Waiting On The Promises Of God (2)

Joke: A minister dies and is waiting in line at the Pearly Gates. Ahead of him is a guy dressed in sunglasses, a loud shirt, leather jacket, and jeans.

Saint Peter says to this guy, “Who are you, so that I may know whether to admit you to the Kingdom of Heaven?”

The guy replies, “I’m Joe Cohen, taxi driver, of Noo Yawk City.”

Saint Peter consults his list. He smiles and says to the taxi driver, “Take this silken robe and golden staff and enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

The taxi driver goes into Heaven with his robe and staff, and it’s the minister’s turn.

He stands erect and booms out, “I am Joseph Snow, pastor of Saint Mary’s for the last 43 years.”

Saint Peter consults his list. He says to the minister, “Take this cotton robe and wooden staff and enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

“Just a minute!” says the minister. “That man was a taxi driver, and he gets a silken robe and golden staff. How can this be?”

“Up here, we work by results,” says Saint Peter. “While you preached, people slept. While he drove, people prayed.”

Key Verse: 24 We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope* for it. 25 But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.) NLT

Pray for Bible study -

Commentary: Waiting on God can seem like an eternity, we’ve all been there at some point asking what does it means to wait on God with Him giving no clear understanding as to why we must go through this and we question day after day “Lord what do you want me to learn from this?” Only to receive no response, I’ve made attempts to try and figure out what it is that he wants me to learn, besides patience and long-suffering and have tried every sense of human reasoning possible. So, why does God make us wait on the promises he gives us? I want to look at a story in the bible today of a women who had to wait on God.

Read NLT

3 - 7 Hannah had enemies who were around her taunting and telling her that she was not going to get what God promised her. But Hannah prayed faithfully believing God would hear her and pressed on.

God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?

The enemy has to attempt to discourage you in order for you to grow and mature into what God has planned for you and through you.

8 - 16 People close to you will never understand your position, they will always want you to settle for less then what God has promised you. Hannah knew it wasn’t her families plan so she quit trying to get them to participate in it and understand it.

Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. 21 From then on Jesus* began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead. 22 But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him* for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

Waiting is a lonely process, but it is one that is mandatory to draw you closer to God so that you learn to focus not on self but on God’s agenda.

17 - 18 When the man of God speaks learn to listen, Hannah knew that God had heard her prayer and there for rested in the fact that it was going to come to pass!

6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Your measure of faith is determined by the level of contentment you find in God. The more you rest in Him, the greater the return in due season. Learn to Wait!

19 - 20 Remember to Give God the glory and honor when He blesses you with all that He promised you. Hannah went into the Temple with Worship and praise on her lips and she delighted in the Lord by being faithfully committed to Him and His Temple. She was quick to give what belonged to God, the first fruits of honor which is due to God while she waited with expectations.

Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. 10 Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.

The higher the risk the greater the gain, the more you persist, the more to claim. (Boxer May-weather the highest paid athlete for 2014 with 105M, no endorsements. Why is he the highest paid? Because he has the most to loss)

26 - 28 God was faithful to fulfill his promise and Hannah was faithful to fulfill hers. Remember what you promised the Lord when He honors his promise to you.

Then Moses summoned the leaders of the tribes of Israel and told them, “This is what the Lord has commanded: 2 A man who makes a vow to the Lord or makes a pledge under oath must never break it. He must do exactly what he said he would do.

Set expectations for yourself that are unmeasurable according to human standards, but not ones that will cause you to sin against God.

Closing Story:

This is the story of a wise king who was growing old, and he had no son to succeed him.

He announced to his people that he would choose and heir to the throne from among the young men of the country by a competitive test, which would give all an equal chance. On the day appointed, a great number of young men presented themselves. A certain test was made, and some failed while others passed. Then other tests came, and each time some were rejected till at last only three were left.

The king announced through his heralds that on the next day the matter would be decided by a foot race. The course was marked off, the judges were at their places, and all was ready. Just at this time a servant to the king came up to each of the contestants and said secretly to them, "The king is taking special note of you. Do not run when the flag is dropped wait for the king to give the special signal." The three took their places eager for the race. The flag was dropped! One leaped forward quickly, then hesitated and stopped; then another sprang forward after him, upon which the first started forward again and they ran for the goal with all speed. The third stood looking anxiously at the king and at the two runners; murmuring to himself, "I can make it still, I can make it still." The king gazed at the runners and gave no signal to the one standing still. The waiting man thought to himself all is lost, it would be impossible for me to win the race. He felt sad and disappointed, what had he done wrong how did he miss understand the servant?

The two runners ran on at top speed, reaching the goal together. They were brought back, and all three stood before the king. To the first he said, "Were you not told not to run until I gave you the signal? Yes my Lord. Why then did you run?"

"I forgot," said the man.

The second man he asked the same question. His reply was, "I thought it would be but a moment till you would give the signal, and seeing the other running I ran also."

To the third he said, "And why didn't you run?" "Because you did not give us the signal, sir," he answered. "My son," said the king, "I knew that you could run, but I did not know that you could wait.” So the young man found that the test was not a test of doing, but of waiting he became King in due season.

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