Psalm 27. I'd like to read one verse. I preached this message a few
weeks ago in Franklin. I had some dear friends that
we were discussing some matters. very heavy upon our heart. And this scripture came to my
mind. Wait on the Lord. That's the most comforting, safe,
secure thought that a believer's got. Wait. Just wait. I've made this statement before,
something my dad used to say, and it's contrary to what I just
said, but I think it just really states the way we are by nature. When I was growing up, especially
when I was in college, I'd come home from college, and my dad
did not like me to be able to sleep in. That meant past six
on Saturday mornings. And he would tell me this, he
said, We're going to do something today if it's wrong. That's what
man is by nature. I'm going to do something if
it's wrong. And it usually is. David, the
blessed psalmist, writes in Psalm 27, verse 14, Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage, and he shall
strengthen thine heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord." Four things I'd like to consider
tonight. Number one, the continual position
of a believer, what he's encouraged to do. Constantly wait on the
Lord. Secondly, his confidence. Be of good courage. Thirdly,
his support. He shall strengthen. I love that word, shall. He shall. All that the Father
giveth me shall come to me. Not left up for debate. not left
up to my will, not left as shall. And then lastly, the believer's
promise, reward, wait, David says again, on the Lord. There are two great perils that
a believer faces, mainly. Number one is that temptation
to stray from his course of following after Christ because of trials
has come to a point where he is tempted. Do you remember what
Lot's wife said to him? All of those things that the
Lord allowed to be taken from him, his wife said, Why don't
you just curse God and die? Oh, shun the thought! But for
God's grace, a man would. with that thought to that one
that has been given a heart after him. He hates that thought. Curse God and die. No. No. David said, though he slay me,
yet will I trust him. Oh, my. What strength from him,
though he slay me. And secondly, a believer faces
the peril of growing fearful of failure, becoming faint-hearted
in his walk. I don't want that. Do you? Do you want to, you know,
just give up? Do you? No. No, you don't. My goodness! What a joy it is to behold those
that God Almighty has kept by His power, kept by faith, kept,
kept, kept. They just walk with God, stay,
maintain. Why? Because He kept them. Believer
fears. David, under the inspiration
of the Spirit of God, writes these words, Wait on the Lord. I don't doubt that David speaks
to himself. I say that to me as I say that
to you. I say it to me. Marvin, wait on the Lord. When you've got something that
comes up, wait on the Lord. What do I do when I'm found in
this situation right here? Wait on the Lord. Wait. That's the continual position
of a believer. Wait on Him. That word, wait,
means bind yourself together and expect. Expect. Wait on the Lord. Expect from
Him. And this waiting, It's not just
like I'm sitting down and I'm waiting for a bus. I'm just doing
nothing. Waiting is active. It's very
active. I tell you, it's a good work. Good work. Waiting on the Lord. Waiting needs holy courage. I used to tell my kids, I'd say,
what do you think ought to do, or what do you think we'll do
here? I'd say, well, I'll tell you
this. I think it's always good advice, don't do anything until
you're confident on what you're to do. Don't do anything. Just wait. Rash decisions, fast,
quick. Impromptu, just do something. Like my dad used to say, do something
if it's wrong. Waiting on God. What does it
mean to wait on the Lord? Wait on the Lord. What is that? Well, I know it's, number one,
it's to respect Him. It's to have confidence in Him. Confidence. I wait on Him. He is the mighty God of that,
I'm sure. Seek diligently His face. Wait on the Lord. It's to admit our need of His
supply as a beggar that sits with his cup, that he can do
nothing. helpless, stinking beggar. What can he do? What can he do
for himself? That beggar that was laid at
that gate, at that temple right there, what could he do? He was brought there and laid
there. What ability has he got? Wait. Wait. Wait. until he answers. Wait on his
providence. Children of Israel. Moses, under
God's direction, led the children of Israel out of the nation.
Out here. Here they are, the Red Sea. There's
that sea right there. A lot of water. And here comes the Egyptian army.
Now, what are you going to do? See the salvation of your God.
Wait. Wait on the Lord. Wait. Wait on Him. Wait till He answers. Keep knocking. Ask. Seek. He will answer. Let me read this. Psalm 40, verse
1. Psalm 40, verse 1. This is what David said, ìI waited
patiently for the Lord, and He inclined unto me, and He heard
my cry.î Wait on the Lord. Wait. In waiting we realize providentially He alone provides. Wait. Wait. We're ignorant. And it's to stand as a pupil
before the all-wise God, God's prophet, Mary. You remember Mary, Martha
and Mary? Martha was cumbered about much
serving. What did Mary do? She sat at
His feet and just heard. Just heard. Wait on the Lord. Man or woman, you sit right here. You wait. You hear. You listen. You pray. Lord, speak to my heart. Wait. Wait on Him. Wait for His direction. This most comfortable, peaceful,
and settling thought If you can relax right here, here's where
you can relax. Wait on the Lord. I told someone,
that's a good answer, that's a pat answer. What kind of answer
can I give for any questions you come up with? Wait on the
Lord. What are you going to do, Marvin? What are you going to do about
Katie Baptist Church? Wait on the Lord. But what are
you going to do? What about this over here? Wait
on the Lord. Wait. Seek. Ask. Remember, waiting is not passing. So people look, and they think,
He's doing nothing. He's not doing anything. And
inside, a man, a woman, a believer, those that know Him, they wait,
they ask. Lord, guide me. Lord, settle
me. Lord, keep me. I wait on you. I look to you. Wait that we might
not lean upon our own vain and presumptuous ideas and be satisfied
to remain in my own ignorance until he is ready to remove the
veil of confidence in him. Wait. Wait on the Lord. Waiting on the Lord is to believe
Him, trust Him, to rest in His good pleasure, and to rely upon
His timing and to bow to His Word. Wait. The situation comes
up, you have no power whatsoever
to change it. What is it to wait upon the Lord?
Lord, Your will be done. Lord, I look to You. Lord, teach
me. Lord, keep me. Waiting on the Lord is to admit
myself, be His servant. As His servant, we long to know
His will. He's going to direct His people.
He said, I'll never leave you. I'll never forsake you. How fearful
I am in myself. I think, yeah, but what if? But
what if? Wait on the Lord. In due season, His will, He going
to make it known. His providence in confirmation
to my heart, His will be done. Lord, teach me. Wait prayerfully. Pray without
ceasing. What are we doing but waiting
on Him when we ask? Just a few moments ago, Carl,
you stood up here and read some Scripture. Lord, here's what
we're doing. Lord, would You bless this message
to our heart. Lord, would You take these words
and make them real to me? Lord, strengthen me. Settle me. Lord, I'm a beggar at your doorstep. Lord, I'm a beggar at your throne.
Lord, take this word. Wait. Just wait on the Lord. We preach the Word of God. Preach
a message. This dear pastor stood here almost
50 years. How much did the message deviate? He'd preach a message. But what's
he going to do then? Wait on the Lord. Is God going
to make it effectual, the heart of this one or that one? Is He
going to save my children? Is He going to do something for
my family, my friends? Wait on the Lord. Preach, pray,
seek, knock. Wait prayerfully. Waiting is
to trust Him. to not question his work, his
will. I remember I was watching a documentary
on Civil War. I like Civil War stuff. Well,
any kind of war stuff. I like any kind of battle stuff.
I was watching a Civil War thing. Some reenactors. This battle
is two armies lined up. There's all these men called
the Last of the gentlemen's war, they just kind of lined up and
faced each other and just fired away at the commander's word. Make ready. All those weapons
would go up. Not one of them dropped until
he said, Aim, all come down. Fire. Wait. Wait. Wait on the Lord. Praying without ceasing. Wait
on the Lord. That's the believers position. Wait. Secondly, their confidence. Be of good courage. Good courage. More and more as I began to see
that word good, be of good courage. Good courage. You remember when
the rich young ruler came to our Lord, and he said, Good Master. And the Lord said, Why do you
call me good? There's none good but God. Good. God is good. David writes under
the inspiration of the Spirit of God, Wait on the Lord and
be of good courage. Good courage. frail creature, weak, but you
let me be by His grace and by His Spirit assured of His direction."
Good courage. I need some courage. I am afraid, you can't. By nature,
I'm afraid. As a kid, I was afraid of the
dark. I didn't want to look under the bed. I didn't even want to
hang my arms. over the bed at night for fear something is going
to touch it. I don't know what it is. I just put it under that cover and I'm
secure. Waiting on Him, is that not encouraging? I can just relax. I can settle
down. Be of good courage. His eye is
tender toward those that wait upon Him. I can think that my self-confidence
and my courage will sustain me, but only a fool will believe
that. Be of good courage. He that asketh, receive it. That's encouraging. He that seeketh,
find it. He that knocketh, to him it's
open. Be of good courage. Be of good courage, he said,
I've overcome. Be of good courage, for we are
more than conquerors through him that loved us. We hear this blessed gospel that's
preached. Be of good courage. By God's
grace, by God's teaching, he's given a heart that believes this. Be of good courage. We do believe,
and are not ashamed of, this gospel. Why? It's the power of
God unto salvation. Do you believe that? Do you believe
that? You support this work here. Why? Because Almighty God taught you.
This is the truth. This is His Word. It's where
He's honored to be of good courage. You believe that he's going to
call out his people in this community. You believe that there's going
to be any of God's sheep that God is not going to call out
in this community. You think as anybody that's been everlastingly
loved, anybody chosen from eternity past, chosen in Christ, you think
as any of them is going to be lost, be of good courage. Be of good courage. Wait on the
Lord. Be courageous in that we believe the preaching of the
gospel that honors Christ. Don't expect defeat. He said,
My word shall not return unto me void. What's it going to do? It's going to accomplish the
purpose for which it was sent. Be of good courage. Be of good
courage as you pray for others. It's no vain thing to wait upon
the Lord. Wait on the Lord. He's not a
tyrant to whom we speak. It is the Eternal God, plenteous
in mercy. Lord, have mercy. Any man, any
woman ever seek mercy at His hand and didn't get it? Come unto me, all ye that are
weak and heavy laden. What does he say? I will give
you rest. I will. I will. He is an active
God, alive, hears, sees, beholds. Wait on the Lord. Be of good
courage. If you are called to suffer great
persecution or affliction, be of good courage. These things are really, truly
light afflictions which are but for a moment, and work for us
a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Think back. Is there anything
that you have been called upon and blessed by? to suffer for
His namesake that you did not profit by. Think about it. Is there anything that He caused
you to go through that He didn't teach you and keep you and sustain
you and bless you? Is there anything? No. All these things, as we said
this morning, all these things, all things, They work together
for good to them that love God. Be of good courage. Jeremiah 8.18 says, When I would
comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint within me. When I would comfort myself. I can't comfort myself. I don't
know what to do. I don't know what to say. I can't
do it. Be of good courage. Wait on the
Lord. Such an attempt is vicious and vain. Look at Isaiah chapter
40 and verse 31. Now, listen to this promise. I pray God teach me this. Isaiah 40, 31. But they that wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as
eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and
not faint. Jeremiah said, When I comfort
myself against sorrow, my heart is faint within me. But they
that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they
shall not faint. Thirdly, waiting upon the Lord,
here is our strength. He shall strengthen thy heart. He shall. Our heart, by nature, said a
moment ago, is fearful. I need some courage. I need good
courage. and for him to strengthen my
heart. Courage one thing strengthens another. I need good courage
and him to strengthen my heart. Every time we are forced by his
good providence to wait upon him, we are strengthened. Oh, how experienced is a great
teacher! You've heard men say, I have
too. You can't come back from where you've never been. There's
nothing like experience to learn. It doesn't take a child very
long. You've heard the old joke about the little boy who picked
up the hot horseshoe. Just don't take me that long
to look at a horseshoe. Experience. how He has kept me before. He
strengthens my heart. As I read in His Word, read the
Scriptures, search the Scriptures, look how His deliverance has
been consistent, consistent, consistent. When He said, I'll
never leave you, I'll never forsake you, He showed me one place where
He ever forsook His own, where He ever left them to themselves,
His beloved. One time, I'll never, I'll never,
I'll never, Leave you. Wait on the Lord. Be of good
courage. He shall strengthen thy heart." The heart is strengthened. As
the Spirit of God removes false views of Him, we are strengthened. My little fickle, frail, false
thoughts of who Christ is, who I thought He was, Oh, the Spirit of God begins
to take His Word and teach, show and reveal Him. He strengthens
the heart. Wait on the Lord. Be of good
courage. He shall strengthen thy heart.
That strength is a mysterious thing. It's heavenly. Why does a man or a woman maintain?
Why do they keep on? And they'll be the first to tell
you, He left me to myself, I've been gone. Courage abounds, God's courage,
good courage, where our heart is fervent toward Him because
He strengthens our heart. And then lastly, the believer's
reward. That's what I call it. David
said again, wait, in that last part, I say, wait on the Lord,
be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thy heart. Wait, I
say, on the Lord. David ended that verse the way
that he begins it. Persevere. Stay. Don't move. They that endure
to the end shall be saved. You know, it's not how a man
or a woman starts. There's been many that I've known,
and I'm sure you have too, that started good. It looks like they
started well. It looks like they ran well.
Then in time, for some reason, and usually the reason I always
hear is that I got real hurt. I got real hurt at that church. Oh, they hurt me. Well, I'll
tell you what a believer will do. He'll hear the Word of God,
and he'll bow to it. And he'll say, yes, you're right.
That's the way I am. In fact, I'm a whole lot worse
than you think I am. You don't know the half of it.
Accuse me of that, you're wrong. I'm telling you, wait, persevere,
maintain. Adversity is going to come. Knowing
that we're weak, we're reminded that He shall strengthen our
heart. Wait on the Lord. We need to hear of our need to
wait while all seems well, and especially in the midst We need
to be reminded, wait on the Lord. If our health is failing, wait
on the Lord. If money by His good providence
is tight, wait on the Lord. If problems abound with neighbors
or family or friends, wait on the Lord. Pray, ask, seek, Lord,
speak to me. Our strength is waiting on Him. Paul says, when I'm weak, I'm
strong. Then I'm strong. You want to
be well defended by Him? Wait on the Lord. Be bravely
patient, though it may look like you're doing nothing, or that
it's a sign of weakness. Wait on the Lord. I had yesterday. I was reminded
while thinking on this idea. I had a friend of mine, and there's
a situation back in Franklin right now. And he told me, he
said, it's what I'm going to do. It's the way I'm going to
handle it. And I thought to myself, I can
understand that. That's what I'm going to do. I'm going to
defend myself to. And I told him, I said, buddy,
as hard as this is, I said, ìLet me encourage you. Wait on the
Lord. A fool is known by many words.
Wait. Just wait. Just wait. Wait on
the Lord. How long do I wait? Wait on the
Lord. Be of good courage. He will strengthen
thine heart. Wait on the Lord because the
expectation of faith is from Him. That's what Paul read a
while ago in Psalm 62. Wait on the Lord because our
expectation is from Him. All that truly wait on Him shall
say this, out of Isaiah 25.9, Lo, this is our God. We have waited on Him, and He
will save us. This is the Lord. We have waited
for Him. We will be glad and rejoice in
His salvation. And as to the work, as to our
labors, He will strengthen thine heart. Ecclesiastes 9.10 says, Whatsoever
thine hand findeth to do. Do it with thy might, for there
is no work, or device, or knowledge, or wisdom in the grave, whither
thou goest." Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage. He shall
strengthen thine heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord. Expect
from Him. Lean on Him. Rest in Him. Cleave to Him. Look to Him. Trust Him. Call on Him. Wait on the Lord. Our Father, how thankful we are for the blessed reminder from
Your Word that we are to wait upon You, sitting as beggars before You,
waiting on You in Your timing by your providence, by your goodness,
by your mercy and your grace. Forgive us where we are so impatient. Forgive us where we attempt to
move foolishly, quickly. We pray that you would bless
this Word. Blessed we pray to you, people's heart, for the
honor of Christ. Amen.