Active Waiting: Embracing God's Timing and Empowerment

Devotional

Day 1: Active Engagement in Waiting on God

Waiting on God is not a passive endeavor but an active engagement that involves worship, trust, and obedience. It requires believers to align their lives with God's principles and be prepared for His timing and action. This active waiting strengthens and prepares individuals for God's intervention in their lives. By engaging in worship and obedience, believers demonstrate their trust in God's promises and readiness for His divine intervention. This process is not merely about patience but about cultivating a heart that is attuned to God's will and timing. [28:02]

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV): "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

Reflection: In what specific ways can you actively engage in waiting on God today, through worship, trust, or obedience?

Day 2: The Importance of Context in Scripture

Understanding the context of scripture is crucial for grasping its full meaning. Isaiah's prophecy flows from the promise of salvation to the expectation of God's intervention, illustrating the importance of context in interpreting God's word. By examining the historical and cultural background of biblical texts, believers can gain a deeper understanding of God's message and intentions. This approach allows for a more accurate application of scripture to one's life, ensuring that interpretations are aligned with God's original purpose and plan. [02:30]

2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV): "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

Reflection: How can you deepen your understanding of the context of a specific Bible passage you are currently studying?

Day 3: Empowerment by the Spirit

The Spirit of the Lord coming upon individuals is a powerful theme, illustrating the empowerment that comes from God's presence. This empowerment is not just for personal edification but for ministry and service, as seen in the lives of historical figures like D.L. Moody and Amy Carmichael. When believers are filled with the Spirit, they are equipped to fulfill God's purposes and serve others effectively. This divine empowerment enables them to overcome challenges and make a significant impact in their communities and beyond. [04:37]

Acts 1:8 (ESV): "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to serve others more effectively?

Day 4: The Role of Watchmen

The concept of watchmen in scripture highlights the importance of being vigilant and discerning. Watchmen are called to stand guard, discern the times, and speak prophetically to the people. This role is crucial in guiding and encouraging the community of believers. By being watchful and discerning, believers can protect themselves and others from spiritual dangers and be prepared for God's return. This vigilance requires a deep connection with God and a commitment to seeking His guidance and wisdom. [10:25]

Ezekiel 33:7 (ESV): "So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a watchful and discerning spirit in your daily life to guide and encourage those around you?

Day 5: Expectation and Endurance

The message emphasizes the importance of expectation and endurance in the Christian life. While waiting for God's promises to be fulfilled, believers are called to endure and remain faithful, trusting in God's timing and provision. This endurance is not passive but involves actively holding onto God's promises and maintaining a spirit of expectation. By doing so, believers can experience the fulfillment of God's promises and witness His faithfulness in their lives. [22:47]

Hebrews 10:36 (ESV): "For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised."

Reflection: What promise from God are you currently waiting for, and how can you actively cultivate a spirit of expectation and endurance in this season?

Sermon Summary

In this message, the focus is on the profound and transformative power of waiting on God, as illustrated in Isaiah 64:1-2. The plea for God to "rend the heavens" and come down is a cry for divine intervention and presence. This passage is not just a prayer but a passionate appeal for God to manifest His power and glory in the midst of His people. The essence of waiting on God is not passive but active, involving worship, trust, and obedience. It is about aligning our lives with God's principles and being ready for His timing and action.

The message emphasizes the importance of context in understanding scripture, highlighting how Isaiah's prophecy flows from the promise of salvation to the expectation of God's intervention. The Spirit of the Lord coming upon individuals is a recurring theme, illustrating the empowerment that comes from God's presence. This empowerment is not just for personal edification but for ministry and service, as seen in the lives of historical figures like D.L. Moody and Amy Carmichael.

The concept of waiting is further explored as a multifaceted discipline involving worship, renewal, discernment, and trust. Waiting on God is portrayed as a dynamic process that strengthens and prepares believers for God's action. It is a call to hold the line, to be watchful and discerning, and to trust in God's timing and provision. The message challenges believers to examine what they need God to act on in their lives and to approach Him with a spirit of expectation and faith.

Key Takeaways

1. The Power of Waiting on God: Waiting on God is not a passive activity but an active engagement in worship, trust, and obedience. It involves aligning our lives with God's principles and being ready for His timing and action. This waiting strengthens and prepares us for God's intervention in our lives. [28:02]
2. Contextual Understanding of Scripture: Understanding the context of scripture is crucial for grasping its full meaning. Isaiah's prophecy flows from the promise of salvation to the expectation of God's intervention, illustrating the importance of context in interpreting God's word. [02:30]
3. Empowerment by the Spirit: The Spirit of the Lord coming upon individuals is a powerful theme, illustrating the empowerment that comes from God's presence. This empowerment is not just for personal edification but for ministry and service, as seen in the lives of historical figures like D.L. Moody and Amy Carmichael. [04:37]
4. The Role of Watchmen: The concept of watchmen in scripture highlights the importance of being vigilant and discerning. Watchmen are called to stand guard, discern the times, and speak prophetically to the people. This role is crucial in guiding and encouraging the community of believers. [10:25]
5. Expectation and Endurance: The message emphasizes the importance of expectation and endurance in the Christian life. While we wait for God's promises to be fulfilled, we are called to endure and remain faithful, trusting in God's timing and provision. [22:47]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:07] - Foundational Scripture: Isaiah 64
[00:50] - The Concept of Rending the Heavens
[01:42] - The Promise of God Acting for Those Who Wait
[02:30] - Importance of Context in Scripture
[03:46] - The Spirit of the Lord Upon Us
[06:05] - The Garment of Praise
[07:24] - Rebuilding the Old Ruins
[08:49] - God's Assurance to Israel
[10:25] - The Role of Watchmen
[12:09] - Being Prepared for God's Return
[15:46] - True vs. False Watchmen
[17:45] - Building Up the Highway
[19:12] - The Importance of Continuing God's Work
[21:12] - Lifting Up a Banner to the Lord
[23:02] - Isaiah's Lament and Plea
[25:06] - God Acts for Those Who Wait
[28:02] - The Active Nature of Waiting
[31:17] - What Do You Need God to Act On?
[33:16] - The Call to the Altar and Communion

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Isaiah 64:1-2
- Isaiah 62:6-7
- Isaiah 61:1-3

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Observation Questions:

What is the significance of the plea for God to "rend the heavens" in Isaiah 64:1-2, and how does it relate to the desire for divine intervention? [00:21]
How does the sermon describe the role of the Spirit of the Lord coming upon individuals, and what historical examples were given to illustrate this empowerment? [04:37]
What is the role of watchmen as described in Isaiah 62:6-7, and how does this concept apply to the community of believers today? [10:25]
How does the sermon explain the importance of context in understanding Isaiah's prophecy, particularly in relation to the promise of salvation and God's intervention? [02:30]

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Interpretation Questions:

In what ways does the sermon suggest that waiting on God is an active process rather than a passive one? How does this align with the biblical concept of waiting? [28:02]
How does the empowerment by the Spirit, as discussed in the sermon, extend beyond personal edification to impact ministry and service? [04:37]
What does the sermon imply about the relationship between expectation and endurance in the Christian life, and how can believers maintain faith during periods of waiting? [22:47]
How does the sermon challenge believers to examine their lives in light of what they need God to act on, and what role does faith play in this process? [31:17]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you actively waited on God. How did worship, trust, and obedience play a role in that period of waiting? [28:02]
Consider the historical figures mentioned in the sermon, like D.L. Moody and Amy Carmichael. How can their examples of being empowered by the Spirit inspire your own ministry or service? [04:37]
In what areas of your life do you feel called to be a watchman, standing guard and discerning the times? How can you fulfill this role in your community? [10:25]
How can you better understand the context of scripture in your personal Bible study to grasp its full meaning, as emphasized in the sermon? [02:30]
Identify a specific promise of God that you are waiting to see fulfilled. How can you cultivate endurance and expectation while you wait? [22:47]
What is one area of your life where you need God to act? How can you approach Him with a spirit of expectation and faith, as encouraged in the sermon? [31:17]
How can you incorporate the practice of putting on the "garment of praise" in your daily life to combat heaviness and discouragement? [06:19]

Sermon Clips

"oh that you would come down with that you would rend the heavens basically break loose that you would come down that the mountains might shake at your presence as fire burns brush wood as fire causes water to boil to make your name known to your adversaries that the nations may tremble at your presence" [00:21:43]

"the concept is when god the word is rip if in the literal translation of the hebrew language it's a ripping rip when god would you rip open heaven and come down and as i'm hoping to talk about a little bit wednesday it's really not rain that's coming down it's fire it's god's fire his manifest presence and and changing and boiling water and consuming the forest and and the fire of god" [00:47:44]

"the spirit of the lord is upon me to do all of the ministry he's reading isaiah and then he says this scripture is now fulfilled in your hearing and of all the the place in the bible i would i would like to be in a lot of places trust me dave and goliath for sure but this sermon by jesus i mean that hearing the pin drop and the boldness the assurance the authority saying this is fulfilled now in your hearing basically i am i'm here" [05:39:52]

"god sets watchmen on the walls and anytime a watchman was mentioned throughout primarily the old testament it was militarily strategic it was strategic in a military sense but it was also prophetic so the watchmen would stand guard they would not go to sleep they could be killed they would stand guard watching what were they looking for the enemy coming way way way way in the distance and they would sound the alarm they would watch the city they would stand up on the walls watchmen surrounding the city watching and then god would actually call his prophets watchmen watchmen on the wall" [09:46:24]

"and so isaiah walks us through that the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness and so many people dealing with heaviness or wanting to change and and they go to read the bible and it's great read the bible i do it i encourage it but you've got to have a you've got to put on the garment of praise as well it's a letter kills it's a spirit that gives life and and begin to to just worship god even no matter what you're going through" [06:51:44]

"and then the title of the message who acts for the one who waits for him oh he finally got there but isn't the context important you see you see how it's building up and isaiah's writing you can you know you don't know exactly they didn't have chapter and verses when he wrote this that would be difficult with some of these people because they're all over the place we did it 500 years ago or i think we didn't do it but they did 500 years ago to kind of give us a place and a reference but it just flows and and who acts god acts for the one who waits for him some of you need to hear this tonight this is i believe why you came this is why you're here and i believe this is why this whole message changed and i've been working for on a sermon for seven hours today because of you he acts he will act when you wait for him" [25:06:64]

"waiting is worshipping waiting is worshiping waiting is following god and seeking him and trusting him so it's you're still moving you're still doing things but you're living according to his word according to his principles lord as i wait on you to see me through i'm gonna follow the scriptural course for my life so waiting is living waiting is moving ahead in god's will and according to his principles also waiting is holding the line waiting is holding the line scripture talks about waiting on the lord it says wait on the lord wait on the lord be of good courage and he will strengthen your heart" [28:02:64]

"waiting is also renewal revival and restoration but they that wait upon the lord probably the most famous verse on waiting but those who wait upon the lord shall renew their strength is that so counter-cultural waiting strengthens me but the world says the opposite to what scripture teaches and then also waiting is watching and discerning i will stand and watch from the tower one of the prophets wrote i will stand and watch from the tower i will wait to see what god will say so waiting on god is watching and discerning so i will stand and i will watch from the tower interesting when they would watch from the tower here's the key not much was happening" [29:22:24]

"could it be that god is not speaking because he wants you to wait could it be that he's not answering your prayer because he wants you to keep waiting and keep seeking maybe the timing isn't right also waiting is trusting it's relying on god and it's depending on god our soul waits for you you are our help and our shield and here's the irony waiting is seeking so those who are truly waiting on god are actually moving in a forward direction they are seeking him those who seek him will find him" [30:36:32]

"what do you need him to act on and that's why we're going to open the altar again there's something special that takes place about coming forward bowing down putting our agenda getting low and saying god take over god take over and then obviously i don't know everyone here tonight or those listening later but is he waiting on you to come to the knowledge of your sin is god waiting on you because a lot of people think well well you know i'm waiting on god to do something i'm waiting on god to show me i'm wait no often he's waiting on you especially when it comes to those who don't know him you do not want to live your life with the question mark here do you truly know him you've got to answer that question you've got to cry out to him" [33:16:00]

"and i've noticed over the years that god is waiting on us a lot more than than we're waiting on him could it be that god is waiting on us could it be that god is is having us turn off the internet and turn off the media and just come for a week just come for a week and lay down our schedule and make him the priority he acts uh he acts for those who wait upon him here's the key everything we're doing this week everything we're doing is focused on that we're trying to help this congregation wait on god and this is exactly what it looks like" [34:40:08]

"when god moves you'll either get to this altar or you will leave when god when something's really convicting your heart is either jumping for joy because it's being it's being ministered to it's being fed or you want to leave because it irritates the darkness you enjoy so what most of you know of course communion is for believers and we come and we remember what jesus did we remember the cross and the the the bread represents the body that was bruised the body that was broken we remember the the juice as the blood that was shed it's remembering do you ever the power of remembrance i wish i could talk about that for for a while" [36:16:08]

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Active Waiting: Embracing God's Timing and Empowerment

Devotional

Day 1: Active Engagement in Waiting on God

Day 2: The Importance of Context in Scripture

Day 3: Empowerment by the Spirit

Day 4: The Role of Watchmen

Day 5: Expectation and Endurance

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Active Waiting: Embracing God's Timing and Empowerment

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