Worth the Wait!

Sermon: Worth the Wait!

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Acts 1:1–14 ESV

1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” 12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Acts 2:1–24 ESV

1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” 14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17 “ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ 22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

Acts 2:36–47 ESV

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

While reading the scripture:

These 120 followers of Jesus had to wait. And wait. And wait. 10 days. Food had to be prepared, clothes had to be cleaned, babies had to be tended to, children had to be managed, work had to be done, personalities may have clashed. They were hunkered down in the middle of the daily drudgery of life. They had just experienced the most amazing things that any human has ever experienced. And they were about to experience another absolutely amazing act of God, the sending of the Holy Spirit into their lives and hearts and minds. The power of almighty God, residing in them. But they didn’t really understand what was going to happen or how absolutely incredible it was going to be. We still don’t really, do we. It is such a mystery. But still, they Knew Jesus promised something amazing. But in the meantime, they had to wait and they had no idea how long.

10 days is a long time. Does anyone remember what happened the Wednesday before Father’s Day? It’s been too long ago. Think about how much stuff you have done in the last 10 days. How many meals have you prepared and eaten. How many loads of laundry have you done. How many dishes have had to be cleaned. How many chores and honey do’s have you taken care of. Ask my daughter how many diapers she has changed on little Adalyn! 10 days is a long time to wait.

Finish text.

Some things are just worth the wait.

Ill: Father’s Day meal at Sharon’s.

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Fireworks show.

Vacation drive. Are we there yet?

But greater than all those things, God has so much instore for people who wait on Him.

Its always that was with God. See Noah waiting in the Ark. See Abraham waiting for a son. See Moses waiting on Mount Sanai; See Elijah waiting in a cave; See Naomi waiting with her mother-in-law. See Esther waiting with the king. See Jonah waiting in a whale. See all the OT prophets waiting for messiah; See Mary waiting to give birth. See the leper waiting for Jesus. See bartemeius waiting outside Jericho, See Zacheus waiting in a tree. See Jesus waiting to die and rise again! See Him even now waiting to return!

Topical Analysis of the Bible 6. Illustrations of Obedience

6. Illustrations of Obedience

a) Noah Obeyed God

Gen. 7:5

b) Abraham Obeyed God

Gen. 22:15–18; Heb. 11:8–10

c) Moses Obeyed God

Heb. 3:2–3

d) Caleb Obeyed God

Deut. 1:35–36

e) Joshua Obeyed God

Josh. 10:40; Josh. 11:15

f) Job Obeyed God

Job 1:8

g) David’s Prayer Illustrates Obedience

1 Chron. 29:10–19

h) Asa Obeyed God

1 Kings 15:11

i) Elijah Obeyed God

1 Kings 17:1–6

j) Jehoshaphat Obeyed God

1 Kings 22:42–43

k) Jonah Obeyed God

Jon. 3:1–3

l) Hezekiah Obeyed God

2 Kings 18:5–6

m) Josiah Obeyed God

2 Kings 23:3, 25

n) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Obeyed God

Dan. 3:26–29

o) Zerubbabel Obeyed God

Hag. 1:12

p) Joseph Obeyed God

Matt. 1:24–25; Matt. 2:13–15

q) Zechariah and Elizabeth Obeyed God

Luke 1:5–6

r) Jesus Christ Obeyed God

Matt. 3:13–17; Luke 2:41–50; John 4:34; John 8:29; John 15:10; John 17:4; Phil. 2:5–8; Heb. 5:7–8; Heb. 10:5–7

s) Paul Obeyed God

Acts 23:1; Acts 26:9–20; 2 Tim. 1:3

t) The Roman Believers Obeyed God

Rom. 16:19

Dictionary of Bible Themes 5467 promises, divine

promises, divine

The promises of God reveal his particular and eternal purposes to which he is unchangeably committed and upon which believers can totally depend. These promises are, however, conditional upon obedience on the part of believers.

God’s promises are irrevocable

He is absolutely trustworthy Nu 23:19 See also Tit 1:2; Heb 6:13-18

He is unchanging Ps 110:4; Mal 3:6-7; Jas 1:17-18

He has the power and will to fulfil his promises Isa 55:11 See also Ro 4:21

He is faithful in keeping all his promises Jos 21:45; 23:14-15; 1Ki 8:56; Ps 145:13; Heb 10:23

His promises stem from his goodness and glory 2Pe 1:3-4

Dictionary of Bible Themes 5467 promises, divine

God’s promises must be received by believers

They are received by faith Gal 3:22 See also Jn 1:12; Ro 4:13-16

They are received by perseverance and obedience Heb 10:36 See also Ro 4:19-24; 2Co 7:1; Heb 6:12

Dictionary of Bible Themes 5467 promises, divine

Particular promises of God in Christ

The gift of the Holy Spirit Lk 24:49; Ac 1:4; 2:33; Eph 1:13

The fullness of life and eternal life 2Ti 1:1; Heb 12:26-28; Jas 1:12; 2:5; 1Jn 2:25

Resurrection Jn 5:29; 11:25-26; 1Co 15:48-57; 2Co 4:14; 1Th 4:16

The forgiveness of sins 1Jn 1:9

The presence of God Ex 3:12; 33:14; Jos 1:9; Isa 58:9; Mt 28:20; Heb 13:5

The peace of God 1Ch 22:9; Ps 85:8; Isa 9:6-7; Ro 5:1; Php 4:4-9

Joy in God Ps 16:11; 132:16; Jn 16:20-24

The knowledge of God Jer 31:33-34; Jn 17:25-26; 1Jn 5:20

The New Bible Dictionary, Third Edition Promise

The point of convergence of the OT promises (to Abraham, Moses, David and the Fathers through the prophets) is Jesus Christ. All the promises of God are confirmed in him, and through him affirmed by the church in the ‘Amen’ of its worship (2 Cor. 1:20). The OT quotations and allusions in the Gospel narratives indicate this fulfilment. The Magnificat and the Benedictus rejoice that God has kept his word. The promised Word has become flesh. The new covenant has been inaugurated—upon the ‘better promises’ prophesied by Jeremiah (Je. 31; Heb. 8:6–13). Jesus is its guarantee (Heb. 7:22, and the Holy Spirit of promise its first instalment (Eph. 1:13–14).

Awaiting the promise of Christ’s coming again and of the new heavens and a new earth (2 Pet. 3:4, 9, 13), the church sets forth on her missionary task with the assurance of his presence (Mt. 28:20) and with the news that ‘the promise of the Father’—the Holy Spirit (after Joel 2:28)—is given to Jew and pagan in Jesus Christ, fulfilling the promise to Abraham of universal blessing through his posterity. The promise is correlated to faith and open to all who, by imitating Abraham’s faith, become ‘children of the promise’ (Gal. 3; Rom. 4; 9). (*ESCHATOLOGY, *SCRIPTURE.)

Sermon in a nutshell is this: Waiting on the promises of God is always worth the wait! So, wait well! In fact how we wait is critical.

2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV

20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

2 Corinthians

I would like to spend some time this morning exploring how to wait on the promises of God, well.

Stand on the promises of God! (Resolute faith- you walk on the floor of your home because trust it will hold you up, that it will be firm foundation, that it will not trip you up. We stand on what we trust. Stand on the promises of God. Well, what promises? There are a lot of them but I think they are all summed up in one great truth- Christ!

2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV

20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

There are three promises of God that we find in our text today that are all we need for a sure foundation on which to stand.

Promise of Salvation through Christ.

Acts 2:38–39 ESV

38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV

20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

Share Gospel Message.

Promise of Giving of Holy Spirit- the Spirit of Christ.

Acts 2:38 ESV

38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Upon Conversion, no waiting.

Gifts to fulfill the mission, calling and to glorify God.

Convict of Sin (Stay attractive)

Make us more like Christ- Through obedience and prayer and learning God’s Word.

Now the reality is, life can be so brutal sometimes. There are those great moments of victory on the mountain top with God. But there are so many times in the valley. And the rest of the time we are in sort of the normal day to day grind of life.

It will be worth it all.

Thats what these early followers did.

Acts 2:42 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

That’s what all the great heroes of the Bible did I mentioned earlier.

Now the reality is, life can be so brutal sometimes. There are those great moments of victory on the mountain top with God. But there are so many times in the valley. And the rest of the time we are in sort of the normal day to day grind of life.

Dictionary of Bible Themes 5467 promises, divine

Dictionary of Bible Themes 5467 promises, divine: The promises of God reveal his particular and eternal purposes to which he is unchangeably committed and upon which believers can totally depend. These promises are, however, conditional upon obedience on the part of believers.

The promises of God reveal his particular and eternal purposes to which he is unchangeably committed and upon which believers can totally depend. These promises are, however, conditional upon obedience on the part of believers.

God’s promises are irrevocable

He is absolutely trustworthy See also ;

He is unchanging ; ;

He has the power and will to fulfil his promises See also

He is faithful in keeping all his promises ; ; ; ;

His promises stem from his goodness and glory

But though they are irrevocable, the Bible teaches they are conditional on the obedience of His children. Rick Warren puts it this way: For every promise of God there is a premise.

Hebrews 10:36 ESV

36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

Obedience is hard. Oh it seems easy when we are on the mountain top Spiritually. But so difficult while in the valley.

Now the reality is, life can be so brutal sometimes. There are those great moments of victory on the mountain top with God. But there are so many times in the valley. And the rest of the time we are in sort of the normal day to day grind of life.

If you are like me you have gone through several if not many periods of your life where you are wondering where in the world are God and his promises! Your world came crashing down around you and nothing made sense at all. A major health crisis. OK God why? Financial disaster, lost job. Whats going on. Family issues, prodigal child perhaps. A sudden death in the family, maybe a spouse or a child or a close friend. Why God, Why!! No answer. God you promised that all things are going to work for good to those who love you. Im waiting!

Maybe you have struggled spiritually. You were once on fire for God and serving and praying and reading the His Word. You were growing in grace and becoming more like Jesus. But then it was like Jesus left or something. A season of spiritual dryness came into your life for seemingly no good reason. God you promised to finish what you started, to make me like Jesus. I am so dry and worn out spiritually. Like the Psalmist said...restore to me the joy of your salvation!

I am almost certain everyone here knows what I am talking about, you’ve been there. Maybe some of you are there right now. It was all you could do to get your self together to even get up and come to church. You are confused about God and his promises.

Let me tell you something that the Bible teaches and that you already know deep down in your soul. God loves you and he keeps His promises and they are always worth the wait! Hang on for the ride of your life!

My prayer this morning is that we can find some encouragement from this text regarding waiting for God and how we can wait well. How we wait is cricital.

They obeyed and they prayed:

Prayer is critical. This is what Jesus meant when he said remain in me, abide in me. Don’t every stop praying. Paul wrote to pray without ceasing. He didn’t say, pray without ceasing unless you are suffering or in a state of spiritual dryness.

Obey what?

Pray for an answer to your suffering. But pray for grace to accept and act upon the answer He gives.

Pray for the joy of your salvation to be renewed and for the HS to search your heart and reveal any unconfessed sin in your life.

If no sin is revealed and no good answer comes, rejoice in the fact that you are sharing in the sufferings of Christ.

The Word of God.

The Word of God. Which implies we must continue reading, just like these early followers of Christ did; even when it is boring. You just never know when that spark will ignite and it is almost always while reading, studying or listening to the word of God. Keep going to church and singing and listening to sermons. Go to Bible studies. Read and read and read. One of the best ways to light that spark is to read large amounts of Scripture in one setting, several days in a row. Make it a habit to read large passages, even entire chapters if not entire books of the Bible at one time. Challenge yourself to read the entire Gospel of John in one weekend. There are a host of reading plans available, find one and stick to it. You just never know when something will stir your heart as the Holy Spirit rewards your desire to Abide in Christ by abiding in His word. In addition to reading, obey what it says. Don’t just be a hearer only, but be a doer of the word. A lot of times we read the bible with other people in mind, what they should do. How others should be obeying the word. But we need to be focused on how WE should obey the word.Its like the old boy who was rant and raving about people who text and drive. I just cant stand people who text and drive it is so dangerous! How ignorant they are. I was driving to work this morning and someone was texting and driving next to me and they veered into my lane and almost hit me. I had to swerve so hard to avoid them that I dropped my razor in my bowl of cereal! We need to read the word of God with the intention of bowing beneath its authority and obeying what it says.

Besides praying, they obeyed Jesus. While waiting on God, obedience is critical.

Obey what?

You just never know when that spark will ignite and it is almost always while reading, studying or listening to the word of God. One of the best ways to light that spark is to read large amounts of Scripture in one setting, several days in a row. Make it a habit to read large passages, even entire chapters if not entire books of the Bible at one time. Challenge yourself to read the entire Gospel of John in one weekend. There are a host of reading plans available, find one and stick to it. You just never know when something will stir your heart as the Holy Spirit rewards your desire to Abide in Christ by abiding in His word. In addition to reading, obey what it says. Don’t just be a hearer only, but be a doer of the word. A lot of times we read the bible with other people in mind, what they should do. How others should be obeying the word. But we need to be focused on how WE should obey the word.

Its like the old boy who was rant and raving about people who text and drive. I just cant stand people who text and drive it is so dangerous! How ignorant they are. I was driving to work this morning and someone was texting and driving next to me and they veered into my lane and almost hit me. I had to swerve so hard to avoid them that I dropped my razor in my bowl of cereal! We need to read the word of God with the intention of bowing beneath its authority and ob

Illustration: Its like the old boy who was rant and raving about people who text and drive. I just cant stand people who text and drive it is so dangerous! How ignorant they are. I was driving to work this morning and someone was texting and driving next to me and they veered into my lane and almost hit me. I had to swerve so hard to avoid them that I dropped my razor in my bowl of cereal! We need to read the word of God with the intention of bowing beneath its authority and obeying what it says.

1. The Word of God. Which implies we must continue reading, just like these early followers of Christ did; even when it is boring. You just never know when that spark will ignite and it is almost always while reading, studying or listening to the word of God. Keep going to church and singing and listening to sermons. Go to Bible studies. Read and read and read. One of the best ways to light that spark is to read large amounts of Scripture in one setting, several days in a row. Make it a habit to read large passages, even entire chapters if not entire books of the Bible at one time. Challenge yourself to read the entire Gospel of John in one weekend. There are a host of reading plans available, find one and stick to it. You just never know when something will stir your heart as the Holy Spirit rewards your desire to Abide in Christ by abiding in His word. In addition to reading, obey what it says. Don’t just be a hearer only, but be a doer of the word. A lot of times we read the bible with other people in mind, what they should do. How others should be obeying the word. But we need to be focused on how WE should obey the word.

The Specific Words of Christ:

Its like the old boy who was rant and raving about people who text and drive. I just cant stand people who text and drive it is so dangerous! How ignorant they are. I was driving to work this morning and someone was texting and driving next to me and they veered into my lane and almost hit me. I had to swerve so hard to avoid them that I dropped my razor in my bowl of cereal!

2. The Specific Words of Christ:

We need to read the word of God with the intention of bowing beneath its authority and obeying what it says.

Jesus told them to Be His Witnesses, but for now wait. And that is exactly what they did. They waited and then they became his witnesses. This word witness is the greek word Martyr where we get the word. We are to be willing to lay down our life for the sake of reaching others for Christ. No greater love than to lay down one’s life for His friends. Jesus laid down His life willingly for 33 years to obey the Father, for you and me. He asks the same from us. Isn’t that what Jesus said. If anyone is to come after me, he must deny Himself and pick up His cross and follow me. Which implies, laying down on that cross and being nailed to it. He did not ask us to literally die! It is far easier to die than to lay down the life day in and day out for Christ and for others. As Oswald Champers once said, “If I am a friend of Jesus, I have deliberately and carefully to lay down my life for Him. It is difficult, and thank God it is difficult. Salvation is easy because it cost God so much, but the manifestation of it in my life is difficult. God saves a man and endues him with the Holy Spirit, and then says in effect—‘Now work it out, be loyal to Me, whilst the nature of things round about you would make you disloyal.’ “I have called you friends.” Stand loyal to your Friend, and remember that His honour is at stake in your bodily life.[1]”

2. The Specific Words of Christ:

Jesus told them to Be His Witnesses, but for now wait. And that is exactly what they did. They waited and then they became his witnesses. This word witness is the greek word Martyr where we get the word. We are to be willing to lay down our life for the sake of reaching others for Christ. No greater love than to lay down one’s life for His friends. Jesus laid down His life willingly for 33 years to obey the Father, for you and me. He asks the same from us. Isn’t that what Jesus said. If anyone is to come after me, he must deny Himself and pick up His cross and follow me. Which implies, laying down on that cross and being nailed to it. He did not ask us to literally die! It is far easier to die than to lay down the life day in and day out for Christ and for others. As Oswald Champers once said, “If I am a friend of Jesus, I have deliberately and carefully to lay down my life for Him. It is difficult, and thank God it is difficult. Salvation is easy because it cost God so much, but the manifestation of it in my life is difficult. God saves a man and endues him with the Holy Spirit, and then says in effect—‘Now work it out, be loyal to Me, whilst the nature of things round about you would make you disloyal.’ “I have called you friends.” Stand loyal to your Friend, and remember that His honour is at stake in your bodily life.[1]”

Want to experience the resurrection power of Christ in your life, lay down your life for someone else.

We are to be His witness; His martyr.

If we are going to stand on the promises of God, we need to obey the Word of God.

The Direction of the Holy Spirit

3. The Direction of the Holy Spirit

People may ask, what is this cross you are talking about. What cross? If I am supposed to carry my cross, where is it? And this is my answer: Where ever you left it. What did the Holy Spirit ask you to do last? Did you do it? God will always bring you back around to the point of your failure. Be obedient to what he told you to do last.

People may ask, what is this cross you are talking about. What cross? If I am supposed to carry my cross, where is it? And this is my answer: Where ever you left it.

Perhaps, sometime in the past, you were reading His word or listening to it being taught or preached and you had a strong sense of the Holy Spirit moving in you and giving you something you needed to do. Perhaps there is something the Holy Spirit has laid on your heart and you sensed you needed to make a change in your life or go do some particular thing. Maybe it was to forgive someone who hurt you really bad, maybe it was some point of service at the church, maybe it was asking for forgiveness for some wrong you did years ago. But you were able to get past the feeling of it and get back to normal routines of life. And then, for a while after that, everytime you prayed or placed yourself under the hearing of the Word of God, you got that same sense. But you refused and made excuses and let common sense win the day. As time went on, the calling diminished and grew more faint with each refusal to obey. Finally it just went away altogether. But now you sit there and the joy of your Salvation is simply gone. Can you tell I speak from experience? Oh, I know this all too well. You know what you need to do: Just do it! Oh and when you do, just get ready for the fire to burn within as you experience the full omnipotent power of the grace of God! Nothing creates more joy, Unspeakable joy, than the Holy Spirit working in your life, making you more like Christ and it is ignited by obedience.

Perhaps, sometime in the past, you were reading His word or listening to it being taught or preached and you had a strong sense of the Holy Spirit moving in you and giving you something you needed to do. Perhaps there is something the Holy Spirit has laid on your heart and you sensed you needed to make a change in your life or go do some particular thing. Maybe it was to forgive someone who hurt you really bad, maybe it was some point of service at the church, maybe it was asking for forgiveness for some wrong you did years ago. But you were able to get past the feeling of it and get back to normal routines of life. And then, for a while after that, everytime you prayed or placed yourself under the hearing of the Word of God, you got that same sense. But you refused and made excuses and let common sense win the day. As time went on, the calling diminished and grew more faint with each refusal to obey. Finally it just went away altogether. But now you sit there and the joy of your Salvation is simply gone. Just do it! Oh and when you do, just get ready for the fire to burn within as you experience the full omnipotent power of the grace of God! Nothing creates more joy than the Holy Spirit working in your life, making you more like Christ and it is obedience to Christ that He responds to.

God promises an unspeakable Joy and a peace that passes all understanding as we obey and pray. We are literally experiencing a little bit of heaven on earth.

The promises of God are worth the wait. If we are going to wait well, we must stand on His promises by obeying the direction of the Holy Spirit.

The promises of God are worth the wait.

Promise of Christ’s return

Acts 1.11

Promise of Christ’s return

It will be worth it all.

You know what the greatest promise God has made that we are all still waiting for. The return of Christ! The Bible promises that we will meet him in the air, or if we have already fallen asleep, we join him in paradise. That’s when we realize that everything we have been through will be absolutely worth it all!

Christ is returning. He will split open the eastern sky, the trump will sound, and our sanctification will come to completion, we will be glorified or made to be like Christ completely.

This day will soon be over! All Storms forever past!

We will cross that great divide, to glory safe at last.

We will share the joys of heaven! A harp, a home, a crown.

The tempter will be banished! We will FINALLY lay our burdens down!

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.

Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ.

One look His dear face, all sorrow will erase, so bravely run the race, till we see Christ.

[1] Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest: Selections for the Year (Grand Rapids, MI: Oswald Chambers Publications; Marshall Pickering, 1986).