THE WISDOM OF THE SCRIPTURES
March 14, 1999 PM
Sermon Outline
SOMETIMES ALL YOU CAN DO IS WAIT
Jas 5:7-11
INTRO: Most of us are not good at waiting. We want things to be immediate ... if not sooner. I expect that we have been conditioned by the pace of life in the western world to expect things to be done quickly. So, having to wait, really wait, is not our favorite way of passing time. From the scriptures I get the impression that waiting has never really been a favorite thing. Rather, we see people acting hastily, rashly ... just as now. But the wisdom of the scriptures says sometimes all you can do is wait!
I. SOME SITUATIONS ...
A. I cant wait until ...
B. We cannot hurry growth
C. We must wait on consequences of the past
D. We cannot hurry course of a disease - or, of the healing, recovery process ... etc.
II. SO, WE LEARN (OR SHOULD) PATIENT WAITING
A. Yes, we would like to get to the outcome
1. but we are bound to time, space, laws, etc.
2. thus, waiting is an unavoidable reality
3. too often, however, waiting produces anxiety ... it is not patient waiting
B. Texts to consider:
1. Rom 12:12 note hope and prayer with patience
2. 2 Thes 1:4 and 3:5 enduring with faith, patience
3. Rev 1:9 tribulation ... but patience
C. It is dangerous to wait impatiently!
1. already mentioned is potential anxiety
2. rash words and actions come out of impatience - I think of Job 2:9 - or of Sarahs misguided plan to provide an heir for Abraham
3. but wait we must
III. SO, HOW CAN WE WAIT PATIENTLY
A. Wait in prayer
1. Eph 6:18
2. Rom 12:12
3. beyond the obvious benefit of prayer, it has a way of refocusing attention on God... of bringing stray thoughts back into order ... of averting rashness
B. Wait in thanksgiving
1. Col 1;11,12
2. note that joyfulness is here with patience
3. what better way of waiting than to be aware of Gods blessings in our lives - of recounting with joy His benevolent deeds and kindness
C. Wait in well doing
1. Rom 2:6,7
2. yes, different situations of waiting will have their own circumstances and constraints
3. but so often we just shut down in waiting ... there are many good things which we can do while waiting
D. Wait in carefulness
1. Heb 6:11,12 and 12:1
2. not only can we act rashly in waiting, we can also become negligent ... careless about ultimate goal
3. at Jas 5:8 is establish your hearts - waiting is a time for confidence ... not doubts - a time for shoring up ... so
E. Wait in the scriptures
1. Rom 15:4
2. listening to God through His word is especially helpful in patient waiting - it is instructional; it is consoling; it is hope full
3. any kind of waiting situation is helped by dwelling in His word
CLOSE: Waiting is rarely easy ... especially when we are waiting on Gods timetable. But waiting can become a wonderful opportunity if we fill it with good things
Cecil A. Hutson
14 March 1999