“Dealing with God’s Delay”
By
Pastor M.L. Maughmer, Jr.
OPENING:- How many have heard this before:- God’s delay doesn’t mean God’s denial!
Just because God hasn’t done something yet doesn’t mean that He won’t do it at all! We need to just wait on God. The Bible says in Isaiah 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” There are benefits for waiting upon the Lord. Nevertheless, one of the hardest things to do in life is wait on God. We understand that God has a will for our lives. We also know that God answers prayer. But understanding the principle is one thing being able to apply that practice in our daily living can be down- right hard at times. However, how we deal with God’s delay is paramount in receiving the blessings of God.
Understand that God’s love is unconditional, but all of His blessings are based on conditions! EXAMPLE:- Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”. If you want to receive all the things (blessings) you must first meet the requirement of seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. That is practice and principle in action.
Sadly one of the greatest tragedies in life is to lose focus of God and His plan for our lives while we are to be waiting on Him. Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end”. Understand that God has a purpose and God has a plan for us and He has all the details already figured out. If we focus on our sorrows, our losses, our temporary setbacks, our momentary depressions, and our valley experiences and forget that all things work to the good of them that love the Lord to those that are the called according to His purpose. Then we miss the value of understanding what God has for use to comprehend. Paul said in Philippians 4:11 “for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content”. Joseph understood that for in Genesis 50:20 he said “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; [but] God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as [it is] this day, to save much people alive”. His brothers sold him into slavery because the hated him, but God used that situation because he was going to put Joseph in a place that would deliver those that misused him. God’s plan for Joseph was to be in Egypt in position and power for the purpose He planned.
We must understand that sometimes God allows us to go through things because it is in His plan for us to bring us to that expected end.
The problem is that we are human and we deal within time and God is Divine and transcends time. Because we deal inside of time we don’t handle the movement time with much patience. When I mention the movement of time I am talking about the measure of durations of events and the intervals between them, example:- from past to present to future takes a lifetime for us, but for God He transcends time, He stands outside of time and knows the beginning from the end because He sees all at the same time.
We have become so accustomed to instant everything that if something takes a little time we don’t want to deal with that. We now live in an instant world.
We have instant banking, instant cinema, and instant music.
We have instant coffee because we don’t have time to wait for the water to boil.
We have instant breakfast that we can make in the microwave instantly because we don’t have time to sit down to the most important meal of the day.
We have instant messages on our computers and text messages on our phones because we don’t want to take the time to talk to people if we can avoid it.
We have ATM machines that allow us to get money instantly.
We have the internet that affords us the ability to have unlimited access to information on any subject in an instant.
Everything is done in a hurry. We have Instant relationships, Instant marriages, and Instant divorces.
People say I need instant gratification.
I want instant answers to problems.
We are like the rabbit in the Alice in Wonderland story that said “I’m late, I’m late for a very important date no time to say hello goodbye I’m late I’m late I’m late”.
We are always in a hurry.
We never stop and take time to smell the roses or just look at all the things that God has made.
If service goes past 1:00 we say I wish this service would hurry up and be over knowing you didn’t even show up until 12:00 noon and service started at 11:30.
Someone may even be saying right now why can’t he hurry up and sit down.
Because of this mindset when we are forced to deal with delay we get impatient, we get frustrated, upset, mad, fidgety we move around in our seats like a two year old that is being potty trained .
We begin to find fault in everything because we feel as though we are stuck in this place of delay.
We become impatient and leave the place where God has told us to be – say we are looking for something that is moving at a faster pace. Instead of stopping and looking at what God has for us right where we are.
We take matters into our own hands like Saul when Samuel told him I will be here on the 7th day to offer sacrifice, but Saul was impatient and offered the sacrifice instead of waiting on Samuel.
We begin to murmur and complain because instead of standing still and seeing the salvation of the Lord we get mad because we are not moving forward at the pace we would like to be moving. Then we find fault in the preacher, the church, and God because we are still here in the place of delay. This same old setting is beginning to get to me. I am tired of looking at this same thing over and over again.
Now you begin to murmur and complain, but remember what happened to the Children of Israel because they murmured and complained.
HOW WE HANDLE DELAY DETERMINES THE BLESSINGS WE ARE TO RECEIVE.
We need to learn how to be steadfast and unmovable when God delays answering us!!!!.
Steadfast & Unmovable:- fixed firmly in place or position. Steadily directed: firm in faith and purpose, unwavering, and firmly established.
That brings us to our text!
Mark 5:21- 43 “21. And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea. 22. and, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, 23. And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: [I pray thee], come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. 24. And [Jesus] went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. 25. And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26. And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27. When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in [her] body that she was healed of that plague. 30. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? 31. And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32. And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.33. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. 35. While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's [house certain] which said, Thy daughter is dead why troublest thou the Master any further? 36. As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. (LUKE 8:50 says But when Jesus heard [it], he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.) 37. And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 38. And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult riot), and them that wept and wailed greatly. 39. And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. 40. And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. 41. And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. 42. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was [of the age] of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. 43. And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat”.
Let me give a little outline of this text.
Verses 22 – 23 we meet a man named Jairus, we see his actions, here his problem, and understand his request.
Verse 24 we see Jesus’ response to Jairus’ request.
Verse 25 – 34 we witness an interruption which causes Jesus to be delayed.
Verse 35 we hear of the dilemma and fate of Jairus’ daughter.
Verses 36 – 43 we witness the power of God.
TENSION OF THE TEXT:- Now I have preached from this text many times. One of my favorite messages I preached was titled “DON’T STOP TILL YOU GET ENOUGH” and I talked about the woman with the issue of blood and how she pressed her way to Jesus against all odds and she didn’t stop until she got what she needed from the Lord.
However, God revealed something to me this time that I never realized before.
Today I want to deal with this man named Jairus.
His name is Jairus which means in Hebrew “God Enlightens”. Understand that when the Bible mentions a person’s name there is something about that person’s character that God wants us to understand. When it mentions certain man or certain woman there is something about the circumstances or situation surrounding that person that God wants us to understand.
Here Jairus is mentioned by name. He was a ruler of the synagogue. He is the one that the people come to for spiritual guidance and understanding. He is the pastor and presiding prelate of the local synagogue. Although he is the pastor and the spiritual head Jairus has a dilemma, his daughter is dying. Manytimes people always come to the pastor with all their issues and problems looking for them to be resolved by the pastor in an instant, because that is the mindset that we operate under, but they fail to realize that pastors have problems also that they are faced with as well.
Jairus has a problem - So he comes to Jesus – WATCH THIS:- He knew how to come to Jesus the right way. The Bible says in verse 22…. when he saw him, he fell at his feet, 23. And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: [I pray thee], come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. He fell at Jesus feet and worshipped, He knew his answer lied at the feet of Jesus. Your answer lies at the feet of Jesus! NOTICE:- we see his worship, hear his request, and witness his faith.
Verse #24. And [Jesus] went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. Jesus responded to Jairus’ request - WHEN He didn’t take 3 days, He didn’t take a year, but immediately Jesus went with Jairus. WATCH THIS:- Jesus was on His way to Jairus’ house to heal his daughter who was dying. Jairus made the request and Jesus responded immediately.
Then starting in verse #25 the Bible says “25. And a certain woman,(she is not even named) which had an issue of blood twelve years (she was dying a slow death herself – remember 12 years she had this condition), 26. And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,(she was sick, dying, broke, used, mistreated, a social outcast, rejected, shunned and in need of a touch from the Lord Jesus) 27. When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.(She broke the law)
Verse #28. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. (NOTICE:- her faith exceeded her limitations – the law forbidded her to even be a part of everyday society, but her took the limits off and caused her to find GRACE.) 29. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in [her] body that she was healed of that plague. (GRACE)
Verse #30. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him (Dunamis), turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes (This was a FAITH touch)? WATCH THIS:- (Jesus stopped in His tracks because He was touched by the FAITH of this woman. She touched His clothes but Her Faith touched His HEART. He was on His way to Jairus’ house to heal his daughter and this woman came out of nowhere, according to the law was not even supposed to be out among the people. She was to be stoned for touching a man making him ceremonially unclean and she touched Jesus and He stopped, WATCH THIS:- He is delayed from going to Jairus’ house and deals with this woman) 31. And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32. And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.33. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague”. (Jesus heals and forgives this woman, tells her that she is made whole and she can go in peace for she is healed of her plague).
WATCH THIS;- While Jesus was spending time on this woman Jairus’ daughter dies – talk about TENSION )
The Bible says #35. While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's [house certain] which said, Thy daughter is dead (in other words all hope is gone) why troublest thou the Master any further?
(Now if that would have been one of us, we came to Jesus worshipped Him, got His attention, and He said He was coming to our house to answer our prayer request and someone interrupted Him and delayed Him from coming to our house and in the process of the delay our child died we would more than likely raise a ruckus to put it nicely. We would blame Jesus, the woman that delayed Him and become very bitter and upset with God because He was on the way to my house and stopped for this woman that didn’t even worship Him like I did. She came from behind Him, She didn’t do it the way that tradition said we are supposed to do it. We would have said I’m not going to church again, I’m not going to pray, read my Bible or speak of His name ever again because He delayed answering my prayer and now my situation is dead. But Jairus never said a word, he didn’t get indignant, he didn’t turn and walk away, he didn’t get mad at Jesus, the woman or anything. She had broken the law and could have been stoned to death and many of us would have had the stone in our hands ready to be the first one to throw it, but Jairus stood still, although delayed he remained steadfast and unmovable and watched to see what the Lord was going to do. He didn’t forget about his daughter, he didn’t fret that Jesus wasn’t moving fast enough, He didn’t fear that He wouldn’t get there in time, but he stood still and seen the glory, the goodness, and the mercy of God in action)
WATCH THIS:- 36. As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. (LUKE 8:50 says But when Jesus heard [it], he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.) Jesus knows that life and death is in the power of the tongue, the words that came to Jairus were that of death so Jesus immediately put a stop to death as soon as He heard the words spoken. The devil will try to always speak doubt and death into your situation that is why must be careful who and what you listen to.
Jesus told Jairus to fear not and believe (Proper Response to delay) and if he did this his daughter shall be made whole (The Proper response to delay will always Receive the Blessings of God).
If we could only learn to not be afraid of the current situation or circumstances and believe Jesus our situation shall be made whole. If Jairus would have left when Jesus started dealing with the woman with the issue of blood or got upset he would have missed out on the blessing he went to Jesus for in the first place.
Verse #37. And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 38. And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult (violent and noisy commotion or disturbance of a crowd or mob; uproar: a general outbreak, riot. There are always those that may be around you that cause all kinds of tumult. You know the ones they always say stuff like - If it was me I would not have stood for that I would just leave, that is why they don’t have the blessing God has for them because they refuse to stand still and wait on God. They always run here and there and never able to be steadfast and unmovable. They are not able to grow in God because they never become rooted and grounded by waiting on God.),
and them that wept and wailed greatly. ( They are the ones always crying over this and that but never have any real thing to offer)
Verse39. And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. 40. And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, (Sometimes you got to get rid of some folk that are around you because all they are is a hindrance to your blessing)
he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. (Jesus walked into what looked like a dead situation)
verse 41. And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. 42. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was [of the age] of twelve years. (She was the age of 12 as long as the woman had been sick she had been alive. The number 12 in the Bible represents Divine Government – both the woman’s sickness and Jairus’ daughter’s death was the Divine Government of God’s plan and purpose) And they were astonished with a great astonishment. 43. And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat”.
Jesus knew what he was going to do and even though He was delayed in getting to Jairus’ house he already was on His way. Jairus was steadfast.
This delay was designed by God for a particular reason. Lets look at ways God uses delays in our lives.
THE QUESTION IS - WHY DOES GOD SOMETIMES DELAY???????????
Scripture makes it clear that our heavenly Father hears and answers prayer. Yet we all experience times when, though we pray for God to act right now, He doesn’t.
WHY:- At times the Lord sees that our attention is not focused on Him. Our relationship with Him should have priority over any earthly matter Mark 12:30. Yet minds and prayers can become so fixed upon a need that our gaze shifts away from Him, remember I said we focus on our sorrows, setback, or valley experiences instead of focusing on what God may be trying to teach us in this current situation. Therefore God may delay His answer until we refocus on Him.
Sometimes God waits because the timing is not right for granting our request. When Jesus is told that His friend Lazarus is dead He delays for 4 days before He comes to Mary and Martha. When He gets there both Mary and Martha said “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” Jesus delayed His coming for a purpose. When a person dies within 30 min bacteria and parasites begin to internally eat the body from the inside out. Within 12 – 24 hours maximum rigor mortis sets in. In 24 hours the face is unrecognizable.
The body is decomposing - Doctors say there are 5 stages of decomposition.
• Initial Decay – body appears to be fresh externally, however internally the decomposition has already begun
• Putrefaction – body swollen from internal gases, smell of decaying flesh, change in body color happens
• Black Putrefaction – the body cavity ruptures. Flesh begins to turn black with a creamy consistency. Odor of decaying flesh very strong
• Butyric Fermentation – body begins to dry out. A cheesy odor develops and mold becomes present on the body
• Dry Decay – body is nearly dry and the rate of decay slows
5 is the number of Grace. Jesus’ delay in Lazarus’ case was to show the Grace of God working.
Sometimes He delays because there is a dying process that we must go through first. Something inside of us need to die like pride, arrogance, self reliance, envy, malice, bitterness, jealousy, hatred, the spirit of Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like Galatians 5.
Regardless of the delay of God we must realize that God is in control and He will delay His answer in order to:-
Prepare us. To strengthen our faith and make us stronger.
Test us. God uses delays to test how we will respond under pressure and to test our loyalty and obedience to Him.
Train us. God uses the delays to break those habits and thought patterns and train you in His way of thinking and doing things.
WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN GOD DELAYS???????
Don't Fear :- Jesus told Jairus fear not because fear keeps you in the valleies and barren stages of life. It prolongs the delay. Fear and faith cannot live together in the same house. Fear stops us from taking the next steps and from moving ahead.
Don't Fret :- Fret means worry. Don't get worried. When you worry you bind the hands that can help you. God responds to faith not fear. Learn to trust God in the delays you face. After all it is God that is leading you. When you get impatient you start trying to work it out yourself. You think God is saying move when He is trying to see if you will stand still.
Don't Faint :- When you go through the delays in life, don't faint. Don't get discouraged. Don't lose heart. Don't give up. Galatins 6:9 says “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not”.
WATCH THIS:- This is the law of the harvest: In life, you will reap whatever you sow. What you plant you will harvest. If you sow criticism, you will reap a lot of criticism in your life. If you sow love, you will reap love back in your life. If you sow generosity, you will reap back generosity. It's one of God’s natural laws. We'll always reap more than we sow. If I plant one kernel of corn, do I get on kernel back? No, I get a whole stalk with thousands on it. You always reap more than you sow. But in the Law of the Harvest there is always a delay between sowing and reaping. There's always a season. You plant in one season and you reap in another. There is a delay in between that is filled with sunny days and rainy days, and periods when nothing seems to be happening at all, but we still have to get out there and weed, water, and wait. God wants to see if you're going to keep cultivating, planting, sowing -- see if you really mean business. If God sees consistency in your life then the harvest comes. It will not come immediately because it proves nothing if He does it immediately. No delay, no character development, no stretching your faith.
Don't forget :- Psalms 103: " Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. " Somany times when we are in that period of delay, time causes us to forget many things. We tend to forget what God had done in our life in times past. We tend to forget God's goodness. We tend to forget that God is with us. We tend to forget God's power. We tend to forget how important it is that we stay in God's strength and we start focusing on all our problems than on what He has done for us.
Jairus didn’t forget why he came to Jesus. He didn’t forget that Jesus was on His way to his house. Jairus didn’t forget that started with him and that He said He would never leave us nor forsake us, so he stayed right there and waited to see what Jesus was going to do.
The Bible says in Psalms 106: 7-13, "Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked [him] at the sea, [even] at the Red sea. Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known. He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness. And he saved them from the hand of him that hated [them], and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left. Then believed they his words; they sang his praise They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:"
Don’t give up:- Giving up is loosing faith in God. Hebrews 11:6 says “But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him” So I can’t give up now I want to be pleasing unto Him so I can hear Him say well done thy good and faithful servant enter into the joy of the Lord.
Phillippians 1:6 says “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:”. He may delay for a while but He begun a work and I know that He will fininsh it.
So now the question is now that I am waiting on Him for He has delayed for a season what must I do to ensure that I am able to stand-fast.
I am reminded of a song that says “Anointing fall on me”.
PICTURE THIS:- Your car is parked in front of your house, a storm rises and causes the big oak tree at the edge of the yard to fall on your car. As long as that tree remains on that car that car can’t move from that spot – WHY – because the tree is causing it to stay right there.
Anointing fall on me.
I feel like I want to move during this time of delay so Anointing fall on me.
I want to get upset and handle it all by myself so Anointing fall on me.
I feel like I want to give up so Anointing fall on me.
I feel like I am about to loose my mind so Anointing fall on me.
Everyone seems to be leaving the church but Anointing fall on me.
I can’t loose my marriage so Anointing fall on me.
Everyone else is being blessed and you seem to have passed me by so Anointng fall on me.
I called on you Jesus now my situation seems to have gotten worse so Anointing fall on me.
The thing that I feared most is upon me so Anointing fall on me.
I feel like I have running for such a long time and I am about to faint so Anointing fall on me.
District Elder M.L. Maughmer, Jr.
Pastor
Apostolic Glorious Church.
