Waiting

Isaiah 40:28-31 (NIV)

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope (wait) in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Illustration:

• A woman's car stalled in traffic. She looked in vain under the hood to identify the cause, while the driver behind her leaned relentlessly on his horn.

• Finally she had enough. She walked back to his car and offered sweetly, "I don't know what the matter is with my car.

• But if you want to go look under the hood, I'll be glad to stay here and honk for you."

Opening Prayer

"My God, My God, why have you forsaken me"

Waiting is one of the most difficult things that we Christians are called to do.

We want it everything immediately, but God is telling us now "Wait"

David was only 16 years old when he was anointed King of Israel

(A) WAITING INVOLVES GOING THROUGH PAIN

Psalm 27:14 (NIV)

14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 37:5 (NIV)

5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:

(B) WAITING INVOLVES LISTENING

Psalm 46:10(NIV)

10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

(C) WAITING INVOLVES TEACHING

Isaiah 40:29 (NIV)

29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Illustration:

• In a dream, God told a man to go outside and push against a huge boulder in his front yard.

• So every morning for the next few weeks, the man went outside and strained against the rock.

• He pushed hard and groaned and prodded and shoved, but the rock never budged. IT NEVER MOVED AS HE EXPECTED.

Finally, he felt his failure and the man fell to his knees and lifted his eyes to heaven.

• "What were you thinking, Lord? He cried, weeping and wiping his sweat

• "You told me to push this rock, and I've been pushing it for weeks, yet it has not moved an inch!"

A voice from heaven then whispered in the man's ear.

• "I told you to push the stone," God said,

• "I didn't tell you to move it, nor did I tell you its going to move as you push.

I'm the only one who can move it, and when you're ready, I will.

By the way, look at your hands."

The man looked at his hands. They had grown tough with the work, and his arms bulged with muscles. Though his efforts seemed fruitless, he had grown strong; and now he was beginning to grow wise.

Psalm 25:3-5 (NIV)

3 No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause.

4 Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.

5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 62:5 (NIV)

5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.

When Jesus told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem, he was telling them that that this was a means of experiencing his peace, his prosperity, and his power.

In waiting they would catch the wind of God's Spirit. In waiting they would see God move.

(D) WAITING INVOLVES TRUSTING

Waiting on the Lord requires patient trust

Question: What do I do when I am waiting?

Answer: Take the role of a watchman

Psalm 130:5-6 (NIV)

5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

6 I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

In biblical times, watchmen vigilantly guarded the city.

• They watched for enemies who might attack at night, and they waited for the sun to come up.

• They were alert and obedient, ready to respond when needed.

• When called upon, they sprang into action.

• But on the other hand, watchmen didn't make things happen.

• They didn't control the rising of the sun.

• They couldn't speed up the process of the dawning of a new day.