How Should We Wait? – Dr. Charles Stanley

well what are you making a purchase of whether you are facing an emergency that one thing you don't want to hear is wait none of us like to wait we'd like to have it now and we're living in a time when now it's becoming more and more relevant because most anything you want today you can have pretty quickly there was a time when you had to think in terms of wait a month or something then it got down to two weeks then it's a week and now it's almost a day and sometimes you can get it the same day look what a mess we're in Marla in this country because people sexually are not willing to wait till they get married everybody wants everything now and you would think that we we've finally come to the conclusion that it's okay to have everything you want when you want it God didn't make it that way he knew that waiting was very very important if he didn't he wouldn't have had so many times in the description to marry bring it to our mind and so the 27th psalm for example if you look at this 27th summer and the 14th verse says wait for the Lord be strong and let your heart take courage yes wait for the Lord now why would he say it that way because he knows sometimes it's not easy to wait it's not easy to wait for example if you have expected something for a very long time wait for the Lord be strong and let your heart take courage be strong sometimes it takes strength to just wait and he says take courage yes wait for the Lord in what area of your life is it the most difficult for you to have to wait what there is is it in a relationship to somebody else or is it money oh and what relationship of your life do you have the most problem just having to wait when I think about how many times God talks about waiting waiting is very important as far as God is concerned it's important in our physical life it's important in our spiritual life in fact one of the key lessons in the scripture is learning to wait upon God how many times he admonishes us to wait and yet we don't like to wait we prefer to have things right now but all of us are wise enough I think to know that some things it's better not to have just when you want it that sometimes that having something right now is not wise maybe we're not ready for it for example there's some things that are dangerous that some things that are dangerous not only physically but emotionally so we have to be careful and we have to be conscious of the fact that waiting is more than just an idea it is a principle of the Word of God how many times he admonishes us to wait and so when we think about it and he makes it so simple when he says wait for the Lord and then notice the next phrase be strong and let your heart take courage which is his way of saying sometime it's not going to be easy to wait listen to that wait for the Lord be strong and let your heart take courage yes wait for the Lord why would God tell us the wait for anything because he knows that waiting has great advantages it's good not to have everything you want when you want it it's good to have to wait for some things in fact some things it becomes richer and richer when you have to wait and wait for it and we live in a time when we want it now you can have it now that's bet the way it is for most things you can have it now but there are consequences and paying those consequences is usually not worth what you get waiting upon the Lord is a key principle of the Word of God and so when I think about that and I think about some of the scriptures for example turn if you will to Isaiah chapter 40 for a moment and I want you to notice something in this passage Isaiah chapter 40 listen to this do you not know and have you not heard the everlasting God the Lord the creator of the ends of the earth does not become where they are tired his understanding is inscrutable he gives strength to the weary and to him who lacks might he increases power though youth grow weary and tired and vigorous young men stumble badly yet those who wait for the Lord what happens will gain a new strength they will mount up with wings like eagles they will run and not you tired they will walk and not become weary one of when a follower of Jesus learns the principle of waiting upon the Lord you learn one of the most important principles in the Word of God you can just go from Genesis to Revelation waiting upon the Lord is not a popular idea it's not an easy principle but it is absolutely an essential principle if you're going to be the person God wants you to be if you're gonna do the things he wants you to do learning to wait upon him is absolutely a key when you got married for example did you wait for God to show you the right one or did you just decide that he or she was handsome or beautiful and you a while wait and you can now listen carefully you can have it now but don't forget this there is a price to pay when you have everything you want when you can get it because you have enough money or enough fame enough cloud whatever it might be to get it you can have it but you'll pay a price waiting upon the Lord is a principle of Scripture and I want us to think about it for a few moments and he says for example in the 25th Psalm none of those who wait for the Lord will be ashamed in other words God will still work in your life as a follower of Jesus by waiting upon the Lord he says you'll not be ashamed when you're wise enough to wait until God gives you permission to do something you ought to have something you won't be ashamed you'll be you'll be what you will find just several with a sense of security this is you because God has provided and when people think about getting married oftentimes they want to get married right now not asking Lord this issue will not your will all make big purchases oftentimes not asking God about his will there's something about that simple principle you say WRAT that that fool eleventh word why is that so important ask God you start in Genesis ask God well if you violate his caution to you to wait you always pay a price I want to say it again when you violate that principle and stepping ahead of God not waiting for him you always pay a price that's why so many times none of those who wait for the Lord will be ashamed in some 37 those who wait for the Lord will inherit the land that is God will give you what your heart needs and desires if you wait for his timing he's a good God and sometimes we act like well if I don't have it now it's like God will forget let me ask you what is the only thing God forgets what is it forgiving sin he forgets it those who wait for the Lord will inherit the land those who wait for the Lord will not be ashamed and so how can we be ashamed when we are waiting upon the Lord we don't have to be ashamed and as people will ask you sometimes why don't you do why have you waited so long why didn't you do this why don't you but why what do you wait for this and wait for that and wait for the other because if you're wise you wait till you hear from God that think about this I think about people who pray and no doubt let's just say that everybody prays at night before they go to bed do you pray about the things that you want that God has given you a caution not now when you pray and ask God about making a purchase and you and you say well go ahead and stop me so it must be all right mm-hmm sounding like a teenager that's not that's not what that's about if you ask God for something watch this carefully if you ask God about something you are obligated to wait until God gives you permission to do it how many times does he say wait wait wait wait wait upon Lord how wise it is the wait upon the Lord and think about this how the most people wait do you wait impatiently that means you complain about it you tell other people about it you tell God about it and you first said God because he had already done it you wait nervously oh god am I gonna get it around my eyes will you do something Lord help me help me help me or do you wait complaining think about this think about God looking down on you while you're praying and asking him about something and just asking him and complaining all the time because he hadn't given it to you yet and then people they wait questioning God well Lord why don't you do it now think about something that you've asked out about in your life that he didn't do immediately what was your response didn't you question think about this didn't you question his judgment well why not now knowing in your heart if you think how unreasonable this is you make a request before God I'm something that's legitimate and he doesn't give it to you right then and then you come back and say well now Lord what are you waiting for and you can't come up with in there good reason why God hadn't given it to you now and so what happens you begin to complain in your heart you know that God says asking that you be given you seeking is your fun not can it you be able to you that is God is a good wonderful awesome God very very generous given all of us more than we deserve and yet when we don't get it when we want it we come complaining stop and think what God withhold something from you that is good for you know what he withhold it if now is the right time know if you stop and think any any time God would hold something from you it's God withholding something out of wisdom love and for our benefit that he knows that later is better let it will be ready for it later will be equipped when we're not always equipped for everything we asked for and you would say that to your teenager your grandchildren you'd say to them there's some things you're not ready for and at the same time you ask God and he doesn't give it to you when you want you question God so listen to this think about all these attitudes impatiently nervously complaining questioning frustrated irritated and miserable II we wait what have you been asking God for that he has not given you I cannot tell you how important waiting upon Almighty God is because it is a key to the way God operates I don't I can't think of much I've asked God for that I got immediately and watch this sometimes we're not ready sometimes what we're asking for is the right thing but God knows when you ready for them when you're not and so we complain about God because he's because he's not giving us what we want when it's not that he's not giving us what we were he's waiting till we get ready and sometimes he's waiting till we realize that he's the source of what we're looking for in life and not some what else and sometimes he wants to teach us the fact we don't need that we think we need that he knows we don't need that he knows that would be a stumbling block in our life he knows that he has something better than that something watched this some things do not fit us when we think they do they just don't and so we have to wait and a good example of whether we trust God or not is if I'm willing to wait we tell our children to wait on marriage wait when it comes to money and our unwillingness to wait will get us in trouble get us in debt get us embarrassed you name it and so what does God say he says wait upon the Lord be strong I'm never good courage when I say on the Lord and so we think about how we should wait so I hope you jot these down how should we wait we should wait patiently we should wait patiently and when I when I think about how many times we're admonished in the Word of God I waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined to me and heard my cry he brought me out of the pit of destruction out of America set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm listen to this he put a new song in my mouth a song of praise to our God many will see in fear and he will trust in the Lord that is you're going to be blessed if you wait but whatever you're looking for and searching for it and what you need in life if you wait for God's timing none of us would question the fact that you're wiser than we are we know that he's was that we aren't so therefore whatever I'm asking him about surely I know that he knows the right time the best time watch this and he knows that if I hit it ahead of time I won't enjoy it he knows if I get at the right time enjoy the rest of my life there are not many principles in the Word of God more important than wait upon the Lord wait I say up on the Lord so secondly how should we wait we should wait quietly listen this Psalm 62 my soul waits in silence for God only here's what that means I stop complaining I wait quietly and stop complaining thank you lord I know that in your given time and your good time you will provide exactly what I'm asking for and then of course we wait trusting him now words waiting just doesn't mean that we don't say anything we don't do anything but waiting what waiting is actively trusting God I'm trusting you Lord is saying it I'm trusting your Lord that is I'm not fretting about it if I'm fretting I'm not trusting if I'm asking believing and patiently waiting I'm not saying him well Lord I've waited three weeks I've waited three months I've waited six months and it's amazing what people get upset about when God doesn't give them what they ask for immediately and yet the same parent would look back and see how they taught their children to be patient patience is very key from God's perspective God doesn't mind us coming to him over and over and over again about something but he wants us to wait trusting him trusting in the Lord with all of our heart leaning not to our own understanding and all of our ways acknowledging him he'll bring it to pass would you say that you're at trusting person think about your proud life for a moment first of all do you pray everyday if you don't you're gonna get in trouble all of us need to talk to him every day do you do you pray patiently and how many times have I heard this well I ask God about it and I prayed several times about it and I don't think God was listening to me well so I would ask the question what does God have to do think about this what does God have to do in your life to assure you that he's listening without saying anything audibly to you what does he have to do can you trust him to keep his word shouldn't that be enough asking that you be given you seek and you should find knock and it shall be opened to you not necessarily today or next week and next month but am I willing to believe him because I know that it's that what I'm asking for is scriptural it's right it's good it's the kindness of God I feel free about that but the timing why can't why do I have to wait so remember this God and his wisdom and love always has a very specific reason for causing us the wait for some particular thing that we were asking about because watch this all we see is what's in front of us God sees not only what's in front of us but he sees what's beyond that and beyond that and beyond that and he sees the effect it'll have in our life whether we wait or whether we don't wait and so winning is a very important principle in the world of God I'm to wait expectantly listen to this I would have despaired unless I had believed I would see the goodness of the Lord that times when there are situations and circumstances we think it's absolutely essential that I have this of that now well that's really not true this is a principal description you wait till you get God's permission to make serious decisions and I mean many decisions are not big decisions of small decisions but they're serious because the consequences if I'm only looking from here a bear I'm not going to see it the Spirit of God came into your life the moment you trusted him as your Savior one of his primary reasons to come into your life was the seal you as a child of God but also they give you direction and guidance that's one of his primary purposes they give guidance and direction in a sinful wicked vile world we have what we have is we have God living within our spirit they give us guidance and direction doing to say no when to say yes when they go this way when they go that way it is foolish to try to live your life in this world without God and without listening which means your prayer life ought to have a priority in your life every day the priority of our life ought to be time we spend alone with him being quiet and a good time to do that's when you start the day out there people who work in situations and circumstances every day the opposites they live in they don't walk into a den of temptation walk into a den of a wickedness and violence and foul language and all the rest but they work there and they have to they have to be that this particular point in their life you cannot go in to work wherever you work forgetting God and just doing what you want to do we have to be sensitive to our surroundings careful but who sees what what we listen to what we don't listen to and who is trying to influence us in some way wait upon the Lord we wait trustingly quietly patiently expectantly I would have despaired we wait courageously wait for the Lord be strong and let your heart take courage watch this God knows that there's some things it takes courage to wait for takes courage to wait you just have to wait though you don't want to wait sometimes sometimes we can't we can't even come up with a reason why God wouldn't do it now and if I've heard one thing in the past I've heard that so many times well what what what is God waiting for well you know I could give you all kind of answers but the truth is he's waiting he's waiting from a heart of love they give you what you're asking for if it's his will if it's not as well you're not gonna have it but he's waiting til the time is right so I want you to think for just a moment I'm gonna give you 15 seconds to think about something you ready and I want you to think about something you've been asking God for something maybe for somebody else or something for yourself and how have you I'm gonna give you 15 seconds to respond to this how have you been responding to your request to God you've got 15 seconds to think about it all right have you been waiting upon him courageously patiently knowing that he always wants what's best for you in other words are you patiently waiting for God to answer your petition or you come into him over and over and over again saying God why not why not yet I've prayed about this and I've thought about it why not and here's his answer because I love you that's the reason God is not you know the province of anything that's good for us that he knows we need that it's okay for us to have that we will enjoy not disobey Him not make it a god in our life some things you'll never get because God knows you would become a God in your life then of course we're to wait standing on God's Word listen I'll wait for the Lord my soul is wait and in his word do I hope so how do you wait now let me remind you one thing one of the reasons we have to wait is because of sin in our life and God knows how to get our attention when there's something in our life that's not right we're asking for something else and we're thinking over here and they got here's what I need and God is saying well over here's the reason you can't have it now when you deal with this I'll deal with that as long as you won't deal with this am I gonna deal with that sin is a barrier the blessing and if we want God's blessing and if we want to shorten the time with look at our heart be sure it's clean with submissives where we want what he wants whatever whatever that is then more than likely we'll receive whether we're asking for but what I want you to see is this God doesn't miss a single opportunity to teach me to trust him it doesn't make a difference with you 2181 he's always in the process of teaching us a trusting probably every single one of us seated here would say that there is something I'm praying about I'm trusting God for I'm waiting about it are you waiting patiently as we said quietly trusting expectantly courageously with confidence are you eighty trusting him dear Nancy pray or has God brought something to your mind in the last twenty five minutes that he wants you to deal with more than likely if something cropped up in your mind that has to do with what you've been asking him about that's the thing he has his finger on that's the thing you need to deal with if you want God answer your prayer he's a prayer answering God and Jesus made it so simple when he was teaching Sermon on the Mount he said ask and it should be given you seek you shall find knock it shall be opened unto you in other words God is so willing this is the confidence that we have in him that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us and if we know that he hears us we know that we have the petition we desired of him so we have the promises so watch this obey God listen to him and watch him work he'll work amen father we think of the simplicity of your word you didn't make it difficult for us on the sand you made it simple and plain so that we will listen to you more carefully we listen to discern your will from our will you want to grow us up not just in a single answer but Lord we know that you take great delight in granting to us the desires of our heart whoever seated here this morning is praying about whatever is on their heart and struggling with because it has not happened yet would you grant them the understanding even now that the answer will come if it's your will it'll come in your timing if we were obeying you following your word and trusting you we love you for loving us father in Jesus name Amen [Music] you [Music]

Channel: In Touch Ministries

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Keywords: Charles F. Stanley, Charles Stanley, In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley, In Touch Ministries, Preaching, Bible teaching, Dr. Stanley, Intouch ministries, intouch

Id: QS2dw7EzUk0

Length: 28min 30sec (1710 seconds)

Published: Fri Jul 17 2020