WAITING UPON THE LORD
Message Outline
INTRODUCTION
WAIT – (Dictionary) - To stay or rest in expectation; to stop or remain stationary, till the arrival of some person or event.
Our concept of waiting usually concerns the period of time from the beginning of an expectation to when it arrives. We think about waiting as the gap/interval that we must pass through until we arrive at the desired moment.
When we think about Waiting upon the Lord, it is often with this idea in mind. The time between a promise of God and receiving that promise. We think of “Waiting upon God” as simply a quantity of time.
As we will see that definitely relates to it, but there is more. We will look at scriptures today related to this subject highlight three things.
Description of Waiting - word in the Hebrew language is the pictures and the expanded meaning
Attitude of Waiting
Result of Waiting
Example 1 - WAITING UPON THE LORD
Verse - Isaiah 40:31 - but those who 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.
Description: look patiently, but it also expresses the idea of being bound together (for example by twisting)… Think of it like the various strands of a rope, that as they become twisted together they become incredibly strong. When we wait upon God we are becoming more attached with God. It is about relationship.
Verse - Psalm 40:1 - I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
Attitude: Patiently – Hebrew expression - In waiting I waited… (emphasizes that waiting is not by accident or something that is haphazard) It was not a single, momentary act of expectation or hope; it was continuous.
Waiting Patiently - Patience is not only how long you wait but what you do, your action, and attitude while you wait.
Result: Father God bends forward (placing his ear near my mouth to hear me) - hears the cry and brings deliverance.
Result: Renewed strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles (strength and soaring freely, not bound), they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.
Verse - Psalm 27:14 – Wait on the Lord; be strong, and may your heart be stout; wait on the Lord.
Attitude: Courage (Be Strong) – continue in hope and trust in, take hold of God
Result: Strength our heart Luke 21:26 – last days, men’s heart would fail for fear
Verse - Psalm 37:34 - Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
Attitude: Keep His way (walk in His path, do what He says) - this again is becoming joined/attached together with Him…
The more attached we become, the more we will walk in His ways. (Jesus said, if you love me you will keep my commandments)
Result: Inherit the Land (Blessing) - Matthew 6:33 – Seek ye first the Kingdom of God
Example 2 - WAITING UPON THE LORD
Verse - Psalm 33:20 - Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.
Description: to wait and tarry long, as well as gives a picture of being adhered/connected to something by piercing.
Attitude: Our Soul (heart, inner most part of who we are) – it is not superficial, it is done with the most intimate part of who we are. It is not based upon convenience, it is committed and completely invested. It is deeply devoted.
Result: God is our help and our shield (He will be our aid and He will be our defender)
Verse - Psalm 62:1-2 - My soul waits in silence on God alone; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my refuge; I will not be greatly shaken.
Example 3 - WAITING UPON GOD
Verse - Psalm 37:7 - Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of those who prosper in their way, because of those who make wicked schemes.
Description: to delay long, to wait long, and it may even appear strange that God does not intervene right away.
Attitude: Rest in the Lord (Be silent to the Lord). Be Still and Know that He is God.
Result: Psalm 37:9 but those who hope (wait) in the Lord will inherit the earth.
Example 4 - WAITING UPON GOD
Verse - Psalm 59:9 - Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.
Description - Why we wait – (to hedge/fence around someone/something with thorns), that is, guard; generally to protect
Verse - Exodus 15:2 - The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.
Verse - Psalm 27:1 - The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom will I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom will I be afraid?
Verse - Psalm 28:8 - The Lord is the strength of His people, and He is the saving strength of His anointed.
Attitude - Wait in confidence and faith in God (because of His strength).
Verse - Psalm 91:4 - He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall find protection; His faithfulness shall be your shield and wall.
Verse - Psalm 91:7 - A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.
Result: God is our defence. There is no need for fear.
Example 5 – WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WAIT UPON THE LORD
Description: to be silent (put on silence), hold peace, rest, be silent, stand still. To be silent and quietly wait.
Verse - Psalm 62:5 - My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
Verse - Lamentations 3:25-26 - The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that a man should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Attitude: Wait only on Him. We look to Him alone. Our trust is God. Wait Quietly (in silence). Waiting in Faith (Expectation)
Result: God is good to those who wait for Him. God is eager to pour out His goodness upon those who wait for Him.
PRACTICAL THOUGHTS ON HOW TO WAIT UPON THE LORD
1 - WAITING UPON GOD IS ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIP
Waiting upon God is not a spiritual disciple or exercise but an intimate activity of relationship and fellowship with the one we love.
2 - WAITING UPON GOD INVOLVES GETTING INTO THE CLOSET OF PRAYER
Yes, some part of waiting involved the time that we wait until receiving from God. But much of it involves getting into the closet of prayer and spending it with Him.
-thanksgiving (thanking Him for what He as done)
-praise and adoration (declaring who He is)
-worship (surrender)
-petition
-praying in the Spirit
3 - WAITING UPON GOD INVOLVES GETTING INTO HIS WORD
God’s Word reveals who He is in His Word.
Verse - Psalm 52:9 - I will give thanks to You forever, because You have acted; and I will wait on Your name, for it is good before Your saints.
Verse - Psalm 9:10 - Those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.
God’s Word builds our faith. God’s Word builds our expectation. It builds hope.
Verse - John 15:7 - If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it shall be done for you.
4 – WAITING UPON GOD INVOLVES LISTENING TO HIS VOICE
It is very difficult to listen for the voice of God without waiting upon God. Many want to hear His voice, but are not willing to take the time to wait upon Him.
Verse - Proverbs 8:32-34 - “Now therefore listen to me, O you children, for blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and do not refuse it. Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.”
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