November 29th, 2000, Wednesday Evening
>> REVIVAL WEEK <<



"Waiting on the LORD" The Virtue of Patience (Special REVIVAL Speaker: Pastor Jim Payne) OPENING: Psalm 25:1-5, KJV

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Greetings from the sister church in Midland, Michigan--Midland Baptist Church.

• For those who don't attend church but say they're there in "the spirit," it's hard to preach to them in The Spirit.

One of the greatest difficulties we have, as believers, is to wait upon GOD--to have patience

• We believe in GOD and His Word, etc. and yet we tend to believe if GOD knew what we did in a situation, He'd act immediately.
  
  
• King Saul got in much trouble for his disobedience of not waiting.
  
  
  • 1 Sam 28:5-7: Saul inquired of the LORD and the LORD did not answer. So rather than waiting upon the LORD, Saul needed an answer now and sought a "familiar spirit". Sounds similar to today--calling the psychic hotlines for instant answers.
    
    
  • Just as Saul couldn't wait for GOD to work events with His schedule, so we cannot wait, today, for the LORD to answer our questions and trials. We need to learn the key to His ministry is patience--to wait upon the LORD.
  
  
• Waiting...
  
  
  • To save someone
  • For an answer in your life
    
    
  • Wait on GOD with patience.
  
  
• Don't push GOD with your timetables and your demands.
  
  
  • TV evangelists say that because we have boldness, we can directly access GOD's throne and make demands of Him. Yet, while it is true we should make demands from GOD we should be careful to ask of Him what will benefit and bring glory to Him--not for temporal things that will bring solely pleasure to you.
    
    
  • How long will you have to wait? Until GOD is pleased to act.
  
  
• We get tired of GOD being "the boss."
  
  
  • When children grow into their teenage years, they become more independent and are tired of parents being the boss.
    
    
  • We want to tell GOD what to do. We tell him how we want prayers answered in our specific way. Then when GOD brings something bad to pass against us, we ask, "Why did that happen to me--NOW?"
    
    
  • If you were GOD for just one day, you'd be a mess!
    
    
  • GOD is looking for obedience and submission today--which goes against the grain of the philosophy of society which is we want the quickest doctor, the most expedient car mechanic, the fastest fast food, etc...

3 THINGS REGARDING WHAT IT MEANS TO "WAIT UPON THE LORD"

• #1/3: The servant-master illustration to "wait upon GOD"
  
  
  • Psalm 123:1-2: Take the same idea in this passage of scripture and apply it to the "servant-master" philosophy. The servant has no home, no food, no clothing, or a life of his own. He's purchased (by GOD). If the servant wants something (home/food/clothes), he reports in for duty to his master and asks for his/her master's instructions.
    
    
  • The servant (us) is purchased (redeemed) by Jesus Christ who is without blemish. Therefore GOD = master. We don't look to ourselves to get through the day--we look to the master.
    
    
  • Don't wake up and say, "This is what I have planned for today." Rather, awake and say, "LORD--what do You want from me today?"
    
    
  • You can't quality a work as "I did it for GOD" if you didn't first pray to GOD for guidance on whether to do that specific work for Him. Rely on GOD for provision and direction.
  
  
• #2/3: Be like the watchman that waits for the sunrise
  
  
  • Psalm 130:5-6: ILLUSTRATION: What a drag it becomes from being on night watch duty with your boots, helmet, and weapon on. The first few hours aren't so bad but by 3-4 AM, you're ready to give up because you're tired, bored, hating it ... you long for the morning.
    
    
  • ILLUSTRATION: The "night shift:" The longest hours of the night you're driving; You have a migraine headache, an aching back; If you have a sickness, it affects you greater during the night; You're dying for the morning sun to appear
    
    
  • We need some desire, longing, participation, and hope to wait upon the LORD--greater than the night watchman
  
  
• #3/3: Do as the animals
  
  
  • Psalm 104:10-11,14,17,21,24-25,27: All birds, fish, and the entire animal kingdom wait for their food from GOD; They all know something most of us don't--who supplies their food!
    
    
    • Science, with the help of Satan, has adopted atheistic terminology for the environment we live in:
      
      
      • "Species Development"
      • "Instinct"
      • "Mother Nature"
      • "Father Time"
      
      
    • The only reason animals/mammals can do what they do is because GOD puts it into their minds/hearts to do so ... not because they have a growing intellectual conscience or IQ.
      
      
    • This is simply the exercise of the creator over His creation!
      
      
    • Ever notice how...
      
      
      • Bears don't drink 10 cups of coffee to "get through the day"
      • Squirrels don't take blood pressure pills
      • Snakes don't need to see a shrink regularly
        
        
      • Psalm 104:27: Why? Because they rely on GOD for all their needs
  
  
• So the question is: what are we worried about? GOD in heaven has all the power and control in the universe to do everything yet we think GOD isn't aware of / can't handle the stock market plunges, Florida's Election2000 problems...

WHY WAIT ON GOD?

• #1: Because "GOD can and you can't"
  
  
  • Jeremiah 14:22: "vanities of the Gentiles" means pagans, false gods. We need to wait upon GOD because GOD can do things even science hasn't dreamed of doing.
    
    
  • You can't save your family, the ills of society, straighten out this country.
    
    
  • We ram the walls of our obstacles until we're worn out and defeated because we don't resolve it with GOD.
    
    
  • Need peace, joy, and encouragement? Then WAIT.
    
    
  • John 6:65-67: Just as many unbelievers or vain followers of Jesus left Him when they heard His words, will you leave Him also?
    
    
  • People think GOD "can't do it" if he doesn't do it right away or immediately when asked.
    
    
    • If you believe the church you went to couldn't help you or didn't work out in your favor, it's because you couldn't work for GOD's timetable. Maybe you waited several months and you quit waiting on GOD 30 minutes before GOD was going to act!
      
      
    • TESTIMONY: A grandfather was a railroad conductor. One day, while riding a train, he saw an oncoming train on the same track. The conductor took the correct course of action by setting the brake but then he jumped off the train. In the end, the conductor died from jumping and the two trains stopped before colliding!
  
  
• #2: Only GOD can renew our strength
  
  
  • Isaiah 40:28-31: Ever get tired of praying for something? To try and live right but yet constantly tempted give in to your weakest sin? Are you ready to give up? GOD doesn't get weary but He knows we do.
    
    
  • John 4:6: Our Saviour knows what its like to be weary. Jesus was in a spiritual battle that his apostles didn't know of.
  
  
• #3: Because it's GOD's job to dispense revenge
  
  
  • Proverbs 20:22: Someone will pay back men for the evil they have done. It will be dispensed righteously, properly, and in due season; and it's not our business.
    
    
  • Jeremiah 15:15: Revenge should be dispersed only by GOD, as this verse says. When you take revenge, you're not only repaying evil for evil but you're breaking into divine territory and robbing GOD of what is His--revenge.
    
    
    • Think #1: Can you distribute measured evil? #2: You don't know if GOD wants evil to come upon that person for their evil doing. If evil was always to be repaid with evil, what's the point of asking for forgiveness?
      
      
    • 2 Samuel 16:5-13: David had to deal with a man following, cursing, and throwing stones at him but he allowed it to continue because he knew GOD had directed this.
    
    
  • Romans 12:17-18: Rather, repay good for evil and "live peaceably with all men."
    
    
    • Proverbs 25:21-22: Result of repaying good for evil.
  
  
• #4: Because the LORD is good--and that is great!
  
  
  • Lamentations 3:22-25: The LORD is good to those who "wait for Him"
    
    
  • John 10:10: GOD wants you to have more of an abundance in your life than you do!
    
    
  • GOD provides, strength, protection, and riches untold--and He's pleased to provide this to us who obey.
  
  
• How long do we have to wait upon the LORD? We don't know. It depends upon His purpose.
  
  
  • Genesis 21:5: Abraham was 100 before the GOD granted him a son. (Between the time of GOD's announcement to give Abraham a son and the time his wife Sarah gave birth was 25 years).
    
    
  • Tired of living in a shack? Jesus is the foreman, constructing your mansion in heaven (if you're saved)
  • Tired of not having cover over your head? You may look forward to a Crown of Righteousness in heaven (2 Timothy 4:8)

Isaiah 8:17: The LORD may still "hide His face from you" slightly (not hear all your prayers) for your sins. But keep praying until the LORD GOD fully faces you.

• Revelation 3:20: Jesus said "knock" how many times? No definitive number was given!
  
  
• 1 John 1:9: We could be out of fellowship with GOD from 1-20 years and then come back and ask for forgiveness and He will forgive.
  
  
  • Statistics say an average Christian is motivated for church an average of THREE YEARS of his/her entire life.

WHAT IT PROVES TO WAIT UPON THE LORD

• Isaiah 64:4 and 1 Corinthians 2:9: GOD interchanges the words of these two verses. Each verse validates the other.

CLOSER

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If you wait for GOD, you love Him. You won't distrust Him, become discouraged, or walk away from Him; It's tough to find those kind of people today

Jude 1:20-21: In summary, keep yourself in the love of GOD, the mercy of Jesus Christ, and be always praying.

TESTIMONY: In Desert Storm, husbands asked their wives to wait for them as they went to fight but the wives couldn't wait and an incredible number of divorces were filed post-war.

So people break the rules with GOD then GOD doesn't "move" for them when they pray so people get mad at GOD and quit on the church and GOD.

WAIT upon the LORD.

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