WAITING ON GOD FOR HIS PROMISES!
(Acts 1:1 KJV) The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
(Acts 1:2 KJV) Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
(Acts 1:3 KJV) To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
(Acts 1:4 KJV) And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
(Acts 1:5 KJV) For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
(Acts 1:6 KJV) When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
(Acts 1:7 KJV) And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
(Acts 1:8 KJV) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
(Acts 1:9 KJV) And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
WAITING ON GOD FOR HIS PROMISES!
The of the most difficult things a person has to do is wait. I do not like to wait at long stop lights, nor stand in lines. I think I learned to dislike lines when I was in the US Army. Hurry up and wait. We much learn to wait on God. He is alway on time and His delay is not His denial. This message deals with waiting and then sometimes the answer comes suddenly.
I. THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS GIVEN
However, they had to wait 10 days. This waiting had to be done.
A. God was teaching them to wait.
1.Acts 1:1-9 they waited. They started the vigil with about 500 and lost 380 during the first 9 days of waiting. Only about 120 were there when the Holy Spirit was given.
Heb 10:36 KJV For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
B. We have to wait for that which God has promised us. Many times we just miss the blessing or answer because we are not patience.
Heb 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
1. My mother prayed for 20 years. It brought the whole family to Christ on both sides.
C. Waiting on that fulfillment of your ministry that God has promised, it was 16 years after God called me to the ministry when I was in the Army as a nineteen year old. It was 16 years later when I saw vision fulfilled with thousands coming to Christ in Brazil. .
II. God is never late. He has an appointed time for everything.
A. My great great great grandfather Abraham waited for the promise.
Rom 4:17 - As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
B. God changed his name from Abram to Abraham.
Grandfather changed our name when he came to America from Abraham to Abram. My brother likes to say that it started with an Abram and now it will end with an Abram when Jesus returns.
C. The coming of John the Baptist and Jesus.
Mal 3:1 KJV Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
III. The children of Israel were in bondage for 430 years and then suddenly the promises were fulfilled.
A. The death angel came and SUDDENLY they left Egypt.
B. The Red Sea rolled back and destroyed their enemies. .
IV. Most of the events God answers in His time and are usually done SUDDENLY!
A We can run from God and hide our sin sometimes for a long time and then SUDDENLY!
Eccl 9:12 KJV For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth SUDDENLY upon them.
B. Trouble and mischief can come SUDDENLY from where we do not expect it if we continue to run from God!
Isaiah 47:11 KJV Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee SUDDENLY, which thou shalt not know.
C. Jesus is always on time and is there suddenly in the midst of trouble and trials.
Mark 9:8 KJV And SUDDENLY, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.
E. We must be alert and watch and wait for His coming will come suddenly as the scriptures are fulfilled.
Mark 13:36 KJV Lest coming SUDDENLY he find you sleeping.
F. He there now, wanting to open the prison for you. He is knocking on your heart’s door, will you open your heart now and receive Him as your personal Saviour! He will do it now for you.
Acts 16:26 KJV And SUDDENLY, there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION AND TODAY HE WANTS TO BE LORD AND MASTER OF OUR LIVES. HOWEVER, WE MUST BE WILLING TO RECEIVE HIM AS OUR OUN PERSONAL SAVIOUR.
For more info: Tony Abram, missionary evangelist www.abundantlifecrusades.com.
