Caught in a Thicket!

Other Title: Wait for your Breakthrough!

Opening Passages: Genesis 22:13, 1 Samuel 16:13, 2 Samuel 2:4, 2 Samuel 5:3

1. The Ram Caught in the Thicket:

Genesis 22:13

“And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. And, Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.”

· Like this ram, we sometimes feel that we have been “caught” in a thicket of life-trouble. We may be caught in a place, from which we can't escape... without the Lord's intervention!

· Was it by chance, was it by my own errors, or did the Lord do this?

· Like the ram, we will have to wait until ...

Have you ever waited with anticipation for a gift? ex: Christmas, Birthday, Wedding

2. David waited:

1 Samuel 16:1, 7, 10-13

1 “And the LORD said to Samuel, ‘How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go, I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.’ ...

7 But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.’ ...

10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘The LORD has not chosen these.’ 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Are here all your children?’ And he said, ‘There remains yet the youngest, and, behold, he keeps the sheep.’ And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come here.’ 12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, ‘Arise, anoint him: for this is he!’ 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.”

2 Samuel 2:1–4a

1 “And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the LORD, saying, ‘Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?’ And the LORD said to him, ‘Go up.’ And David said, ‘Where shall I go up?’ And he said, ‘To Hebron.’ 2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal’s wife the Carmelite. 3 And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. 4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. ...”

2 Samuel 5:3–5

3 “So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.”

For David, during the long wait from his first anointing to his final one, there were “Many Years and Many Trials.”

Wait for your Breakthrough!

3. Job waited:

James 5:11

“Behold, we call those who endure: ‘blessed.’ You have heard of the patience of Job, and you have seen the end of the Lord, ‘that the Lord is full of tender mercy and compassion.’”

Job 14:14

“If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time, will I wait, until my change comes.”

Job 23:8–10

8 “Behold, I go forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive Him: 9 On the left hand, where he does work, but I cannot behold Him; He hides Himself on the right hand, that I cannot see Him: 10 But He knows the way that I take: when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold!”

4. Wait on the Lord!!

Psalm 37:7

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him: fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.”

Hebrews 6:12–15

12 “That you be not slothful, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by none greater, He swore by Himself, 14 Saying, ‘Surely, while blessing, I will bless you, and while multiplying, I will multiply you.’ 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.”

Some examples of those who had to wait on the Lord?

Job, Noah, Abraham, David, Elijah, Jeremiah, John Baptizer

5. Which Wait is Blessed?

1 Peter 2:20

“For what glory is it, if while sinning and being buffeted, you do patiently-endure? But, if you are suffering while doing good, and patiently-endure, this is a grace (from/)with God.”

Don't wait if you need to repent and reconsecrate or make something right with God, or accomplish something He has told you to do.

But, if you are doing right, living right, doing the Lord's will; and yet you are still caught in a thicket, then wait, and patiently-endure!!

James 1:3

“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patient-endurance.”

6. Wait during a Crisis!

Consider the sacrifices that the WWII generation had to make until victory over tyranny and hatred was finally won. (the present coronavirus crisis.)

If you are caught in a thicket, wait! Wait on the Lord!

Wait, til the fulness of time comes.

Wait, in the Upper Room, for the promise.

Wait, while caught in a thicket.

Wait, while you are in the pit of despair.

Wait, until it is the will of the Lord for something else

to be done through you.

Wait, like you're waiting on plants to grow (fruit of the Spirit).

Wait, through the gradual but steady growth process.

Wait, until the crisis is finally past. Wait, while doing right, while living for the Lord.

Wait, until you prevail over sin and the flesh. Wait, until you get a breakthrough!

Wait, until the Lord returns to catch His bride away!!!

7. Wait! The Lord is Coming!

James 5:7–11

7 “Be patient therefore, brethren, to the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until He receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be also patient; establish your hearts: for the Coming of the Lord draws near. 9 Do not begrudge one another, brothers, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge stands before the door. 10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patient-endurance. 11 Behold, we call those who endure: ‘blessed.’ You have heard of the patience of Job, and you have seen the end of the Lord, ‘that the Lord is full of tender mercy and compassion.’”

The Lord is also waiting... waiting on His Bride. He is patient.

So, let's also wait patiently until that great Day!

Wait for your breakthrough!!

Wait until Victory!

Wait on the Coming of the Lord!!