Waiting For Your Miracle
Series: Do You Need a Miracle? – City Church of Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN
One of the most disturbing discoveries we make in the life of faith is that God does not operate according to our time schedule. This is particularly difficult for American Christians because we are used to getting everything in an instant. The interim between asking and receiving can be a very precarious time for us. Our faith may become frustrated and we become vulnerable to attacks of the enemy, who would make us think that a delay is a denial.
WHY WE HAVE TO WAIT
Sometimes, God waits until we are mature enough to handle the blessing.
Galatians 4:1, As long as an heir is a minor, he has no advantage over a slave. (Message)
God may be testing the sincerity of our request.
Hebrews 11:6, He rewards those who sincerely seek him. (NLT) God uses delays to strengthen our character.
James 1:3, 4, When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow…when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character, ready for anything. (NLT)
God often withholds the answer until the blessing becomes of secondary importance.
Hebrews 11:6, He rewards those who sincerely seek him. (NLT)
God rewards those who desire his fellowship more than his favors. God’s timing is perfect and his delays are redemptive.
There are two aspects of faith:
(1) The initial act of trust
(2) The “hanging on” trust.
Hebrews 10:32-39, shows us the three essential ingredients of hanging on faith: confidence, obedience and endurance…
Don’t ever forget those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail. When all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew you had better things waiting for you in eternity. Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens.
Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. “For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. And a righteous person will live by faith. But I will have no pleasure in anyone one who turns away.” But we are not like those who turn their backs on God and seal their fate. We have faith that assures our salvation.
MAINTAIN CONFIDENCE BASED ON GOD’S PAST FAITHFULNESS
Don’t throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. (v. 35)
Confidence is conspicuous courage in the face of adversity. This confidence is based on remembering. Twice he said, “Remember,” and said, “Don’t ever forget.”
Psalm 77:11, I will remember the deeds of the Lord. Yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
CONTINUE TO DO GOD’S WILL
So you will continue to do God’s will. (v. 36)
Faith is not idle. It works while it waits. Obedience is a central part of our faith.
Psalm 37:3, Trust in the Lord and do good. While you wait, keep your obedience up to date.
ENDURE WITH HOPE
Patient endurance is what you need now. V. 36)
This is athletic language. “steadfastness, constancy, staying power.” Faith never escapes testing.
1 Peter 1:6, 7, So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. Faith endures because of future anticipation. In a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. This grammatical expression teaches us that it is part of God’s nature to come to us. God is always coming to his children.
Psalm 130:6, My soul waits for the Lord more than the watchman waits for the morning.
GOD’S PEOPLE LIVE BY FAITH!
Hebrews 11:1, What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is gong to happen. It is the evidence of those things we cannot yet see. (NLT)
