HURRY UP AND WAIT…
DOES WAITING PUT YOUR FIRE OUT?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (two part)
TEXT: Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Psalm 27:14 (MSG) Stay with GOD! Take heart. Don't quit. I'll say it again: Stay with GOD.
WAIT WITH PATIENCE? WHO ARE YOU KIDDING?
***Patient: BEARING PAINS AND TRIALS CALMLY WITHOUT COMPLAINT, steadfast despite opposition, difficulty or adversity, able and willing… able to remain calm and not become annoyed when waiting for a long time or dealing with problems or difficult people, Patience, forbearance, long suffering,
Psalm 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Psalm 37:7 (MSG) Quiet down before GOD, be prayerful before him. Don't bother with those who climb the ladder, who elbow their way to the top.
Do you remember waiting for Christmas day? Linda would put: 25, 24, 23, 22, 21, 20 down to 1 on a poster board. Each morning the boys would take the marker and X off the number. Today seems like there is no waiting. I get up December one and the next thing I know it is Christmas day. Here I come ready or not. Have you ever tried to MAKE SENSE OUT OF WAITING?
I often like to start with a question. You know Aristotle taught his students by asking questions. Well my question today is this: ARE YOU WAITING FOR SOMETHING?
Psalm 40:1 (KJV) I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
Psalm 40:1 (MSG) A David psalm I waited and waited and waited for GOD. At last he looked; finally he listened.
***LET US DEFINE WAIT: TO STAY IN A PLACE UNTIL WHAT IS EXPECTED HAPPENS, WAIT: to expect or hope for soon, to defer action for a reason.
Often waiting is followed by the preposition FOR… I defer until… deferred action for a reason.
Waiting in the Bible is a verb and a noun. In the Bible TO WAIT promotes the idea of CONFIDENCE AND TRUST WITH FAITH IN THE LORD.
BLESSED ARE THEY THAT LEARN TO WAIT! WHAT ABOUT THOSE THAT WILL NEVER LEARN?
Soldiers in basic training have some much to learn. They learn to march, to run, to operate their weapons, to shoot, but there is a GREAT LESSON TO LEARN TO WAIT EXPECTANTLY. The good soldier learns to wait. WE CAN’T RUSH FORWARD IN PRESUMPTION, WE HAVE TO LEARN TO WAIT FOR THE ORDERS. You have to trust the timing to the commander even if he says TARRY HERE.
Psalm 112:7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
Psalm 112:7 (NIV) He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
Isaiah 30:18 And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
Isaiah 30:18 (MSG) But GOD's not finished. He's waiting around to be gracious to you. He's gathering strength to show mercy to you. GOD takes the time to do everything right—everything. Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.
WAITING ROOM
You want to talk stupid? Play the WAIGTING GAME, you delay your action to see what another person’s action will be…
TO AWAIT: to expect
DAVID’S LIFE WAS FULL OF WAITING… DAVID WAS THE EIGHT SON, HE LEARNED WAITING AT AN EARLY AGE… DAVID’S BROTHERS WERE GOOD LOOKING AND HIGHLY FAVORED, POOR OLD DAVID HAD LITTLE SENIORITY.
David ‘s dad, Jessie assigned David to low work. David learned TO WAIT in the fields. The Bear, the lion taught David. The sling practice, but David learned TO WAIT ON THE LORD… At 15 to 17 the preacher visited the house. David wasn’t even invited…
1 Samuel 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
Let’s say SAMUEL ANOINTED DAVID AT 16. There was little visible changes. What about at 17? No, WAIT. 18, No wait, 19, 20, 21, 22, ---- DAVID COULD HAVE FOUGHT SAUL, BUT: NO! WAIT! FINALLY AT 28 DAVID BECOME THE SECOND KING OF ISREAL. IT WAS A LONG 12 YEARS TO SEE HIS DREAM, THERE WAS A WHOLE LOT OF WAITING!
NEVER LOSE HEART WHILE YOU ARE WAIITING ON GOD’S PLAN…
Lamentations 3:21This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
THERE IS A DANGER OF LOSING HEART WHILE WE WAIT… WE CAN FEEL WE HAVE LOST ALL COURAGE AND BECOME BASKET CASES. Our faith can be shaken to the point of quitting. Then we become DEMORALIZED AND PESSIMISTIC WHILE WE WAIT… Waiting can become very dangerous to the spirit. We will feel like a failure and our emotions will play games with our mind. WE MUST NEVER ALLOW WAITING AND LOOSING HEART TO ATTACK OUR FAITH AND KILL OUR HOPE.
Can we stay excited, full of enthusiasm and stimulated while we wait? HOW AND WHERE YOU SPEND YOUR TIME WILL REVEAL SO MUCH ABOUT YOU. I HAVE HEARD WHERE YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY WILL SHOW WHAT YOU LOVE. BUT LET WE TELL YOU THE DEEP TRUTH IS WHERE YOU SPEND YOUR TIME WILL DEFINE YOUR PRIORITIES! WAITING BEFORE GOD PAYS GREAT DIVIDENDS.
Time is a great tool when used wisely. Learn to wait. We have a week is 7 days, a day is 24 hours, an hour is 60 minutes, a minute is 60 seconds. A day is 1440 minutes. TIME CAN BE A GREAT TOOL or time can a great enemy. While time is a tool it is also a gift. Rich or poor? Tall or short? Smart or stupid? TIME IS THE SAME FOR EVERY LIVING PERSON. Every living person has to learn to wait.
WAIT SMARTLY! Seems we can do two basic things with our time. WE WILL SEE HOW PRECIOUS TIME IS AND WE WILL TREASURE OUR TIME or we will refuse HOW IMPORTANT TIME IS AND WE WILL PROCRASTINATE AND WASTE OUR TIME. I ONCE READ THE PERSON THAT KILLS TIME IS KILLING THEMSELVES.
AGE SEEMS TO REDEFINE OUR OUTLOOK ON TIME BUT WE MUST LEARN THE WISDOM OF WAITING PATIENTLY. When we were young time seemed so slow. Did you know it took 100 years to be 16 and learn to drive? Now we realize the older we grow how swift time flies by? But have we learned the beauty in waiting?
WHILE WAITING WE FACE ONE OF THE GREATEST SINS, WE FACE IS PROCRASTINATION. WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR? A MORE CONVENIENT SEASON?
Acts 24:24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
We prolong fixing something? Poor waiting skills? We can see there is a real problem here, but I guess I will put that off until tomorrow?
I read where a lady thought: My car might need a quart of oil? I better check my oil? Well, you know it is cold out there. A few days later she thought again, I might need to add a quart of oil? She forgot it. A few days later she remembered again. The red check engine light came on while she was traveling home. I better check that oil? She got up late and was running behind, she will do it later? Several days later her engine started making a strange sound, she never had any money on her? She promised herself to QUIT WAITING. The engine started smoking and heating up. There was a loud noise, the engine died. She could not imagine what was wrong? The wrecker was called and she explained the sound. The driver said YOU HAVE BLOWN YOUR ENGINE, he raised the hood and the dip stick testified against the lady. Not one drop of oil. Now the $3.00 quart of oil will cost $3,500.00.
ARE WE WAITING? WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR…? LOOKING FOR A BETTER TIME? CAN YOU REASON IN YOUR BRAIN: WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO DO WHAT YOU HAVE GOT SO GOOD AT PUTTING OFF TO ANOTHER DAY? Will we arise and take action today or shall we WAIT for a better time… Will we ever understand DIVINE TIMING and WAITING?
CONCLUSION: COME WITH ME TO THE GROCERY STORE, LET US BUY THE BEST CAKE MIX AND ICING. Let us follow the directions. Pour the contents in to a bowl, add milk, add two eggs and add some butter. NOW EAT IT…
No, silly goose, don’t eat it now… WAIT! Mix it. Wait. Now eat it? No silly goose, put it in the oven, FOR TEN MINUTES, NOW EAT IT… NO! WAIT for one hour. Eat it? NO! WAIT! Let it cool and add icing… NOW, NOW… THE WAIT WAS WORTH IT.
Titus 2:13 (NIV) while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Two part)
YOU MIGHT BE FACING A DIVINE PAUSE, LEARN TO WAIT ON THE LORD…
Isaiah 40:27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? 28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 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.P
