Hold the Wait, And Don't Let Go | 7/25

[Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] do [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] well good morning church family and welcome back to the house of the lord how you all doing today come on how you all doing today all right praise god and for those of you who are joining us at home welcome as well it's so great to be in the presence of the lord i welcome you all to stand with me this morning as we turn our hearts and our eyes upon jesus and i would love for you guys to join me in a quick word of prayer as we do that lord we thank you so much that your people can still gather together in one place and bless your holy name i pray lord that all distractions that we came in with would stop at the door there are many things that vie for our attention even while sitting here in the pews trying to focus on you there are things vying for our attention lord take them away help your people to hear your word today to bless you from the depths of our soul and to give your name it's due honor and glory praise be to your name today we pray in jesus name and all god's people said amen [Music] all right good morning everyone hey why don't we just uh do a couple trunk rotations here stretch maybe a little bit because who knows you might get excited about jesus maybe jesus has done something for you as jesus done something for anybody so so we don't want anybody pulling anything so you might want to stretch a little bit because who knows the spirit of the lord might get a hold of you today you might end up dancing some of y'all are like that's not going to happen who knows let's wait on the holy spirit so god we just ask you to come lord we just celebrate today right now who you are jesus we just thank you that you are the one that we were waiting for holy spirit we ask you to come and just reveal christ in this room and just lead us in worship how many want to make that your prayer today holy spirit lead us in worship today you be the worship leader in this place thank you lord let's lift this together i cannot deny what i've seen got no choice but to believe my doubts are burning like ashes in the wind so long so so long to my old friends burden and bitterness you can just keep on moving no you're not welcome here from now from now till i walk the streets of gold i'll sing of how you've saved my [Applause] [Music] [Music] solid ground i thank the master i thank the savior because you heal my heart you change my name forever free i'm not the same i thank the master i thank the savior oh i thank god [Music] let's sing it again i cannot deny what i've seen got no choice but to believe my doubts are burning [Applause] like ashes in the wind sing so long so so long to my old friends the burden and bitterness you can just keep on moving no you're not welcome here from now till sing it out from now till i walk the streets [Music] [Applause] [Music] you is me around you place my feet on solid ground i thank the master i thank the savior because you healed my heart you changed my name free i'm not the same i thank the master i think the savior oh i thank god yes i thank god oh i thank god [Applause] yeah i thank god see this out hell lost another one no i am free oh i am free oh i am free sing it out hell lost another one no i am free oh i am free oh i am free i am free oh i am free oh i [Music] my am on solid ground i thank the master i thank the savior because you healed my heart you changed my name forever free i'm not the same i thank the master i thank the savior oh i thank god [Applause] yes yes oh jesus we celebrate you today because you pick me up you turn me around you place my feet on solid ground i thank the master i thank this hate because you healed my heart you changed my name forever free i'm not the same i thank the master [Music] you know the bible says that we enter into his gates with thanksgiving in our heart there's something so important about something so important about remembering the heart posture of thanksgiving in fact let's just take a moment together let's just enter his courts today right that's why we're here we want to be with him we want to be in his courts today so let's do it the way the bible says let's enter with thanksgiving just begin in your heart right now just to thank him for what he's done just begin to recall the things he's done in your life just begin to let him minister to you again and bring to remembrance those things that he helped you through come on just let it stir thankfulness in your heart again come on remember today remember today what he's done maybe you feel like you're waiting on the lord to do something in this season take a moment and remember what he's already done take a moment and remember his faithfulness even if all you can recall today is the cross recall that he became a curse that you might become a blessing recall that he became sin that you might become the righteousness of god come on begin to get thankful in this place come on let us through your heart today [Music] oh i thank god sing now oh i thank god oh yes oh i thank god come on oh i thank god put it on your lips today oh i thank god [Applause] [Music] i thank i thank god yes i thank god sing hell lost another one oh hell lost loved one yes i am free oh i am free yes i yes i am free [Applause] [Music] you place my feet on solid ground i thank the master i thank the savior because you healed my heart you changed my name forever free i'm not the same i thank the master i thank the [Music] [Applause] [Music] thank savior come on give a shout and praise in this place today [Music] we remember today what you did for us we choose to remember today to recall your goodness to recall your faithfulness today [Music] you reign above it [Music] there is [Music] let's sing this together the rain of darkness now has ended in the kingdom of light in the kingdom of heaven forever you're the king of my life you're the king of my life come on you ain't lifted up if you reign above [Music] [Applause] there is no higher name jesus you rang above it all on the cross on the cross the work was finished god you poured out your life just to give us new life [Applause] now from the lips of the forgiven that's us today hearing anthem marine [Music] oh [Music] [Applause] [Music] jesus [Music] [Applause] there is no higher name jesus [Music] [Applause] [Music] get ready to sing the best news you've ever heard this is the moment that we celebrate as a body this is the moment where the world looks in and sees joy like they don't know right here as we sing this together sing it out oh you sent the darkness running out of an empty grave now seated alone in glory and thrown down the highest praise lift that up you sent the darkness running out of an empty grave now seated alone in glory enthroned on the highest place [Applause] [Music] is [Applause] [Applause] the [Applause] there is no higher jesus [Applause] [Music] sing hallelujah [Music] jesus [Music] the everlasting one there is [Music] jesus [Music] oh [Music] come on let's lift that together today [Music] [Music] my [Music] [Applause] [Music] oh [Music] oh [Music] [Music] [Music] our god is [Music] with kindness and wisdom and we will keep our eyes on you we will keep our eyes is on you [Music] a mighty fortress is our god [Music] your kingdom is unshakable with [Music] is [Music] [Applause] [Music] is [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] refugees [Music] a sacred refuge is [Music] is we will keep our eyes on you we will keep our eyes we will keep our eyes [Music] on you set our hearts on a mighty fortress [Music] [Applause] [Music] is [Music] we will keep our eyes we will keep our eyes on you we will keep our eyes on you we will keep our eyes [Music] jesus we just say today our eyes are on you spirit of god our eyes are on you jesus our eyes are on you not just as a mentor not just as a figure [Music] as the and the savior of my life as the hero of my life our eyes are on you jesus today god i pray that you would prepare the ground right now in my heart in our hearts that we might hear your word today as it's brought forth that we might receive the seeds of life that you are planting in us today that we might leave this place and allow the holy spirit to water this seed lord that we might carry it with us that it might change us that it might change the way we do life [Music] we just invite you in right now holy spirit give us the ears of samuel that did not let one word from you fall to the ground that we might recognize your voice today and say yes to you we love you can we just say that together we love you we love you jesus [Music] in jesus name we pray amen hey aren't we grateful to have a worship pastor who doesn't just put together a set list and check it off but he seeks the lord on what we as a community need may we never take that for granted how special that is how sacred well welcome good afternoon good morning whatever time you woke up that's what makes the difference but hey we get an opportunity we used to just be able to turn around and smile at each other but now you can actually speak to the people around you and so here's what i want you to do would you just take a moment to find out from that person next to you or near you do it as you feel comfortable find out what is their favorite part of the day what is your favorite part of the day it could be dinner it could be sleep i don't know i'm not going to tell you what to say you have to do it so meet those around you why don't you share that your favorite part of the day wow you all had so many more things than the first service i guess they got to start hanging out with you well can i share with you what my favorite part is okay so every day when i come home i have three little amazing children who right when i go into the front door and open it up they are immediately attacking me slaps hits wrestling sometimes biting and it is amazing and it is exhausting but it is the best part of my day so much so that we just decided why not add a little fourth one to the to the group so anna my wife is due in october you know while we have a little wrestlemania happening we might as well just add another player in there but you know what my least favorite time of day is whenever i have to wait for anything right all you long islanders say what uh-huh i mean did anyone just share you know sometimes there's these special days that come around where i get to go to the department of motor vehicles and i just wait all day and the ac is always broken anyone who works there we will pray for you there's a special button on our website for you and we will have non-stop intercession but waiting waiting that's probably not the favorite part of our days when we're just waiting for something and so today i just want to share with you what i know is on the heart of god for all of us for me something i'm in the midst of and wrestling through as well and i believe all of us are holding the weight and not letting go and i'm not talking about a weight as in something you carry in a gym i'm talking about a weight as in waiting see we don't enjoy it oftentimes it's in these moments we grow tired weary skeptical lonely insecure uncertain bitter have i said it yet i'll continue faithless critical feel forgotten overlooked angry fearful it's okay i think that's just like an ac thing spazzing out over there just if you hear shaking and rattling don't be nervous are you there i know i am just in the waiting you know along with my life i'm discovering something when i bend over to put my shoes on i make noises like this i just realized a couple weeks ago like man i got to do something about this i've got that little group of people trying to attack me everywhere i go so i've got to be a little better in shape for that so i'll just start working out again i'll try to once or twice a week do something that makes me breathe like i need to and carry what i need to so i've tried and i'm trying and i appreciate your encouragement but this is something you'll know about being in any weight room it's not about the item you are holding the dumbbell the medicine ball the tension rope it's not about that external thing it's about what's happening inside of your body and your muscles something is being built inside of you while something's also being torn down you know in the waiting seasons of our life we often find that these are moments that are frustrating exhausting difficult painful but they also can become moments where god builds inside of us and that's my prayer for all of us today so can we pray right now just to say lord let us receive what you have for us god we thank you that you are faithful and you are good you are trustworthy would you lord jesus show us and reveal to us today what you're building inside of us may we not let go but hold on to all that you are doing and want to do speak to our souls in our hearts for some of us here we're weary and we're tired and we're growing faint but may we find our hope and trust in you in jesus name amen you know when i do find myself in this place in the midst of struggle and in a grapple with waiting i like to peer back and take a note from the prophets of old they would often address god's people in the same struggle god's people constantly the people of israel were waiting wondering desiring to see the fulfillment of god's promises and so we see the prophets constantly speaking to them and here's three main things that we can always see they're telling god's people first be in touch with what is happening within and around you be aware of what's happening inside of you and the circumstances that surround you second let god remind you who he is and who you are putting god in the right place and understanding who he is and who you are and thirdly embracing and receiving what he wants to do in you receiving and embracing what he wants to do in you there's no better passage that encapsulates all of this then isaiah chapter 40 verse 25-31 we're going to read that in just a moment but i want to just tell you a little bit of the context god's people are waiting and wondering they're discouraged god will you fulfill the promises will you send a deliverer lord where are you and they're waiting to see his covenant fulfilled and right then we jump into god addressing his people i pray that as i read this we're not just reading the text but we're allowing the holy spirit through the word of god to read us so who is like me god says who holds a candle to me says the holy look at the night skies who do you think made all of this who marches this army of stars out each night counts them off calls each by name so magnificent so powerful and never overlooks a single one why would you ever complain oh jacob or whine israel saying god has lost track of me he doesn't care what happens to me don't you know anything haven't you been listening god doesn't come and go god laughs he's creator of all you can see or imagine he doesn't get tired out he doesn't pause to catch his breath and he knows everything inside and out he energizes those who get tired gives fresh strength to dropouts for even young people tire and drop out young folk in their prime stumble and fall but those who wait upon god get fresh strength they spread their wings and soar like eagles they run and don't get tired they walk and don't lag behind those who wait upon the lord what does it actually mean to wait upon the lord well in hebrew and in the context this is what it means to wait to look and patiently tarry wait for wait upon wait on to bind together to hope on to trust in to tie yourself to twist and stretch with the tension to endure twist and stretch with attention to endure it doesn't sound boring lazy or inactive actually it sounds extremely exhausting and all god's people who are waiting said it's exhausting it doesn't really sound like a doctor's waiting room more like a wrestling ring now i am not a wrestler like pastor mike sinclair and pastor matt pastor these guys are like allstate wrestlers okay and i'll tell you what i've seen them wrestle in my office and it's not pretty but it's very exciting and they're just beasts they understand they did it they're like all-state all-county guys me i'm just crazy i'll bite you i learn it from my kids it works but here's the deal if you know anything about wrestling you realize that it is one of the most strenuous and intense sports you can play it's two of you and both of you are giving every single bit of your body and muscle and tension into the fight at the exact same time it's your full strength against their full strength it's absolutely exhausting see oftentimes in this waiting as something is being built inside of us we find ourselves in a grapple and in a wrestle but see this shouldn't shock us and this is what isaiah is saying to the people of god he cries out and says oh jacob o israel he's reminding them of their story and of all of our story our faith is birthed out of a people and more intimately a family who waited and wrestled with god and his promises abraham isaac and jacob jacob whose name would later be changed to israel and the name israel means wrestles and struggles with god now i'm gonna blitz us through the jacobs story are you ready yes oh that was not convincing at all okay i'm gonna blitz us through the jacobs story are you ready yes put your imaginary seatbelt on there it is or this way whatever year you were born that'll tell you we're going to blitz through the story because you're going to see that jacob lives a life maybe that reflects what many of us are in the season of but there is a moment that he comes to a wrestle with god almighty because what he is reaching for god's not going to let him have until something takes place now jacob his parents are isaac and rebecca abraham had two sons ishmael and isaac isaac is the son who received the blessing of the covenant and the promises of god out of that family and that lineage then isaac marries rebecca and they have two sons two twins esau and jacob now jacob's name reflects literally how he was born esau was the first twin born and as he comes out jacob is holding his heel grabbing his heel the name means supplanter he comes out from literal birth reaching and grabbing now throughout his life he wouldn't stop reaching and grabbing looking for the things on the outside that he felt would bring him healing and wholeness on the inside looking for those things he could have that would set his worth and his importance jacob goes decades of his life chasing manipulating deceiving and swindling in the desire to grab a blessing even his mother rebecca she is given a word from god before she has the babies and the word is your younger son will rule over the older but see i think rebecca does what many of us do she doesn't see it happening as she's waiting and observing she doesn't see it taking place how she thinks it should and so she tries to play god or move his hand have you ever done that or are you doing that it's not working out how i thought maybe in your life or the life of someone else and so you decide i'm going to try to play god i'm going to try to move his hand and it doesn't work well but that's what we do see when we don't wait on or upon the lord we are left to waiting and striving in our own humanly broken way here's the things we do manipulation deception our own wit our own strength our own grit our own power we begin to compare we begin to look at others and even worse worse of all idolatry because we realize nothing's really happening here with you god and i'm my eyes are kind of being directed another way this item this thing this money this person this relationship this position whatever it is this is the thing i need this is the thing i'm beginning to hope and to trust in to weigh upon hold on to and tie myself to and we begin to worship something else see jacob manipulates his brother esau from his birthright esau comes in starving and famished jacob had just made a beautiful pot of stew esau says can i have some jacob says well sell me your birthright a dirty thing to do taking advantage of someone but see when we feel we have to keep grabbing and fight for our own and get what we deserve or god you said this but i'm not seeing it happen so i'm going to help you make this happen we begin to do things that don't represent the heart of god and so esau starving gives up his birthright for both stu later on jacob deceives their father isaac into giving him the family blessing the blessing that was for the oldest son the blessing where the covenant was and the inheritance and the promises of god through that line in lineage jacob deceives his aging and blind father to get that blessing obviously esau is ticked off says i'm going to kill my brother jacob flees he runs from that place that circumstance but his pride self-reliance fear of missing out entitlement it goes with him see you can keep running from place to place but understand this if you don't allow god to deconstruct and remove what's on the inside it'll keep going everywhere with you everywhere you go every relationship you're in every job you get it's with you so jacob brings all those things with him he gets married has children and he's living a prosperous life if you look from the outside of your life you'd say hey he's he's wealthy he'd say i think i'm doing pretty good but all of a sudden god tells jacob go back now to the land of your fathers and relatives and i will be with you because jacob knew and god was reminding him there is something more for you and you have to go back there is something waiting for you now jacob's still afraid he's fearful of his brother he still probably wants to kill me is what he's thinking so jacob does maybe what we often do gives a desperate and broken prayer unto god god i just want to remind you hey god i just want to remind you remember you said those promises and i'm going to get them i know the way i got them was a little but i'm getting them so just reminding you don't let me die you know oftentimes i think we have to be convicted and that conviction is from the love of god and the desire he has for intimacy see prayer is not just all about the words we say sometimes we think i'm just saying all the words all the words it's about the posture of your heart jesus addressed that you can use much words but look at the one in the back who beats his chest and says i am a sinner and i am unworthy forgive me father there's something happening inside but see for jacob it was still just this external exchange so he comes up with a witty plan his own plan on how he could change his brother's heart save his family and save his wealth god was simply just a distant promise dispenser but what jacob didn't know was that all of a sudden he would encounter god who is the covenant wrestler my prayer is that we realize the desire that god wants to be with us near us in the waiting the band can actually come back up at this time jacob sends all his companions family and belongings ahead but before he can finally take hold of what he's been reaching for his whole life god stands in the way and the wrestle begins see jacob his entire life reaching what can solve this what can i get to feel worthy what can i get to receive this promise and this blessing i need i need and that reaching and grabbing and snagging in his own power and his own strength but all of a sudden god is going to stand in the way and say the blessing that i have for you is much deeper than what you see around you it's what i'm going to do inside of you and i love how the text in genesis chapter 32 we just jump right into it there's not this big buildup of and then this happened and this happened all you get is jacob is by himself and a man shows up and they begin to wrestle it's like real life we don't get all these like foreshadowing moments in life right a lot of times boom it just happens and we find ourselves in a circumstance or in a place or a situation or in a feeling so here it is the man saw that he couldn't get the best of jacob as they wrestled so he deliberately threw jacob's hip out of joint let me just tell you the prophet hosea later on says that it was an angel the lord who wrestled jacob jacob further down says he saw the face of god and he wrestled god whether you believe it was an angel of the lord or god it doesn't negate what's happening here the message is still the same god's presence is invading jacob and jacob is having to wrestle with god but he's gritty he won't give up i guess i can make it contextual for us he's a long island new yorker you gonna push me i ain't going down you're gonna yell at me i'm gonna dig deeper that's what we do he wasn't giving up and all of a sudden now god's hand throws jacob's hip out of joint anyone in here knows if your hips out of joint now you have no strength especially in a wrestling match all your power and strength comes from your core and your hips and so now jacob the one strong and witty just had the next best idea to get himself out of something and get himself into something is now on the ground unable to move his legs and he's just gripping and holding on and the man says let me go and jacob says i'm not going to let you go i'm not going to let you go until you bless me he wouldn't let go he's now broken humbled see in the waiting it's moments where god stands in the way and he's reminding us this is who i am and this is who you are but this is what i want to do in you but it's not always easy the man said what's your name and he answered jacob the man said but no longer your name is no longer jacob from now on it's israel god wrestler you've wrestled with god and you've come through jacob asked and what's your name the man said why do you want to know my name and then right then and there he blessed him jacob named the place peniel god's face because he said i saw god face to face and lived to tell the story the sun came up as he left peniel limping because of his hip he left limping there was evidence of the struggle and of the wrestle as he was waiting something happened inside of him listen the beautiful thing about who our god is is he's up close and personal he's the god of a family abraham isaac and jacob not men or women who did anything perfect but they just wouldn't let go don't let go [Music] earlier this morning i felt so strongly just the picture of so many of us god's children starting to let go letting go of the promises of god the miracles of god the dreams he gave you or just his presence and community whatever you feel you feel that grip just letting go and you're beginning to drift you're beginning to look to other things your eyes are beginning to wander and your heart's beginning to long for other things and i'm encouraging you by the power of the holy spirit don't let go because god is building something inside of you in this waiting something is happening that you can't see see jacob the god wrestler now walking away as israel he would have a limp and he would be broken but out of that he would find his strength and his people's destiny because it wasn't just about receiving the promise snagging the blessing earning the covenant it wasn't simply about that it was deeper it was the giver of the promise the provider of the blessing the one the one whom he was in covenant with [Music] when something gets personal it becomes internal this type of holy waiting produces and builds things in you and in me and you can only give out of you [Music] what has been produced inside of you see out of this wrestle in this moment of surrender jacob walks into a blessing but i guess in one sense you could say the blessing was now in him because out of and from this god wrestler's lineage would come the promise in the covenant the blessing himself can we stand up see out of jacob's lineage would come one who was born in the town of bethlehem refugee in the land of egypt raised in the city of nazareth he would actively wait for 30 years on this earth not letting go of his heavenly father's will he would take on the human struggle he would embrace the limp of humanity and he would wrestle with sin and death he would rise on the third day from the grave and declare the truth the curse has been broken a new covenant has been given and the eternal promise has been released that those who wait upon the lord will renew their strength they shall mount up with wings like eagles they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint his name is jesus he is the christ he is lord and he is god and he is wrestling with you because he took that struggle on with you and with me so my question is what is god building and doing in you as you wait upon him what is being released inside of you and built in you that you have no idea but that this world and your family and your marriage and your children and your friends and the stranger on the street you walk by every day they need what's happening and being built inside of you so will you just keep holding on a little longer and not let go [Music] people of god we are meant to be god wrestlers [Music] and sometimes it looks messy and sometimes it's painful and it is hard but all i can say to you fellow pilgrim fellow wrestler don't let go keep on holding on hold him don't keep reaching and grasping for the things you can attain the positions and the titles the kingdoms you can build hold on to jesus as he is holding on to you and you watch what he is building and putting inside of you that this world and generations so desperately need jesus we reach to you knowing you already are reaching to us we take hold of you knowing you already are taking hold of us may we allow you to build in us that you might receive the glory and the world might see you in our waiting and in our struggle we love you and we worship you in jesus mighty name amen [Music] hallelujah [Music] [Music] hallelujah [Music] are you [Music] [Music] were [Music] are you [Music] [Music] [Music] is [Music] [Music] amen church how many of you needed that message this morning amen as pastor stephen said that's a poignant word for a long islander we're just told to get it done be successful don't stop keep going success matters on this island but so often we get caught up thanking god for his blessings to build our own kingdom that's not what he calls us to do he asks us to let go of that and hold on to him wrestle with him even so he can build his kingdom in us amen you see we don't remember jacob for the things he had it's written in scripture and still you can't tell me how many camels he had you can't tell me what his net worth was in our time or his but he literally had it all and it still wasn't enough he wasn't remembered for his successes he was remembered for his children he was remembered remembered for the people that he impacted and they don't remember him for his successes they remember him because of his limp they remember him because he was marked by god you won't be remembered for your successes your children your community will remember you because of the mark that god places on you and you won't get that at your job you won't get that with your friends you're gonna get that when you hold on to him and you wrestle and allow him to build his kingdom in you amen pastor stephen thank you for being faithful and for bringing the word of the lord of us to us today [Applause] now a couple things before we end in prayer many of you have been very faithful in giving and we thank you for that faithfulness we're able to continue to meet together and to do things in our community because of it if you want to give today you guys can give online or for those of you who are in service here we have buckets in the back little jars you'll see them on the tables on your way out if you're not used to being with us or for those of you who are remember that there is altered ministry in the front after service and please those of you who want to talk and connect with friends do so out in the lobby or on your way to your car to honor that time that these people are having up here in the front and uh if you're at home you're joining us online if you have a prayer request you can go right to the website and click prayer requests and we'll be sure to bring that to the lord on your behalf as well man that message really hit me today i mean i'm over here going through all this stuff i'm just it's still resonating in my heart i hope that the lord's doing the same thing in you so would you all join me now as we raise our hands and point our hearts to the lord and walk out of here not forgetting what you just learned all the things that we brought in today all the things that we thought were important they don't matter compared to the mark of god lord we thank you again for the opportunity to gather together we thank you lord that whether we're here or we're at home we heard your word in a special way today lord help us to drop our kingdom building and to hold on to you you hold on to us dear god you hold on to us with hands that have holes in them because you carried humanity's limp you came to us first that you might build your kingdom in us every man every woman throughout all of scripture is not known for their successes they're not known for their words they're known because of the mark that you've placed upon them so lord as your people we lift our hands and we turn our hearts to you we ask lord for your mark if we have to wrestle for it let's wrestle lord we want to be god wrestlers that people and our children might see your mark upon us and that your glory might rest upon us and upon your church in our day in our age and on this island lord to you be the glory in all that we do in jesus name we pray and god's people said god's people said amen i'm watching you next week you better walk in here with a limp all right god bless you guys thank you for joining us at home see you guys [Music] you

Channel: Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle

Views: 784

Rating: 5 out of 5

Keywords: Smithtown (Location), Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle, SGTchurch, SGT Church, SGT, Church, Church (Type Of Place Of Worship), Sermon, Jesus Christ (Deity), God (Deity), Gary Zarlengo

Id: 7Q42Ihrfuqo

Length: 65min 20sec (3920 seconds)

Published: Sun Jul 25 2021