Wait On The Lord

Waiting on the Lord
Psalm 27:14
Intro: This is a familiar phrase, “wait on the Lord.” Still, sometimes we have misconceptions as to what waiting on the Lord is, what it involves. HOW do we wait on the Lord? Are we doing Nothing when we are waiting on the Lord? Are we in a state of suspended consciousness; kind of sleep walking in our spiritual life?
I See four points or directives here in this verse concerning waiting on the Lord.


I. Be Patient While Waiting.
“WAIT on the Lord”
This is probably one thing about waiting on the Lord that we do understand even though we don’t always do so well living it out; waiting clearly implies the need for patience. We suffer terribly from Impatience. We want things to happen NOW. We have a time schedule. When we need help, we need help Now. We need direction Now. We need assistance Now. We need answers Now.
Waiting is difficult on our human nature, but it is part of our Christian Discipline. We must remember that God is not on our Time Schedule and we must be Patient.
Lu 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Rom 8:24 For we are saved by hope...and if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Heb. 6:12 we should be “followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
Be Patient while waiting on the Lord.


II. Be Positive While Waiting.
“Be of good courage”
This is the Opposite of being Discouraged; Have Good Courage. It’s an important part of waiting on the Lord in the right way. We must be Positive; Not negative
I know that so-called, “Positive Thinking” has been taken to ridiculous extremes and unwarranted claims have been made. BUT, positive thinking is Biblical:
Phil. 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
At least 35 times in NT we are exhorted to Rejoice!
6 different times Jesus personally told people to “BE of Good Cheer. Biblical “positive thinking” is Not so much Mind over Matter but: Faith over Fear, Assurance over Anxiety, and Confidence over Confusion. If you lose your faith and confidence in God you are not waiting on the Lord.
Be of good courage; Be Positive while you wait.
You’ve probably heard of the time when Martin Luther, the former Catholic monk who had been saved by faith in Jesus Christ and become a Great Preacher and Reformer, was going through a very difficult time. He was being persecuted; his work was hindered; his Cause seemed to be suffering defeat. He became discouraged and was moping around sad and miserable. He came home one evening and the lamps were down low. Black cloth hung over the curtains. He called to his wife and she came in wearing a black dress and veil as one in mourning. “What has happened,” Luther cried out, “Has someone died? “Yes, Martin,” she replied, “haven’t you heard; God has died.” Well, needless to say Luther was startled at first and then the message got through. He had been acting like God had died, when he knew for sure God had not died and could not die. We must be of good courage and wait on the Lord.


III. Be Productive While Waiting.
“He shall strengthen thine heart”
God has promised to give you strength while you are waiting. WHY? So you can go on doing what you are supposed to be doing for the Lord. When someone at a restaurant Waits on you, what are they doing? Sitting in a chair off to the side watching you? Waiting for you to say or do something? NO! They are Serving You; meeting your needs; fulfilling your requests; taking care of you.
So it is that Waiting on the Lord is Not going on a Spiritual Vacation and doing nothing. Some say, “I’m waiting on the Lord” and therefore justify the fact that they are Doing Nothing right now.
God wants you to Continue Living for Him; Continue Serving Him; Continue Working for Him; Continue Praying, Studying, Praising, Worshiping, Attending his House, Doing his will.
Waiting Time should not be Wasted Time.
Thin of Saul/Paul who was gloriously saved on Road to Damascus and preached powerfully in Damascus. Then he had to flee for his life, was taught by God in Arabia, finally was accepted by disciples in early church but doors of full time ministry did Not open for Him at that time among the Church in Jerusalem. He then went to his home town of Tarsus and served the Lord there for almost a year. Then Barnabas came looking for him and they went to Antioch for a year then out on the First missionary journey; as they say, “The rest is history” What if Saul/Paul had sat down in idleness to “wait on the Lord” to open doors of ministry? He would have probably sat there until his life ended. Instead, he was Up and Doing; working for the Lord while he waited on the Lord.
While You are Waiting for Further Directions, Keep Doing the Last Thing God told you to do.
While Waiting for a Future Work, Keep doing what God has led you to do right now.
One of the worst things you can do while waiting on the Lord is to go into Neutral spiritually where you are out of gear; not going forward; just treading water; IDLE; Unproductive and Unreliable. Those who are not Faithful in the Least- will not be made Rulers over More.
Bloom Where You’re Planted! Make a Difference Where You Are-
Don’t be Pining for God’s future Will- be Doing God’s present Will. Be Productive!


IV. Be Persistent While Waiting.
“Wait, I say, on the Lord.”
“Wait on the Lord, (patience) Be of good courage,(positive), He will strengthen your heart (being productive) THEN again, Wait on the Lord, (be persistent)
Don’t be discouraged- Don’t become disillusioned- Don’t let doubt overcome your mind and heart- Don’t Give UP- Don’t throw in the towel.
Keep Waiting on the Lord; Keep a Right Spirit and a Right Attitude.
Keep on Doing what you know to do; Keep on trusting His Word.
Keep on Praising his Name; Keep on Praying.
Wait, I say on the Lord.
Is. 40:28 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.