Waiitng for God's Salvation

I'm gonna ask you to take your Bibles and turn with me to Genesis 49. Genesis 49. I'd like to look at one verse of scripture. Genesis 49, verse 18. Genesis 49, verse 18, the scripture declares, have waited for thy salvation, O Lord." We ever need to be reminded to remember that these scriptures are the actual words of the Lord Jesus Christ.

These are words that testify of the Lord alone. And when these words are spoken, these are the words of the Lord's heart. And when we stop and muse upon these words, what reverence and what respect and what joy is due unto him. These are the Lord's words. I can't say that enough for myself, and I know I speak for you. When we read what I just read, I want to read it again, and I want you to stop and think, these are the Lord's words. This is the expression of His heart. Here's what the scripture says, and this is the Lord speaking. I have waited for thy salvation, O Jehovah. That's the Lord speaking. I have waited for thy Salvation, O Lord.

Now, you know, we would certainly admit that these words are truly the words of a believer. A believer says this. We wait for the salvation of the Lord for ourselves. But we must stop and contemplate these words are first and foremost the words of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now just meditate on that a second. These are his words. These are his words as he was made like unto his brethren. He was made flesh. And when we stop and think that these are the words that the Lord Himself would speak, these words take on a special meaning.

Are you telling me, Marvin, that the Lord Himself would say, I have waited for thy salvation Oh, Jehovah. I'll tell you what that does. That makes a believer just get lost in that thought. The Lord would say to his father, I have waited for thy salvation, oh, Jehovah. Oh, how thankful. We have an advocate before the Father that speaks for us.

This is what I would desire to say with a perfect heart. This is what I would say with a perfect understanding. This is what I would desire to say with a true heart of need. That's what I want to say. And I don't know how to say it, Baron. I don't know how to say that. That I have waited for thy salvation, O Jehovah.

The Lord Jesus Christ is speaking on behalf of his people. What an amazing thought that he, the Lord Jesus Christ, who knew the will of God because He is God. He knew the will of God. He knew that all that would be saved, His elect, all those chosen in Him before the foundation of the world, we know that's a fact because the Lord has said that in the Holy Scriptures. And he knew the time that all of his people would be saved. He knew that. He knew when all of his elect would be called out of darkness. He knew the time.

You know, while we're sitting here right now, you think about all of the myriads of years that have passed. in this world. And here we are at this blip of a moment in time. We're not here when Charles Spurgeon was here. We're not here. We're here right now in this particular time. And it won't be, it's just a fleeting moment. We won't be here long. It's going to be over.

And all of us are going to stand before God the great judge, and he who knows all these things, everything, because he made all things. All things were made by him, the Lord Jesus. Without him, nothing was made that was made. And he would pray, I have waited for thy salvation.

What is it? What is it true? I have waited. That's the word that just struck my heart. I have waited for thy salvation. I want you to turn with me to Psalm 27. Psalm 27. I have waited for thy salvation. I want to read Psalm 27 verses four Psalm 27 verse 4, One thing the scripture says, Have I desired of the Lord of Jehovah, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, inquiring His temple.

For in the time of trouble, He shall hide me in his pavilion in the secret of his tabernacle. Shall he hide me, he shall set me upon a rock. And now mine eye, I'm sorry, and now mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me. Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy. I will sing, I will sing praises unto the Lord. Let me just stop and remember this. These are the words, no doubt, these are the words of David, but these are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ speaking as our advocate. Here he is saying what I, again, would say.

And I don't know how to say it. I don't know the right way to say it. I don't know the spirit in which to say it. I don't know. I am so thankful that I have a mediator. somebody to talk for me, because I am so stupid. I'm so empty. I'm so lax. I don't know. I don't know how to talk to God. I don't know how to talk to him. I don't know. I don't know the spirit. I can't produce it. And here he is. Verse seven here.

Oh, Lord. When I cry with my voice, have mercy also upon me, and answer. When thou saidest, seek ye my face, my heart said unto thee, thy face, Lord, will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me. Put not thy servant away in anger. Let me ask you that belief. Is that not your prayer? Or don't put me away. Or don't don't don't turn. Don't turn your back on me. Lord, I again, I don't know how to talk to you. I don't know. I don't know what to say. But Lord, in my inadequacy. Talk for me. Approach God for me. Answer for me. Verse nine again.

Hide not thy face far from me. Put not thy servant away in anger. Thou hast been my help. Leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord take me up. Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path because of mine enemies. Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies, for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart. I say on the Lord." Oh, what an admonition. What a blessing. Wait on the Lord. Now, for just a few minutes, I want to say a few things about what is it to wait on the Lord? What is it to say, Lord, remember me? Lord, help me. Well, the first thing I want to say about waiting on the Lord is this. Pray without ceasing. Waiting on the Lord. Asking. That's what the Lord prayed. That's what the Lord as our advocate prayed. That's what he said. It's still Even as I'm saying it right now, I still think God beseeching God. God is man who made himself of no reputation. I can't even enter into that, Neil. I don't even know how to say that. God who made himself of no reputation.

Who took upon himself a form of sinful flesh. Pray without ceasing. That's 1 Thessalonians 5.17. Oh, what a blessed grace and privilege that is to offer prayer unto God. I was born in sin. You were too. In sin did my mother conceive me. What can a frail creature like me know about prayer? I know we're to pray without ceasing, 1 Thessalonians 5, 17 again. But what do I say? Turn with me to the book of Acts, chapter 9. Acts chapter 9. Acts chapter 9. I want to read verses 10 to 16. Acts 9.

This is about a man There was a Pharisee, Saul of Tarsus. And here he was, breathing out threatenings against God's people. He hated their guts. He and his heart believed them to be blasphemers, rebels against God. And as a Pharisee, he was going to take care of this thing.

I'm going to take care of this issue. And here he is, Acts chapter 9, starting in verse 10. After he was stopped, I'm talking about Saul of Tarsus, after he was stopped on the road to Damascus, God stopped him, asked him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And here's a man that's a Pharisee that knew, he knew the scriptures back and forth, he thought. He knew the word, he could read them.

I've told you before, how many times to my own shame have I read these scriptures and I'll read all these names. That's what keeps coming to my mind. I read all the names of these people. I can't even pronounce them. And I'm thinking, all these names, over and over and over, this and this and this and this I can't even think of them. I think those words, those names are inspired of God. And here's Saul of Tarsus. He's going to put an end to this foolishness by these Christians. It stopped him.

The scripture says, starting in verse 10, there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. And to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias, and he said, behold, I'm here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, rise and go into the street which is called straight and inquire in the house of Judas, one called Saul of Tarsus.

And behold, he prayeth. This first time, this first time Saul ever prayed, truly prayed. Oh, he said his prayers, you know. He could recite them, and he'd know. Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray. You know. He'd do those. But now, here he is. He's praying for the first time. Only a believer is blessed to be able to pray, truly pray, as the Spirit of God gives him direction. He's seen in a vision a man called Ananias coming, putting his hand on him. He might receive his sight, and Ananias answered, He said, Lord, I've heard many of this man. I've heard much of this man.

How much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem. And here he hath authority from chief priest to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, go thy way. He is a chosen vessel unto me to hear my name before the Gentiles and kings the children of Israel. I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. I read those verses again and I thought to myself how gracious the Lord is to his people to bring them through trials and tribulations, troubles.

I've told you before, I know a little bit about what most of you are going through. I don't know everything, but I know how you're going through some things and you're suffering. I know that. I know a little bit about it. I don't know much, but I know a little bit. But I'm thinking all of these things have been sent.

All of these trials and troubles have been sent for this reason. that the Lord might be honored and glorified in keeping us in the midst of it. This is why God's people are going through what they go through, these troubles. I've heard people say on television and stuff like that, they say, it's not the Lord's will that anybody be sick. That's foolish. That's foolish. The Lord has blessed His people, and all of them, all of them, all of God's people Suffer.

They suffer, number one, to see what they are by nature, but to also behold the mercy of God to keep you in the midst of it. If you want to know why you're going through what you're going through, I'm going to tell you right now for God's glory, you that know him, it's for God's glory to show you all these things.

I'm not going to leave you. I'm not going to forsake you. Even if the Lord was pleased to take us, bring us unto himself, it was for God's glory and our good. Wait, praying without ceasing. Secondly, wait, trusting him by faith. I know that to many of us, and this is because of our foolish thinking, it seems When you say just wait, you think it means to do nothing. But do you know what a trial it is to wait on the Lord? Wait. Again, why do I have to continue to suffer these things? Why do I have to go through these things?

To teach us that the Lord's grace is sufficient. His grace is sufficient. Proverbs 3, 5. Trust in the capital L, capital O, capital R, capital D. Trust in Jehovah with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding in all thy ways. In all thy ways. In all whatever he brings you through. Whatever He's pleased to bring us through, whatever it is, whatever it is, whatever it is, in all thy ways, you acknowledge Him.

Lord, you sent this. Lord, you sent this. You sent this sickness. You sent this trial. You sent this trouble. You sent this tribulation. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy path. We know this, all things, Romans 8, 28. All things work together for good to them that love God. I can say, you can say, Lord, thank you. Thank you for sending what you sent. I know it didn't just happen. I know that. He worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. I know that. He didn't. Lord, you sent this. You sent my trouble. You sent your trouble. For our good and his glory. Next, I know this. Waiting on the Lord. Patiently, patiently, waiting on the Lord. Scripture says, Psalm 37, seven, rest in the Lord. What does that mean, rest in the Lord? I looked it up. Did that surprise you? I didn't think so. Rest in the Lord, here's what that means, be silent.

Be quiet. Wait in confidence. Wait patiently for him, scripture says. Wait patiently. It means being made to bear. Wait patiently. The Lord will keep you. He's going to keep you. Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way. I don't know why I have to go through this. I don't know why these people over here, they seem to be doing fine. Money's coming in. They're healthy. The kids are all doing good. Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Don't fret. Don't fret. It's going to be fine.

The Lord's timing is not our timing. The Lord dictates. The Lord dictates. According to his wise decree, he knows what he's doing. I need to be reminded of that often. The Lord knows what he's doing. You might say, well, I'm sure that's true. It is true. I just need to be reminded of it. I need to be told again.

Whenever the children of Israel came to the Red Sea, they wondered, now what are we going to do? That Red Sea, that's a picture of every affliction that comes our way. Now what am I going to do? Now where do we go? Can't go forward. There's water. Can't go back. There's Egyptians. We're stuck. Now I'm stuck. What did Moses tell the people? Exodus 14, 13. Moses said unto the people, fear not. Don't be afraid. Fear not.

Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show you today. Wait on the Lord. Oh, may he grant us grace to accept our lot. Whatever we're going through, that's our lot sent by the Lord. That's the lot that he chose for us. Stand in the liberty whereof he hath made us free. And say, this is what I want to say, Lord, your will be done. Lord, thy will be done.

And then next, we wait on the Lord thankfully. Thank you. Thank you. 1 Thessalonians 5, 18, and everything give thanks. This is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. We do thank the Lord. Let me just, in closing, I want to wrap this up by saying something here. Thank the Lord. You that have been blessed of God, Chosen of the Lord.

I know I know what the world says about election Election Well that that that to me seems unfair The greatest blessing that we would ever have bestowed upon us Was that God was pleased out of the dregs of this world's pollution All of us fell in Adam All of us fell in Adam, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, all of us. But that almighty God would be pleased to choose out of the mass of humanity, fallen humanity, a people that he was pleased to show mercy. I'm thinking, Lord, if you had not been pleased to choose me, and reveal unto me the wickedness of my old man, and reveal unto me that you had been pleased to send your beloved son into this world as my mediator and substitute and die in my place, I would die and find myself in hell.

Somebody said, well, why didn't he choose everybody? Because he didn't. That's why. Who art thou, old man, that replies against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, why have you made me thus? You that have been given a heart to believe God, that God chooses a people unto himself, I'm telling you, we all need to be on our faces thanking God for his mercy. Lord, that you didn't send me to hell. because I deserved it.

Scripture declares, they that wait upon the Lord, that is, they that expect from Him, shall renew their strength. They're going to be as a flourishing tree. That's what that means. They shall mount up with wings as eagles, having strength. as an eagle, they shall not run, no, I'm sorry, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Aren't you glad that God keeps us by power and grace? I see, I've watched and you have too, many that have heard the gospel of God's grace and they, They see no beauty in it, and they leave. And I'm thinking, do you know you're gonna die? You're gonna die, and you're gonna face God. And I'm thinking, Lord, don't leave me to myself. Lord, don't leave me. They wait, watching, watching, and waiting. They know the time's coming. Turn with me. Luke 12. Luke chapter 12. Verse 35. Luke 12, 35.

Let your loins be girded about, your lights burning, and yourselves, like unto men, that wait of their Lord when he shall return to the wedding, that when he cometh, when he cometh, knocketh, ye may open unto him. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord, when he cometh, shall find watching. Verily I say unto you, that he should gird himself and make them sit down to meet and will come forth and serve them.

Don't ask me to explain the depth of that message or that verse. I don't know. I know it's so. I don't know what to say about it. But I know this, waiting on the Lord, waiting on the God of all grace, what a blessing. I'm gonna read that verse of scripture back in Genesis 49 and then I'm gonna hush. This is what I would desire to do and I cannot do. But thanks be unto God that he being made flesh, being made like unto his brethren, being made like unto himself, made like unto me, Made like unto me is what I meant to say. Verse 18, Genesis 49.

I, the Lord speaking, I have waited for thy salvation. Oh Lord, I've waited. And he's saying that on my behalf. I have waited on the Lord. I've waited on the Lord. Habakkuk 2.20. This really is the last one. The Lord is in His holy temple.

Habakkuk 2.20. I love this verse of scripture. But the Lord is in His holy temple. This is the holy temple. This is the temple of the Lord. His people. He dwells in them. He's the Lord. We're His temple. We're His temple. The Lord is in His holy temple. Christ in you. The hope of glory. But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him. We stand and sit in amazement. We don't have anything to brag on but Him. We don't have anything to boast in but Him.

Lord, I am what I am by your grace. Lord, thank you that you, being made flesh, waited on God. And Lord, you have imputed that righteousness that you accomplished only and imputed it to me. I can say in Christ, I've waited on God. In myself, I'm impulsive, I'm just, but in Christ, that God Almighty would say to me, being made in Him, found in Him, well done, my good and faithful servant. I pray God bless these words to our heart.

Waiitng for God's Salvation

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Waiitng for God's Salvation

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