What Happens When you Wait
And They Remembered His Words • Sermon • Submitted
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· 142 viewsA message that explores the benefits that come from waiting on God.
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Transcript
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.
Pre-Sermon Ice Breaker
Pre-Sermon Ice Breaker
A sweet grandmother telephoned the Hospital. She dimidly asked, “Is it possible to speak to someone who can tell me how a patient is doing? The operator said, “I’ll be glad to help, What’s the name and room number of the patient?” The grandmother in her weak, trembling voice said, Norma Findlay, Room 302.” The operator replied, “Let me put you on hold while I check with the nurses station for that room.”
After a few minutes, the operator returned to the phone and said, “I have good news. Her nurse told me that Norma is doing well. Her blood pressure is fine, her blood work came back normal and her doctor has scheduled her to be discharged tomorrow.” The grandmother said, “Thank you. That’s wonderful. I was so worried. God bless you for the good news.” The operator replied, “ You’re more than welcome. Is Norma your daughter?” The grandmother said, “No, I’m Norma Findlay in Room 302. No one tells me anything around here.”
Introduction
Introduction
Back in the Summer of 1981 many folks tuned into MTV or their radio to listen to Tom Petty and the Heart-breakers sing, “The Waiting.” The chorus said:
The waiting is the hardest part
Everyday you see one more card
You take it on faith, you take it to the heart
The waiting is the hardest part.
Maybe that is the way you feel sometimes. In line at the grocery store, at the bank, in the doctor’s office. Waiting seems so hard. Time drags, it is boring, you just want to give up.
It seems even harder when the thing we are waiting for is really important. When you are waiting for an answer on a loan, for answer to a marriage proposal, for the results of medical test.
One of the hardest things is to wait on God. 2 Peter 3 captures this reality in verses 3-4
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
Peter answers in verse 9
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Waiting on God is really hard when it seems like what you are waiting for is critical to our situation right now.
We continue our series of September messages on Old Testament Truth. Last week our message was from Deuteronomy 31:6
6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
This week we will discuss What Happens When We Wait.
Isaiah has been warning his readers about the coming judgement of God. Then in Chapter 40 he offers some words of comfort. Isaiah speaks to those who are waiting and gives them Four promises. He tells us…What Happens When You Wait…lets look at it together.
When you Wait ...
When you Wait ...
... God Moves You In
... God Moves You In
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.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Champions once sat where you’re sitting, kid.
The Hall of Fame is filled with names of people who sat, week after week, without getting a spot of mud on their well-laundered uniforms.
Generals, senators, surgeons, prize-winning novelists, professors, business executives started on the end of the bench, too.
Don’t sit and study your shoe tops.
Keep your eye on the game.
Watch for defensive lapses.
Look for offensive opportunities.
If you don’t think you’re in a great spot,
wait until you see how many would like to take it away from you at next spring’s practice.
What you do from the bench this season could put you on the field next season as a player, or back in the grandstand as a spectator.
…God Moves You Up
…God Moves You Up
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.
11 As an eagle stirreth up her nest, Fluttereth over her young, Spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, Beareth them on her wings:
How do Eagles learn to fly? The Story is told...The mother eagle takes her young from the nest at the top of a tall tree on the edge of cliff high in the mountains and pushes them out of the nest, they toss and tumble through the air, then she will swoop down catch them and bear them upon her wings again and again til they learn to fly.
4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.
…God Moves You Out
…God Moves You Out
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.
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Notice those who have gone before us. Hebrews 11.
Lay aside every weight and sin.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
…God Moves You On
…God Moves You On
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.
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The waiting is the hardest part
Everyday you see one more card
You take it on faith, you take it to the heart
The waiting is the hardest part.
But the waiting can be the best part. Because when we wait upon the Lord He will Move in, He will move us up, He will move us Out and He will move us on.
Are you ready for God to move in your life? It begins with the first step. It begins with a relationship with Him. If you don’t know Christ as your savior and heaven as your home, then today you should chose Christ.
If you know Christ as savior, then you must begin to apply the truths of His Word to your life. Have you follow Christ in Baptism, in prayer, in worship, in the word, in service. Then I challenge you today wait on Jesus. Serve Him.