A. This is the third installment of our ongoing series entitled “Graceful Waiting.” In this installment, we will study the third key to scriptural waiting, which is finding someone who will support you spiritually while you’re waiting on the Lord.
B. The third key to successful waiting can be found in the Christmas story. Let’s turn to Luke 1:26, And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
C. Mary is blessed among women for more reasons than simply being the vessel through whom the Lord chose to bring Jesus. Mary is also blessed among women because she is a prototype of a new type of believer.
D. Like Mary, Christians are typified by receiving the seed of God’s Word into the wombs of their hearts and becoming pregnant with and giving birth to the seed of God’s Word.
E. Mary literally experienced the merging of the spiritual and biological dynamics to produce the person of God in the form of a man so her period of waiting was nine months. Our period of waiting is not as definite, but the principles that we see govern Mary’s period of waiting can be applied to us.
F. Mary did not miscarry the promise of God; she saw it through to the birth of that promise in the earth. If we’re going to avoid spiritual miscarriage, then we need to follow her example.
G. She demonstrates a truth that is an important key in our being able to successfully wait on the Lord and to see the birth of His promise in our lives. The lesson we take from Mary’s example of waiting on the Lord is seen in verse 39-40, And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. Elisabeth was Mary’s cousin. The angel said, “She hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren (verse 36).” Biologically, miscarriages typically occur in the early months of pregnancy. Spiritually speaking, that’s when spiritual pregnancies are vulnerable as well.
H. When Mary said “Be it unto me according to thy word,” that’s when she conceived and her wait began. Likewise, when we say, “Be it unto me according to thy word,” that’s when we conceive the promise of God in our lives and our wait begins. That’s when we begin to fight the good fight of faith.
I. The first thing Mary did was search out somebody who had a similar experience like hers and who could testify to her that what she was experiencing was by the hand of God. This support brought a supernatural stability to Mary that enabled her to make it through those early vulnerable days of pregnancy.
J. For three months, Mary didn’t listen to any doubt or unbelief. She put herself in an environment where people supported what God had done in her. Likewise, we must put ourselves in an environment of spiritual support as well. The key to our successfully waiting on the Lord is positioning ourselves to hear positive support.
K. There are “Elizabeths” for all of us and for every occasion. When we say, “Be it unto me according to thy Word,” and take that step of faith, God has an Elisabeth for you to talk to.
L. However, those in the faith family have a stumbling block that prevents them from seeking out their “Elisabeth.” When they go through something, they don’t talk to anyone because they’re concerned they might say something that will undermine their faith, fearing they might be in unbelief. However, this sort of self-imposed isolation makes waiting more difficult.
M. Many people think being strong in the faith is never letting anybody know that something negative is happening. They don’t want to be perceived as weak or that they’re in unbelief. Men in particular don’t want to feel like they’re crying on somebody’s shoulder so their tendency is not to talk to anybody. But God has someone that will encourage you and support you while you’re waiting on the promise of God.
N. How do you find your Elisabeth? First of all, the Word says “What concord hath Christ with Belial?” In other words, what fellowship hath a believer with an unbeliever? That’s not just referring to people who aren’t saved. It’s talking about Christians who are not likeminded. You must avoid them because they will undermine your faith. However, that doesn’t mean we are to isolate ourselves from the rest of the body of Christ or from the world at large. That’s just saying not to share your heart with someone who is not likeminded and doesn’t believe like you do.
O. Don’t try to “get through it” by yourself. If you want to wait scripturally, then you must realize God has prepared people to encourage you and to confirm what you’re doing.
P. The first thing Elisabeth said when she saw Mary was “Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb (verse 41).” Mary was an unmarried woman who found herself pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Imagine how much Mary needed to hear that.
Q. Elisabeth went on to say, “Blessed is she that believes for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord (verse 46).” This impacted Mary because we see her attitude in verse 46; “My soul doth magnify the Lord.” In the midst of a battle or a hard place, in the midst of waiting on the Lord to manifest His promise, you too must magnify Him and praise Him. It’s a lot easier if you have the kind of support that Mary had.
R. Mary went on to confess, “And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my savior for he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.” You need to put similar faith-filled words in your mouth too. Mary’s attitude and her right words are directly related to the relationship she pursued with Elisabeth.
S. Mary stayed with Elisabeth for three months. Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to move in with your “Elisabeth” for three months. What that is saying is you need to spend time with people who will encourage you. Get in the presence of those who are going to reinforce God’s Word to you. Elisabeth was supernaturally pregnant just like Mary, and so it may be that God brings you somebody who has experienced already what you’re currently going through.
T. Your “Elisabeth” may be your spouse. Mary didn’t have that option, but your spouse should be the greatest source of encouragement, affirmation, and confirmation to you. However, if you’re not married or if your spouse isn’t spiritually likeminded, then God will send you your “Elisabeth.” When you’re around people who speak doubt and unbelief, close your spiritual ears.
U. Don’t share all the negatives you’re challenged with to anybody who will listen. You will know when you’re with somebody that God has anointed to encourage you and who will confirm and stabilize you during this vulnerable period of believing. This is a huge key to successful waiting on the Lord, and it’ll enable you to do it with the right attitude and to speak the right words as you wait.
