WAIT FOR GOD
The churches of Christ
Greet
You (Romans
Introduction:
1. In our lesson today,
a. we wish to show from
Scripture the necessity of
b. waiting for God to
work
out His own purposes,
c. and to suggest specific
areas
of practical application.
2. The prophet Isaiah said (READ Isa. 40:31)
3. But most of us are not very good at waiting (AMEN?).
a. We tap our fingers
impatiently
on the steering wheel
b. waiting for the
long traffic light to change.
4. We can scarcely restrain the impulse to blow at the guy ahead of us
a. the instant the
light
turns green.
b. We fidget in our
seats
and thumb briskly through old magazines
c. in the doctor's
waiting room.
5. We bristle with irritation in the grocery check out line
a. when the lady ahead
of us
b. has one too many
items
to be in that lane.
6. Promises of quick service with no waiting lure us to certain
businesses.
a. We want photos
taken
today
b. processed and in
our
hands tomorrow.
1.
We
are geared to the instant, the quick, and the fast things of life -
2.
a lifestyle with a minimum of waiting.
7. When things get tough for us -
a. I mean really tough
- we want instant relief.
b. But in truth such
relief, when and if it comes,
c. may take its own
sweet
time arriving on the scene.
8. We want help NOW,
a. but circumstances and
God's
will may combine to send it later -
b. much later at times than
we thought possible.
9. Days drag on into months, then years.
a. Why have things not
improved?
b. Why are they worse?
1.
Where
is God with all of His power and goodness
2. during what seems at the time like an endless wait?
3.
Why should we keep on hoping and waiting?
10. Well, the Psalmist answers in Ps. 62:1-2, 5-6 (READ).
11. Thus, in the days of pain and fruitlessness and weariness,
a. the Christian must
cast himself totally upon the mercy of his God,
b. for the Bible
says, "Blessed are all those who wait for Him" (Isa. 30:18).
12. The believer must affirm even in the midst of the long dark night
a. that God is still
in charge;
b. that the Almighty
still cares;
1. that He will act;
2. that waiting is worth it when you are dealing with God.
13. Then we can say like David (READ Ps. 25:3-5).
I. Jeremiah's Prayer
1. If ever there was a time when you would think people
a. had reached the
bottom
of despair,
b. where they had to
have
help instantly or die,
c. it was following
the complete overthrow of Jerusalem in the days of Jeremiah.
2. The prophet had predicted utter catastrophe for the city,
a. and then he saw it
happen.
b. He cried out in
anguish
in five funeral dirges,
c. preserved for us in
the book of Lamentations.
3. The heart of the prophet "drawn and quartered" over God's
visitation
of wrath
a. is set forth from
beginning to end in the book.
b. Yet buried in the
center
of Lamentations are three verses that hold a key
1.
to endurance,
2.
to perseverance,
3.
to waiting and not giving up (READ Lam.
4. What faith in the midst of so much disappointment and
destruction!
a. Standing amidst the
stench of death and decay,
b. the mourning
prophet unwaveringly affirmed that
1. God is still in charge;
2. God is still good;
3. God is still faithful to bless His own;
4. and God brings full deliverance in His own good time.
5. It is good to wait on the Lord because He is good to those who
thus wait.
a. Again, the Psalmist
said, "Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall
strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord" (Ps. 27:14).
II. Example Of Impatience
1. But we, like various Bible characters, are often tempted to run
ahead
of God.
a. Impatient with His ways
of
doing things,
b. we are prone to take
matters
into our own hands.
2. Sarai bears witness of this fact as she ran ahead of God
a. in trying to give
Abram
a son through her handmaid Hagar (Gen.16).
b. The son was born,
but
he was not the promised son,
c. and much trouble
and anguish came to Sarai's life as a result of her impatience.
3. Part of true faith is the willingness to leave affairs in
God's
hands,
a. and to trust Him
enough
to wait for His righteous actions on our behalf.
b. Isaiah said (READ
Isa. 64:4).
III. The Just Shall Live By Faith
1. Please turn with me to the book of Habakkuk
a. and let's look
closely
at a short text.
b. The prophet
Habakkuk
lived just before
1.
the Babylonian (or Chaldean) invasion of
2.
and it was his unhappy responsibility to declare the impending
disaster.
2. His book is a running conversation between himself and
Jehovah.
a. In his first
dialogue
the prophet says in Habakkuk 1:2-4 (READ).
b. He is basically
asking
God,
"Why do you allow violence and injustice to prevail in our land?"
3. In verses 5-11, God answers by saying in effect,
"It is not overlooked; I will do a terror-inspiring thing very
soon.
I will send the cruel Chaldeans (or Babylonians) to punish
4. In his second dialogue, which goes from Habakkuk chapter
a. the prophet
says, "You are always righteous, God; how can you watch even your own
wicked people punished by a nation so much more wicked? Now I
will
wait
quietly to see your answer and my own rebuke for such a question?"
b. God then says to
Habakkuk in Hab. 2:2-4 (READ)
1.
In these words God tells Habakkuk to "write the vision plainly."
2.
He says, "I will surely do what I have planned,
and though its fulfillment is delayed, it will certainly come.
Therefore, wait for it."
c. He says, "the
wicked
who are puffed up with self-confidence are displeasing in His sight,
but the righteous (or just) person will find life in his faith."
5. In the remainder of the second chapter God warns
a. indicting her for
extreme wickedness
b. and assuring her that
pagan
idols will be quite powerless
c. when He is ready to
begin His holy punishment·
6. In chapter three, Habakkuk responds with a beautiful prayer,
a. in which he
recounts
God's mighty acts in the past
b. and anticipates the
coming judgment on the prophet's own nation.
7. He closes with the statement found in
a. that no matter what
might come,
b. he will still hope
in Jehovah,
c. believing that God
will make him victorious by faith.
1. Thus, the prophet himself expresses
2.
the saving faith of which God spoke in Hab. 2:4.
8. The statement found in Hab. 2:4, "The just shall live by
his
faith,"
a. is quoted three
times
by New Testament writers
(Rom.
b. It expresses a
truth urgently needed today by the world and church alike.
9. The prophet's need to simply wait for God was not difficult to
fulfill
a. and was one of the
grandest examples of the faith that saves.
b. When a Christian is
powerless
in anticipation of God's power,
1. then they best know the meaning of the trust
2. which looks solely to God Almighty for help.
3.
As the prophet Micah said, "I will look to the Lord; I will wait for
the
God of
my salvation; My God will hear me" (Mic. 7:7).
10. Loved ones, we must have a willingness to "wait for God,"
a. for the Bible
says, "He who waits on his master will be honored" (Prov. 27:18).
b. And
again, "For they shall not be ashamed who wait for me" (Isa.
49:23)
11. There are many occasions for Christians
a. to show this kind
of patience and trust today.
b. But just HOW we are
to wait on God is dependent upon our faith.
12. And to help us with this HOW,
a. I would like for us
together
to look at several examples from the New Testament
b. of those who waited or
should have waited for God.
IV. Examples Of Those Who Waited or Should Have Waited on
God
1. The apostle Paul is our first example (Read 1 Cor. 4:1-5
(READ).
a. Paul's enemies were
judging or commending themselves
b. and the Corinthians
had begun to follow their example by glorying in men.
2. Paul, however, would not even judge or commend himself,
a. though his
conscience
was clear.
b. God would do that
when
the proper time came for righteous judgment.
3. Today, we must resist the temptation
a. to proclaim
ourselves
as "God's chosen" in a sectarian sense.
b. The self-applied
labels such as "sound," "loyal," and "faithful"
c. also carry the same
danger.
4. We must wait for God to pronounce us faithful,
a. as the Lord did for
the 2 and 5 talented men in Matthew 25:21-23.
b. When Jesus returns,
He might not measure by our selection of "issues,"
c. and He might not
apply
the same labels we do.
5. Remaining here in First Corinthians 4, we see our second
example
in verses 8-11 (READ).
a. The Corinthians
were forgetting to wait for glory and immortality.
b. Therefore, Paul
gives
them a mild rebuke.
6. Brethren, Heaven's glory has not yet begun;
a. we are still very
mortal.
b. While we are in
this
life we continue to suffer, be sick,
c. endure hardships,
and finally die.
7. When sickness and suffering come to us or those we love,
a. we must wait upon
the
Lord to deliver us.
b. He will surely send
release in the form of healing or passage to the next life,
c. but we must wait
until
He has finished His purpose.
8. God does give prosperity, health and happiness
a. when it serves His
divine purposes and will to do so,
b. however, serving
God
does not automatically guarantee success in business,
c. bliss in marriage,
or divine healing when we are sick or injured.
9. We therefore must not despair or take matters into our own
hands.
a. Yes, get the best
treatments
under the care of the best doctors,
b. pray with all your
heart...But then wait!
10. We can do that because we know our God is good to those who wait;
a. to those who call
upon
Him.
b. The Psalmist said
(READ
Ps. 40:1-2).
c. We must remember
this
and thus wait for God.
11. A third example is the Galatians in Gal. 6:7-10 (READ).
a. They, like us,
could
become "weary in well doing."
b. They, like us,
needed
the encouragement that we will "reap what we sow."
12. We plant God's spiritual seed and water it.
a. We water it some
more.
b. We plant seed in
other soils and water it too.
1. We know that only God can give the increase (1 Cor. 3:6-7).
2. But how long must we wait?
a. When will God show us some fruit
b. for all of our teaching and praying and counseling?
c. When will we see souls reborn and souls reclaimed?
13. We are told emphatically that our "labor is not in vain
in the Lord" (1 Cor.
a. God will give
eternal
life to those who by continuing patiently in well doing
b. show that they seek
glory, honor, and immortality (
1.
He will send the increase in due time.
2.
So we must work and wait.
1. As our fourth example,
a. let's look at the
Thessalonians
b. as they were
encouraged
to wait for Jesus' return (READ 1 Thess. 1:9-10).
2. By far the greatest longing,
a. the most patient
wait
in the life of the true disciple
b. is that which
focuses
on the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. These Thessalonian Christians had seen some of their loved
ones
die in Christ,
a. apparently to miss
out
on His return.
b. But Paul shows them
that when Christ comes,
1. their loved ones will be raised first;
2.
and only then will those living rise to meet the Lord
3.
in company with the resurrected saints (1 Thess.
4. What a joyous thought that
a. the graves of our
loved ones will burst open one day,
b. the cemeteries will
come alive with activity,
c. and every child of
God
will be given a glorified, immortal body and live forever!
5. On that day when Christ comes we shall all rejoice,
a. knowing that we
shall
be like Him (1 John 3:2);
b. our temporal
corruptible body will be transformed into an incorruptible one
c. suited for glory (1
Cor.
6. Paul says we "groan within ourselves," as we wait for the
coming
of Jesus,
a. the consummation of
all things,
b. and the full
redemption
of our bodies (Rom.
7. Friends, let us wait patiently for that day!
8. Our fifth example can seen in the Hebrew saints (READ Heb.
a. These Christians
had suffered much affliction upon turning to Christ (vs. 32-33).
b. They anticipated
glory,
but instead, they were distressed with many difficulties.
1. They needed the very word of Habakkuk's experience:
2. "Wait for God," for "the just shall live by faith" (vs. 38).
V. A Little Application
1. The same situation and need can exist today in our lives
a. if we have truly
turned
to God
b. in renunciation of
the world-system and its lusts.
2. If the church as we know it is to survive;
a. if we, as
individual members are to survive;
b. if the family is to
survive,
c. some things must
happen.
3. We, as individual children of God, as families, as groups,
a. as congregations of
the Body of Christ,
b. must wake up and
alert ourselves to the dangers surrounding us.
4. We live in an evil, corrupt, degenerate society.
a. But does that mean
we
are to heave a deep sigh and say:
b. "Oh, dear - what
can
I do?"
5. God does have the ultimate solution,
a. but as we wait for
Him
to destroy the earth with fire (2 Pet
b. we are faced with
the problem of living in, but not of, this world (John
6. The Bible therefore says: READ 2 Cor 6:14-18.
a. We are here
admonished
to separate ourselves from that which is unclean
b. if we desire to
walk
with God.
7. Our Father is a jealous God
a. Who will not
inhabit
the same area as the Evil one.
b. Rather, He says we
must cleanse our hands and hearts (Jam 4:8),
c. and seek to live
untainted lives.
8. As we wait on Him, we are not to seek to please ourselves,
a. but rather to be
pleased with ourselves only when pleasing God (1 Thess 4:1).
b. This will prohibit
us
from seeking to fulfill the lusts of the flesh;
1. from living undisciplined lives;
2. from relaxing our guard against the doctrines of men.
9. As we wait, we must educated ourselves
a. concerning those
things being taught
b. and be always on
the
alert.
c. We then will know
whom
we serve; God or man (Acts
10. The only way we can fight against conformity to the world is to
"put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able
to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Eph
a. God says, "Commit
thy ways unto the Lord" (Ps 37:5).
b. And again, "Commit
thy works unto the Lord, and thy
thoughts shall be established" (Prov 16:3).
11. We must search the Scriptures (Acts
a. using every avenue
open
to us to fight against those
b. who would entice us
to error.
12. We must pray and study (Acts 6:4),
a. neglecting not any
opportunity
for edification.
b. And always be aware
of the temptations surrounding us.
13. As we wait on God it is easy to be passive;
a. to be deliberately
unaware;
b. to blame others;
c. to profess faith,
but refuse to work.
14. But God did not place us here just because we were so good, sweet,
and loveable.
a. He put us here to
"work
out our own salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil
b. He put us here NOT
to
judge others by ourselves,
c. but to judge
ourselves
by the standards given by His inspired Word.
15. He gave us the opportunity to be examples of light in a crooked and
perverse
nation (Phil.
a. And he gave us the
right
to choose if we would serve Him.
b. In all of this,
let's
note and remember these words of the Psalmist (READ Ps 37:7-11)
1. Our last example of waiting on God can be seen
a. as the Lord opens
the
fifth seal in Rev 6:9-11 (READ)·
b. This picture shows
martyr-souls,
1. crying out for divine retribution against the godless
earth-rulers
2.
who had murdered God's helpless and righteous people.
2. The divine answer is, "Wait for God."
a. "He will vindicate
in due time."
b. "Others must also
suffer
first."
3. When we suffer for righteousness' sake,
a. we must not
retaliate
or try to vindicate ourselves.
b. Let us rather wait
for
God, who is too just to behold evil.
c. One day He will
make
it all right.
Conclusion:
1. Loved Ones, we'll conclude this lesson by reminding you that
a. in times of utter
human helplessness,
b. the righteous learn
best to live by faith.
2. Under all circumstances, let us serve God with sincerity,
zeal,
and perseverance.
3. We may rest assured that
a. regardless of the
human scene of affairs,
b. God is on His
throne
1.
and He will carry out His righteous and loving purposes
2.
for those who wait for Him.
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Lessons for Spiritual Growth