Waiting for Salvation

1. Waiting

Having to wait for something you want is difficult. Indeed we may say that impatience is a normal human trait. Few people are born patient. We often scold our children for impatience; they seem to want everything now - immediately! So we keep telling them to wait. But the truth is we adults are as impatient as our children. We have to develop patience. Patience or 'long-suffering' is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is a gift from God.

Galatians 5:22

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith."

Here are a few examples of waiting:

Children: For food, presents, outings.
Adults: For work, marriage, offspring.
Nations: For independence.
The Church: For Messiah's return and the Kingdom of God.
Holy Angels: For the renewal of the entire universe and the final overthrow of Satan.

The Messiah: For the harvest of human souls - the fruit of His sacrifice.

James 5:7

"Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain."

This text tells of Jesus Christ, who is also patiently waiting for his Father to give the spiritual rain which will ripen the redeemed human crop.

Yahweh: No doubt the Most High is also waiting for just the right time to send the latter rain. In other words He is waiting for our spiritual maturity; for His people to be at that point in history when the "latter rain" will do us most good.

2. Appointed Times

Even though the Almighty and His Son are waiting for the maturity of the redeemed crop, they know when that time will be. Indeed the Father has already appointed the day when He will judge the world. So He patiently awaits His appointed time. Many texts in scripture tell of appointed times. Here are a few examples:

Numbers 9:2	Keep the Passover in the appointed season.
Exodus 9:5	"The Lord appointed a set time."
John 7:30	"Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come."
John 8:20	"These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come."
John 12:23	"And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified."
John 17:11	"These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:"
Acts 17:26-31	"And determined the times before - appointed ... Because He (The Father) hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the earth."
Daniel 8:19	"At the appointed time* the end shall be."*

3. Attitudes While Waiting

It is important to develop a correct attitude whilst waiting. We have a choice of various reactions. Negative attitudes: We can complain and say God doesn't exist. Or that He is unable to do what He has promised. Or that He is too slow or doesn't care about the human race.

Positive attitudes: Or we can wait, trusting that everything Yahweh does has a divine purpose and an appointed time. The following advice appears many times in scripture: "Wait I say on the Lord." There is also that enormously encouraging text which says:

Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

If you keep this text in mind, you will not risk murmuring against the Almighty.

4. Examples of Waiting

Consider the experiences of these Bible characters. Notice how all of them waited for their divine appointments. They didn't impatiently accuse God of neglect or a lack of love. Compare your problems with theirs and note how they reacted to the knowledge that divine actions all have their appointed times.

The patriarch Job - for healing

Job 7:1-3	"Is there not an appointed time* to man upon earth? ... and wearisome nights are appointed to me."*
Job 14:13-14	"If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change comes."

Abraham - for a son

Genesis 18:13-14

"And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son."

Isaac - for a wife

Genesis 24:14

"... let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac."

David - for help

Psalm 27:14	"Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: Wait, I say on the Lord."
Psalm 37:7	"Rest in the Lord and wait* patiently for him ..."*
Psalm 40:1	"I waited* patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me."*

5. Waiting For Salvation

Oh with what longing the children of faith wait for the day of salvation. Consider this heart-cry. It could well be voiced by a million burdened souls.

Psalm 53:3	"Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion!"
Romans 8:17-25	"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."
Daniel 8:19	"At the time appointed* the end shall be."*
Habakkuk 2:1-3	"I will stand upon my watch ... For the vision is for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry (be late)."

6. The Reward For Patience

Waiting for an appointment can be a test of faith. Sometimes Yahweh appears to keep us waiting, not with the intention of making things awkward, but for a greater glory and to strengthen our faith. Consider this experience about the resurrection of Lazarus.

John 11:6	"When he heard that Lazarus was sick, he abode there two days ..."
v21	"... If thou hadst been here "
v32	"... If thou hadst been here."

Jesus appeared to have wasted two days. That is what Mary and Martha thought. But in actual fact he had a very good reason for delaying his visit. Look it up in verses 15-42. Notice how the delay laid the ground for an even more magnificent result. Would Lazarus rather have been healed two days earlier, or been resurrected later? The answer is obvious.

The Most High will always richly reward those who patiently wait for Him.

Proverbs 27:18 "Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured."

7. Summary

You may often be called upon to wait for something you desperately want, or think you need or even deserve. You may often be tempted to think God doesn't love or care about you enough to answer your prayers. You may even at this moment be at your wits end and ready to give up the faith. Hold it! Do not despair. Wait I say on the Lord. Remember that you are a child of God, created in His image to live for eternity with Him in the new universe. That is a fact. So be patient and have faith in Yahweh. He will most certainly come to your rescue - in His time. The Almighty loves you infinitely more than any of your relatives do; and He has a plan for you in His work and in His Kingdom. Wait upon Him in prayer and faith. He will answer - in His time.

MLC Sermon Notes

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