Quietly Wait For The Lord's Salvation

Q: What does the Bible say about waiting for the Lord's salvation?

The Bible teaches that it is good for a person to hope and quietly wait for the Lord's salvation (Lamentations 3:26). In Lamentations 3:26, the scripture emphasizes the importance of patiently waiting for the Lord's salvation, highlighting God’s mercy and faithfulness. Jeremiah, amidst the trials faced by Israel, communicates that true hope comes from recognizing our need for divine intervention. The act of waiting suggests a reliance on God's timing and sovereignty rather than rushing into decisions based on human pressure or emotional responses. It embodies a spiritual posture of humility, trust, and dependency on God’s grace.

Q: How do we know the doctrine of the new birth is true?

Jesus indicates that the new birth is essential for seeing the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). In John chapter 3, Jesus tells Nicodemus that one must be 'born again' to see the Kingdom of God, establishing the foundational doctrine of the new birth. This new birth signifies a work of the Holy Spirit, preparing the heart to receive Christ genuinely. Many today misunderstand this doctrine, viewing repentance and faith as merely human decisions, but true conversion is initiated by God’s sovereign will. Salvation is a divine act that transforms a person's heart before they can respond to Christ in faith.

Q: Why is counting the cost important for Christians?

Counting the cost is crucial because Jesus teaches it as a requirement to be His disciple (Luke 14:28). In Luke 14:28-33, Jesus emphasizes the necessity of counting the cost of discipleship before following Him. This implies a serious commitment that involves weighing the ramifications of a relationship with Him against worldly ties and personal ambitions. The act of counting the cost requires believers to prioritize their devotion to Christ above all else, acknowledging His lordship and supremacy. It guards against superficial faith that is easily swayed by trials, as true discipleship is rooted in understanding the transformative and sometimes sacrificial nature of following Christ.

Q: How does waiting on the Lord relate to God's sovereignty?

Waiting on the Lord reflects trust in His sovereign plan and timing. Waiting on the Lord is deeply tied to an understanding of His sovereignty, as demonstrated in Lamentations where Jeremiah encourages the Israelites to hope in the Lord’s deliverance. Recognizing that God is in control means that believers can submit their anxieties and timeline to Him, fully relying on His wisdom and sovereignty. This spiritual waiting is not passive; it involves active seeking and growing in faith, trusting that God will providentially work all things together for good. This reliance highlights a believer’s relationship with God, acknowledging His perfect plans over human understanding.

Sovereign Grace Chapel, located at 135 Annabel Lane in Beaver, West Virginia, invites you to listen to a gospel message concerning Jesus Christ our Lord. Welcome to the broadcast for today. My text that I want to read is found in Lamentations chapter 3. Lamentations chapter 3. I'm going to read verses 18 through 26. Lamentations 3, 18 through 26. Verse 18 begins this way, and I said, my strength and my hope is perished from the Lord.

Remembering my affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall, my soul hath them still in remembrance and is humbled in me. This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul, therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good, you see it? It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

That's my reading for today's broadcast. Lamentations 3, 18 through 26. Now. It is sad that I have to say this, but I feel compelled to say this, I must say this. Today's man-centered, so-called Christianity is, it is rife, it is plum-shot full of preachers and people, the so-called soul winners, called by some of them, is rife with pressuring people into this thing, make a decision for Jesus right now and be saved. You've probably heard it, you need to do it right now. You need to do it right now. What's my title? Quietly Wait for the Lord's Salvation. Isn't that exactly what Jeremiah prophesies and says in here? Quietly wait for the Lord's salvation.

Let me give you three things right off the bat just to start out. Very few today, very few speak of the necessity of the new birth happening first. That's found in John chapter three. I'm not even going to go back and read it. John chapter three. If you're interested, go back and read what our Lord Jesus Christ told Nicodemus. You see, this thing of, well, strike while the iron's hot. You need to do it right now.

If a man's not already first been prepared of the Lord, it's to no avail. A man must be born from above, born again to even see the kingdom of God. And he must be born of the water and the spirit. These things have to happen first before you'll ever, ever, ever enter the kingdom of God. The new birth must come first.

Very few today speak of the necessity of the new birth happening first. Now, granted some speak of it as something God does for you after you make your decision for Jesus, but that is not in the scripture. Here's a second thought. Very few speak of receiving Christ. Now listen to me. Yes, we are to receive Christ, but very few speak of receiving Christ, not by an act of men, but because of an act of God's will. Do you hear what I just said?

Now listen to how John the Apostle put it. And he is most clear, not just very clear, he's most clear. This is what John the Apostle, the Apostle John said about this thing of salvation, this thing of being saved. And as I said, very few people speak of receiving Christ as an act of God's will. not as an act of man's will. And they emphasize man's will, your will. They even call it your free will. Listen to how John put it. John chapter one, speaking of Christ.

He came unto his own and his own received him not. But as many as received him, yes, they did receive him. We are to receive him. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. So that's what receiving him, to believe on his name, believe who he is, what the name signifies.

What is his name? Jesus. For thou call his name Jesus, why? For he shall save his people from their sins. Do you believe that? His name is Christ, Jesus Christ. He's the anointed one of God, the only, the only one anointed of God for who he was and for what he would do. And he is the Lord, that is, he is the sovereign of all heaven and earth. Listen.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name, which were born not of blood, you see that, nor of the will of the flesh, do you see that, nor of the will of man, but how are they born? but of God, do you see it?

So again, I say very few speak of the necessity of the new birth happening first. Very few speak of receiving Christ and it being an act of God's will, not an act of man's will, not an act of the flesh, not because your mommy and daddy was a believer. Very few also, very few, think about what I said. My title is this, Quietly Wait for the Lord's Salvation.

I know that's totally contrary to many of these so-called churches out there today, but here's the third thought. Very few warn, as the Lord Jesus Christ himself warned, very few warn men and women that they must count the cost. Listen to how our Lord Jesus Christ put it. And Luke has it recorded for us in Luke chapter 14. Now I want you to think about this. I realize this is against the pale of most of this so-called religion in our day, but Christ warned men and women to count the cost. Now listen to Luke chapter 14 for the context. I'll start in verse 25 and listen to what it says. Listen.

And there went great multitudes with him. Now get the picture. Great multitudes, you see. And there went great multitudes with him, and he turned and said unto them," evidently there's walking along, great multitude behind him, he just stopped and turned around and said these words, listen to his words, "'If any man come to me and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple, my follower. Do you see it?

He can't be. Christ is preeminent. Christ is supreme. Christ is always number one. That's what he's saying. Listen. And whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. So if I tell a man or a woman who Christ is not first to them, Christ is not preeminent to them. Christ is not number one to them. Well, just make your decision for Jesus. And they come forward and I have them pray some sinner's prayer, and I tell them they're all fixed up and everything's okay. Christ said that ain't so. That ain't so.

He goes on. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he hath sufficient to finish it? Lest happily, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it, begin to mock him, saying, this man began to build, and was not able to finish. Do you see the illustration he's giving? Think about this, because there is severe cost.

He is and will be number one, or you cannot follow him. This is what he taught. He goes on. or what king? Going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with 10,000 to meet him that cometh against him with 20,000. Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desires conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you, that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

So this thing, just give your heart to Jesus. It doesn't matter, just come now and pray the sinner's prayer. It's a lie perpetrated by lying preachers and lying so-called churches. And he sums it up this way, salt is good. That's good. But if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill, but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

I'm not telling you, oh, just make a decision today. I'm telling you, you better think about this thing. You better consider this matter. You better put great weight upon this matter. So again, very few speak of the necessity of the new birth happening first. Very few speak of receiving Christ as an act of God's will, not an act of man's will. Very few warn, as Christ warned, that men and women must count the cost. Count the cost.

You see, from our context in Lamentations, of course, this is Jeremiah writing. The Jewish nation, think about it. The Jewish nation in Jeremiah's day, that's our text from which I read, Lamentations 3, 18 through 26. Of course, the whole book is about that.

The Jewish nation in Jeremiah's day were under the chastening hand of God. Jerusalem is being ransacked, and the people are suffering. Some have even been carried into Babylon as captives, and some have been slaughtered to death. Jeremiah knows God's promised deliverance. He knows He's promised deliverance for Israel, but not before the chastening hand of God worked His correcting work, and in Jeremiah's day, that would be 70 years.

Now think about this. No matter how much Jeremiah and those who were still living in the days of Jeremiah, when Babylon had come and ransacked Jerusalem and slaughtered thousands, they were carrying thousands awake as captives. No matter how much they repented, no matter how much they made a decision for the Lord, they would deal with this thing for 70 years.

And look at two examples of this. Think about this in Exodus. I want to just read you what God's book says, not what men say how things ought to be. Listen to Moses speaking to Israel in Exodus 14, verse 13 and 14. They were at the Red Sea. Remember, they're at the Red Sea. They're fleeing from the Egyptian army, from Pharaoh and his army, and they're fleeing. The Red Sea's in front of them, a massive body of water. And Pharaoh and his army, thousands of chariots and horsemen and swords and spears and bows. And Moses, verse 13, and Moses said unto the people, fear ye not.

See those next two words? Listen to them. Stand still. Stand still. Stand still. I can hear somebody in the crowd, can't you? That's the one thing we shouldn't do. Well, what are you going to do? Try to swim the Red Sea? What are you going to do? Try to turn a ragtag band?

No matter how many thousands and thousands and thousands you have no weapons, you're going to fight Pharaoh's army? And Moses said unto the people, fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show you today. For the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever. The Lord shall fight for you and ye shall hold your peace. Do you see it?

It's good to hope in the Lord and quietly wait for the God of your salvation. Look at it, it is good that a man should both hope, now hope, don't give up hope, don't abandon hope, don't cast hope to the side. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. God, as the scripture says, God is mine to such that be of a broken heart and a contrite spirit.

So if I'm trying to get a man or a woman or a boy and girl just to make a decision for Jesus, and God hasn't done that work in their heart first, it means nothing. It gives them a false hope, a false sense of security. Think about Simeon. Think about old Simeon, an old man, an old man when Jesus Christ was born. And this is how Luke records it in Luke chapter two and verse 21.

And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus. We're talking about the Lord Jesus himself here. Which was so named to the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the days of her, that is Mary's, purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.

As it is written in the law of the Lord, every male that openeth the womb, that's the firstborn, shall be called holy to the Lord. and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.

And behold, do you see it? And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. The same was a just and devout, waiting, do you see it? Waiting for the consolation of Israel and the Holy Ghost was upon him. What's this talking about? As we will see, he's looking for the Messiah. This old man had believed the messianic promises of the coming Messiah given in the Old Testament by the prophets. Look at it, verse 26. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

And my brothers and sisters, you out there, maybe you haven't even ever believed, but I'm telling you, I'm not asking you just to make a decision. I'm not asking you just pray a prayer. I'm not asking you, well, right now, just give your heart to the Lord. I'm saying consider this matter. I'm saying set your heart and mind upon Jesus Christ. Learn about him, seek him, find him, look.

And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him after the custom of the law, then he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, Lord, now let us now thy servant depart in peace according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen, do you see it, thy salvation. He was looking at a baby. This child Jesus, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him. Mm, mm, what a glory.

Now think about this. Scripture, now listen to me. Scripture never informs us to put off until later calling upon Christ. It doesn't tell us put it off till later, but at the same time, it does set bounds. Do you hear me? I say it does set bounds. Listen to this one, and this is the vital one. Listen to what the Apostle Paul wrote, and he puts it this way in Romans chapter 10, verse 13. Now I know you've probably heard men over the years... Quote this over and over, just nonchalant. Quote it everywhere, to everybody. Listen, Romans 10, 13.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. And then they'll say, well, just come forward and pray the prayer. Come forward and call upon his name. They don't even consider whether God's done a work in their heart or not. Listen to what Paul said.

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? You see it? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent? God sets up this means, and God ordains this order, and this is the way it must happen, or it will never happen at all. How shall they preach except they be sent? As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things.

So again, listen to me. Scripture never informs us to put off until later calling on Christ for salvation, but it does set bounds. It sets the bounds that a man must be born from above, that a man should count the cost, that it is an act of the will of God that causes people to receive, or that is, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. And they're not going to do that until God sends them a preacher. till God sends him a preacher.

You see, in Lamentations, Jeremiah is encouraging those. God is preparing, and he's encouraging them in this way. We're going to go back and read it. I'll make this statement. He encourages them in this, in the fact that one, God has brought them low.

Do you see that? Go back and study about Israel being Conquered by Babylon and taken off into captivity Thousands slaughtered people starving to death all kinds of horrendous things happening to them. But listen to what? Listen to what? Jeremiah wrote, and I'll go back to my text, listen to verse 18, 19, and 20.

And I said, my strength and my hope is perished from the Lord. Where does that come from? Where does that utter despondency, that utter inability, where does it come from? It's an act of God. And I said, my strength and my hope is perished from the Lord. Remembering my affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.

This is what some of the old time preachers used to call Holy Spirit conviction. Being laid hold of by God the Holy Spirit. Listen, my soul hath them still in remembrance and is humbled in me. How many of these people coming forward to these aisles and giving their heart to Jesus and praying the sinner's prayer have really ever been humbled by the Lord?

You hear it? By the Lord. Listen to what he says. God has brought them load, you see it? But not only that, they have heard of messianic hope. We read that in verses 21 through 23. This I recall to mind. This I recall to mind, therefore have I hope. Here it is.

It is of the Lord's mercy that we are not consumed utterly wiped out. The reason God hadn't already sent you to hell may be that God's preserved you for mercy. It is of the Lord's mercy that we are not consumed. Do you see it? We're not, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is God's faithfulness. Great is thy faithfulness. Do you see it? Thy faithfulness.

This thing is about seeking the Lord and His mercy and compassion in Jesus Christ. It's about counting the cost. It's about God working a work upon a man or a woman or a boy or a girl's soul where they cry out for mercy unto God because they know they have no other hope anywhere else. And of course, that's the third thing, the Lord Himself. Now think about that. The Lord Himself is their desire.

It's not heaven. Now, I understand who really wants to go to hell. I've heard a few people say they didn't care. I don't care if I go to hell or not. They have no idea what they're talking about. But anyone who actually believes in hell doesn't want to go there. And anyone who believes in heaven would like to go there, but it's not about that.

Listen, verse 24, the Lord is my portion, saith my soul. Do you see it? The Lord. You see, to be with Christ is heaven. To be with Christ is glory. To be with Christ is salvation. To have Him as your portion is redemption. Do you see it? The Lord is my portion, saith my soul. Therefore will I hope in Him. Do you see it? Therefore will I hope in Him.

So again, we see clearly by the illustration of Jeremiah and the children of Israel back in Jeremiah's day, God had brought them low. And I'm here to say that God Almighty has to do a work for a man or a woman or a boy or a girl before they'll ever, ever truly seek the Lord in contrition and brokenness. And when God Almighty does it, he brings them low.

Then he begins to send someone to them. They begin to hear of the Messiah, of the Christ, of Jesus of Nazareth. God brings them low, and God sends them hope in the message of the gospel. Then they begin to find themselves in their soul. Not just in some outward profession, not in walking some aisle praying some prayer, not in repeat this after me, I was brought up in that garbage. No, they find that the Lord himself is their desire. They want to know him.

By the way, listen to what our Lord Jesus Christ prayed. In his actual high priestly prayer, listen to what the Lord Jesus Christ prayed. In John chapter 17, John records our Lord's words and it says in verse one, These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, he's praying to God the Father now, the hour has come, glorify thy son, that thy son also may glorify thee. Listen to his prayer. As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him, and this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

That's where it's all at. That's where it's all at. But let's go on. Remember, I said God brought them. And God does bring them low. And I pray God will bring you low this very day. God must bring them low. They begin to hear this messianic hope, this gospel hope, this hope that's in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. They begin to find themselves hoping in the Lord himself. He is their desire. He is their portion. And then here's the fourth thing. They are not avoiding deliverance, but are submitting. Do you hear? They're not avoiding deliverance, but they're submitting. Do you listen to verse 25, 26?

The Lord, excuse me, the Lord is good unto them that wait for him. Do you see it? Are you waiting for him? or you're crying out in your soul, oh God, be merciful to me, the sinner. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

I'm not telling you not to seek him. I'm telling you to seek him, but I'm telling you it won't be real and it will avail to nothing unless God Almighty acts upon your heart, mind, and soul first. It is, listen to verse 26 of our text, it is good It's good. So if God says it's good through the prophet Jeremiah, it's good no matter what men say about it. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. Do you hear it?

Just wait on him. Just wait on him. Do not be hoodwinked by the get saved right now people. Just make a decision no matter what. Pray that God makes you ready. pray that God works on your soul. And if you're able to pray that, and you mean that sincerely, and you mean that truly, he already is. It's called, and grace for grace. You don't cry out unto God to get grace, you only cry out, truly seek him, truly hope in him, truly wait on him, only after he's already given you grace.

Now I realize that is not what these preachers are saying today, but these preachers are lying to you. Do not be hoodwinked by the, get saved right now, folk. Don't do it. Don't let them trick you into thinking if you just walk some aisle, pray some prayer, no matter what's going on in your life, no matter what's taking place, you still see yourself as paramount, you see yourself as the top of the list, Christ would count the cost. If you hate not your mother, father, brother, sister, you cannot be my disciple. That's what he said. You're gonna count this cost.

Are you willing to bow to Him, to believe Him, to trust Him, to serve Him, to worship Him, to submit to Him? So again, I say do not be hoodwinked by these get saved right now folk, but do not be deceived by the sloth and rebellion of unbelief either. Do not confuse rebellion and unbelief for waiting on the Lord.

According to Hebrews, it says, and today if you will hear his voice, if you will, will you hear his voice? Do you hear his voice? If you will, you do. If you do, you will. Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. Don't fight against God. Don't fight against God. So again, do not be hoodwinked by these. Get saved right now, people. But again, do not be deceived by the sloth and rebellion of unbelief and denial of the authority and king rights of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Quietly Wait For The Lord's Salvation

What does the Bible say about waiting for the Lord's salvation?

How do we know the doctrine of the new birth is true?

Why is counting the cost important for Christians?

How does waiting on the Lord relate to God's sovereignty?

Sermon Transcript

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Quietly Wait For The Lord's Salvation

What does the Bible say about waiting for the Lord's salvation?

How do we know the doctrine of the new birth is true?

Why is counting the cost important for Christians?

How does waiting on the Lord relate to God's sovereignty?

Sermon Transcript

Comments

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