Waiting
Christopher Rath
1989-11-15
Home Group 16 Nov'89 - "Waiting" Waiting: 2 ways --> Man's Way God's Way MAN'S WAY: 1 Sam 13:2-15 - What label could you give Saul's actions? * Disobedience? * Doubt? - Was Saul the only one who doubted? -- No! The people did... * numbers dwindled from 3000 to 600 * the people hid and ran away - Attacking the Philistines seems to be ok w/God (see 1 Sam 10:7-8) - Imagine what happened NB. vs. 14 "...will not continue..." KJV God has already chosen someone else to lead. GOD'S WAY: John 11:1-45 - What a contrast in actions between Jesus and Saul!! - We can learn about waiting from this - When I was in the basic training we spent a lot of time standing in lines waiting -- they often told us "Hurry up and wait" * how do you think Jesus spent His time waiting? ~ praying, healing, preaching . . . * he didn't sit on His duff awaiting "Forward Ho!" from God - See vs. 9 -- we've got to trust in God using His word to light out path as we actively "wait" <-- a verb!! 1) We need to fully prepare for what we believe God wants us to do. 2) We must continue to be faithful where He has us for now. 3) We need to continue to develop our relationship with Him. In both readings, events go beyond when WE would think it's time -- then just in time, God acts. * But remember John 15:14-15, where Jesus our friend says he'll keep us appraised of the situation: "You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I have learned from my Father I have made known to you." * We can see this in action in vs. 4, 11, 14 of John 11 -- God keeps Jesus informed. PERSONAL E.G.: I finished one job and was looking for another -- wrote lots of letters and visited many businesses. Just after New Year's a friend's brother died -- so because I wasn't working I was able to go to Montreal and be a support. I returned to Ottawa the day after the funeral and a phone message was waiting for me -- I had an interview, and got the job. Was the first interview!!