DO YOU WANT GOD TO GIVE YOU
STRENGTH SO YOU CAN FLY LIKE AN EAGLE? DO YOU WANT GOD TO
EXCHANGE YOUR WEAKNESS FOR HIS STRENGTH SO YOU CAN RUN LIKE AN
ATHLETE? YOU WANT GOD TO INFUSE YOU WITH HIS MIGHTY POWER SO DAY
[CLAP] BY [CLAP] DAY BY [CLAP] DAY BY [CLAP] DAY YOU CAN WALK
AND NOT FAINT. QUESTION! WHY SHOULD GOD GIVE YOU MORE
STRENGTH TO SERVE THE DEVIL? TO WAIT UPON GOD MEANS TO LONG FOR
HIM, TO LISTEN TO HIM, TO LOOK TO HIM, AND TO LIVE FOR HIM.
DON’T YOU SAY THAT WON’T WORK IF YOU DON’T TRY IT. HMM, DON’T YOU
SAY, “THAT WON’T WORK.” BECAUSE IF YOU SAY THAT WONT WORK, YOU
KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING? YOU’RE CALLING GOD A LIAR. GOD SAYS,
“THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH.”
ADRIAN ROGERS WAS A MOTIVATOR, AN ENCOURAGER AND A LEADER OF
THE FAITH WHO PRESENTED A CLEAR INVITATION TO FOLLOW JESUS AT
EVERY OPPORTUNITY. HE WAS ALSO PATIONATE ABOUT PRESENTING
SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION TO EVERYDAY LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES AND
YOU’LL SEE THAT IN TODAY’S MESSAGE. HAVE YOUR BIBLE READY
AND JOIN US FOR THIS STUDY. AND IF YOU ARE ENCOURAGED BY TODAY’S
MESSAGE, REMEMBER, YOU CAN STREAM THIS MESSAGE AGAIN AND
DOWNLOAD OUTLINES, NOTES, A TRANSCRIPT AND OTHER RESOURCES
TO GO ALONG WITH THIS MESSAGE ALL AT LWF.ORG. NOW, LET’S JOIN
ADRIAN ROGERS. TURN TO ISAIAH CHAPTER 40,
ISAIAH CHAPTER 40, AND, AH, THEN WHEN YOU’VE FOUND IT, LOOK UP
HERE AND LET ME YOU A STATISTIC THAT I READ. AND I’M SHOCKED AT
THIS STATISTIC, BECAUSE IT SAYS THAT 89% OF ALL AMERICANS SUFFER
FROM TIME-TO-TIME WITH CHRONIC STRESS SYNDROME. NOW, HA, I SAID
89%. NOW, WHETHER THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT OR NOT, THAT
ANYBODY WOULD SAY SUCH A THING, I MEAN, ANY REPUTABLE PERSON
WOULD SAY SUCH A THING, CAUSES US TO KNOW THAT MOST AMERICANS
ARE EMOTIONALLY FATIGUED, PHYSICALLY DRAINED, AND
SPIRITUALLY DEFEATED. AND THE REASON IS STRESS. THE DAYS ARE
TOO LONG, HA, HA, THE NIGHTS ARE TOO SHORT, AND WE FEEL LIKE WE
ARE THE CHIEF RAT IN THE RAT RACE. MANY OF US FEEL EXACTLY
THAT WAY. THERE’S TOO MUCH TO DO. AND NOT ENOUGH TIME TO DO
IT. WELL, THANK GOD, HALLELUJAH, PRAISE THE LORD, THERE IS HOPE,
AND HOPE IS ON THE WAY, AND IT IS RIGHT FROM THE PAGES OF GOD’S
WORD. ISAIAH, THE PRINCE OF THE PROPHETS, DIPPED HIS PEN IN
GOLDEN GLORY AND WROTE THESE WORDS, LOOK IN VERSE 28. HE
BEGINS WITH A QUESTION, “HAST THOU NOT KNOWN? AND HAST THOU
NOT HEARD, THAT THE EVERLASTING GOD, THE LORD, THE CREATOR OF
THE ENDS OF THE EARTH, FAINTETH NOT, NEITHER IS WEARY?” AH,
“THERE IS NO SEARCHING OF HIS UNDERSTANDING.” WHAT’S HE SAYING
THERE? HA, HA, HE’S SAYING, “GOD, AH, NEVER GIVES OUT. GOD
NEVER TIRES. GOD IS NEVER PERPLEXED.” AND THEN, LOOK AT
THE PROMISE IN VERSE 29, “HE,” THIS GREAT GOD, “HE GIVETH POWER
TO THE FAINT; AND TO THEM THAT HAVE NO MIGHT,” YOU JUST SAY,
“THAT’S ME!” “HE INCREASETH STRENGTH. EVEN THE YOUTHS SHALL
FAINT AND BE WEARY, AND THE YOUNG MEN,” AH, “SHALL UTTERLY
FALL.” JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE YOUNG, THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT
YOU’RE IMMUNE TO STRESS, BUT, THANK GOD FOR VERSE 31, “BUT
THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH; THEY
SHALL MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS EAGLES; THEY SHALL RUN, AND NOT
BE WEARY; AND THEY SHALL WALK, AND NOT FAINT.” WELL, LET’S
THINK FIRST OF ALL ABOUT THE PROBLEM OF STRESS, ALL RIGHT?
THE PROBLEM OF STRESS. AND WE FIND THAT IN VERSES 28 AND 29.
NOW, IN THESE TWO VERSES THERE’RE TWO CATEGORIES OF
PEOPLE OR PERSONS THAT ARE MENTIONED. ONE, OF COURSE, IS
ALMIGHTY GOD. HE IS THE OMNIPOTENT, ALL KNOWING, AH,
SOVEREIGN GOD. HE’S MENTIONED THERE IN VERSE 28, LOOK AT IT
AGAIN, AH, HE’S CALLED THERE, “THE EVERLASTING GOD, THE LORD,
THE CREATOR OF THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.” HE IS IMMORTAL,
INVISIBLE, GOD ONLY WISE, IN LIGHT INACCESSIBLE, HID FROM OUR
EYES, MOST BLESSED, MOST GLORIOUS, THE ANCIENT OF DAYS,
ALMIGHTY, VICTORIOUS, THY GREAT NAME WE PRAISE. THAT’S WHAT THE
HYMNIST SAID, AND THAT’S WHO THAT GOD IS. THERE IS NOT
ANOTHER LIKE HIM. THANK GOD FOR HIS GREAT STRENGTH. NOW, THAT’S
ONE, AH, PERSON MENTIONED, BUT NOW LET’S GET ALL THOSE ON THE
OTHER SIDE, AND THAT IS THE REST OF US. HA, VER, BEGINNING IN
VERSE 29, “HE GIVETH POWER TO THE FAINT; AND TO THEM THAT HAVE
NO MIGHT HE INCREASETH STRENGTH.” NOW, WE’RE TALKING
ABOUT STRESS. WHAT IS STRESS? STRESS IS THAT GAP THAT IS
BETWEEN THE DEMANDS THAT ARE PLACED UPON US AND OUR ABILITY
TO MEET THOSE DEMANDS. AH, THE, THE, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THOSE DEMANDS AND OUR ABILITY IS WHAT WE CALL THE STRESS FACTOR.
OVER HERE, ON ONE SIDE ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF LIFE, THE
NECESSITIES OF LIFE, THE DEMANDS OF LIFE, THE OPPORTUNITIES OF
LIFE; THEY’RE ALL OVER HERE. AND OVER HERE ON, ALL THE THINGS WE
WANT TO DO, DESIRE TO DO, SHOULD DO, OUGHT TO DO, ALL OF THOSE
THINGS OVER HERE. THAT’S ONE THING. BUT, NOW, ON THE OTHER
SIDE, HA, HA, ARE ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE’RE SO MUCH AWARE
OF TODAY, OUR INABILITY, OUR WEAKNESSES, OUR SINFULNESS, OUR
LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, AH, OUR FAULTS. AND, AH, WE SAY, “I WANT
TO. I OUGHT TO, BUT I CAN’T.” NOW HERE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES,
THE NECESSITIES. HERE ARE THE WEAKNESSES AND THE FAILURES, AND
IN BETWEEN IS A GAP. THAT GAP IS THE STRESS FACTOR. IT IS THE
CHASM BETWEEN THE OUGHT TO’S AND THE CANT’S, UH, THAT SEEM TO
OVERWHELM US. AND, AH, ALL OF US ARE VULNERABLE. ARE YOU AN
EXECUTIVE? I WAS READING WHERE A COMPANY, AH, BROUGHT SOME PEOPLE
IN, AH, A MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT, BECAUSE THERE SEEMED TO BE POOR
MORALE ON THE, IN, AMONG THE EXECUTIVES IN THIS COMPANY. YOU
KNOW WHAT THEY FOUND OUT? THEY FOUND OUT THAT TWENTY-ONE OF THE
TWENTY-TWO EXECUTIVES IN THIS COMPANY, TWENTY-ONE OF THE
TWENTY-TWO, WERE SUFFERING FROM DISTRESS THAT WAS SO GREAT, AH,
THAT IS WAS CAUSING EVEN ILLNESS LIKE ULCERS, HIGH BLOOD
PRESSURE, DEPRESSION, ALL OF IT, STRESS. BUT IT’S NOT MERELY
EXECUTIVES THAT HAVE STRESS. AH, YOU CAN, AH, YOU CAN HAVE STRESS
IF YOU’RE A LABORING PERSON, A WAITRESS, A MACHINE OPERATOR,
AH, MAYBE A MINER, AH, AN INSPECTOR, A PRINTER, WOOD
CUTTER, A PASTOR, HA, HA, HA, YOU CAN HAVE STRESS. AND YOU
DON’T HAVE TO BE AN ADULT TO HAVE STRESS. AS A MATTER OF, UH,
FACT, MANY OF OUR KIDS TODAY ARE, AH, VERY STRESSED. I’M
TALKING ABOUT JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLERS, AND, AH, AND, AH,
WE’RE, WE’RE SEEING SO MANY OF OUR YOUNGSTERS NOW WHO ARE BEING
GIVEN REGULAR PRESCRIPTIONS OF DRUGS SO THAT THEY CAN COPE IN
SCHOOL. YOUTHS! YOU KNOW, THERE’S A, THERE’S AN
INTERESTING THING THAT IS HAPPENING NOW. WE USED TO CALL
WHAT IS THE EMPTY NEST, IT’S, IT’S NOW THE RE-FEATHERED NEST.
A LOT OF THESE FOLKS, AH, MANY, SOME IN THE MIDDLE AGE, HAVE
GONE OUT INTO LIFE AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO BEAR UP, TO STAND
UP, AND ARE COMING BACK HOME! THEY CANNOT DEAL WITH WHAT IS
OUT THERE. AND, AH, WE’RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE SO MUCH, SO
MANY MACHINES THAT ARE DOING ALL THIS STUFF FOR US. YOU KNOW, IT
USED TO BE I’D WALK OUT OF MY STUDY AND IT’D BE DARK. I WALK
OUT OF MY STUDY NOW AND TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, AND A LOT OF LITTLE
LIGHTS ARE BLINKING. BINK, BINK, BINK, BINK, BINK, BLINKING. YOU
KNOW, THERE’S A COMPUTER, AND THE, THE, ALL THESE LITTLE
LIGHTS ARE FLASHING IN THERE. KIND OF WEIRD ISN’T IT? AND YOU
KNOW WHAT ALL THESE THINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO DO FOR ME? SAVE ME
TIME. I HAVE LESS SPARE TIME TODAY THAN I’VE EVER HAD IN MY
LIFE. WHO GOT IT? WHERE DID IT GO WITH ALL THESE TIME SAVING
THINGS? I DON’T KNOW, BUT, FOLKS, I’M TELLING YOU, IT’S
EVERYWHERE. THERE’RE BROKEN HOMES, UNPAID BILLS, SCARED
LIVES, AND, AH, THE WALKING WOUNDED. PEOPLE ARE STRESSED UP
AND IT SHOWS. INDIGESTION, UP, UPSET STOMACHS, ULCERS,
SHORTNESS OF BREATH, CHEST PAINS, HEADACHES, MUSCLE PAIN,
FATIGUE, BOREDOM, TEMPER TANTRUMS, IRRITABILITY, MOOD
SWINGS, FORGETFULNESS, INABILITY TO CONCENTRATE, INSOMNIA. THESE,
AH, THESE ARE ALL JUST ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING STRESS. LET ME
TELL YOU ANOTHER STATISTIC THAT I READ, STARTLING, I DON’T KNOW
WHETHER IT’S ABSOLUTELY ACCURATE OR NOT, HA, HA, BUT IF IT’S
ANYWHERE NEAR ACCURATE IT’S STARTLING. 75% TO 90% OF ALL
VISITS MADE TO PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS, LAST YEAR, WERE
STRESS RELATED DISORDERS AND ILLNESSES. HMM. STRESS. YOU KNOW
WHY PEOPLE USED TO GO TO HEALTH SPAS? PRIMARILY THEY SAY, NOT,
NOT TO BUILD UP, BUT TO LOSE WEIGHT. THAT’S WHAT THEY USED TO
GO TO STR, HEALTH SPAS FOR. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT THEY GO TO HEALTH
SPAS TODAY FOR, ACCORDING TO THOSE WHO’RE IN THAT BUSINESS?
THEY GO FOR STRESS REDUCTION, TO SEE IF THEY CAN WORK OFF SOME
OF, OF THE STRESS. AND, WHEN YOU ARE STRESSED, IT’S NOT JUST THAT
YOU’RE NOT ENJOYING LIFE; WHEN YOU ARE STRESSED, YOU ARE
SPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO THE ATTACKS OF THE DEVIL. [AUDIENCE:
THAT’S RIGHT] WE READ OVER THERE IN DEUTERONOMY CHAPTER 25 WHERE
THERE WAS A KING NAMED AMALEK, AND HE JUST, HE JUST WAITED FOR
ISRAEL WHEN ISRAEL WAS GOING THROUGH THE WILDERNESS, AND HE
FOUND THE WEAK AND THE WORN OUT, THOSE WHO WERE ON THE OUTER
FRINGES, AND THOSE WERE THE ONES THAT HE ATTACKED. AND WHEN
YOU’RE STRESSED, YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE SOME HORRENDOUS ARGUMENTS
IN YOUR HOME OVER NOTHING. [SLAP] LITTLE THINGS! AH,
YOU’RE, YOU’RE GONNA BE MORE PRONE TO ARGUE, IRRITATIONS WILL
BECOME MOUNTAINOUS BECAUSE YOU ARE STRESSED. NOW, THAT IS, UH,
THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO CALL THE, THE, THE VERY FACT OF STRESS.
THE, THE AWFUL, TERRIBLE FACT OF IT. NOW, HERE’S THE SECOND THING
I WANT YOU TO SEE. I WANT YOU TO SEE NOT ONLY THE PROBLEM OF
STRESS, BUT I WANT YOU TO SEE THE PROVISION OF SUFFICIENCY.
THAT GOD HAS NOT LEFT YOU THERE WITHOUT SUFFICIENCY. LOOK, IF
YOU WILL NOW, IN, AH, VERSE 31, “BUT THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE
LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH; THEY SHALL MOUNT UP WITH WINGS
AS EAGLES; THEY SHALL RUN, AND NOT BE WEARY; AND THEY SHALL
WALK, AND NOT FAINT.” NOW THIS IS A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL
PROMISE. FRIEND, IT’S NOT A SIN TO BE STRESSED. BUT, I’M GONNA
TELL YOU SOMETHING. IT IS A SIN FOR HELP TO BE AVAILABLE TO YOU
AND YOU DO NOT AVAIL YOURSELF OF THAT HELP. THIS IS ONE OF THE
MOST WONDERFUL PROMISES IN ALL OF THE WORD OF GOD, “BUT THEY
THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH; THEY SHALL
MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS EAGLES; THEY SHALL RUN, AND NOT BE
WEARY; AND THEY SHALL WALK, AND NOT FAINT.” NOW, THERE’RE THREE
DISTINCT PROMISES HERE. AND, FIRST OF ALL, AH, HE SAYS THERE
IS THE ABILITY TO FLY IN THE RUGGED TIMES OF LIFE. TO FLY IN
THE RUGGED TIMES OF LIFE. UH, AND HE USES THE EAGLE AS AN
EXAMPLE. THE EAGLE LOVES THE STORM. WHEN THE STORM COMES,
WHEN THE RIGORS OF LIFE COME, WHEN THE DIFFICULTIES OF LIFE
COME, WHEN THE ADVERSITIES OF LIFE COME, WE NEED TO BE LIKE
THE EAGLE. THE EAGLE WAITS FOR THE STORM, AND HE SITS THERE ON
HIS LEDGE, AND, AH, WHEN HE SEES, AH, THAT [SLAP] HOT AIR,
AH, BEING HEATED BY THE DESERT FLOOR AND THOSE THERMAL DRAFTS
ARE COMING UP EARLY IN THE MORNING, HE STEPS OFF OF HIS
PERCH AND HE LIFTS THOSE MIGHTY WINGS OF HIS AND BEGINS TO SOAR.
AND, AH, THE FASTER THE WINDS BLOW AND, AND THE MORE, AH,
CONVECTION THERE IS IN THE AIR, HE JUST RISES HIGHER AND HIGHER
UPON THESE. AND, HE, HE JUST SOARS ON THE WIND. NOW, ALL OF
US HAVE KNOWN STORMS. ALL OF US KNOW ADVERSITY. WE NEED TO LEARN
WHAT THE EAGLE HAS TAUGHT. THE EAGLE HAS TAUGHT US A
TREMENDOUS, AH, A LESSON. WHEN, WHEN THE EAGLE BEGINS TO RISE UP
AND TO FLY, WHAT HE HAS LEARNED IS THAT WHAT CAUSE OTHERS DISMAY
IS SOMEHOW A BLESSING TO HIM. BECAUSE WHEN THOSE THERMAL
DRAFTS COME, FIRST OF ALL, AH, HE CAN FLY HIGHER. HE COULD NOT
FLY THAT HIGH IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE STORM. SECONDLY, HE CAN SEE
FURTHER. AND THIRDLY, AH, HE CAN, HE CAN, AH, FLY FASTER. IN,
IN THE READING I DID, I FOUND OUT THAT AN EAGLE, HE’S VERY
FAST; HE CAN FLY, AH, AT FIFTY MILES AN HOUR. BUT IF AN EAGLE
GETS IN A STORM, HE CAN REACH SPEEDS OF EIGHTY TO ONE HUNDRED
MILES AN HOUR. HE GETS UP, HE HAS AN INCREDIBLE EYE, HE CAN
SEE RIGHT INTO THE SUN BECAUSE OF THE SPECIAL LENS THAT HE HAS.
BUT THAT OLE EAGLE SITTING THERE ON THE PERCH, AND HERE HE SEES
THE STORM CLOUDS ROILING, OR HE SEES THOSE THERMAL DRAFTS COMING
UP FROM THE DESERT FLOOR, HE JUST STEPS OUT, WITH GRACE, HE
JUST RIDES UPON THE WIND. HEH, CAN YOU IMAGINE AN EAGLE DOING
ONE HUNDRED MILES AN HOUR? CAN YOU IMAGINE HIM JUST LOOKING AT
ALL THE HORIZON, ALL THE WAY AROUND HIM, AND HE IS JUST
HAVING THE TIME OF HIS LIFE? FOLKS, WHEN TROUBLES COME, IF
YOU DO WHAT I’M GOING TO SHOW YOU IN A MOMENT, YOU’RE GOING TO
BE ABLE TO BE LIKE AN EAGLE. NOW, BY THE WAY, YOU KNOW THE
EAGLE HAS TO BE TAUGHT THIS? HA, AND YOU MAY NOT LIKE THE FLYING
LESSONS. PUT IN YOUR MARGIN DEUTERONOMY CHAPTER 32 AND VERSE
11. IT’S A WONDERFUL LESSON. SAYS, “AS AN EAGLE STIRRETH UP
HER NEST, FLUTTERING OVER HER YOUNG, SPREADETH ABROAD HER
WINGS, TAKETH THEM, AND BEARETH THEM ON HER WINGS.” NOW, WHAT
DOES THAT MEAN? PUT IT IN YOUR MARGIN, DEUTERONOMY 32 VERSE 11.
WELL, AN EAGLE BUILDS ITS NEST. NOW, I’VE SEEN EAGLE’S NEST,
THEY’RE MONSTROUS THINGS, AND, AH THE EAGLE BUILDS THE NEST
VERY STRONG OUT OF MA, BRANCHES AND TWIGS AND ANYTHING SHE CAN
FIND, BUT THEN SHE TAKES HER OWN FEATHERS AND LINES THE NEST
UNTIL IT’S FLUFFY SOFT. THOSE LITTLE EAGLETS, UH, ARE THERE
IN, AH, IN, AH, THAT NEST AND SHE FLIES OFF ALL OVER TO FIND
BUGS AND WORMS, AND SNAKES AND MICE, AND SHE JUST BRINGING THEM
FISH, SHE’S BRINGING THOSE LITTLE EAGLETS THERE AND SHE,
SHE’S FEEDING THEM. SHE KNOWS WHICH IS WHICH AND SHE KNOWS THE
LAST ONE SHE FED, AND YOU CAN MIX THEM UP, THEY SAY, IN THE
NEST, BUT SHE KNOWS WHO THEY ARE, AND SHE’S FEEDING THEM AND
FEEDING THEM. AND, IT’S, IT’S WONDERFUL, A MOMMA IS, IS JUST
BRINGING THO, THAT, AH, STUFF IN THERE ON A REGULAR BASIS. BUT
ONE DAY, UH, MOTHER EAGLE DECIDES IT’S TIME FOR THESE
LITTLE GUYS TO LEARN HOW TO FLY. SO SHE GETS IN THE NEST AND
BEGINS TO FLAP HER WINGS. IT’S WHAT THAT DEUTERONOMY VERSE
CALLS, “FLUTTERING OVER THEM.” SHE, SHE FLUTTERS OVER THEM; SHE
MAKES THAT NEST A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE. AS ONE PREACHER
SAID, “LORD, IF I’M BUILDING A NEST, PUT A THORN IN IT.” SO
SHE’S JUST, AH, SHE’S JUST BEGINNING TO GET ALL OF THAT,
UH, FLUFF OUT OF THE NEST, AND IT’S GETTING, NOW, HARDER, AND
THERE’RE MORE STICKS IN IT, AND SHE’S BEATING THEM TOWARD,
TOWARD THE EDGE, AND, AH, THEY LOOK DOWN FROM THAT SHEER CLIFF,
WAY DOWN THERE, AND SHE’S SHOVING THEM OUT. AND THE LITTLE
EAGLET, IF IT COULD TALK, SAID, “MOMMA, HUH, DO YOU REALLY WANT
TO DO THIS?” [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] AND FINALLY SHE JUST GIVES HIM A
NUDGE. NOW, HE’S NEVER FLOWN, AND HE GOES HEAD OVER HEEL, JUST
SCREAMING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN, AND SHE SWOOPS DOWN,
AND BEFORE HE HITS THE ROCKY LEDGE, SHE PUTS OUT HER WINGS,
AND HIS LITTLE TALONS COME AND CLING TO HIS FEATHERS, AND SHE
FLIES BACK UP AND PUTS HIM ON THE NEST AGAIN. SHE DOES THIS
OVER AND OVER AGAIN TILL ONE DAY, HE, HE STICKS OUT HIS OWN
WINGS, BY INSTINCT. AND THERE’S A DRAFT THERE, THERE’S A,
THERE’S A BUOYANCY THERE, AND HE BEGINS TO FLAP A LITTLE BIT,
AND, AND TO FIND OUT AFTER A WHILE THAT, THAT HE CAN FLY.
NOW, I THINK MOST OF US, AH, THINK THAT SOMETIMES GOD IS
CRUEL WHEN GOD IS KIND. I HEARD A STORY, ONE OF THE MOST
REMARKABLE STORIES. JENNIFER JOHNSON WAS DRIVING HOME ONE
EVENING. IT WAS MISTY, IT WAS RAINY, IT WAS TWILIGHT, IT WAS
GETTING DARK. SHE WAS IN A SECTION OF TOWN SHE REALLY
DIDN’T LIKE TO DRIVE THROUGH, AND HER CAR STOPPED. SHE BEGAN
TO BEAT HER STEERING WHEEL, SHE WAS SO ANGRY AT HERSELF. SHE
KNEW SHE WAS LOW ON GAS, SHE HAD DETERMINED TO GET GAS, SHE HAD
FORGOTTEN TO GET GAS AND THERE SHE WAS. SHE LOOKED AROUND,
THERE’RE WAREHOUSES AND CHAIN-LINKED FENCES AND, AH, IT
WAS, IT WAS A PLACE SHE DIDN’T WANT TO BE. SAID, “OH NO. IT’S
DARK. IS THERE, AH, MAYBE, AH, FAST FOOD PLACE, MAYBE A DRUG
STORE?” NOTHING! HARDLY ANY LIGHT. SHE SAID, “WELL, SOONER
OR LATER A POLICE CAR WILL COME ALONG. I HOPEFULLY.” AND SHE
BEGAN TO PRAY THAT GOD WOULD HELP HER. AND SHE SAT THERE. AND
THEN HER WORST FEARS WERE REALIZED. SHE SAW COMING DOWN
THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET A BURLY MAN HEADED RIGHT TOWARD THE CAR.
SHE SOUGHT, “OH, NO, DEAR GOD. TAKE CARE OF ME, DEAR GOD.” SHE
SAID, “MAYBE IF I’LL SLUMP DOWN IN MY SEAT, HE WON’T, HE WON’T
SEE ME.” SO SHE JUST SAT THERE. BUT HE CAME TO THE WINDOW AND
LOOKED IN AND BEGAN TO TAP ON THE WINDOW, [TAP] TOLD HER TO
ROLL THE WINDOW DOWN. SHE SAID, “GO AWAY! GO AWAY!” HE WAS
SAYING SOMETHING, BUT SHE COULDN’T HEAR WHAT HE WAS SAYING
BECAUSE SHE WAS SCREAMING SO LOUDLY. SHE FIGURED, “WELL, IF I
BLOW MY HORN, MAYBE HE’LL GO AWAY.” AND SO SHE BEGAN TO BLOW
THE HORN, AS LOUD AS SHE COULD. [CLAP] SHE BLEW IT, AND BLEW IT,
AND BLEW IT AND SCREAMED. AFTER A WHILE, HE TURNED AND WALKED
AWAY. SHE WAS FRIGHTENED, TREMBLING, SHE SAID, “THANK YOU,
LORD.” BUT THEN AFTER A WHILE, HER WORST, WORST FEARS WERE
CONFIRMED. SHE SAW HIM COMING BACK WITH A STEEL BAR. AND HE
WALKED UP TO THE CAR AND SHOUTED SOMETHING AGAIN. SHE SCREAMED
AND BLEW THE HORN. HE TOOK THAT BAR AND BROKE THE WINDOW,
REACHED IN AND UNLOCKED THE DOOR. SHE CROUCHED BACK TO THE
OTHER SIDE, BUT HE REACHED IN AND TOOK HER BY THE ARM, AND
BEGAN TO PULL HER OUT OF THE CAR. SHE TOOK HER FOOT AND
KICKED HIM RIGHT IN THE FACE AND BLOODIED HIS NOSE, BUT HE KEPT
PULLING AND HE PULLED HER OUT OF THE CAR AND RELEASED HER. SHE
DREW BACK, NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO, GETTING READY TO FIGHT WHEN
SHE HEARD THE NOISE. SHE SAW THE LIGHT. THE GROUND BENEATH HER
BEGAN TO TREMBLE AND SHE LOOKED UP AND SAW THAT TRAIN COMING
FURIOUSLY, HEADED RIGHT TOWARD HER CAR. AND IT HIT HER CAR
[CLAP] AND PULLED IT RIGHT ON DOWN THE TRACKS, A TOTAL WRECK.
THE MAN THAT SHE WAS SO AFRAID OF WAS THE ONE WHO HAD SAVED HER
LIFE. SHE HAD RUN OUT OF GASOLINE ON THE TRACKS! YOU
KNOW, SO MANY TIMES WE LOOK AT THINGS AND WE THINK THESE THINGS
ARE THE MOST TERRIBLE THING THAT HAVE, HAS EVER HAPPENED TO US. I
HOPE YOU NEVER HAVE TO GO THROUGH AN EXPERIENCE LIKE
JENNIFER JOHNSON WENT THROUGH, BUT SOMETIMES YOU CANNOT TELL
WHAT IS HAPPENING BY OUTWARD APPEARANCE, AND SO THE STORMS OF
LIFE THAT COME TO YOU MAY BE THE THINGS THAT GOD IS BRING TO YOU
TO DELIVER YOU AND, AND TO HELP YOU, AND TO CAUSE YOU TO RISE
HIGHER. AND SO, LISTEN, WHEN WE WAIT UPON THE LORD, WHEN WE WAIT
UPON THE LORD, WE’RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FLY, WE’RE GOING TO BE
ABLE TO FLY IN THE RIGORS OF LIFE. BUT NOT ONLY ARE WE ABLE
TO FLY IN THE RIGORS OF LIFE, WE’RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO RUN IN
THE RUSH OF LIFE. EVER FEEL LIKE YOU DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TIME? YOU
SAY, “I’VE GOT TROUBLES, YEAH, I’VE GOT THE RIGORS. I’VE GOT
THE STORMS.” BUT YOU ALSO HAVE THE RUSH. THESE ARE NOT STORMS,
THESE ARE JUST DEADLINES THAT WE HAVE TO MEET, THINGS THAT WE
NEED TO DO. WE, WE NEED, AH, TO GET THINGS DONE, AND WE DON’T
SEEM TO HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET IT DONE. MAY I TELL YOU, THERE’S
ENOUGH TIME IN EVERY DAY TO DO EVERYTHING GOD WANTS YOU TO DO?
[AUDIENCE: AMEN] DON’T INSULT GOD BY SAYING YOU DON’T HAVE
ENOUGH TIME, BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO RUN TO GET IT DONE.
SOMEONE’S WRITTEN THESE WORDS, “BE SWIFT, MY SOUL, TO ANSWER
HIM. BE JUBILANT, MY FEET, OUR GOD IS MARCHING ON.” I REMEMBER
READING THERE IN THE EIGHTH CHAPTER OF ACTS, ABOUT PHILLIP
AND THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH, AND, AH, THAT ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH NEEDED
THE LORD. GOD BROUGHT PHILIP OUT THERE AND SAID, “GO JOIN
YOURSELF TO THAT CHARIOT.” AND THE BIBLE SAYS, “PHILLIP RAN,
AH, TO GET THAT CHARIOT.” I MEAN, HE HAD TO CATCH A CHARIOT.
HE’S RUNNING TO DO IT. HERE’S AN OPPORTUNITY ON WHEELS. YOU SEE,
THERE ARE, THERE IS, THERE ARE THE RIGORS OF LIFE, AND, AH,
THERE’S ALSO THE RUSH OF LIFE. AND WE NEED TO BE LIKE THE EAGLE
IN THE RIGORS OF LIFE, AND WE NEED TO BE LIKE AN ATHLETE IN
THE VERY RUSH OF LIFE TO GET IT ALL DONE. I READ WHAT A SPORTS
WRITER OUT IN LOS ANGELES WROTE ONE TIME. HE SAID, “S, SOMEWHERE
IN AFRICA, THERE IS A GAZALE, A GAZELLE WHO WAKES UP IN THE
MORNING, AND THAT GAZELLE SAYS, ‘IF I CANNOT RUN TODAY FASTER
THAN THE FASTEST LION, I’LL BE EATEN.’ IN THAT SAME AREA OF
AFRICA, A LION WAKES UP, AND HE SAYS, ‘IF I CANNOT RUN FASTER
THAN THE SLOWEST GAZELLE, I’LL STARVE TO DEATH.’” SO BOTH THE
GAZELLE AND THE LION WAKE UP RUNNING. AND I THINK WE FEEL
THAT WAY SOMETIME; WE WAKE UP RUNNING BECAUSE SATAN, LIKE A
ROARING LION, IS ON OUR TRAIL. AND THEN, ALSO, THERE ARE
OPPORTUNITIES. WELL, WHERE YOU GOING, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO
GET THE STRENGTH TO FLY LIKE AN EAGLE? WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO
GET THE STRENGTH TO RUN IN THE RIGORS OF LIFE, IN THE RUSH OF
LIFE? BUT, NOW, WAIT A MINUTE, CONTINUE TO READ AND LOOK, “BUT
THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH; THEY
SHALL MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS EAGLES; AND THEY SHALL RUN, AND
NOT BE WEARY,” BUT, NOW, READ THE LAST ONE, “AND THEY SHALL
WALK, AND NOT FAINT.” GOD WILL GIVE YOU STRENGTH TO WALK IN THE
ROUTINE TIMES OF LIFE. THERE ARE THE RIGORS OF LIFE AND THE RUSH
OF LIFE, BUT THERE, YOU KNOW WHERE MOST OF US HAVE MOST
TROUBLE? IN THE ROUTINE OF LIFE. I MEAN, WHEN, WHEN THE STORMS
COME, WE GET THROUGH IT. WHEN THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE, WE
SOMETIMES MEET THE DEADLINES. BUT, IT’S JUST IN THE ROUTINE OF
LIFE THAT MOST OF US FAIL. THIS IS NOT; BY THE WAY, IT IS NOT
ANTICLIMACTIC. THIS IS RIGHT AT THE VERY MOST IMPORTANT PART,
BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE MOST OF US LIVE MOST OF THE TIME. IT’S ONE
THING TO SOAR LIKE AN EAGLE. IT’S ONE THING TO SURGE LIKE AN
ATHLETE, BUT IT’S ANOTHER THING JUST TO STICK AND TO STAY, DAY
BY DAY. AND WE SERVE GOD BY FLYING IN THE HARD TIMES, BY
RUNNING IN THE HAPPY TIMES, BUT WE NEED TO WALK DAY BY DAY IN
THE REGULAR HUM DRUM TIME OF LIFE. DO YOU KNOW, MOST OF US
FAIL HERE MORE THAN ANY PLACE ELSE? WE FAIL IN THE EVERYDAY
AREAS OF LIFE. THE GREAT NEED, THE GREAT NEED OF ADRIAN ROGERS,
AND I DARE, I DARE SAY OF YOU, IS DAY-BY-DAY FAITHFULNESS IN
THE LITTLE THINGS. [AUDIENCE: [AMEN] TO WALK AND NOT TO FAINT.
NOW, THIS WAS GIVEN TO THE ISRAELITES. GOD SAYS, “AS YOUR
DAYS ARE, SO SHOULD YOUR STRENGTH BE.” THAT’S WHAT WAS
GIVEN TO ISRAELITES. THE ISRAELITES WERE GOING FROM, AH,
EGYPT, THEY WERE GOING INTO CANAAN. HUH, THERE WAS NO
TRAINS, NO PLANES, NO BUSES, NO BIKES, NO MOTORCYCLES. AH, THEY
HAD SOME CAMELS, BUT THOSE WERE FEW. THEY HAD SOME DONKEYS, BUT
THOSE WERE FEW. DO YOU KNOW HOW THE, THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL GOT
FROM, AH, FROM EGYPT TO CANAAN? THEY WALKED. ONE STEP AT A TIME.
THERE WERE RIVERS. THERE WERE VALLEYS. AH, THERE WERE
MOUNTAINS, THERE WERE DIFFICULTIES. WILD BEASTS, ALL
KINDS OF THINGS, BUT THEY HAD TO WALK. DAY BY DAY, YOU’VE GOT TO
WALK. READ THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS. THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS
TALKS ABOUT US BEING IN THE HEAVENLIES. YES, IT DOES. BUT IT
ALSO MENTIONS SEVEN TIMES THAT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A WALK.
WE’RE TO WALK DAY BY DAY. DO YOU KNOW WHAT VICTORY IS? YOU SAY,
“VICTORY, ADRIAN, IS FOR YOU TO PREACH A SERMON AND A LOT OF
PEOPLE GET SAVED. VICTORY IS FOR US TO HAVE A GREAT CAMPAIGN
SOMEWHERE TO DO THIS OR THAT.” NO, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT VICTORY
IS. VICTORY IS GETTING BREAKFAST FOR THE KIDS IN THE MORNING.
DRESSING THE CHILDREN. GETTING THEM OFF TO SCHOOL. VICTORY IS
GOING TO WORK. IT’S CLEANING THE HOUSE. IT’S CARRYING OUT THE
GARBAGE, WHICH I’VE GOT TO DO. IT’S, IT’S, IT’S, IT’S, IT’S
DAILY BIBLE STUDY. IT’S YOUR QUIET TIME. IT’S PRAYER. IT’S
VISITING THE SICK. IT’S BEING SWEET TO YOUR WIFE. IT IS ALL
DAY, EVERY DAY, HOT DAY, COLD DAYS, DULL DAYS, BRIGHT DAYS,
GOOD DAYS, BAD DAYS, WALKING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. [AUDIENCE: AMEN]
THAT, LISTEN, IF YOU CAN BE A CHRISTIAN AT HOME, YOU CAN BE A
CHRISTIAN ANYWHERE, DID YOU KNOW THAT? IF YOU CAN’T BE A
CHRISTIAN AT HOME, YOU’RE GOING TO FAIL EVERYPLACE ELSE,
ANYWHERE. AH, ANY, ANYTIME. SO, WHAT, WHAT DOES GOD DO FOR US?
WELL, IN TIMES OF ADVERSITY, WE SOAR LIKE AN EAGLE. IN TIMES OF
OPPORTUNITY, WE RUN LIKE AN ATHLETE. BUT, IN TIMES OF
NECESSITY, WE JUST KEEP WALKING DAY BY DAY. IN THE, YES, THANK
GOD FOR THE RIGORS OF LIFE, AND THANK GOD FOR THE RUSH OF LIFE,
BUT, FRIEND, THERE IS THE ROUTINE OF LIFE, THE ROUTINE OF
LIFE, THE DAY BY DAY THINGS OF LIFE THAT WE NEED TO LEARN HOW
TO HAVE VICTORY AND GET RID OF THIS STRESS FACTOR. WE NEED TO
LEARN ENDURANCE. HUH, I HEARD OF A SNAIL THAT STARED UP AN APPLE
TREE. AND YOU KNOW HOW SNAILS MOVE. VERY SLOW. A WORM CAME OUT
FROM A CREVASSE IN THAT APPLE TREE AND SAID, “NO NEED TO GO UP
THERE, THERE’RE NO APPLES UP THERE.” HE SAID, “THERE WILL BE
WHEN I GET THERE.” [AUDIENCE [LAUGHTER] HA, HA. SO, YOU JUST
HAVE TO DAY BY DAY BY DAY JUST KEEP ON KEEPING ON! NOW, THAT’S
THE PROVISION. WE’VE TALKED ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THE
PROVISION. NOW, LET ME GIVE YOU THE PROMISE. HERE’S THE PROMISE,
AND THIS IS THE KEY TO ALL OF IT, BECAUSE YOU SAY, “WELL,
ADRIAN, IT WON’T WORK FOR ME.” WELL, WAIT A MINUTE BEFORE YOU
SAY THAT, LOOK IN VERSE 31 AGAIN. HERE’S THE PROMISE, “BUT
THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH.”
NOW, THE PROMISE HAS A PROVISION, AND THE PROVISION IS
THAT YOU MUST WAIT UPON THE LORD. NOW, IT, GOD SAYS, “IF YOU
WAIT UPON THE LORD YOU WILL RENEW YOUR STRENGTH.” LOOK AT
THE WORD RENEW, THE HEBREW WORD CHALATH, AND IT ACTUALLY MEANS
TO CHANGE OR EXCHANGE. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS NOT ONLY A
CHANGED LIFE, IT IS AN EXCHANGED LIFE. HA, WHAT I MEAN BY THAT
IS, WE GIVE HIM OUR WEAKNESS AND HE GIVE US HIS STRENGTH. THAT’S
THE REASON THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID IN GALATIANS 2:20, “I’M
CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST, NEVERTHELESS I LIVE; YET NOT I,
BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME.” IT IS AN EXCHANGED LIFE. YOU CAN, IT’D
BE ALMOST LIKE, AH, JOE AND MYSELF, WE EXCHANGE COATS. HE
TAKES MINE, I TAKE HIS. I’M GONNA KEEP MINE, JOE. [AUDIENCE
LAUGHTER] ALL RIGHT, NOW, THAT’S WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE. NOW, HOW
DOES THIS, HOW DOES THIS TAKE PLACE? WELL, LOOK AT IT NOW.
WE’RE TOLD, IN ORDER FOR THIS EXCHANGE TO TAKE PLACE, WE ARE
TO, “WAIT UPON THE LORD.” WE ARE TO, “WAIT UPON THE LORD.” NOW,
WHAT, WHAT DO WE MEAN BY, “WAIT UPON THE LORD?” LET ME ERASE
THIS FROM YOUR MIND ONCE AND FOR ALL, WAITING DOES NOT MEAN
SIMPLY SITTING AND DOING NOTHING. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] IN THE
OLD DAYS, WHEN A BOY WOULD BE CALLING ON A GIRL, HOPING TO
MAKE HER HIS BRIDE, DO YOU KNOW THAT THE OLD-TIMERS WOULD SAY?
SAID, “THAT YOUNG MAN’S WAITING ON THAT YOUNG LADY.” YOU EVER
HEARD THAT? THEY SAY, “OH,” THEY SAY, “HE’S, HE’S, HE’S, WAITING
ON HER.” WELL, THAT CERTAINLY DIDN’T MEAN HE WAS DOING
NOTHING. HE WAS DOING EVERYTHING HE COULD DO TO MAKE HER HIS, AND
WHEN WE WAIT UPON THE LORD, THAT DOES NOT MEAN INACTIVITY. WHAT
DOES IT MEAN TO WAIT? WELL, LET ME GIVE YOU ABOUT FOUR THINGS
THAT IT MEANS, AND WE’LL BE FINISHED. WHAT IT MEANS TO WAIT,
BECAUSE THIS IS THE KEY TO THE WHOLE THING. YOU’VE GOT THE
PROBLEM OF STRESS. YOU’VE GOT THE PROVISION OF SUFFICIENCY.
BUT THERE MUST BE A PROMISE OF STRENGTH. WHERE DO YOU GET THIS
STRENGTH? I MEAN, HOW CAN YOU FLY LIKE AND EAGLE? HOW CAN YOU
RUN LIKE AN ATHLETE? HOW CAN YOU DAY BY DAY JUST KEEP ON DOING
IT? BY WAITING UPON THE LORD. NOW, IF THAT IS TRUE, AND IT IS
TRUE, THEN YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO
WAIT. THAT’S THE KEY TO THE WHOLE THING. IF YOU MISS THIS
THE REST OF IT DOESN’T MATTER AT ALL. FIRST OF ALL, TO WAIT UPON
THE LORD MEANS THAT YOU MUST DESIRE HIM, THAT YOU LONG FOR
HIM. LET ME GIVE YOU THIS VERSE, PSALM 62 VERSE ONE, “TRULY MY
SOUL WAITETH UPON GOD, FROM HIM COMETH MY SALVATION.” NOW DAVID
WROTE THIS, AND WHEN HE WROTE IT, HE WAS IN A TIME OF STRESS
AND DISTRESS, AND HE KNEW THAT ONLY GOD COULD SATISFY HIS
DEEPEST NEED. DO YOU FEEL THAT WAY TODAY? I MEAN ARE YOU
WAITING FOR GOD? ARE YOU SAYING, “LORD, I, I, LONG FOR YOU. I
WANT YOU GOD.” NOW, IF YOU WANT RELIEF WITHOUT WANTING GOD, JUST
FORGET IT. YOU HAVE TO, TO WAIT UPON THE LORD. NUMBER TWO, NOT
ONLY DOES IT MEAN TO LONG FOR HIM, BUT IT MEANS TO LISTEN TO
HIM. LET ME GIVE YOU THE VERSE THAT PROVES THAT, PROVERBS
CHAPTER EIGHT AND VERSE 34, “BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT HEARETH
ME, WATCHING DAILY AT MY GATES, WAITING, WAITING AT THE POSTS OF
MY DOORS.” LET ME READ THAT AGAIN, “BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT
HEARETH ME, WATCHING DAILY AT MY GATES, WAITING AT THE POSTS OF
MY DOORS.” NOW WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WELL, HERE’S, HERE’S,
HERE’S A PERSON WHO SAYS TO THE LORD, “LORD, I’M HOPING YOU’RE
GONNA COME OUT THAT GATE SOON. AND I HOPE YOU COME OUT, AND
YOU’LL HAVE SOME INSTRUCTION FOR ME. I, I, I AM WAITING, LORD,
FOR YOU TO SPEAK TO ME.” YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS? DO YOU KNOW
WHAT THE BOOK OF PROVERBS IS TALKING ABOUT HERE RIGHT NOW? IT
IS A QUIET TIME. THAT’S ALL THAT IS, AH, THERE MUST BE A QUIET
TIME ALONG WITH ALONE WITH GOD, WATCHING DAILY AT HIS GATES.
“BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT HEARETH ME, WATCHING DAILY.” DO YOU DO A
DAILY, “AT MY GATES, WAITING, WAITING, WAITING AT THE POSTS OF
MY DOORS.” HA, HA, HA, DO YOU DO THAT? WHETHER, HEY, LISTEN,
LISTEN, IF YOU DON’T DO THAT, DON’T TELL ME THIS VERSE WON’T
WORK. YOU ARE TO WAIT UPON THE LORD. THAT MEANS TO LONG FOR
HIM. THAT MEANS TO LISTEN TO HIM. CAN GOD GET YOUR ATTENTION?
HAVE YOU EVEN BEEN IN A RESTAURANT AND NEEDED A SECOND
CUP OF COFFEE OR SOMETHING, AND TRY TO GET THE WAITRESS’S
ATTENTION? THAT’S THE MOST AMAZING THING. THEY’LL WALK
RIGHT PAST YOU. PTSHEW. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] THEY PUT ON
A TOMBSTONE OF ONE WAITRESS, “GOD FINALLY CAUGHT HER EYE.”
HUH! [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] CAN GOD CATCH YOUR EYE? CAN GOD GET YOUR
ATTENTION? I READ AN INTERESTING STORY. IN, IN THE GREAT
DEPRESSION, MANY OF YOU DON’T REMEMBER THE GREAT DEPRESSION. I
WAS BORN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION, WHERE JOBS
WERE HARD TO GET. ONE MAN WHO WAS A TELEGRAPH OPERATOR SAW AN
AD AND THIS WAS HIS SKILL. HE WAS SO THRILLED. WHEN HE WENT
DOWN TO APPLY FOR THE JOB, WHEN HE GOT THERE, THE WAITING ROOM
WAS ALREADY FILLED WITH PEOPLE CUED UP TO BE INTERVIEWED FOR
THAT JOB. HE THOUGHT, “BOY, THERE’S NO HOPE AT ALL. THEY’RE
ALL HERE AHEAD OF ME.” BUT HE SAT THERE, AND AFTER A WHILE, HE
HEARD A LITTLE SOUND COMING FROM THE INNER OFFICE, YOU KNOW THE
THINGS, THAT THEY, THE, “DOT, DOT, DOT, DASH, DASH, DASH, DOT,
DASH, DOT, DOT, DOT, DOT,” AND HE BEGAN TO LISTEN TO THAT. AND
AFTER A WHILE, HE GOT UP, AND HE WALKED INTO THE INNER OFFICE,
SAID A FEW WORDS, CAME OUT WITH A BIG SMILE ON HIS FACE AND
SAID, “I’VE GOT THE JOB.” THEY SAID, “YOU GOT THE JOB? HOW DID
YOU GET THE JOB? WHY YOU? WE WERE HERE FIRST.” HE SAID, “I
WAS LISTENING, AND THOSE DOTS AND THOSE DASHES SAID, ‘IF YOU
CAN UNDERSTAND THIS, COME IN THE OFFICE, YOU HAVE THE JOB.’”
[AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] HE WAS LISTENING. HE WAS TUNED IN. YOU
KNOW, THERE’S SOME PEOPLE JUST TUNED INTO GOD AND OTHER PEOPLE
NOT TUNED INTO GOD. LISTEN, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WAIT UPON HIM?
IT MEANS TO LONG FOR HIM, IT MEANS TO LISTEN TO HIM, AND,
I’LL TELL YOU SOMETHING ELSE, IT MEANS TO LOOK TO HIM. PUT THIS
VERSE DOWN, PSALM 104, VERSE 27, “THESE ALL WAIT UPON THEE; THAT
THOU MAYEST GIVE THEM THEIR FOOD IN DUE SEASON.” TALKING ABOUT
THE ANIMALS. “THESE ALL,” ALL OF THESE ANIMALS, “WAIT UPON YOU,
LORD, THAT YOU’LL FEED THEM.” AH, HA, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD
IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF YOU? I MEAN, ARE YOU LOOKING TO HIM? DO
YOU LONG FOR HIM? DO YOU LISTEN TO HIM? DO YOU LOOK [CLAP] TO
HIM, JUST LIKE THE ANIMALS, THE BIRDS, AND THE BEASTS OF THE
FOREST LOOK TO GOD, AH, GOD GIVES THEM THEIR FOOD IN DE, IN
DUE SEASON? THAT’S WHAT IT MEANS TO WAIT UPON HIM. DO YOU REALLY
BELIEVE THAT GOD CAN MEET YOUR NEED? HEY, THAT’S MORE THAN A
RHETORICAL QUESTION; IT’S MEANT TO HIT YOU RIGHT BETWEEN THE
EYEBALLS. DO [SLAP] YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD CAN MEET YOUR NEEDS?
[AUDIENCE: AMEN] DO YOU LOOK TO HIM? ARE YOU LOOKING SOMEWHERE
ELSE? NOW, HERE’S, HERE’S THE NEXT THING, AND HERE’S THE
FOURTH THING. NOT ONLY DOES IT MEAN TO LONG FOR HIM, TO, TO
LISTEN TO HIM, AH, TO LOOK TO HIM, BUT FRIEND, VERY FRANKLY,
IT MEANS TO LIVE FOR HIM. IT MEANS TO LIVE FOR HIM. PROVERBS
27 AND VERSE 18, “WHOSO KEEPETH THE FIG TREE SHALL EAT THE FRUIT
THEREOF, SO HE THAT WAITETH ON HIS MASTER SHALL BE HONORED.”
“HE THAT WAITETH ON HIS MASTER.” LET’S GO BACK TO THE WAITRESS OR
THE WAITER. WHAT DO THEY DO? THEY’RE THERE TO SERVE US. THEY
SAY, “I AM YOUR WAITER.” DOES THAT MEAN THEY JUST SIT HERE?
NO, IT MEANS, THEY’RE THERE TO SAY, “CAN I HELP YOU? WHAT WOULD
YOU LIKE? DO YOU NEED A MENU? YOU NEED ANOTHER THIS OR THAT?
MORE BREAD? YOU KNOW, SOME MORE ICED TEA? I’M HERE TO SERVE
YOU.” NOW, WHEN YOU WAIT UPON THE LORD, YOU’RE HERE TO SERVE
THE LORD. YOU ARE HIS WAITER. YOU ARE WAITING UPON HIM! THAT’S
WHAT THIS VERSE MEANS. LISTEN TO IT AGAIN, “WHOSO KEEPETH THE FIG
TREE SHALL EAT THE FRUIT THEREOF, SO HE THAT WAITETH ON
HIS MASTER SHALL BE HONORED.” DO YOU WANT GOD TO GIVE YOU
STRENGTH SO YOU CAN FLY LIKE AN EAGLE? DO YOU WANT GOD TO
EXCHANGE YOUR WEAKNESS FOR HIS STRENGTH SO YOU CAN RUN LIKE AN
ATHLETE? YOU WANT GOD TO INFUSE YOU WITH HIS MIGHTY POWER SO DAY
[CLAP] BY [CLAP] DAY BY [CLAP] DAY BY [CLAP] DAY YOU CAN WALK
AND NOT FAINT. QUESTION! WHY SHOULD GOD GIVE YOU MORE
STRENGTH TO SERVE THE DEVIL? TO WAIT UPON GOD MEANS TO LONG FOR
HIM, TO LISTEN TO HIM, TO LOOK TO HIM, AND TO LIVE FOR HIM. AND
I PROMISE YOU, ON THE AUTHORITY OF THIS BOOK, THAT IF YOU WILL
WAIT UPON HIM, GOD WILL RENEW YOUR STRENGTH, AND THAT GAP THAT
YOU FEEL OVER HERE, ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO DO YOU,
OUGHT TO DO, THAT YOU MUST DO, AND, OVER HERE, YOUR WEAKNESS,
YOUR INABILITY, YOUR FRUSTRATION, THAT GAP IN
BETWEEN, WILL BE REMOVED AS HE TAKES YOUR NOTHINGNESS AND
INFUSES IT WITH HIS ALMIGHTINESS WHEN YOU LEARN TO WAIT UPON HIM.
NOW, LOOK AT ME, DON’T YOU SAY THAT WON’T WORK IF YOU DON’T TRY
IT. HMM, DON’T YOU SAY, “THAT WON’T WORK.” BECAUSE IF YOU SAY
THAT WONT WORK, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING? YOU’RE CALLING GOD
A LIAR. GOD SAYS, “THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW
THEIR STRENGTH.” YOU KNOW WHY I PREACHED THIS MESSAGE THIS
MORNING? ‘CAUSE I NEED IT SO MUCH. I AM PREACHING TO ADRIAN
THIS MORNING, AND EVERY TIME THAT FINGER POINTS OUT AT YOU,
THERE’RE THREE POINTING RIGHT BACK AT ME. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER]
SO I’LL GET THIS TAPE AND LISTEN TO IT. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] WE
ALL NEED IT! AND, FOLKS, IT ALL BEGINS WITH TRUSTING JESUS AS
YOUR PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOR. BOW YOUR HEADS IN PRAYER, HEADS
ARE BOWED AND EYES ARE CLOSED. FATHER GOD, WE JUST PRAY FOR ANY
TODAY WHO MAY NOT KNOW JESUS AS THEIR PERSONAL SAVIOR. THAT
TODAY THEY WILL SAY AN EVERLASTING, “YES,” TO HIM AND
BE SAVED. FRIEND, IF YOU WANT TO BE SAVED, WOULD YOU PRAY THIS
PRAYER? “DEAR GOD, I KNOW THAT YOU LOVE ME AND YOU WANT TO SAVE
ME. JESUS, YOU DIED TO SAVE ME AND PROMISED TO SAVE ME IF I
WOULD TRUST YOU. THANK YOU, SAVIOR, FOR DYING ON THE CROSS
FOR MY SIN. THANK YOU FOR BLOODY CALVARY. THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY
SUFFERING, MY SIN, MY SHAME AND CARRYING IT TO THE CROSS. I
DON’T DESERVE IT, BUT I RECEIVE IT BY FAITH, LIKE A CHILD.
FORGIVE MY SIN, COME INTO MY LIFE. BEGIN NOW TO MAKE ME THE
PERSON YOU WANT ME TO BE. AND HELP ME TO NEVER BE ASHAMED OF
YOU. IN YOUR NAME I PRAY, AMEN.” MAY I HAVE ANOTHER MOMENT OF
YOUR TIME? I KNOW SOME OF YOU HAVE BROKEN HOPES, BROKEN HEARTS
AND BROKEN HOMES. WHY DON’T YOU ASK THE LORD JESUS TO COME,
RIGHT NOW, AND TO TAKE YOU WHERE YOU OUGHT TO BE, TO MAKE YOU
WHAT HE WANTS YOU TO BE, AND THEN FOR YOU TO BECOME THE
AMBASSADOR OF LOVE INTO YOUR FAMILY? DO YOU KNOW JESUS? WHY
DON’T YOU ASK HIM TO COME INTO YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW? WHY DON’T
YOU PRAY A PRAYER LIKE THIS, “DEAR LORD, I OPEN MY HEART, I
RECEIVE YOU IN TO MY LIFE AS MY LORD AND SAVIOR. THANK YOU FOR
PAYING MY SIN DEBT WITH YOUR SHED BLOOD ON THE CROSS. THANK
YOU FOR LOVING ME SO MUCH, NOW PUT YOUR LOVE IN MY HEART. THANK
YOU FOR DOING IT JESUS. AND JESUS, I LOVE YOU.” PRAY IT AND
MEAN IT. AND IF YOU DO, WOULD YOU WRITE TO US SO WE CAN
REJOICE WITH YOU AND WE’LL SEND YOU SOME LITERATURE TO HELP YOU
GET STARTED IN YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE. WE HOPE THAT TODAY’S
MESSAGE HAS BEEN AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO YOU AS WE’VE
STUDIED GOD’S WORD TOGETHER. FOR MORE RESOURCES FROM ADRIAN
ROGERS INCLUDING COPIES OR DOWNLOADS OF THIS MESSAGE AS
WELL AS PASTOR ROGERS OUTLINE, NOTES OR A COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT,
PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT LWF.ORG. AT LWF.ORG, YOU CAN
ALSO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE DAILY DEVOTIONALS FROM ADRIAN ROGERS
DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO YOUR COMPUTER OR MOBILE DEVICE EACH
MORNING. AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHO JESUS
IS, WE HOPE YOU’LL VISIT THE DISCOVER JESUS LINK ON OUR
HOMEPAGE. OR IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR SOME INSPIRATION OR
ENCOURAGEMENT TO GET YOU THROUGH THE WEEK CHECK OUT OUR SOCIAL
MEDIA @LWFMINISTRIES. JOIN US NEXT TIME AS ADRIAN ROGERS
BRINGS US MORE PROFOUND TRUTH, SIMPLY STATED, WITH ANOTHER
POWERFUL MESSAGE FROM GOD’S WORD. THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR
TODAY’S PROGRAM. WE’LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME. ARE YOU A SLAVE TO
YOUR EMOTIONS? WHAT CAN PEOPLE LEARN FROM THE BIBLICAL EXAMPLE
OF THOSE WHO WERE? THEY CAN LEARN HOW TO USE THEIR EMOTIONS
RATHER THAN LETTING THEIR EMOTIONS ABUSE THEM, UH, THEY
CAN LEARN HOW TO HAVE THE JOY, AND THE VICTORY, THE PEACE, THE
SATISFACTION, THE CONTENTMENT THAT IS OUR LEGACY IN THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST. FOR A GIFT OF ANY AMOUNT, WE’D LIKE TO SEND YOU A
COPY OF, “MASTERING YOUR EMOTIONS” BY ADRIAN ROGERS. CALL
OR WRITE TODAY OR GO TO LWF.ORG TO GET YOURS. AND THANK YOU FOR
YOUR SUPPORT.
