Hurry Up and Wait
Pastor Geoff Hamrick
Psalms 27
Have you ever heard the expression, “Hurry up and wait?” This thought goes against everything we know as a way of life today. Because of technological advancements, we have become a society of impatient people. We want it…and we want it now.
If you think this description does not fit you, try and sit down to an evening of TV without the remote control. God forbid that we would actually have to get up to change the channel. Try and make popcorn without the aid of a microwave. (Can you remember a time when popcorn was fixed in a frying pan?) Try corresponding with someone by mailing a letter and waiting on a response. (telephone, email, etc...)
I receive email all of the times for schemes telling me my financial worries are over, just follow this program and the money will be walking in the door by the weekend. In other words get rich quick.
You can lose weight quick; find love quick; get your oil changed quickly; on and on.
I learned when I had my back surgery that you can even get fixed up quick. I never dreamed that in the same day, you can enter the hospital, have major work done on your skeletal system and walk out. I still question the wisdom in that, but I am alive and well today with no ill effects from it.
My brother Allen had surgery on his hand last week and he was sent home the same day also. It was so bad, because of the anesthesia I suppose, that we had to tell him to put one foot in front of the other in order to get him walking toward the house. I was even singing the song from an old Christmas cartoon, “Put one foot in front of the other…”
I think you are beginning to see my point though, we are living in a fast paced society and waiting is not something we like to do.
This way of thinking, however, is contrary or differs from biblical teachings.
Let’s examine this morning the teachings found in the book of Psalms, chapter 27, vs. 7-14.
In verse 14, we see that once again in scripture we are told to wait. I wonder if this is why religion is not as popular as it should be. I say, “as it should be,” because I cannot understand how people can continue to reject the gift of God’s love. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (2 Cor. 9:15)
Often when we are faced with difficult circumstances in life, the hardest thing that we can do, is listen to God speaking to us through His word saying, “wait.” God, I need help now…God my child is sick now…God the bank is going to repossess my car tomorrow…God I am out of money now and I am out of food…I want this house now…I want healing now…I want wisdom now…I want knowledge now…God please don’t make me wait.
It seems as if recently I have been asked several times, “should I keep praying for the same thing” “I feel as if God is not hearing my prayers because He is not answering them.” If we were to complete what we are saying with the truth, we would add, “as quickly as I want him to or in the way that I want him to.”
What I am saying goes against human beings logical way of thinking. Isaiah 55:8-9. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
The world and its governments can say to you, “I can offer you help right now.” Friends and family can say to you, “I can give you help right now.” “You do not have to call upon an invisible God who answers in his own good time.” We truly are a peculiar people.
Church, know this, there is a lot of truth to the saying, and “good things come unto those who wait.”
Heb 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come…This thing we call Christianity certainly has its good things now that we can enjoy and take comfort in, but they are nothing compared with what we will know as reality when we see Jesus face to face.
• The Old Covenant sacrifice(s) were temporary and powerless to cleanse from sin.
• The New Covenant sacrifice brought about eternal redemption, (salvation or deliverance from sin) (Heb 7:24), eternal inheritance (9:15), and it is eternally effective. Worth waiting for.
Sadly though for some what they will know about Jesus will be His final words that will forever echo in their minds, “Depart from me ye workers of iniquity, I never knew you.” Contrast that with, “Enter in to the joys of the Lord.” Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do His commandments that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. The only way to enter the city is by accepting Jesus Christ, the way, the truth and the life. (John 14:6)
Can you even begin to imagine what the joys of the Lord are going to be? I can’t wait… can you? See there you go again. Patience my people, patience.
Luke 2:25-32
Simeon was an old man that was promised that he would not see death until he had seen the Lord’s Christ (vs. 26). His reward for waiting was being the first on record, other than the parents obviously, to have seen and handled the, “Word of Life.” This is how John described Jesus in 1 John 1:1. This may not seem like much to you and me, but to Simeon, it was the manifestation of the prophetical promises that a Deliverer would come. See Isa. 62:11. Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
To Christians today the reward of our waiting will be 1Thes. 4:13-18
Of the many things that Paul prayed for the church at Colosse, in Col. 1:11 we find that one was patience. “We are not expected to walk worthy of the Lord, be fruitful and grow in grace and knowledge in our own strength, but in His. This power and grace will enable us to bear afflictions and trials with patience, perseverance and real joy.” (Henry T Mahan, Bible Class Commentary)
Not only will God strengthen us to patiently wait upon deliverance in this present world but will also give us strength, grace and mercy to patiently wait for the day of his coming.
Some may say in this age of instant gratification that they do not want to serve a God who makes them wait. I Don’t want to wait for strength… answered prayer… comfort…joy… peace…To those who might think that way I would encourage you to heed the words of apostle Paul when he said to, “run the race with patience.”
• Is the cake not worth the wait when it comes fresh out of the oven and into your mouth?
• Is water not worth the wait as it quenches the thirst of a hot day?
• Is Jesus not worth the wait as He quenches the thirst of your dry and barren soul?
• Is deliverance from sin and the chains of bondage not worth waiting for?
• Is immortality not worth waiting for?
• Is a joyous reunion with your loved ones seated around God’s throne not worth waiting for?
• Is comfort and guidance of the Holy Ghost not worth waiting for?
• Is renewed strength and courage not worth waiting for? (Isa. 40:31)
• Is help and protection not worth waiting for? (Psa. 33:20)
• Is hope not worth waiting for? (Gal 5:5)
• Is answers to prayer not worth waiting for? (Psa. 40:1-3)
• Is daily supply not worth waiting for? (Psa. 104:27-28)
• Is salvation not worth waiting for? (Rom 8:25)
• Is the goodness of God not worth waiting for? (Lam 3:25)
Have I convinced you that God is worth waiting for? So how do we do it then? Do we sit here and stare at the walls or at one another until God decides to manifest himself in our presence? Maybe we can do like many people do on an elevator ride as we wait for our floor to arrive. Did you ever notice what people do? I would guess that 90% of the people look up at the ceiling of the elevator car. Now that sounds like a concept that we can adopt as Christians. Look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh. (Luke 21:28)
How do you wait upon God? The key to patiently waiting upon God is to have the tools necessary to endure the waiting period. In life, we occupy our time of waiting with crossword puzzles, television, reading a book, talking to a friend, listening to music, etc...
When my wife was pregnant with our youngest son, we were informed during a routine visit that he was in a breach position and did not want to greet the world upside down. This was new to us and the doctor informed us that he would have to perform a cesarean section in order to ensure a safe delivery. Our natural response to that as young parents was shock at first but because of our trust in God we eventually warmed up to the idea, especially since we could pick the date of the delivery. I told you that people do not like to wait. The date was set and we went to the hospital. During the delivery process, I was OK because I was in the operating room with my wife…but for those who were waiting outside, I learned later that, it was a time filled with intense anxiety and apprehension. Once I finally came out and announced that it was a boy, and that everything was OK, my mother in law told me, “the next time if there is a next time, you will wait and I will go in with my daughter!” The object of this lesson is that she did not know what to do with her time while waiting. The joy of the moment was lost in the frustration of waiting.
While we are waiting on God there are things that we can do and practices we can adapt to make the wait bearable. Remember it is God who strengthens us … “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts” Zech 4:6.
I. While waiting on God, we are to wait prayerfully.
• Psalms 25:4-5 Shew me thy ways O Lord; teach me thy paths. 5) Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
• In prayer, we are to learn from David, and ask God to not only reveal to us His ways but also to lead us in His truths. Waiting on God in this manner is the secret to being a man after God’s own heart. As we do this we often times learn that what we are waiting on is contrary with what God wants for us.
(Illustration) The only survivor of a shipwreck washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stung with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me!" he cried.
Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him.
"How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers.
"We saw your smoke signal," they replied.
As we seek God’s face, let us not get into a rut and tell God what he is to do for us…instead say, “God while I am waiting on you, reveal your word to me in new and wonderful ways; teach me of your ways so that my relationship with you might be solidified; light my path; guide my feet; while I wait strengthen me by your power; increase my knowledge of you that my faith might be renewed.”
II. The second method to examine as we wait on God is to wait patiently.
• Psalms 37:7a Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him:
• If you are dissatisfied with God, the idea here is to be silent; resign to yourself that this day and from now on you are going to leave everything in Gods hands…no matter what.
The 37th Psalm is an answer from God giving instruction and the resources necessary to face up to the evil that surrounds David. It does not give, if you will notice, immediate deliverance. In answer to our prayers, often instead of taking away our faith building trial, the Lord gives us what is necessary to endure it.(Day by Day, vol. 3)
Read this Psalm today. God gives us instruction on how to patiently wait. He tells us to not worry, trust in the Lord, delight thyself in the Lord, commit thy way to the Lord, rest in the Lord, etc. The result of not doing these things is fret and jealousy. Which do you choose today?
III. The third way of waiting is to wait with singleness of mind.
• Psalms 62:5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
This simply means with purity of mind or purpose.
God only will be our salvation, strength, love and deliverance… God only! Do not allow your thoughts to be corrupt with worldly corruption and influence.
IV. The fourth way of waiting on God is to wait expectantly.
• Psalms 62:5-6 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. 6) He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defense; I shall not be moved.
• Micah 7:7 Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me
Do you pray expectantly and effectually? Do you expect to get a result from God and do you pray from the energy that is within? Expectant means: One who expects; one who waits in expectation; one held in dependence by his belief or hope of receiving some good. Effectually means that we have divine energy given to us by the power of the Word of God and the effectual prayer ends up producing the intended effects. (Salvation, healing, deliverance, joy, comfort, guidance, etc.)
1 Thes. 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
The Word of God is truth and power unto all who will believe. Do you need a healing... pray for it and expect it. Do you need a job... pray for it and expect it. “Give us this day our daily bread” Let us expectantly wait on God for deliverance in all aspects of our lives.
Are your prayers being answered? Pray in a new way with the divine energy (the Word of God) given us by the power of the word of God.
V. The fifth way of waiting on God is to wait longingly.
• Psalm 130:5-6 I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope. 6) My soul waiteth on the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that wait for the morning.
My soul doth wait - I wait, with all my heart and soul.
And in his word do I hope - In his promise. I believe that God will fulfill his promise, and that I shall find a gracious answer to my prayers. Whether it is under conviction for sin or maybe you are under deep sorrow and distress of any kind, this is the only hope of man. If God does not step in, there is no other deliverer. Having the faith that he will step in, gives us the confidence and assurance we need. We must come to him with a humble, believing, and a penitent heart. (Portions from Albert Barnes, Notes on the Bible)
If you have ever experienced a night that you felt would never end, you would know what vs.6 was meaning. The idea here is that of a person that longs for the first light of day much in the way a guard would in order to be relieved of their duty. To them the night seems long; they are weary, and want rest; all around is cheerless, gloomy, and still; and they long for the first signs that light will again visit the world.
Try and look at it this way:
In affliction - the long, dark, dreary, gloomy night of sorrow - the sufferer looks for the first indication, the first faint ray of comfort to the soul.
When under deep conviction for sin, and deep apprehension of the wrath of God - that night, dark, dreary, gloomy, often long - the soul looks for some ray of comfort, some suggestion that God will be merciful, and will speak peace and pardon.
We must wait on the Lord longingly, earnestly desiring to see and experience the salvation and deliverance of God.
VI. The sixth way of waiting on God is to wait quietly.
• Lam 3:26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
Sometimes we must realize that as bad as things seem, it is by the abundant mercy of God that it is not worse. This is a hard concept to grasp I know. God’s compassion has not failed in the past and will not fail us today nor will it fail us in the future. It is our duty to hope and quietly wait on the salvation of the Lord.
There is a saying that, “the wheel that squeaks the loudest gets the most grease.” This is not necessarily true with God. God’s compassion is extended unto those who are of a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Instead of kicking, fussing, crying, screaming and feeling sorry for ourselves, let’s resign ourselves to the fact that God is looking out for us. God is my portion and my strength. If he has not helped me yet, he is taking my character and molding me into a more experienced and mature Christian.
Rom. 5:3-7 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
We must quietly wait and hope for the salvation of the Lord.
VII. The seventh and final way of waiting on God is to wait continually.
• Hos. 12:6 Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.
Humbly with repentance and with faith in a merciful God we must turn to God, then we must walk, (continually) with him in all holiness and godliness. Why not call upon God for his promised blessings with an attitude of not giving up until we, with God’s help, prevail. Too often I believe we give up just shy of a miracle taking place in our lives. There is a song that says, “Hold on my child, joy comes in the morning.” Psa. 30:5 For his anger endureth but for a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Blessed be the God of compassion, mercy and strength.
Conclusion:
I would like to end the message with a poem today called ASAP. (Author unknown)
Ever wonder about the abbreviation A.S.A.P.? Generally we think of it in terms of even more hurry and stress in our lives. Maybe if we think of this abbreviation in a different manner, we will begin to find a new way to deal with those rough days along the way.
“There’s work to do, deadlines to meet;
You’ve got no time to spare,
But as you hurry and scurry-
ASAP - Always Say A Prayer.
In the midst of family chaos,
‘Quality time’ is rare.
Do your best; let God do the rest-
ASAP - Always Say A Prayer.
It may seem like our worries
Are more than you can bear.
Slow down and take a breather-
ASAP - Always Say A Prayer.
God knows how stressful life is;
He wants to ease our cares,
And He’ll respond A.S.A.P.
ASAP - Always Say A Prayer.”
May God keep and bless you is my prayer.
