Post it notes from God

This post is a sermon that I preached at MRWC on Sunday, July 31. Enjoy, and let me know what you think.

Post-It-Notes from God, Part 2

Jesus is coming! Matthew 24-25

Sunday, July 31st 2016-MRWC

We are in week two of a brand new sermon series called, Post it notes from God, Part two. 

Post-it notes are wonderful. They are designed with one purpose in mind: to remind you of something. 

ILLUSTRATION- I use PIN all of the time. If you were to look in my office, you would see PIN all over my bulletin board, as well as a few of them across my window ledge. 

Some of these PIN contain important reminders, while others of them contain Scripture verses that I am tying to memorize, or verses that I need to be reminded of. 

One of these verses just so happens to be the verse PM talked about last Sunday, Isaiah 26:3&4 “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! 4 Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.” (NLT2) 

The Bible is full of PIN worthy verses and we asked some of you to submit to us your favourite Scripture verse or even a verse or two that leaves you scratching your head. 

Today’s lesson is a head scratcher. We will be looking at Matthew chapters 24&25, which talk about the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ. 

Before we do so, let me give you a disclaimer or two: First of all, The first advent of Jesus— His First coming to this earth— was only seen by a handful of people. 

His second Advent will be seen by everyone, everywhere. and I will give you a reference for that as we move along. 

The second thing I want to say is that I don’t claim to be a prophet— that is to say, I am not the final authority on this matter. 

There is much about the Second Coming of Jesus that I don’t know about, but there are some things I do know, and because I believe the Bible is the whole word of God, without errors or contradictions, I believe that Jesus is coming back.  

So, I am trusting God to take the words you are about to hear, and apply them to our lives, and trust that He will make sense of it all, so before we get too heavy, let’s pray

PRAY- God Help us….

As Jesus and His disciples were walking around the temple grounds, looking at the remarkable buildings, Jesus made an interesting statement, found in Matthew 24:2:

“Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”  

(NLT2)

This statement about the destruction of the Temple leaves the disciples scratching their heads, so when they are finally alone, the Disciples dig a little deeper: “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?” (24:3, NLT2)

What Jesus said next, recorded for us in the next several verses, is substantial, and has left more than one person asking a question or two, so in an effort to make it as clear as mud, there are three truths we need to know, that come from Jesus’ mouth as He answered His Disciples’ question. 

First of all, Jesus is coming back! 

People way smarter than me have come up with 3 different ideas/ theories/ scenarios as to when Jesus is be coming back. 

While I don’t want to loose you in the woods, it will help us understand a little bit of the Master’s words as found in Matthew 24.

The first scenario of when Jesus is coming back for His church is before things in the world get bad. I mean bad-er than they are now. Before Trump or Clinton takes over the Oval Office… (Ok, I added that last part).

This belief is called Pre-Trib. Christ will come back for His church before the time of Great Tribulation begins. 

Another view point is that Christ will come back for His church at the mid-way point during 

the great Tribulation. Mid-Trib. 

Jesus will take His church out of here before things get really really bad. 

Still another view point of view is that Jesus will not come back for His church until the time of great Tribulation is over; this is called Post-Trib.

After the world has gone to hell in a hand basket, after more violence and destruction that we could possible imagine has taken place, then Jesus will come back for His church.  

Which view point is right? 

YES. 

From reading Matthew 24, one can glean that Jesus is speaking about all three time periods in this one chapter. 

While we may not know for sure when Jesus is coming back for His church, we need to understand that Jesus is coming back. 

We must agree to this, because Jesus Himself said He was coming back. 

Take a look at Jesus’ words in as recorded in Matthew 24 starting at verse 23: “if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. 

24 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. 

25 See, I have warned you about this ahead of time. 26 “So if someone tells you, ‘Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,’ don’t bother to go and look. Or, ‘Look, he is hiding here,’ don’t believe it!

27 For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes.” (Matthew 24:23-27, NLT2)

Jesus promised that everyone will stand up and take notice that He has come back for His church. 

You won’t need a magnifying glass to see this take place, nor will you hear about it on CNN. 

When Jesus comes back for His church, everyone, everywhere will know about it. 

In fact, Paul reminds us that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:10-11, NIV)

The First truth we need to learn from Jesus’ answer to the Disciples question as found in Matthew 24:3, is that Jesus is coming back! 

The second truth we need to learn from these two chapters is that while Jesus is coming back, we don’t know when! 

ILLUSTRATION- I have been fortunate enough to travel to the West African Country of Ghana on three different occasions. 

Each time I have travelled to Ghana, it has been part of a teaching team, training would be pastors in the teachings of TWC. 

On my most recent trip to Ghana, back in 2013, I happened to notice a giant billboard, similar to the ones we would see on the 4-lane going to Fredericton. 

What this billboard said caught my attention, and the attention of the rest of my team. It told us that the End of the World would take place in June of 2013. 

While reading the USA today app on my iPad last week, I happened to notice an article that said the End of the World would take place on July 29th, 2016. 

Seeing as we’re all here, the end of the world didn't happen on either of those two dates. 

People have been trying to predict when the end of the world will happen, ever since they found out that the world was coming to an end. Each and every time, these people have been, what I like to call, wrong. 

While we do know that Jesus is coming back for His church, we simply do not know when this will happen.  

Let’s see what Jesus had to say on this issue. Look at Matthew 24 starting at verse 35: “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. 

36 “However, one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. 

37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 

38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 

39 People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. 

40 “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. 

42 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.

  43 Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 

44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” (NLT2)

From reading this passage, we understand that only God Himself knows when the end will come. No one else. Not CNN, not Nostradamus, not Justin Trudeau. 

But from reading this passage, we can understand that the end will come when we least expect it. 

Just as it was in Noah’s day, so it will be when the end comes. People will still get up and go to work, people will still eat and drink, and even get married. 

Life will go on as usual, and when we least expect it, that is when the end will come. 

“You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” (Matthew 24:44, NLT2)

What does it mean to be ready all of the time? Well, for one thing we must make sure our hearts are at peace with God. Confess any unconfessed sin, and live for God. 

But live ready also means keeping short accounts with those around you. If you’ve done something to someone else, make sure you take the time to clear it up….

Love for God is displayed by loving others; which leads us to the third truth we need to learn from Matthew 24&25:

Because Jesus is coming back for His church, because this world will pass away, we’ve got to be busy doing something for Jesus. 

What is that something? Well, let’s take a look at Matthew 25:31-46: “when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 

32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. 

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 

35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 

38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. 

42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 

43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ 

44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” (NLT2)

This is a sobering section of Scripture that demonstrates that faith in God isn't enough. We must do something for Jesus, because of Jesus. 

Hear me out on this one Church, we don’t do good works to get saved— the Bible is crystal clear on that truth: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…” (Eph. 2:8, NIV)

We don’t do good work to get saved, we do good works because we are saved. 

We will be generous with our time, talent and treasure, b/c we belong to Jesus.

We will give to those in need, b/c we belong to Jesus. 

We will pray for those who are in need, b/c we belong to Jesus. 

We may even go and help those who are in need, b/c we belong to Jesus. 

We will do good works because we are doing something in Jesus’ name. 

As Pastor Andy Stanley once said: “You can’t do everything for everyone, but you can do something for someone.”  

What can you do for someone in the name of Jesus, knowing that He is our soon coming King?

Is there someone who is down on their luck and needs a helping hand?

Is there someone who needs a visit from you?

Jesus reminds us that whenever we do something in His Name: feeding, giving drink, showing hospitality, offering clothing, we are actually doing it as unto Him. 

So, what are you doing for Jesus? 

For what it’s worth, we can only do something for Jesus if our heart is right with Jesus. If our heart isn’t right with Jesus, we’re just showing off, and God doesn't like a show off… 

So think— more specifically— pray about what you can do for Jesus knowing that He is coming back at an unknown hour. 

My heart has been breaking as of late— hopefully yours has as well, at all the senseless violence that has taken place around the world. 

From the shootings in the USA to the killing of a priest in Normandy, each day seems to bring with it more and more heartache.

The question becomes: “What are we to do in the meantime?” 

Before Jesus takes His church out of this world, before the end of the world takes place, how, what are we to do in this world?

The Psalmist asked a similar question in Psalm chapter 11: “When all that is good falls apart—- it seems that we’re there now—- what can good people do?” (Psalm 11:3, NCV)

The very next verse gives us the answer: “The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD sits on his throne in heaven.” (Psalm 11:4, NCV)

Though our world is quickly falling apart, God is still God. He is still on the throne. He is still in control. God is able to rescue the perishing. He is still ready to save us. 

So what do I want you to do with what you’ve been hearing???

Quite simply, and quite difficultly: Trust God. 

I want you to trust God with your life. If you haven’t surrendered your life over to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, today is that day. 

The days are getting worse and worse, and only Jesus is able to give you the peace that is so desperately needed in this world. 

The Scriptures teach us that: “Today is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2, NLT2)

If you have yet to surrender your life to Jesus, you’re not ready for His  second coming. Don’t leave this place, unless you have placed your trust in God. 

For those of you who have already placed your trust in God, You need to trust Him with the future, trust Him with Your future. 

God is not in the business of forgetting His children. God will not leave you alone, God will not abandon you. 

When you turn on the news and see another shooting or terroist attack, get on your knees and pray: “God, I trust you. I don’t know what’s going on, but help me to trust that you are still in control of everything, me included.” 

As our team comes back to lead us in a very appropriate song, I’d like for us to spend a few moments actually looking up at God. I’d like for us to actually turn our eyes on Jesus, as He is our only hope. 

The truth this morning is that Jesus is coming back, but we don’t know when, so we’re going to do something for Him, and that starts as we turn our eyes upon Him.

song- Turn your eyes upon Jesus- Look up

We read these words in 2 Peter 3: do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 

9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. 

11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.” (NIV)

Waiting Rooms, Part 4

This is the final message in our Waiting Rooms Series.

Waiting Rooms, part 4
The Life of Joseph, Gen. 39:21-23
Sunday, July 10th, 2016- MRWC

We are going to be concluding our waiting rooms series this morning.
next Sunday, we’ll be launching a new series, called Post It Notes from God, part two, this is where you tell us your favourite Scripture verse, or maybe there is a passage of Scripture that leaves you scratching your head
We’ll take a look at the submissions and pick a few of them to preach on this summer…. if summer ever decides to get here….
This series has been based upon being in a waiting room, and examines some of the life lessons that God has been teaching me.
By way of a quick recap, the first sermon in this series focused on the paralyzed man of Mark chapter 2.
This man was unable to get to Jesus on his  own, so his four friends taped him to his mat; went to the house Jesus was teaching at, cut a hole in the roof of this house, and placed this man right in front of Jesus.
The life lesson from this sermon was that “we all need someone who will take us to Jesus.”
We need to have 1 or 2 people that we can call upon when— not if— but when we are having a bad day.
We need this someone, so they can take us and place us “right in front of Jesus.”
(Luke 5:19, NIV84)
The second sermon in this series focused on the man who was born blind, and his story can be found in John chapter 9.
Jesus told His disciples that the man had been born blind: “So that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” (John 9:3, NIV84)
IOW, God was going to tell a better story— His story— through this man who had been born blind.
The life lesson that day was “You can either be bitter at God (for placing you in a WR), or you can be better for God.
When God places us in a WR, we can either be bitter at God, or we can be better for God. These are the only two options we have.
The third sermon in this series, focused on the life of Moses.
He spent 40 years in a WR, before he was able to do what God wanted him to do, and then he spent another 40 years doing what God wanted him to do. That’s 80 years in a WR!
The life lesson from that sermon, is that “When God places you in a WR, it’s so you will learn what you need to learn.”  
Moses needed to learn the ways of the desert before leading thousands of people into the desert, and the same type of thing can be said about you and me.
When God places us in a WR, it’s so we will learn what we need to learn in order for God to use us for the next part of our journey with Jesus.
This morning’s message is going to focus on the life of Joseph.
Maybe not the entire life of Joseph, after all, his story does take up several chapters in the book of Genesis, so we will just look at a time when Joe spent some time in a WR.
Just to give you a refresher on who Joseph was, he was the favourite son of Jacob.
This wouldn't have been a problem if Joseph was Jacob’s only son, but he wasn’t.
Joseph had 11 other brothers, so needless to say, it becomes a problem.
Joseph’s brothers didn't like him too much. This is true for a couple of reasons. The first reason was that Jacob gave his favourite son a multi--coloured coat.
While, I can’t prove this to be true, I imagine that Joseph flaunted his coat in front of his brothers.
I imagine this, because this is what I would do in front of my brother; and he wouldn't like it, so he would probably beat me…
The second reason Joseph’s brothers didn't like him very much is that Joseph had a dream where all his brothers bowed down to him.
Author and Pastor Louie Giglio writes: “Here’s a hint for successful living: If you ever have a dream where your brothers bow down to you, don’t tell your brothers about the dream. (Giglio 2015, 47)
Apparently Joseph didn't get that memo, and one day he found himself on the raw end of a deal that his brothers had made that turned him into a slave and into a WR.
Off Joseph goes to his new home, Egypt, where he eventually makes his way to Potiphar’s
 house.
We’re told in Genesis 39 that: “The LORD was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of
his Egyptian master.
3 Potiphar noticed this and realized that the LORD was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did.
4 This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned.
5 From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the LORD began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake.
All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished.
6 So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat!” (39:2-6, NLT2)
God used a very bad experience in Joseph’s life and turned it into something good… only to
have Joseph end up in a WR again.
We’re told that Joe was a good looking man— like me— and Potiphar’s wife, Hotiphar, took notice of this and tried to get Joseph to sleep with her.
Joseph was able to keep his distance from her  for a while, until one day, he and she were alone.
Hotiphar demanded that Joseph sleep with her, he said no, and ran out of the house, “but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.” (Gen. 39:12, NLT2)
Let’s now read the rest of the story, beginning at verse 13 of Genesis 39:
“When she saw that she was holding his cloak and he had fled, 14 she called out to her servants. Soon all the men came running.
“Look!” she said. “My husband has brought this Hebrew slave here to make fools of us!
He came into my room to rape me, but I screamed.
15 When he heard me scream, he ran outside and got away, but he left his cloak behind with me.”
16 She kept the cloak with her until her husband came home. 17 Then she told him her story. “That Hebrew slave you’ve brought into our house tried to come in and fool around with me,” she said.
18“But when I screamed, he ran outside, leaving his cloak with me!”
19 Potiphar was furious when he heard his wife’s story about how Joseph had treated her. 20 So he took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king’s prisoners were held, and there he remained.
21But the LORD was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the LORD made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden.
22 Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison.
23The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. The LORD was with him and caused everything he
did to succeed.” (NLT2)
In a manner of a few moments, Joseph went from The Penthouse to the dog-house, from living a life of freedom, to living life in a WR.
But take notice of 5 little words in this account. These five words are found first of all in verse 21, and then they are found again in verse 23. (actually they can be found all the way back in verse 2….)
Genesis 39:21 tells us that: “the Lord was with Joseph. and verse 23 reminds us that “the Lord was with him…” (NLT2)
I have these verses highlighted in my Bibles and I think you should, too.
What we need to remember when we find ourselves in a Waiting Room is that God is with us.
Just because we end up in a situation that we don’t want to be in, doesn't mean that God has washed His hands of us and our situation. He has not left us to fend for ourselves!
On the contrary, God has promised in His Word, that He will never leave us. Let’s look at a few of these promises.
Joshua 1:5: “For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.” (NLT2)
Joshua 1:9: “Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”(NLT2)
Matthew 28:20: “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”(NLT2)
John 14:16-17: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.
17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.” (NLT2)
Hebrews 13:5: “For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
(NLT2)
All of these verses remind us that God is with us. Not only when life is grand and we’re sitting on the mountain top, but God is with us when we are in, what David called, a Dark valley.
The Name that was to be given to the God-Man was Immanuel, which means what church? “God is with us.” (Matthew 1:23, NLT2)
In Good times and in bad times, God is with us.
John Wesley, who was an Anglican Preist in the 1700’s, whose teachings influenced the formation of The Wesleyan Church, is quoted as saying, on his death bed: “The best of all is, God is with us!”
I don’t want to overstate this one truth. As the Lord was with Joseph, Moses, Daniel, Paul, John…. He will be with you, He will be with me, He will be with us! He is Immanuel: God is with us!
In Waiting Rooms and not in Waiting Rooms, God is with us; and He has promised that He will never leave nor forsake us!
ILLUSTRATION- I’m still learning this life lesson. Not a day goes by when I don’t need to be reminded that I’m not alone in this world,
and that God is with me.
No where was this more true than when I was in the Intensive Care unit after my second liver transplant.
As you may know this transplant wasn't without it’s complications and as I was doing the only thing I could do— lie very still in my hospital bed, I would cry out and call out to God saying “Where are you God?”
It took a little bit of time to figure out that God was right beside me, and He was also in the form of my Doctors and nurses who provided me with excellent care.
He showed that He was with me everyday, through the love of my wife and kids.
God showed me that He was with me through my pastor friends who came in to see me.
God showed me that He was with me when folks from home texted, sent cards and even visited me in my hospital room.
God was reminding me that He was looking after me; that He was with me, by sending the right people at just the right time.
God was showing me that He was— and still is— with me— Just as He promised; God is with
me.
God is with you, too. No matter what you may be going through; no matter the season of life you find yourself in, stuck in a WR, or coming out of a WR, God is with you.
God was with Joseph as well. Even though He was in a prison cell, God still showed His favour to Joseph.
Eventually God took Joesph out of the WR and set him up as 2nd in command in all of Egypt, where Joseph would guide Egypt through an extreme famine, and eventually Joseph would meet up with his family again.
After their reunion, Joseph’s father dies and his brothers think that Joe will finally get them back for what they did to him, but while Joseph was in a WR, God had been working on him.
Instead of being mad at his brothers for forcing Joseph down an alternate path, Joseph actually praises God!
Look at Genesis 50:19: “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you?
20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.
21 No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.” (NLT2)
Joseph recognized that God was with Him and God had used Joseph’s WR experience for good.
It kind of sounds an awful lot like what Paul wrote in Romans 8:28: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called
according to his purpose for them.” (NLT2)
B/C we’re Wesleyans, we don’t believe in coincidences.
We believe in a God who uses all things in our lives, both Good and bad, to transform us into the men and women He intends for us to be.
And He will use all things to fulfil that mandate, even and especially our WR experiences.
So we need to know that God is with us, always. He will never leave us or forsake us.
If you find yourself in a WR, at any point in time in your life, remember these 4 life lessons:
We need someone who will take us to Jesus.
We can either be bitter at God or we can be better for God;
When God places us in a WR, it’s so we will learn what we need to learn.
God is with us always.
God does something in us, on us, while we wait. When we find ourselves in a WR, He is working on us. He hasn't washed His hands of our mess.
Remember, “While we wait, God is at work.”
What we must do is turn to Him. Our Key verse reminds us that:
“Those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” (Is. 40:31, NLT2)
God will give you the strength for your journey with Jesus. He has promised never to leave us or forsake us.
So, what do I want you to do with what you're hearing?
Write it down!
Get a sticky note. Get a tattoo, get a parrot. Highlight Genesis 39:21&23 in your Bibles. Have someone call you to remind you that God is with
you!
Because we’re human we tend to forget…often. Let this one truth be one we never forget: “For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.” (Josh. 1:5 NLT2)
To make it easier for you to remember all of the life lessons in this series, I’ve put together a reminder card, be sure to pick this up before leaving this morning, and place it where you will see it often.
The last life lesson from the Waiting Room may be the most important of them all: God is with
us. Always!
The Team is coming back to lead us in our last song, and as they do you might want to come up and grab one of our reminder cards.
If you don’t want to come up as the band plays, be sure to get one on your way out.
Let’s remember that God is with us, Even when we find ourselves in a WR!

Waiting Rooms part 3

The following post is the 3rd sermon in our waiting rooms series. For audio of this sermon, go to www.theridgechurch.ca and click on downloads. 

Waiting Rooms, Part 3

Acts 7:23-38, NLT2

Sunday, June 26^th, 2016-MRWC

ILLUSTRATION- I hate waiting. Always have, probably always will. Nothing about the process makes me happy. 

I’m not prejudice against waiting either; by that I mean, it doesn’t matter if I’m sitting in a waiting room, or waiting for the next iPhone to come out, I don’t like waiting. 

If I see something that I want, it generally means I want it, yesterday. 

It’s a good thing I’m not an elephant—stay with me--- It takes about 22 months for an 

unborn elephant to mature to birth! 22!!!

The shark, known as the spiny dogfish has a pregnancy duration of up to 24 months.

And at elevations above 4,600 feet, the alpine salamander endures a gestational period of up to 38 months! 

It’s a good thing I’m not any one of these animals, I don’t think my family could live with me! 

Waiting is not something I do well at all. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who loves to wait—we all want something sooner rather than later. 

Yet, in God’s economy, waiting is a good thing. 

Flip through the pages of Scripture and you find bible character after bible character in a season of waiting. From Job, to David, from Paul to John, they all had to wait for something at some point in time.

In the previous sermons in this series, we looked at, first of all, the paralyzed man whose story is told in Mark chapter 2.

This man, you may remember, was unable to get to Jesus on his own. His friends knew this, and so they took him to Jesus.

         In fact, they ripped off the ceiling tiles of the house where Jesus was teaching, and they lowered this man down, and placed him “right in front of Jesus.” (Luke 5:19, NIV84) 

The lesson we learnt that day was that we all need someone who will take us to Jesus. 

      We all need someone who, when we are having a bad day, will take us and place us “right in front of Jesus.” (Luke 5:19, NIV84) 

The second message in this Waiting Rooms series focused on the man who had been born blind. His story is recorded for us in John chapter 9. 

This man was born blind so God could tell His story through this man. And that story is that you can either be bitter at God, or you can be better for God. 

        These are the only two options you have. You can be bitter at God, or you can be better for God.

ILLUSTRATION- I think you should know that this is exactly where I’m at in my journey with Jesus. 

I’m working really hard on not being bitter at God for placing me in a waiting room. It’s a choice that I am making to be better for God and allowing Him to tell a better story through my busted and broken life. 

Life in a waiting room is no fun; but can you imagine being in a waiting room for 40 years?

ILLUSTRATION- We’ve been in a waiting room full time now for almost 3 years…. And I’ve gone almost nuts because of it.

I can’t imagine being in a WR for 40 years before being able to do what you were created to do. 

We are going to take a quick glimpse into the life of Moses this morning, and we’re going to pick up his story by looking at the book of Acts. 

The book of Acts isn’t typically where one would go to learn about Moses, but the author, Luke, does a great job of capturing his life, thanks in part, to a man named Stephen. 

We will pick up our reading in Acts 7:23- “One day when Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his relatives, the people of Israel. 

²⁴ He saw an Egyptian mistreating an Israelite. So Moses came to the man’s defense and avenged him, killing the Egyptian. 

²⁵ Moses assumed his fellow Israelites would realize that God had sent him to rescue them, 

but they didn’t.

²⁶ “The next day he visited them again and saw two men of Israel fighting. He tried to be a peacemaker. ‘Men,’ he said, ‘you are brothers. Why are you fighting each other?’

²⁷ “But the man in the wrong pushed Moses aside. ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us?’ he asked. 

²⁸ ‘Are you going to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?’ 

²⁹ When Moses heard that, he fled the country and lived as a foreigner in the land of Midian. There his two sons were born.” (Acts 7:23-29, NLT2) 

Up until this account takes place, Moses had been living the dream. He had been brought up in Pharaoh’s mansion, and had the best of the best.

       He had been living it up for 40 years, trained as an Egyptian, and had servants wash his chariot and had other servants take him to Olive Garden for lunch. Moses was living the dream. 

Then one day, all of that changed. When Moses was 40, he decided to take a walk and he stumbled upon a fight, and he immediately went all Captain America on the Egyptian who was laying a pounding on a Hebrew, one of Moses’ own people.

Moses thought that the Hebrews would be glad that he defended them, but instead of being glad, they got mad and as a result Moses fled Pharaoh’s Castle and went to live in the desert of Midian, a place that he would call home for the next 40 years. 

What kept Moses in a waiting room for 40 years? After all, his parents recognized that he wasn’t your typical child--- I know all parents say that about their kids—but Hebrews 11:23 actually 

proves that Moses was special: 

“It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command.” (NLT2) 

Moses had been set apart for something special… yet he still had to spend 40 years in the desert. For what reason? 

God left Moses in a waiting room so Moses could learn what he needed to learn. 

Think about it for a moment. There was absolutely no way that Moses—who grew up with an Egyptian education---could learn the ways of the desert; how to survive—to know what to eat and what not to eat—unless he spent time in the desert.

Google hadn’t been invented as of yet. He couldn’t jump on his iPad and learn all he needed to learn about desert survival.  

     Moses actually had to go into the desert to learn what he needed to learn. 

Max Lucado, in his book “Second Chances” has this to say; “Forty-year old Moses was a city boy. Octogenarian Moses knows the name of every snake and the location of every watering 

hole. 

        If he’s going to lead thousands of Hebrews into the wilderness, he better know the basics of Desert life 101.”

“Family dynamics, for another. If he’s going to be traveling with families for forty years, it might help to understand how they work.” (Lucado, 2013, 67)

When God places you or me in a Waiting Room, it’s so that we will learn what we need to learn. 

Don’t forget our key thought of this entire series: “While we wait, God is at work.” 

When we find ourselves in a waiting room, God is using that time to transform us into the men and women He intends for us to be. 

Think about it like this: 

You can’t learn patience any other way than by being placed in a situation that demands patience. 

You can’t learn compassion any other way unless you’re confronted with a situation that demands you to have compassion. 

You’ll never become a peacemaker unless you’re placed in an environment that demands a peacemaker. 

God places all of us in a Waiting Room for a reason: to learn what we need to learn. While we wait, God is at work. 

God wants us to trust Him while we wait. It’s as Rick Warren says: “Waiting for God’s promises to be fulfilled is part of trusting Him. No matter how long the delay, we must wait for Him.”  (Transformed journal, day 10) 

As the writer of Hebrews promises us, “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.” (Heb. 10:23, NLT2)

Our key verse reminds us that:

“Those who hope in the Lord…” (Isaiah 40:31, NIV84)

“Those who trust on the Lord…” (NLT2)

“Those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” (NKJV) 

As we wait upon the Lord; He will be working in us—on us--- to transform us into the men and women He wants us to be. 

We need to remember, that "while we wait, God is at work."

Billy Graham shares the following story with 

us:

ILLUSTRATION- I have a friend who during the Depression lost his job, a fortune, a wife, and a home. But he tenaciously held to his faith—the only thing he had left.

One day he stopped to watch some men doing stonework on a huge church. One of them was chiseling a triangular piece of stone. “What are you going to do with that?” asked my friend. 

The workman said, “See that little opening away up there near the spire? Well, I’m shaping this down here, so it will fit in up there.” 

Tears filled the eyes of my friend as he walked away, for it seemed that God had spoken through the workman to explain his ordeal through which he was passing, “I’m shaping you down here, so you’ll fit in up there.” (from my files)

God was at work in Moses’ life during his waiting room experience. The 40 years he spent in the desert were not a waste. God was teaching Moses what he needed to know in order to survive the next chapter of Life. 

Which, I might add, began when Moses was 80 years old! 

Flip back to the Book of Acts 7:30 and on: “Forty years later, in the desert near Mount Sinai, an angel appeared to Moses in the flame of a burning bush. 

³¹ When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight. As he went to take a closer look, the voice of the Lord called out to him, 

³² ‘I am the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses shook with terror and did not dare to look.

³³ “Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. 

³⁴ I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groans and have come down to rescue them. Now go, for I am sending you back to Egypt.’

³⁵ “So God sent back the same man his people had previously rejected when they demanded, ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us?’ Through the angel who appeared to him in the burning bush, God sent Moses to be their ruler and savior. 

³⁶ And by means of many wonders and miraculous signs, he led them out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, and through the wilderness for forty years.” (NLT2)

Exodus 7:7 tells us that: “Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron was eighty-three when they made their demands to Pharaoh.” (NLT2) 

Moses and Aaron were old men when they stood before Pharaoh and eventually led the people of Israel out from under the oppressive hand of Pharaoh and led them in the wilderness for 40 years. 

Deut. 34:7 tells us that: “Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever.” (NLT2) 

It seems clear to me that God had used Moses more in the 2^nd half of his life than in the first half of his life. 

While Moses wasn’t without his issues, Moses listened to God and God used him in a mighty way. 

I can honestly tell you, friend, if God places you in a waiting room of any kind, there is a particular reason for it… so you will learn what you need to learn. 

God isn’t finished with you yet. 

Psalm 138:8 reminds us all that: “The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever-- do not abandon the works of your hands.” (NIV84) 

As long as you have breath in your lungs, you are a walking, talking instrument for God to tell His story through you. 

ILLUSTRATION- There was a period of about 6 weeks that I don’t remember from my last transplant. 

      I do, however, remember focusing on several passages of Scripture. Many of these 

verses would get me through the day. 

One of these verses was Philippians 4:13. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (NKJV) I would recite this verse as I was learning how to walk again. 

 Philippians 1:6 was another verse: “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”(NIV84) 

While we spend time in a waiting room, we need to know that God is still at work. What is the key thought of this series? “While we wait, God is at work.”

If we allow Him, God will do whatever needs to be done in our lives; He will teach us what we need to learn, just as He did with Moses, so we can tell His story. 

When God appeared to Moses, He told him to “go”. Look again at Acts 7:34: “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groans and have come down to rescue them. Now go, for I am sending you back to Egypt.’”(NLT2) 

After his training was over, God sent Moses to lead His people out from under the hand of Pharaoh. 

ILLUSTRATION- I have had many opportunities to share about Jesus since my ordeal began, probably more opportunities than if I hadn’t gone through this. 

I can remember one night in particular. I was getting my dressing changed and I was sharing about Jesus to 3 different nurses! At Mid-night! 

I have also had the opportunity to share about Jesus with my physicians. 

I probably would never have had these opportunities to share about Jesus, any other way than by being in a waiting room. 

God can redeem any situation; God can use any situation, especially our waiting room situations. 

“He who began a good work in you will carry it on….” (Ph. 1:6, NIV84)  While we wait, God is at work. 

So, what do I want you to do with what you’re hearing?

1. Trust the process. By that I mean, Trust that God knows what He is doing.

Our key verse reminds us that: “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” (Is. 40:31, NLT2) 

God will give you strength for the journey. He will give you just what you need—when you need it—

He gave Moses what He needed to speak to Pharaoh and to lead the people out of Egypt and He will give you “new strength” as you endure life’s waiting rooms.  

God will give you what you need to get through, but you need to trust Him. Proverbs 3:5&6 remind us to: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (NIV84) 

While we wait, God is at work. We need to trust that God knows what He is doing, and trust that He is leading us down the right path. We must trust the process. 

2. We must also pray for endurance. 

Moses needed help for his new journey. He told God he couldn’t speak, told God that the people wouldn’t believe him and several other reasons why he couldn’t do what God had been asking Him to do. So God sent Moses a helper to fulfill his calling in life, his brother Aaron. 

As we’ve already said, you and I are going to need someone who will stand by us when the going gets tough. 

      We need someone who will take us to Jesus, and if you haven’t found someone as of yet, there is no better time in right now; because life in a waiting room is hard.

Moses wanted out more than once, we will too. Because of this, we need someone who will help us endure the trail of a waiting room. 

        So pray, not only for endurance, but for someone who will help you get through a waiting room. 

Life in a waiting room is no fun, but waiting rooms are necessary, because they teach us things that we need to learn on our journey with Jesus, and as we wait, God is at work. 

If you find yourself in the wilderness today, we want to help you get through this. MRWC is a safe place and you will only find grace for your journey with Jesus. 

We can depend on the promise of this Scripture: “For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.” (Joshua 1:5, NLT2) 

AS we do life in a WR; God will do His work in our lives… the only question is: Will you let Him?

Will you let God teach you?

Will you let God lead you?

Will you let God mold you?

AS the band comes back, we want to give you the time you need to respond to what you’ve just heard…. We’re going to sing The Potter’s Hand, and if you need a touch from God, if you need help in trusting God, or want Him to mold you, then tell Him so. 

You may want to come to the Front, you may want to stand where you are, or you may want to remain seated and talk to God there. 

God sees and knows your heart, so as we sing, you respond as you see fit. 

Life in a waiting rooms is no fun, but we need to remember that While we wait, God is at work.