Wait, I Say, on the LORD

Introduction

 

It’s been said, “Good things come to those who wait.” Good things often take time. They take planning. They take preparation. They require proper execution. They require circumstances to present themselves that are necessary to produce the desired results. And they take the proper timing.

What is the one thing we desire most? What is the one thing we’re waiting for most above all else?

That one thing we desire most as Christians is to make it into the Kingdom of God. Of all the things that we want, at the end of this life we want to be welcomed into God’s Kingdom.

Making it into the Kingdom of God is a good thing. That’s a good thing, right?

We long to hear these words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

I’ve got good news for you!

Our Father in Heaven has already qualified you as an inheritor to the Kingdom. You counted the cost. You made the commitment. He in turn has delivered you from the power of darkness and translated you into the Kingdom of His dear Son, redeemed through the blood of His sacrifice.

 

Col 1:12-14 NKJV

(12)  giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

(13)  He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

(14)  in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

 

You’ve already been translated, conveyed, transferred into the Kingdom. Your reservation has been made.

 

Now, when we made our reservations for the Feast, we had to make a deposit with our reservation. Perhaps you did too. It’s called earnest money or an earnest payment. This is to provide assurance that you are serious about going and that you intend to carry through on your promise to pay the rest.

God made his down payment to you as well and will carry through on His exceeding great and precious promises. He gave you the earnest of His Holy Spirit!

The deposit has already been made on your behalf. The earnest payment has already been given you in the form of God’s Holy Spirit so that you would know He’s serious and He means to make good on it.

2Co 1:21-22 KJV

(21)  Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;

(22)  Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

 

2Co 5:4-5 NLT

(4)  While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life.

(5)  God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.

 

It’s not that we want to die, but to be absent from this body and this life is to be present with the Lord. (2Cor 5:8) That’s when we’ll receive our new glorious body, when the Lord returns. (Php 3:21) God will wipe away every tear from our eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain. (Rev 21:4)

There’s no reason to be afraid of dying because we know what awaits us. And God gave us his Holy Spirit now as a guarantee that he will make good on his promise then.

 

We see things tightening up now in this country and around the world. Our freedoms are being restricted under the guise of peace and safety. But that’s no reason to fear. It’s merely something we’re going to have to deal with and do our best to work around.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2Tim 1:7)

 

This is all temporary. This is just something we’re going to have to tolerate to make our way through to the other side. We have been promised the Kingdom of God. We have that to look forward to and we have God’s Holy Spirit right here within us as proof that God will make good on His promise! And not only that but that Spirit he gave us; it will lead us and guide us into all truth and forward on into the Kingdom.

When you stop and think about it, it’s a pretty sweet deal! We just need to wait on the Lord to return.

 Now here’s the reality of things.

Our country is quickly becoming a shell of its former self. This fact is sad but true--and it lines up with Scripture. Thankfully, our true citizenship is in Heaven, the Kingdom of God, that will one day come to this Earth. We can draw comfort from that even while our heart breaks as we watch our once strong country weaken at an unprecedented rate.

Government can’t fix it. It doesn’t matter who gets elected. No President, no Governor, no County Judge is going to fix it. The United Nations can’t fix it, though they’ll try.  Man’s rule has run its course.

We must now wait on the Lord’s return to set things right.

It may get quite dire before that. Jesus told us though what to expect so there’s no surprises.

But remember, God is still in control. Nothing happens without His express involvement or permission. Our spirit can remain calm and quiet, resting in that knowledge.

I don’t know if we’re in the last days or not, but what if we are?

Are we ready? As a church and individually? Are we ready for what we’ve been told lies ahead?

 

Don’t Lose Heart

 

We grew up with freedom. Our forefathers fought for it, pledged their fortunes and sacred honor for it, and died for it.

Strong men risked all for freedom and through hard times forged a new nation. Strong men, physically strong but also strong spiritually and morally took on the hardships necessary to build the greatest nation on God’s green earth. They looked to God for guidance and providence and God was faithful. I wonder how many men like that are left, if any.

Author G. Michael Hopf wrote the following in his book, Those Who Remain, the 7^th book in his New World series.

Where are we now on this continuum? We’ve had good times for a very long time as nations go. How would you characterize the young men of our time?

We know what lies ahead in general terms. Christ told us in the sermon on the mount. We don’t know precisely but we can get an idea by studying history. We can learn what happened under Stalin, Mao, Hitler, and Pol Pot. We can study how they killed millions of their own people in their drive for totalitarian control. There’s nothing new under the sun.

God tells us this through the prophet Amos –

Woe unto you who desire the Day of the LORD! (Amos 5:18) It will be a time like no other. Worse than anything we’ve ever experienced. Worse than any time in history we’ve ever read about or heard about. Worse than Nazi Germany. Worse than Stalin. Worse than Mao. Worse than anything we can imagine.

But don’t lose heart –

Psa 27:14 KJV  Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

 

That word “wait” doesn’t mean just to hold on, but it means to trust and to hope and to eagerly expect that God will strengthen you. No doubt. It says he shall strengthen your heart, he will return.

 

Draw the Line

 

While we wait, each of us will have to decide and discern where the line is that we just won’t cross.

A wise man I love and respect told me once that at some point each and every one of us will have to face our own “Nebuchadnezzar moment”.

Daniel had his and prayed to God anyway. (Dan 6:10)

We cannot, will not, must not cease to pray to our God!

 

Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach) and Azariah (Abednego) had their moment –

Be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. We will not bow down. (Dan 3:18)

 

These are big things, obvious things. What about the smaller things, the not so obvious things?

In Acts chapter 5, Peter and the disciples were instructed by the angel of the Lord to –

Acts 5:20 KJV  Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

Yet the high priest admonished them, did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? (Acts 5:28 KJV)

Peter’s response - We ought to obey God rather than men. Speaking truth to power, a revolutionary act. (Acts 5:29-32 KJV)

 

How about gathering to worship God and fellowshipping with each other?

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the Day approaching. (Heb 10:25 KJV)

 

We need each other. When we can’t be together, we long for each other’s company and fellowship. We thirst to hear the things of this way of life spoken freely. Will we nor forsake the assembling of ourselves together, and so much the more,when things are more difficult, even risky?

We risk losing our zeal for the Kingdom of God when we’re isolated.

“On its own, each ember loses fire”, we sing.

Artur Pawlowski, a Polish immigrant who grew up under the boots of the Soviets, now a persecuted pastor in Alberta, Canada, was ordered not to hold services due to the COVID lockdown restrictions. He did not comply. He has been arrested, jailed, fined, and is now released. But, now he can no longer speak in public about the Health Orders without reciting a government required disclaimer first.

He refuses to do so.

His response to all this? He is grateful for the tyrannical edicts of the Canadian government. Because of them, he has been given a great platform for God’s message. It’s worth it because without the persecution, he would not have as broad an opportunity to preach the word of God.

 

Imagine if we were brought before the County Judge to be questioned as to why we didn’t comply with her latest frivolous edict. “Why are you still holding church services against my latest lockdown orders?”

 

Would we have the same response as Artur Pawlowski? Would we count it all joy? Would WE rejoice that we were counted worthy to suffer for the name of Christ? (Acts 5:41) These are important questions.

We must speak the truth. We must live godly lives. We must let our light shine in the darkness. We must live our lives in accordance with God’s instruction even in defiance of man’s mandated edicts to the contrary.

 

Where will you draw the line?

Are you willing to risk going to jail in order to meet on the Sabbath? Are you willing to risk being taken to a re-education camp because you believe in God? What will you do if they want to load us into box cars to take us someplace “for the common good”? Will you fight or flee, or comply?

 

Where will you draw the line?

We ought to obey God rather than men. Put on the whole armor and stand therefore! (Eph 6:13-14)

In Defiance –All the apostles with the exception of John were martyred. Willing to suffer, even death for what they believed. They don’t martyr you for compliance.

Interesting that in Daniel it says, but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. (Dan 11:32) Many translations say, the people who know their God will be strong, (stand firm) and take action.

Would you say standing up to Nebuchadnezzar, willing to be thrown into the fiery furnace rather than disobey God was an “exploit”? Is standing up to the local magistrate rather than disobey God an “exploit”?

I wonder what exploits we will do on behalf of God, his people and this way of life.

 

We’re past the tipping point. Our nation will not return to God on a wholesale basis. We can’t change it. We can’t fix it.

But Christ can, and will!

We must wait on the Lord, our Deliverer. He is our salvation.

 

 

Psa 62:1-8 KJV

(1)  Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.

(2)  He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

 

(5)  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 defence; I shall not be moved.

(7)  In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

(8)  Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

 

 

Overcome

 

We are in a Spiritual War. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; Christ has overcome the world. (Joh 16:33)

And we will be victorious. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (1John 4:4)

 

We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. And we will love not our lives unto death. (Rev 12:11) He who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12:25)

We have forsaken all for Jesus’ sake and the gospel’s.

 

Mar 10:28-31 KJV

(28)  Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.

(29)  And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,

(30)  But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

(31)  But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

 

With persecutions – We never had any enemies before. Now we can see.

Love your enemy. (Luke 6:27-36)

They don’t know they’re evil. Well, some may. But they’ve been deceived. They’re deluded. God has sent them strong delusion and they believe they’re the ones going to fix everything. If they can just get everything under their control, they can manage everything and all will be well. They may have to get rid of a few billion people who won’t cooperate, but then all will be well.

We have no reason to fear them. Love them. Perfect love casts out fear. (1 John 4:18)

Forgive them for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34)

 

 

Wait on the Lord

 

 

We know our Lord is returning for us. We will rise to meet him in the air when that last Trumpet sounds. No man knows the day or the hour but the Father only, but He is coming. In the meantime, we must wait.

 

Waiting Gives Us Hope

Rom 5:3-5 KJV

(3)  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

(4)  And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

(5)  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.

 

We’ve experienced time and again when God has been faithful. We can recall those times when God watched out for us, provided for us, and protected us. And it gives us hope for the same even in troublous times.

 

Waiting Builds Godly Character

Jas 1:2-4 KJV

(2)  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

(3)  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

(4)  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

 

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (Mat 5:48 KJV)

 

And so, we carry on. What do we do while we wait?

1Th 5:14-24 NKJV

(14)  Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.

(15)  See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

(16)  Rejoice always,

(17)  pray without ceasing,

(18)  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

(19)  Do not quench the Spirit.

(20)  Do not despise prophecies.

 

[Don’t scoff at the word of God. “Yeah, yeah, heard it all before and still here I am in the middle of this mess.” (self-pity)

Analyze, reflect, and meditate it. What lesson am I to learn from this?]

 

(21)  Test all things; hold fast what is good.

(22)  Abstain from every form of evil.

(23)  Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely;

 

[The peace of God that passeth all understanding. Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee. (Isa 26:3)]

 

and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(24)  He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

 

Don’t give in to temptation. Don’t give in to frustration. Don’t give in to exasperation. Keep yourself without spot, blameless before God.

We wait expectantly. We wait continually for Christ’s return.

 

Psa 27:11  Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

 

As things get more difficult because of our enemies, simplify our lives. Learn to find joy in the simple things, the simple life. A flower. A blade of grass.

Keep our minds occupied with thankfulness for what we do have. Attitude of gratitude.

Realize what’s most important

 

Psa 31:24 KJV  Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

 

Psa 27:14 KJV  Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

We are the temple of God and we must not allow our temple to be defiled or destroyed no matter how desperate circumstances may become.

1Co 3:16-17 KJV

(16)  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

(17)  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

 

We must stay true to the faith.

Trust in the fulfillment of God’s plan. Trust in his exceeding great and precious promises. It is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. (Luke 12:32)

 

But what if the Lord delayeth his coming?

If our Lord delayeth his coming…you don’t take matters into your own hands. And you don’t give up! You stay the course!

Luk 12:45-48 KJV

(45)  But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

 

Who is it that determines whether the Lord has delayed His coming? Do we, according to our immense eschatological skills? No! God determines when it is time. Don’t get discouraged. Don’t start taking out your frustrations on those around you, usually it’s those closest to you. Don’t give up and just spend your time carousing around and getting drunk.

 

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. (Luk 21:34 KJV)

 

(46)  The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

(47)  And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

(48)  But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Ignorance is not an excuse. Even the unknowing unbelievers will still be chastened. But those who know God will be held accountable to a higher standard.

Has not much been given to us to know the oracles of God?

The Lord has not delayed His coming. He’s right on time!

The Lord is seldom early, but never late.

God is seldom early, but He is never late.

Paul and Silas in prison waited on the Lord, yet prayed and sang praises to God while they waited. (Acts 16:25)

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (Rev 2:10 KJV)

 

Meditate on these things now. Fix it in your mind that the Lord is looking out for you. Fix it in your mind now that you already have a place prepared for you waiting for you in the Kingdom. (John 14:2)

He is faithful. Rest in the Lord. Serve Him always regardless of circumstances.

 

Psa 145:15 KJV  The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.

 

Gal 6:9 KJV  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

 

In due season. Seldom early, but never late.

Worth the Wait

 

Rom 8:18-25 KJV

(18)  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

(19)  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

(20)  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

(21)  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

 

Dan 7:22 KJV  Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

 

Dan 7:25 KJV  And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

 

Dan 7:27 KJV  And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

 

Rom 8:22-25 KJV  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

(23)  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

(24)  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

(25)  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

 

Don’t lose hope.

Psa 37:1-40 KJV

(1)  A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

(2)  For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

 

[Biden, Fauci, Soros, Klaus Schwab, Bill Gates, and all the rest.]

 

(3)  Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

(4)  Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

(5)  Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

(6)  And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

 

[Let your light shine in a dark world]

 

(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.

 

Don’t get angry and frustrated when you see the wicked of this world advancing. Don’t get distraught when you see the powers that be planning our demise. Don’t take matters into your own hands.

 

(8)  Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

 

Don’t make plans to exact your revenge on them. Vengeance is mine saith the Lord. They’ll get theirs. They’ll get what’s coming to them. We have to but wait on the LORD.

 

(9) For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

(10) For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

(11) But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

(12) The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

(13) The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

(14) The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.

(15) Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

(16) A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

(17) For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

(18) The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

(19) They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

(20) But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

(21) The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

(22) For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

(23) The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

(24) Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

(25) I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

(26) He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

(27) Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

(28) For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

 

 (29) The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

 

 (30)  The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

 

[Stand therefore! And speak truth to power! By the word of their testimony!]

 

(31)  The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

(32)  The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.

(33)  The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

 

The son of perdition will wear out the saints and they shall be given into his hand. But the LORD will not leave us there.]

 

(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.

(35)  I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

(36)  Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

(37)  Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

(38)  But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

(39)  But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

(40)  And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

 

 

The ultimate goal we are waiting for is the return of Jesus Christ and the receiving of a crown of righteousness as we enter into the Kingdom of God.

 

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2Pe 3:9 KJV)

It is the Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.

All will be set right if we but wait.

 

Psa 27:4 KJV  One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

 

Psa 27:14 KJV  Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

 

Even so, come, Lord Jesus! (Rev 22:20)

 

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