L i v i n g S t o n e B a p t i s t C h u r c h S
March 17, 2019, Sunday
When God Says Wait
KEY PASSAGE: Psalm 27:11-14 | SUPPORTING SCRIPTURES: Joshua 1:5, 9 | Psalm 37:1, 7-8 | Matthew 7:7
SUMMARY In contrast, we are often in a hurry to get what we want.
Since we have limited knowledge and understanding, we
Knowing biblical principles is essential for living the should pray about the situation and wait for God to unfold
Christian life as God desires. the path He has for us. But in our haste to move ahead, we
often make big decisions without asking the Lord to show us
Perhaps the most important one to learn is to obey God His perfect timing in the matter.
and leave all the consequences to Him. And alongside
it is another one that’s very important—learn to wait Yet God has provided everything we need to obey His will.
upon God for His timing. Obeying the Lord doesn’t just When He saved us, He gave us His indwelling Spirit to
include doing what He desires, but doing it when He be with us forever. One of the tasks of the Holy Spirit is to
says and how He says. guide us according to God’s will and Word. He cautions us
regarding wrong directions and quickens us to do what’s
SERMON POINTS right because we are not sufficient in ourselves to make
wise decisions.
To keep in step with God’s perfect will, we
must guard against jumping ahead of Him. When God says “Wait,” that’s exactly what He
means for us to do.
Although waiting on the Lord is not always easy, we can
never go wrong by patiently letting Him lead us according Therefore, we need to learn to listen to Him and follow His
to His timing. When we step ahead of Him, trouble awaits directions rather than trying to figure out a course of action
us, but if we trust His guidance, He will lead us into His and plunging ahead. If we make it a habit to listen to God
will and accomplish more than we had in mind. throughout our lives, then we will be ready to hear Him when
we need direction in pressing situations. The Lord promises
When we are in a hurry to make a decision and move in His Word that He answers prayer and will direct our path,
forward rather than seeking God’s timing, we need to heed but sometimes we must wait for Him to show us the way.
the words of Psalm 27:14, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and Even though we may want the answer immediately, God in
let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord.” His loving omniscience knows what’s best for us both now
and tomorrow because His perspective is eternal.
God’s timing isn’t just good; it’s perfect.
What are the requirements for waiting upon God?
He is omniscient and knows all things in the past, present,
and future. The Lord sees every aspect of our lives, Trust. If we understand who God is, we can trust Him
including our needs and desires. In His great wisdom, He because He knows so much more than we do, and His
understands what’s best for us. His divine schedule for our timing is always right. He is not depriving us of anything
lives is always perfect and achieves His good purposes. but is doing what is best for us according to His wisdom
SERMON NOTES | SN180902
and knowledge. He invites us to ask, seek, and knock in our minds to obey Him rather than give in to others’
prayer and promises to answer according to His divine opinions and advice.
timing and purpose (Matt. 7:7).
Strength. When we are tempted to jump ahead of God,
Therefore, we must not think that if the answer doesn’t we must remember that almighty God is the source of
come immediately then God will never provide what we’ve our strength, and He will provide the power we need to
requested. Instead, we should remember God’s power, wait patiently. And beyond this, He can even change the
wisdom, love, and knowledge, and trust that He controls desires of our heart to align with His will and give us a
every circumstance and will provide what is good. If His strong passion to obey Him.
provision doesn’t come immediately, it’s because we really
don’t need it, it’s not good for us, or it’s not the right time Endurance. If the Lord calls us to wait, we need endurance
to have it. to stand firm when other people give their opinions and
offer suggestions regarding what we should do.
Patience. Psalm 37:7 says, “Rest in the Lord and wait
patiently for Him; do not fret.” Waiting could cause us to Although the world is full of tempting offers, and people
be anxious and impatient because it seems like God isn’t readily share their thoughts regarding how we ought to
doing anything. However, we must remember that He live, there is only one supreme Person to whom we should
loves us and gives good guidance, provision, help, and listen, and that is the Lord. Our responsibility is to obey and
strength during the wait. leave all the consequences to Him. Walking within the will
of God is the safest, best, wisest, and happiest place to live.
When David was anointed king of Israel as a teenager, he Although we will not receive everything we desire when we
had no idea that he would have to wait over twelve years want, we will never miss out on the good things God has
before the promise became a reality. What may have for us that are according to His will and timing. Therefore,
seemed like a waste of time was actually God’s perfect we should always seek God’s wisdom in prayer, wait for His
plan for his life being worked out. God wasn’t acting guidance, and watch how He works.
against David in the delay, but for him.
RESPONSE
Courage. When an offer or opportunity looks good and
seems right, it takes courage to wait on God because we What requests are you still waiting for God to answer?
may have to say no. Even if others don’t understand our Which of His attributes assure you that He is working on
decision and urge us to go ahead, if it’s not according to your behalf?
God’s will or timing, it’s the wrong choice. We can’t fathom
all the difficulties and problems that could come if we Do you want the Lord’s will above all else, even if He
move forward in disobedience instead of waiting patiently doesn’t give you what you want when you desire? If not,
and courageously for God to make the way clear before us. what is keeping you from trusting Him?
Determination. Because the influence of others has a
powerful effect on us, it takes fortitude to wait on the
Lord. While the situation may look right on the outside,
if the Holy Spirit is cautioning us, we must make up
Psalm 27:11-14 New International Version (NIV) 13 I remain confident of this:
11
Teach me your way, LORD;
I will see the goodness of the LORD
lead me in a straight path
in the land of the living.
because of my oppressors.
14 Wait for the LORD;
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
be strong and take heart
for false witnesses rise up against me,
and wait for the LORD.
spouting malicious accusations.
