Lesson #21 - Waiting For And With One Another

Terry Siverd
03/15/20 - Sun AM

LESSON #21 – WAITING FOR AND WITH ONE ANOTHER

THE LORD WAITS ON HIGH

The prophet Isaiah wrote (Isa.30:18), Therefore the Lord longsto be gracious to you, and therefore He waits

on high to have compassion on you.  For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who wait on Him.

? In learning to wait on one another, we take our lead from God Almighty.

It is not uncommon for believers to expect instant results and to lose patience with God.  cf. Ps.62:1 & 5 & Mic.7:7

From God’s perspective, we must frequently appear as “very demanding creatures", with very little patience.

We want God’s blessings and we want them NOW!!

~ To trust in the providence of God is to learn to wait.  cf. Lk.2:25  &  36-37

Is it always true, “good things come to those who wait"?

Have you ever asked of God and then later thanked Him that He didn’t immediately grant your previous prayer?

Have you ever been guilty of “asking amiss" (praying with the wrong motives)?  cf. Js.4:3

~ To entrust ourselves to Him who judges rightly sometimes requires a long wait.  cf. 1Pet.3:20 & 23b  and Rom.12:19

DIFFERENT KINDS OF WAITING ON ONE ANOTHER

? Waiting might be an acknowledgment of the importance of varying groups in our assembly.

As in 1Cor.11:33 (re: the Lord's Supper/wait for one another).  cf. 1Cor.11:18-22

This particular call to wait had serious ramifications concerning the unity and oneness of the body of Christ.

It's not quite the same as deciding to delay the start of worship, because someone is running a little late.

? Waiting might translate into expressing patience in general.  cf. Acts 1:4

Not all unbelievers come to see Christ at the same pace.  Not all Christians blossom at the same rate.  cf. Js.5:7b

~ Are we sometimes too quick to give up on a prospect (a friend or family member who is not a Christian)?

~ Can we learn to be long-suffering in a short period of time?

¡ Waiting might refer to staying with someone in a time of trial.  cf. Mt.26:36ff

In a very Biblical way we wait with others when we visit the sick and/or mourn with the grieving.

Hospitals, nursing homes, funeral homes, prisons, etc., are instances where our waiting together can be so helpful.

¡ Waiting might depict an eager anticipation to learn the word of God.  cf. Acts 10:24  and  Ps.37:7

¡ Waiting might refer to ordinary visitation.  cf. Js.1:27

~ Have you noticed in the book of Acts how Paul often tarried with others? 

cf. Acts 18:8;  20:6-7;  21:4 & 10;  28:14  and  1Cor.16:7-8

¡ Waiting might also take the form of serving in some specific capacity.  cf. Lk.10:40  &  1Chron.23:28

Being a good “waiter” (server) is no easy task.