We’re going to continue our teaching on God’s divine order of faith. So far we’ve covered 8 different steps. Step 1 was to identify the problem. Step 2 was to make a quality decision. Step 3 was to find the promise in the Word of God that speaks the answer to your particular need. Step 4 was to understand the importance of hearing the Word of God and make that conscious effort to hear it. Step number 5 was to meditate on the Word of God and see yourself in the light of it. Step 6 was to speak or confess the Word of God. Step number 7 was to act on the Word. And Step number 8 was to apply the power and pressure of patience. So far every step that we laid out has been closely linked and related to the previous step.

Well, the 9th step is no exception to the rule. It literally uses the previous step, “APPLYING THE POWER AND PRESSURE OF PATIENCE,” as a springboard. Step No. 9 is LEARNING TO WAIT FOR GOD’S TIMING. I don’t know what you heard about “Learning to Wait For God’s Timing,” but by listening to some people it sounds like the opposite of faith. They make it sound like there’s nothing that you can do about your situation; but that’s all up to the sovereignty of God. But that’s not what waiting on the Lord is. As a matter of fact, waiting on the Lord, is another weapon in your arsenal for getting victory over every problem you may face.

I) Turn to Micah 7:7

A) One of the most important truths that you can ever grasp in your Christian life is this: with God, there is an appointed time and a due season for everything.

1) Turn to Ecclesiastes 3. This is written by Solomon who was one of the wisest men who ever lived. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

a) God has an established season of time for every purpose in your life.

(i) He sees the end from the beginning and has a master time sheet when things are to happen in your life.

b) (Psalms 37:27) says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.”

(i) The Word “ORDERED” in this verse is literally “ESTABLISHED or PREPARED.”

(ii) In other words it should be worded like this, “The steps of a good man are prepared by the Lord.”

(iii) God has a perfect time frame when things are to happen in our lives, and as we yield to him His plan for our lives will begin to unfold. But it’s in His timing.

(iv) How do we begin to yield to the Lord? Simply, by surrendering and submitting to Him and by trusting in Him with all of our hearts.

c) Trusting in him is really the simple definition of faith. (Proverbs 3:5) says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding.”

d) If we put that all together, the way we walk in God’s path for our lives is by walking in faith and submitting to Him.

(i) But as we read in (Ecclesiastes 3) there is appointed time and appointed season for every purpose in your life.

B) David is a perfect example of that, he was anointed to be king of Israel, but it didn’t happen for nearly 20 years.

1) During that 20-year period, in the natural it looked like David would never be king over Israel.

a) You need to keep this in mind as you begin to pray and believe for certain things in your life.

2) Quite often the things you’ve asked for will directly and indirectly affect other believers as well.

a) Our lives are linked in such a complex way with others that God has to work all out together for good and it will be done in his perfect timing.

II) Look at Romans 8:28

A) The Word “PURPOSE” in this verse means “GOD’S PLAN.”

1) Our steps are order by the Lord, if we choose to walk in His plans everything will work out for good.

2) But sometimes there is a delay in the promises of God coming about.

a) I said this before, but it bears repeating that you and I, especially those of us to America, want everything right now, but God is not bound by our concept of time or distance.

b) Even with this church, Word of Life, there have been several visions and prophecies that Word of Life is going to be a large church, even 5000.

(i) But where are they? They will come in God’s timing.

III) We need to realize that delay is not denial.

A) Many times God needs to work out the situation before he can cause it to manifest in this natural realm.

1) Now it’s always good to judge ourselves, and see if there is something we’re doing wrong. But if it seems like you’re doing everything right, remember that delay is not denial. We need to wait on God’s perfect timing.

a) When things are slow in coming it does not mean that you have a lack of faith.

2) As I said before, David had to wait 20 years before he became king. I’m sure he had faith in what God said, but no matter how much faith he had it would not have caused him to become king any earlier.

a) But faith did play an important role in him becoming King. Without faith he would not have inherited the promise. (Hebrews 6:12)

b) He had to continue to stand in faith while he waited for the Lord’s perfect timing.

B) You might be wondering about some things today. You might be saying, “Lord, when is my business going to a take off?” There is a due season.

1) You might be saying, “Where is my ministry and the anointing that goes with it that I’ve been praying for?” There is a due season.

2) “Where is the husband or wife I so greatly desire?” There is a due season. Your time is coming.

a) Your key to avoiding frustration, fear and the temptation to quit is to understand that there is a time and due season for everything.

IV) Turn to Galatians 6:7-9

A) This passage is loaded with truth for the believer trying to get from the problem to the answer.

1) The 1st thing we see is the law of sowing and reaping. This deals with more than just literal seeds.

a) There are many things we sow like money, words, attitudes, time, and deeds good or bad.

2) Whatever you are right now is a result of your past sowing.

a) That’s difficult for a lot of people to except. It’s much more comfortable to blame others or the Devil for their problems.

b) But the fact is the Devil really can’t do anything until you give him an opening.

(i) Once you realize that your circumstances today are the product of the seeds you sowed yesterday, then you can start sowing good seeds now and reap the blessings of God tomorrow.

3) But when it comes to the frustration that so many believers feel when it comes to the things of faith, we really need to consider the last verse we read. Galatians 6:9

a) This verse is so important and it’s exactly where many believers miss it.

b) Somewhere along the road to your answer, the persecution, the affliction, or the seeming lack of results causes you to grow weary.

(i) Now don’t feel condemned if that’s happen to you because it happens to all of us.

c) You can be going strong, reading and meditating God’s Word, talking like you’re supposed to talk, doing what your supposed to be doing, praying, fasting, and doing everything else, and all of a sudden you realize your tired.

(i) At that critical moment when you feel the most tempted to move off your stand of faith and quit is the time you need to remember, DON’T BE WEARY IN WELL DOING.

(ii) Why? Because you’ll reap in due season if you’ll just hang on.

(iii) Don’t get tired of doing, speaking, and living God’s Word.

d) You need to continue to stand in faith. (Isaiah 7:9) from the NIV says, “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.”

(i) Don’t get tired of standing for your healing. Don’t get tired of your standing for prosperity. Don’t get tired of you’re tithing and giving.

(ii) Stay on the Word and stay in faith. You’re due season of harvest and blessing is coming. God has appointed it.

V) “In due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

A) Where the promises of God are concerned, it’s not a matter of “IF” He’s going to come through; it’s only a matter of “WHEN.”

1) God only knows how many times you’ve quit just before you’re due season arrived.

B) The Word “FAINT” in (Galatians 6:9) means “TO GIVE UP, CAVE IN, or QUIT.”

1) If you won’t give up under the pressure of circumstances and mocking voices, you will reap. Don’t stop. Your answer is on the way.

VI) Many times people will say, “But I’m not seeing any progress.”

A) But sometimes we fail to realize that progress is being made in the spiritual realm that we can’t see until it manifests in this realm.

1) A lot is going on in the spiritual realm that you’ll never perceive if you just go by what you see.

a) Don’t quit just because your mountain doesn’t seem to be moving.

b) Beneath the surface it could be breaking loose like crazy. You might be only moments away from seeing that mountain fly up and be cast in the sea. (MARK 11:23,24)

VII) Don’t faint and you’re home free.

A) Let me ask you this, where does fainting began? Where is a start?

B) Turn to Hebrews 12:3

1) Did you notice that, “Lest ye be wearied and faint in your MINDS”?

a) If you’re going to get weary and faint, and lose your harvest, it’s going to start in your mind.

2) Satan’s method is to come with suggestions, like “It’s not working. God doesn’t care about you. You’re not worthy.”

a) His aim is to get you to “FAINT IN YOUR MIND.”

b) Follow Jesus example and defeat him with “It is written.”

C) Another pitfall that many believers fall into when waiting on the promises of God is comparing their experience to that of other believers.

1) Maybe there are some things that God has placed in your heart, but you’re not presently seeing any opportunity to fulfill them. Just hang on. If you’ll stay in faith, your day is coming.

a) That’s why it’s so important not to operate in jealousy or envy when you see God moving in the lives of others.

(i) Learn to rejoice with those who rejoice, because your time is coming.

(ii) When you see God moving miraculously in another’s life, it’s too easy to sit back and grumble, “Why them and not me?”

(iii) That’s pure poison. And it will kill the good work God’s trying to bring about in you.

(a) Develop a child like trust in God’s timing. He loves you and has your best interests in mine.

D) One of the hardest things for a Christian to do is wait for God’s perfect timing after he’s placed a burning vision of something in your spirit.

1) Once God has shown you something, the tendency is to run out ahead of God and mess things up. But don’t do that.

a) If God has given you a vision, it may be a ministry, a spouse, a job, or anything else, learn to wait on God’s due season.

VIII) Turn to Habakkuk 2:2,3

A) Here’s some great advice for any believer with a vision from God.

1) 1st right it down plainly. That way you won’t be carried off into something God really didn’t show you.

a) Then, when you start feeling impatient or weary, remember, “The vision is for an appointed time... though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come.”

b) If you’re vision from God seems to be “TARRYING,” don’t lose heart. It will surely come in due season. You have God’s Word on it.

2) “But pastor, I don’t know how much longer I can wait. I’m getting tired of standing.”

a) But that’s okay. Just keep standing. God has made a provision for you.

B) Isaiah 40:28-31

1) If you’re in need healing, wait on the Lord. If you’re in need of a miracle, wait on the Lord. If you’ve grown weary from standing, wait on the Lord. If you’re in need of strength, wait on the Lord. If you’re feeling faint, wait on the Lord.

2) It’s a guaranteed prescription for renewing your strength and gaining the promises of God.

a) (Psalms 37:9) says, “Those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.”

C) Waiting on the Lord for His timing is a vital step in God’s divine order of faith.

WOLCC Sunday, November 30, 1997 & Sunday, March 09, 2003