But when I look at my own trouble, sin is not the first issue I tend to address. It should be:
Proverbs 11:3 (NLT)
Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.
Proverbs 12:3 (NLT)
Wickedness never brings stability, but the godly have deep roots.
Riding the Pine – Too many penalties will take you out of the game! (i.e. Basketball...)
There are Consequences for our Sin.
Short Term: (Timeouts)
- Alcohol Abuse --> Hangover
- Lust --> Perception of Others lowered
- Gossip --> respect for others lowered
- Lying --> trust is lost
- Greed --> financial loss
Long Term: (Disqualified)
- Loss of Relationships (Marriage, Family)
- Loss of Self-Control (Addiction)
- Loss of Respect
- Loss of Finances
- Loss of Health/Our Life/Other's Life
Drinking on Campus Story: It was against the rules!
Short Term: Loss of a Week at School
Long Term: Had to drop a class, and retake it
B. Full Repentance or Partial Repentance?
I had a choice: Full Repentance or Partial Repentance. Here’s the difference:
Full Repentance assumes full responsibility for the sin. It doesn’t place blame or create excuse. It is simply: “God I screwed up, I need your forgiveness and grace. Show me what I must do to make this right.”
Partial Repentance is just that, partial. You commonly hear it like this:
“I’m just sorry I got caught!” In partial repentance there is no desire for change, we just want to get out of trouble!
I get so sick of seeing believers (myself included) get themselves in a pinch because of their sin, then cry out for God’s help by saying, “Well God’s will be done.” Indeed, God’s will is being done! There is consequence for your actions!
God promises us that there is forgiveness when we fully repent, but that does not mean that we will immediately be absolved of consequence here on earth. If you commit a crime, there will be punishment.
But here’s the good news. God can use this for Good as well.
C. Be Transformed by Grace!
Romans 6:12-13 (NLT)
Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. 13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.
Take a moment and ask this question: Does my life represent a tool that can be used by God? All of it? Or is there so re-tooling that needs to be done? What do you need to truly turn from today? Be Refined.
The good news is that God separates us from our transgressions. Amen! The bad news is that we often have a hard time doing so. I want to present a new way of thinking: make it a part of Your history.
Please don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying beat yourself up by remembering how low you can go. I’m saying, take this experience and learn from it. Use it for growth. Use it as a marker in your history, so you can point back and see how God has changed you for the better. Even in This... "ALL THINGS!"
Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
If you feel like you are in God’s Waiting Room, it’s time to look inwardly. God is never going to move you forward before you are ready. He will not give you more responsibility if you cannot steward properly what you have now.
Use this time to be Refined, made better.
-- Prayer – Call to Communion and Confession
Go Further! Personal Study Questions
1. When you pray the “Search Me” prayer, what areas does God shine his light on in your life that needs to be addressed fully?
2. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being highest) rate your level of spiritual discipline. What needs to decrease in your life so that your relationship with God can increase?
3. Assess your life: Do you consider yourself “transformed by grace”? Why or Why not? How are you going to personally get there?
