Edited by Pastor Darryl K. Harden Sr. (2008)
Introduction:
The dictionary say’s “to wait is to stay in one place, to remain still until someone comes or something happens.” We hate waiting in lines, in restaurants, on the mail, ….etc. We have many problems in the spiritual realm where God operates in a different relationship to time.
I. The Principle: “Wait on the Lord and keep His way.”
A. Biblical meaning
1) To wait for God’s proper time. (Psalms 27:14)
2) To listen quietly for God’s voice.
3) To refuse to act until sure of God’s purpose.
B. Biblical portraits
1) Psalms 104:27 (AMP)
“These all wait and are dependent upon You, that You may give them their food in due season.”
a. Has to do with animals and creation.
b. Stress submission.
2) Psalms 123:2 (AMP)
“Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, and as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He has mercy and loving-kindness for us.”
a. Has to do with servants and masters
b. Stress submission
C. Biblical illustrations
1) Abraham waiting for Isaac.
2) Jacob waiting for Rachel.
3) Joseph waiting for vindication.
4) Moses waiting for leadership
5) Job waiting for restoration
6) David waiting for the kingdom
7) Anna/ Simeon waiting for fulfillment
8) Paul waiting for ministry
II. The Problem
A. Human tendencies
1) Most dislike waiting.
2) Our day is particularly oriented toward immediacy.
3) Tend to take into our hands
B. Human tendency exposed
1) Middle East problem very pressing right now.
2) Comes as result of Abraham’s failure to wait on God.
3) No way to see danger any more clearly
C. Dual difficulty involved
1) It is hard to wait on God
2) It is even more difficult to know when we should wait on God and when we should act.
III. The Precepts
A. Practical pointers
1) It’s always right to do right (it is never right to do what it is not right to do).
2) You don’t have to make a decision until you have to make a decision.
3) When you don’t know what to do, don’t do anything until you do know what to do (when you don’t know what to do, do what you already know to do until you do know what else to do).
B. Biblical confirmation
1) Hebrews 10:36 (CEV)
“Learn to be patient, so that you will please God and be given what he has promised”.
2)Galatians 6:9 (CEV)“Don't get tired of helping others. You will be rewarded when the time is right, if you don't give up.” Thessalonians 3:13 (AMP) “And as for you, brethren, do not become weary or lose heart in doing right [but continue in well-doing without weakening].”
C. Necessary qualities
1) Humility
2) Patience
3) Submission
4) Belief, trust, faith
Conclusion
Waiting is one of the two hardest things we have to do (nothing is the other). God has His timetable; we do well to conform to it. “He that truly trusts in God will never step out of the way that is right, no matter how long he may be called upon to wait.”
