Embracing Active Waiting in Advent's Spiritual Journey

 

Summary

In this season of Advent, we are reminded of the profound spiritual practice of waiting. Advent is not merely about anticipating Christmas or commemorating an event from the past; it is about looking forward to a future where justice and goodness prevail, brought about by the one who came as a child. Waiting is a universal experience, yet it is often met with frustration because it involves longing for something we do not yet have or wishing for something to end. It also highlights our lack of control, a humbling reminder that we are not the masters of our own timelines.

The Bible is rich with stories of waiting. From Abraham to Joseph, from the Israelites in Egypt to the years before Jesus' ministry, waiting is a recurring theme. Even Jesus himself waited 30 years before beginning his ministry. This waiting is not passive; it is a time of character formation and spiritual growth. As Peter writes, we are to live holy and godly lives as we wait for the new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells. This waiting is active, as we are called to hasten the coming of God's kingdom through our actions and character.

Waiting teaches us that our desires are not the center of the universe. It is a time to trust in God's timing and to recognize that we cannot set right all that is wrong in the world. The presence of evil and the need for divine intervention is part of the Advent story. We wait because we cannot bring about peace on our own, but we can be agents of God's kingdom, hastening its arrival through acts of love, service, and solidarity.

In our daily lives, we are invited to radically accept waiting, not as a form of apathy or passivity, but as an opportunity to participate in God's work. By loving, serving, and standing with others, we contribute to the hastening of God's kingdom. As we wait, we are reminded that we are not in control, but we can trust in the one who is.

Key Takeaways:

1. Waiting is a spiritual discipline that involves longing for what we do not yet have and recognizing our lack of control. It is a humbling experience that teaches us patience and trust in God's timing. [05:14]

2. The Bible is filled with stories of waiting, from Abraham to Jesus. This waiting is not passive but is a time of character formation and spiritual growth, preparing us for the fulfillment of God's promises. [07:34]

3. Waiting changes our desires, teaching us that we are not the center of the universe. It is often during the waiting that we experience the most significant spiritual growth and transformation. [09:19]

4. We are called to hasten the coming of God's kingdom through our actions and character. By loving, serving, and standing with others, we become agents of God's kingdom, contributing to its arrival. [13:22]

5. Radically accepting waiting does not mean apathy or passivity. It is an active participation in God's work, trusting in His timing and being open to how we can hasten the day through our daily actions. [14:47]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [03:55] - The Essence of Advent
- [04:19] - The Challenge of Waiting
- [05:14] - Waiting and Control
- [06:08] - Biblical Stories of Waiting
- [07:34] - Jesus' Example of Waiting
- [08:22] - Living Holy and Godly Lives
- [09:19] - The Role of Waiting in Character Formation
- [10:03] - Trusting God's Timing
- [11:03] - The Presence of Evil and Divine Intervention
- [11:46] - Hastening God's Kingdom
- [12:56] - Acts of Solidarity and Love
- [13:53] - Embracing Waiting in Daily Life
- [14:47] - Active Participation in God's Work

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Spiritual Discipline of Waiting

Bible Reading:
1. 2 Peter 3:11-13 - "Since all these things will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells."

2. Genesis 3:15 - "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."

3. Hebrews 11:8-10 - "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God."

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Observation Questions:

1. According to 2 Peter 3:11-13, what kind of lives are believers encouraged to live as they wait for the new heaven and new earth? How does this relate to the concept of waiting discussed in the sermon? [08:00]

2. In Genesis 3:15, what promise is given regarding the offspring of the woman and the serpent? How does this promise relate to the theme of waiting for divine intervention? [06:22]

3. How does the story of Abraham in Hebrews 11:8-10 illustrate the concept of waiting and faith? What was Abraham waiting for, and how did he demonstrate his faith during this time?

4. The sermon mentions various biblical figures who had to wait, such as Joseph and the Israelites. What were some of the circumstances they faced during their periods of waiting? [06:46]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of waiting as a spiritual discipline challenge the modern desire for immediate gratification? What might this suggest about the nature of spiritual growth? [04:52]

2. In what ways does waiting serve as a time for character formation and spiritual growth, according to the sermon and the Bible passages? How might this process be beneficial for believers? [09:19]

3. The sermon suggests that waiting involves recognizing our lack of control. How does this realization impact a believer's relationship with God and their understanding of His timing? [05:14]

4. How can believers actively participate in hastening the coming of God's kingdom, as mentioned in 2 Peter 3:11-13 and the sermon? What actions or attitudes might contribute to this process? [13:22]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you had to wait for something significant in your life. How did that experience shape your character or spiritual growth? What did you learn about God's timing during that period? [09:19]

2. The sermon discusses the importance of trusting in God's timing. Is there an area in your life where you struggle to trust God's timing? How can you practice surrendering control in that area this week? [10:03]

3. Consider the idea of being an agent of God's kingdom through acts of love, service, and solidarity. What is one specific action you can take this week to demonstrate love or support to someone in your community? [13:22]

4. The sermon mentions the presence of evil and the need for divine intervention. How can you maintain hope and patience in the face of global or personal challenges that seem beyond your control? [11:03]

5. How can you incorporate the practice of waiting as a spiritual discipline in your daily life? What small changes can you make to embrace waiting as an opportunity for growth rather than a source of frustration? [14:47]

6. Think about a situation where you are currently waiting for an outcome. How can you use this time to deepen your relationship with God and align your desires with His will? [05:14]

7. The sermon encourages believers to radically accept waiting. What does radical acceptance look like in your life, and how can it transform your perspective on waiting? [14:47]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing the Discipline of Waiting
Waiting is a spiritual discipline that involves longing for what we do not yet have and recognizing our lack of control. It is a humbling experience that teaches us patience and trust in God's timing. In our fast-paced world, waiting can feel like a burden, yet it is a profound spiritual practice that invites us to slow down and reflect on our dependence on God. As we wait, we are reminded that we are not the masters of our own timelines, and this realization can lead to a deeper trust in God's perfect timing. [05:14]

"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." (Habakkuk 2:3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle with impatience? How can you practice trusting God's timing in this area today?


Day 2: The Transformative Power of Waiting
The Bible is filled with stories of waiting, from Abraham to Jesus. This waiting is not passive but is a time of character formation and spiritual growth, preparing us for the fulfillment of God's promises. Waiting can be a time of deep transformation, where our character is refined, and our faith is strengthened. As we look to the examples of those who have gone before us, we can find encouragement in knowing that waiting is an integral part of the spiritual journey. [07:34]

"But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." (Romans 8:25, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a time when waiting led to personal growth or transformation in your life. How can you apply this lesson to your current season of waiting?


Day 3: Shifting Desires Through Waiting
Waiting changes our desires, teaching us that we are not the center of the universe. It is often during the waiting that we experience the most significant spiritual growth and transformation. As we wait, our desires are refined, and we learn to align our hearts with God's will. This shift in perspective helps us to see beyond our immediate wants and to focus on the greater good that God is working in and through us. [09:19]

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have your desires shifted during a period of waiting? How can you continue to align your desires with God's will today?


Day 4: Active Participation in God's Kingdom
We are called to hasten the coming of God's kingdom through our actions and character. By loving, serving, and standing with others, we become agents of God's kingdom, contributing to its arrival. Our waiting is not passive; it is an active participation in God's work, where we are invited to be co-laborers in bringing about His kingdom on earth. Through our daily actions, we can make a tangible impact in the world around us. [13:22]

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific action you can take today to contribute to the coming of God's kingdom in your community?


Day 5: Radical Acceptance of Waiting
Radically accepting waiting does not mean apathy or passivity. It is an active participation in God's work, trusting in His timing and being open to how we can hasten the day through our daily actions. This acceptance invites us to live with a sense of purpose and intentionality, knowing that our waiting is not in vain. As we embrace this posture, we can find peace and joy in the journey, trusting that God is at work in ways we cannot yet see. [14:47]

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!" (Psalm 37:7, ESV)

Reflection: How can you practice radical acceptance of waiting in your life today? What steps can you take to actively participate in God's work during this season?

Quotes

"Advent is about waiting. It is not waiting so much for Christmas; it's not mostly waiting for something that happened way back then. Advent is mostly waiting for something that is yet going to happen, when the one who came to us as a little baby straightens everything out and brings justice and goodness into the world." [00:03:57]

"Waiting involves two dynamics. One of them is when you're waiting, you're waiting for something that you want that you do not yet have, but you want to have it, or you're waiting for something to go away, a headache that won't go away. And so waiting always involves a kind of frustrated wanting." [00:04:52]

"The Bible is in many ways a book about waiting. In the beginning, there is no waiting. In the first chapter before the fall, God speaks, and it is so, and God sees it's good. God lives in eternity, and we don't know what all that means, but part of what it means is God knows no frustration and no waiting." [00:05:31]

"Peter says you ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward, as you wait. Some translations say as you wait for the day of God and speed its coming and hasten its coming. That day will bring about the destructions of the heavens by fire, but in keeping with this promise, we are looking forward." [00:08:00]

"Waiting changes wanting. In waiting, I come to learn that my desires are not the center of the universe. A friend of mine used to say what happens to us while we wait is often more important than what it is that we think that we are waiting for. And so we wait, and we trust God." [00:09:34]

"We wait because we are not able to set right what needs to be set right. There's an essay as Lance Morrow, and he writes about the difference between the word wrong and the word evil. When we talk about wrongs, the implication for that often is that we live in a world where there are rights and there are wrongs." [00:10:15]

"Peter says you wait, but also he says you speed its day, you hasten it. In other words, we all wonder when's God going to come back, when is he going to make his world right, when is he going to destroy what needs to be destroyed and renew what can be renewed, when will he do that?" [00:11:38]

"As we become the kinds of people that God wants us to do and become agents of his kingdom, we're actually speeding that day. It's apparently on a variable schedule, and it might be changed. And Fleming Rutledge writes a wonderful story about how do we hasten its day." [00:11:57]

"Every time we love somebody, every time we serve, every time we stand beside, every time we give, every time we encourage, every time we forgive, we are in some way that we do not understand hastening the day. So do that today. Ask God how can I hasten that day." [00:13:25]

"Radically accept waiting doesn't mean apathy, doesn't mean passivity, because we also speed the day, and we wait for him. When you wait, take a deep breath, remember that you are not in control, you are not Jesus, you are not even Clark Gable." [00:14:42]

"When you're sitting in a stoplight, when you're waiting for that computer to take forever to boot up, when you're talking with somebody who is a slow talker, when you're waiting for a meal or a task or a promotion or graduation or to hear from somebody that you love, we wait on God." [00:14:47]

"We depend on God, we look to God today. Radically accept waiting doesn't mean apathy, doesn't mean passivity, because we also speed the day, and we wait for him." [00:15:15]

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Transcript
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