Praying While We Wait

Pray....

Hello Everyday church, and all those who may see this message . What an interesting time we are living in, but I am thankful I get to share with you all all what the Lord has put on my heart today. Last week My wife, my daughter, my brother and sister in law and I went to disney world, and while their was some cold days it was nothing like this, and if you have even been to disney or any other theme park you know that their if often a-lot of waiting… One of the longest waits I have ever had was 2 weeks ago on a friday morning. There is a ride called rise of the resistance in the star wars part of the park, and in order for you to ride it you have to get up early in the morning and sign up right at 7am. I did everything i could to get on that ride and when 7am came around I failed to get it, I trusted that i did everything right, but unfortunately i did not get it, and honestly it ruined my morning, despite having a chance to get it later I did not want to wait. as the burger king motto goes I wanted it my way. Despite not getting it in the morning we arrived at the park and had a great day, because I was with my family, and when the time came to get the pass later on we got it, and the wait was worth it. See often in life we must wait on things before we get what we want or desire, but its often in the waiting where God teaches us the most. I have Titled the message today “Praying while we wait” and we see this title clearly in Psalm 27 let us read it and see what the Lord will teach us about praying while we wait…

Waiting on the Lord in prayer starts with trust.

1-3

The Psalmist begins this psalm describing God’s role to him.. He had a strong trust for the Lord. He calls the Lord his light, his salvation and his stronghold.

This Psalm is sometimes linked to important battle or a great struggle’s that David might of had. There is not a consensus of when this prayer took place , but for David, Isreal, and Believers it has great importance, because it shows the trust they had in the Lord.

The terms light, salvation, and stronghold really set the groundwork for this prayer of confidence, because it perfectly describes who the Lord is.

For David their was no greater light than the light of the Lord. This light was personal , The Lord was his light, and that light had been a presence throughout his life. It was because of this light that he did not fear the darkness. He actually had joy despite everything that was going on. The light that was shown to him caused him to go to prayer often. Its this trust in the light of who God is that allowed him to be so confident that he could make such a bold prayer and he did this also because the Lord is his salvation.

He called God his salvation. This salvation is not just I am saved by the Lord. It’s the Lord has saved me and will continue to save me in a multitude of ways. The rest of the Psalm shows that he believed that to be true. The evildoers, the armies, the adversaries, the foes could not break the trust that David had for the Lord.

This is because the Lord was the stronghold of his life. The Lord was his place of safety. The text confirms this. It was those who were opposed to him that would stumble and fall, not David. This is why he was not afraid, because of the Lord’s light, his salvation and his stronghold. Though the enemies in life may seem greater , God is greater. Though we may have fear their is nothing to fear. All believers including David confidence does not rest in circumstances, but it rests in who God is. He is light, he is our salvation, and he is our stronghold.

The difference between David and us is we are on the other side of the Cross, where believers find that light, salvation, and stronghold In Jesus Christ and his work. Trusting Christ to be all those things is a game-changer.

If you have an alarm system you know that their are many different features, and the main point of those features is that you are safe from anyone who may try to rob you or cause you harm. The best alarms have motion censor lights, motion censor’s in and outside of the house with the windows and door’s closely monitored some people go far to have gaited yards to keep people away who are not suppose to be there, and the point of those alarms are to protect you, and that protection makes you feel safe, and trust that no matter what happens you will be protected from evil. See God is the alarm system that never fails, because he is light, salvation, and stronghold.

Listen to the words in Romans. Romans 8:31, “ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us who can be against us?

Our trust doesn't lie in anything we can do it, but in God. And IF he is for us nothing can be against us . AND when it comes to prayer this is the difference maker. Because we come to God knowing and trusting him that can hear our prayers. This is why we can go to him with all confidence, with all the trust in the Lord because of who he is and not because of who we are. When we pray to God start with trusting he can do all things, and rest in that confidence!

waiting on the Lord in prayer starts with trust.

Waiting on the Lord in prayer means asking for God’s presence 4-6

Davids statement is a serious one. He is asking the Lord for one thing, that he will dwell in the house of the Lord all of his days. This doesn't mean that he will be only be in a literal temple where the priests are, where their is physical protection which includes shelter, but this means that he is desiring to be in the presence of God forever.

The temple was a place where people would go in order to seek God, in hopes of being in his presence, and David wanted that presence. This presence was desired because he desired a protection that would never end. David knew that in the presence of God there was an everlasting beauty that never ended. That beauty was magnified because the Lord was his light, his salvation, and his stronghold. The Lord was his true safe space.

It was a place he could rest in during the storm, or in days of trouble he wouldn't have to worry if he was surrounded by enemies, because he knew that the very presence of God would protect him, and because of that he would sing praises back to God, and exalt him forever.

John Piper says this, “In the end, the heart longs not for any of God’s good gifts, but for God himself. To see him and know him and be in his presence is the soul’s final feast. Beyond this there is no quest. Words fail. We call it pleasure, joy, delight. But these are weak pointers to the unspeakable experience”

It was David’s greatest desire to be with God. To be in his presence. To experience God fully, and rest in him alone.

When we pray to Lord we pray for his presence. Part of prayer is not just wanting him to answer those prayers, but he will be with us while we pray. We dont want the answered prayers only, we want the God who answers prayers. When you are waiting on the Lord in prayer ask for his presence.

Waiting on the Lord in prayer starts with trust.

Waiting on the Lord in prayer means asking for God’s presence

Waiting on the Lord in prayer shows us our need for him 7-12 .

David continues the prayer asking for help, while showing us our need for God. We can see that he was desperate for help. We see that desperation in a multitude of ways. He says Hear O Lord when I cry aloud!!! He is praying with words that that have purpose. and he is praying that God will be gracious to him and answer him. He is begging for mercy!

He asks that he does not hide his face from him, he asks that he doesn’t turn away from him. There is a great desperation from David. He desires that the Lord hear his cry and help him in his need.

David wants to have that continued help from the Lord. He wants his savior to keep saving him. He was in trouble and in need and he wanted God to act now. He had been saved before but he wanted it again, he didn’t want the Lord to forsake him or leave him during this time of need.

He even brings his own parents into the equation. Now Scripture doesn’t have any examples of David being betrayed by his father or mother. But as good as they were to David, God was better, and would never forget David. A single parent may help a child in a great way, but God out preforms both mother, and father, and David knew that the Lord would always protect him and give him everything he needed.

He continues to show need by asking him to teach him the Lord’s ways. David was in a difficult situation, and he knew only the Lord could teach him how to get out of it. David no doubt had the greatest of army’s and all the resources at this disposal, yet he asked the Lord to teach him what he should do. Our default in life shouldn’t be to see what he have that can help us, but to look to the Lord for help. This help would lead him down the right path a straight path. Instead of worldly ideas that often lead us down a winding road, the Lord’s way take us down the fast track to get where we are suppose to go.

David was being attacked in many ways. The text says that it was both vocal and physical. He was being pursued by his enemies in a variety of ways. Yet the Lord will protect him. While the enemies purpose was to destroy him, the Lord was going to protect him. Psalm 41:2 says, “ the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.”

David had a great need, and the Lord met it. The text shows us when we have a need that we should pray for it, and see the Lord work.

Listen to what Charles Spurgeon says, “I have a great need for Christ: I have a great Christ for my need.” Most of our prayers are spurred on by the needs of others, or ourselves, but take heart we have a great savior that gives us what we need. And while we wait on him let us remember our need for him. Be desperate and confident like the Psalmist is and always remember our need for Christ when we go to him in prayer.

waiting on the Lord in prayer starts with trust.

Waiting on the Lord in prayer means asking for God’s presence.

waiting on the Lord in prayer shows us our need for him.

Waiting on the Lord in prayer strengthens our faith. 13-14

David ends this prayer with confidence. A confidence that God will answer the prayer. That he will survive to see the goodness of God in the land of the living. He will live despite of all that may be against him. He knew that his days were not numbered by the enemy, but by God, and that gave him all the confidence to wait on the Lord.

His faith would grow and be strengthened because of his waiting on the Lord. David looked confidently to the Lord expecting him to move, but he did so with a waiting heart. This waiting was not wasted though, he himself was strengthened and his courage grew.

Moses in the book of Deut 31:6-8 says this, “ Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. 8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

See waiting on the Lord doesn’t mean to passively wait, we must act while we wait. Waiting on the Lord requires a dependence and a trust that only comes from truly knowing the Lord.

Praying for a Child… 16 months of praying and waiting and then it happened… ( tell our story how each point impacted that prayer of waiting ) ( how trusting Christ was the true anchor to it all )

See God often teaches us in the waiting what he wants us to know, and part of that was....

Waiting on the Lord in prayer starts with trust.

Waiting on the Lord in prayer means asking for God’s presence.

waiting on the Lord in prayer shows us our need for him.

Waiting on the Lord in prayer strengthens out faith.

See at the end of the day God answers every prayer so we must wait.

Responce..

This prayer applies directly to every member of the body of Everyday Church.

During the Last several weeks we have been praying for a mighty move of God, last week the Lord increased the number of people that attended in person, and we trust that he is going to do it again…

We are praying that he will be in our presence and that we seek him during this time, and all of our days…

We are praying that during this time we see a great need for him, that we keep him at the center, and depend on him for revival and growth.

We are praying that during this time our faith grows greater than ever, as we connect back together through egroups, and as we gather each and every week that we would be a church that is on fire for Jesus.

Now personally how does this message impact you? Maybe you are like my wife and I praying for something big to happen, or praying for a job, or health, family members, and friends to be saved, trust first that God can answer that prayer, because of who he is… ask for him to be with you during that time ask him to enter into the presence of all those you are praying for. See your need for him, pray that others eyes will see that great need, trust him like david, and be strengthened in that time.

Gospel invitation

As a church I would have loved to sing these words from Shane and Shane.

The first few words go like this

Out of the depths I cry to You In darkest places I will call Incline Your ear to me anew And hear my cry for mercy Lord

Were You to count my sinful ways How could I come before Your throne Yet full forgiveness meets my gaze I stand redeemed by grace alone

I will wait for You, I will wait for You On Your word I will rely I will wait for You, surely wait for You Till my soul is satisfied

So put Your hope in God alone Take courage in His power to save Completely and forever won By Christ emerging from the grave