Waiting on Jesus

Opening

2018 years ago, the lady disciples of the Lord Jesus prepared spices very early in the morning on the first day of the week

They head out to the tomb where Jesus was laid 3 days prior to that day

They saw the stone rolled away from the tomb and upon entering, they did not find a body

It was an empty tomb

Turn to you neighbor and say “Jesus is Risen!”

BREATHE!

After 40 days of private and public appearances of Jesus, He had led his disciples to the vicinity of Bethany

And there, He lifted up His hands and blessed them

While He was blessing them, He was taken up to heaven ()

Luke 24:51 NIV

While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.

Turn to you neighbor and say “Jesus is Risen!”

He is sat at the right hand of God ()

Mark 16:19 NIV

After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.

Matthew 16:19 NIV

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Jesus is alive!

And He will return!

And he

BREATHE!

Text: Waiting on Jesus

Our text for today is from the 9th chapter of the Letter to the Hebrews in verse 28 it says...

Hebrews 9:28 NIV

so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

The author of Hebrews explained that a covenant is just like a “will”

Because the will is in force only when somebody has died

And with our covenant with God, it was Jesus who willingly offered Himself to die to enforce God’s will

In the old testament, the priests has to sacrifice each time they come into the presence of God

Unlike Jesus, He sacrificed Himself once to take away the sins of many

And He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation

Salvation to whom?

to those who are WAITING for Him

BREATHE!

Illustration:

Are you good at waiting?

Nobody wants “waiting”

Specially living in the 21st century when everything is “fast”

When everything is almost instantaneous

BUT! There are things that may only be learned through waiting and no other way

Immature child doesn’t know the difference between “no” and “not yet”

Our inability to wait is the cause of many problems in our lives

It’s the cause of all debts

It’s the cause of social problems, even diseases contracted from sex before marriage

It is frustrating when you are in a hurry while God is not

You can rush your children, but you cannot rush God

Always remember that “no” is not “not yet”

God needs to work on you, before He works on the solution

Often times we do not understand what God is doing in our lives

But that is simply how it is, we should learn to wait on God

Because if you’d understand what God is doing, then you’ll be god

BREATHE!

What to I need to Remember while I’m in the Waiting Room of Life?

5 things to Remember while Waiting

Remember that there is a natural delay

Sowing & Reaping

In it says that there’s time for everything

Unseen battle is going on

war betwen God and evil

our struggle is not against flesh and blood

God already heard our prayers but the delay could be caused by the unseen battle that is going on

Daniel 10:12–13 NIV

Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.

Write this down, “A Delay is not a Denial”

God is preparing you for His blessings

God has usually a bigger and better idea/answers to your prayers

God is more interested in changing your character than His excitement to answer you prayers

Because your character is what you’re going to bring with you to heaven

You’re in a good company while you’re waiting

Millions of saints before you had sat on God’s waiting room

Noah waited 120 years for the flood

Abraham waited to become the father of many nations

Joseph waited to become the ruler of Egypt

David waited to be the king of Israel

And they were commended for that ()

That God always keeps His promises

There are about 5,000 promises in the Bible

Don’t focus on what you don’t have, focus on what God have, and what God can do

And focus on God’s unlimited abilities instead on your limited abilities

BREATHE!

In it says…

Habakkuk 2:3 CEV

At the time I have decided, my words will come true. You can trust what I say about the future. It may take a long time, but keep on waiting— it will happen!

Habakkuk 2:3 NIV

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.

What should you do while waiting?

4 Things to Do while in God’s Waiting Room

1. Write Down the Lessons I’m Learning

Waiting is always the season to listen

If you don’t write them down, you forget them

Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and into the wilderness and he took note of all the lessons they learned.

Numbers 33:2 NLT

At the Lord’s direction, Moses kept a written record of their progress. These are the stages of their march, identified by the different places where they stopped along the way.

A Journal is different from a Diary

2. Act as Though You Already Have It

When you act as though you already have it, that’s an act of faith

Note the “tense” in Jesus said..

Mark 11:24 NIV

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Illustration: Pregnant woman

Practical Application: If you’r praying for a job, act as if you already have a job

Waiting is not “passivity”

But expectantly “waiting in faith”

3. Imitate the Habit that Grows Strong Faith

Imitate people of strong faith

Keep on Praying

Keep on Serving (servers are called waiters)

Keep on going to Life Groups (), if you don’t like your Life Group, look for another one, or better yet, start one (if you don’t like the restaurant, it doesn’t mean you should stop eating, it means look for another restaurant)

Keep on Sowing ()

Keep on Believing (stay active. God cannot steer a parked car. He cannot direct a stalled car)

Use waiting to grow in maturity

Hebrews 6:12 NIV

We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Look for a stronger christian and imitate their faith, their good habits

Apostle Paul is among the greatest christian that have ever lived, and this is what he said to the christians in Philippi

Philippians 4:9 NIV

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

In it says..

Hebrews 13:7 NIV

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

We Learn by modeling

That’s why every 3rd Sunday of the Month we show you testimonies

4. Trust God instead of Panicking

Proverbs 3:5 NIV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

God is never in a hurry

God is never late

God’s timing is always perfect

When God seems to be late, He is not, actually He is preparing you for a miracle

Illustration: Lazarus was sick. Jesus raised him from the dead

CLOSING

Illustration: Story of Bamboo

Galatians 6:9 NIV

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.