"Wait On Me!" (God)

Intro: One of the things I am NOT GOOD AT is waiting.

I am the person who paces the floor waiting for the

microwave popcorn which only takes three and one-half

minutes! (Do I need therapy? Most likely!!:) We live

in an "instant society" of fast food, instant information on demand, pay-at-the-pump gasoline, and

the "buy now pay later" philosophy which has been

the downfall of many families. It is interesting

to note that One of the Great Spiritual Virtues

in the Bible has to do with WAITING. (SEE TEXT)

IS WAITING ON GOD AS HARD FOR YOU AS IT IS FOR ME?

MANY WOULD SAY "YES". So, let us examine this subject

of WAITING UPON GOD using three approaches:

I. SOME BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF WAITING UPON THE LORD:

A. ABRAHAM AND SARAH (FOR ISAAC)

B. NOAH (FOR THE FLOOD AND SUBSIDING WATERS)

C. JOSEPH (FOR HIS "TIME" IN POWER)

D. JESUS (FOR THE "TIME TO BE FULFILLED")

E. MARY AND MARTHA (FOR JESUS TO ARRIVE WHEN LAZRUS

DIED.

F. THE DISCIPLES (FOR THE PROMISED HOLY SPIRIT)

G. ALL BELIEVERS (AWAITING HIS RETURN)

*IN EACH CASE THEY

1. KNEW GOD’S PROMISES

2. RESTED IN GOD’S CHARACTER

3. RELIED UPON HIS LOVE

* IN EACH CASE, IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT!!

OKAY, THAT’S GOOD FOR THE "SPIRITUAL GIANTS" BUT

WHAT ABOUT ME?? HOW CAN I WAIT ON THE LORD?

II. THE ENERGY AND EFFORT REQUIRED TO WAIT UPON GOD:

*WAITING ON GOD IS NOT "SITTING STILL AND DOING

NOTHING LIKE BABY BIRDS IN A NEST"

*WAITING UPON GOD REQUIRES

1. KEEPING TUNED TO HIS FREQUENCY (COMMUNICATION)

2. TURNING TO HIM WITH EVERY CARE/CONCERN/DECISION

3. TRUSTING HIM TO HEAR OUR REQUESTS

4. TAKING STEPS AS HE DIRECTS, ONE DAY AT A TIME.

5. TURNING THE OUTCOME(S) OVER TO HIM

*WHATEVER HIS ANSWER, IT WILL BE BETTER THAN WE

COULD HAVE MANUFACTURED!

"IF I EXPEND THE ENERGY AND PUT FORTH THE EFFORT

TO WAIT UPON GOD, WHAT CAN I EXPECT??"

III. THE ENCOURAGING RESULTS OF WAITING UPON GOD

(SEE TEXT ISAIAH 40:31)

A. RENEWED STRENGTH (spiritually, emotionally and

sometimes physically)

B. MOUNT UP WITH WINGS LIKE EAGLES

*EAGLES "USE" THE WINDS OF STORMS TO

ALLOW THEM TO SOAR HIGHER, THEY DO NOT

ALLOW THEM TO DRAG THEM LOWER*

C. RUN(THE RACE OF LIFE) AND NOT GET WEARY

(FACING LIFES RACE IN GOD’S STRENGTH NOT OUR OWN)

D. WALK AND NOT FAINT

(there have been times in my life the greatest

spiritual blessing I received that day was

simply "strength not to faint" (physically

emotionally and spiritually) due to the heaviness

of the burdens upon me at that time).

But if we wait upon the Lord, we will be lifted

higher DURING THE STORMS OF LIFE, AND HAVE THE

STRENGTH TO ENDURE ANY AND ALL SATAN’S DARTS.

...AND WHEN WE WAIT UPON HIM, HE WILL LIFT US UP

CONCLUDING STORY: A grandfather was taking a nature

hike with his 6 year old grandson. The child was

running ahead,and came to a creek...afraid that

he was going to fall in, the grandfather said

CHILD, WAIT FOR ME AND I’LL GET YOU ACROSS...SURPRISINGLY, THE CHILD OBEYED, AND WHEN

THE GRANDFATHER GOT THERE, HE LIFTED THE CHILD UPON HIS

SHOULDERS, AND WADED ACROSS THE CREEK. the grandchild

said, "If I hadn’t waited on you, I would never have

made it across!"

How true of us...Let us WAIT ON GOD..HE’LL GET

US ACROSS ANY OBSTACLE LIFE PUTS IN OUR WAY.