Have you notice how impatient our culture has become?
We want everything instantly; right now. “Why should I have to wait?
Delayed gratification just is not in our vocabulary. “Why should you wait to have that new car… Why delay enjoying that new home theater…”
Nope!
No delayed gratification to this generation. No understanding of the pleasure and joy of waiting for something wonderful and extra special.
Now!
Have it now.
The Pepsi Corporation built and entire advertising campaign around, “Now!” But God said “Wait.” He places a premium upon waiting.
“But 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” (Isaiah 40:31NKJV).
“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now’” (Acts 1:4-5 NKJV).
The Hebrew word for wait is qavah.
It means to hope for something or someone; to expect; to wait for eagerly. Interestingly, it also means to wrap something, to twist something.
It comes from the concept of twisting or binding a rope. It carries the meaning of being strong; able to hold or carry something big and heavy, such as a strong powerful rope.
Here is the concept from the Hebrew word:
A person has a string and twists it with another string; then another; then another and makes a small rope. They take two other small ropes and twist them together and make a large strong rope. If they take three large strong ropes and twist them together they will have a huge rope that can hold a container ship to the dock.
That is what God was telling the Prophet Isaiah.
Those who wrap their life around the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit will be robust and strong.
They will be filled with the life, power and strength of Almighty God.
They may face spiritual battles; deal with life problems; even struggle with raising children. They will not grow weary and faint. They will rise up with eagle’s wings and soar.
King David said, “Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day… Keep my soul, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You” (Psalm 25:5, 20-21 NKJV).
Is that why the Church is so inept today? Is this the root cause of spiritual weakness and compromise in the Church? We have lost our ability to wait on the Lord?
The church has no desire to wait on the Lord.
The Lord has not changed.
The same Jesus Christ who commanded the disciples, don’t go do anything until you are clothed with power from Heaven; “wait for the promise of the Father” is the same Lord Jesus Christ today.
If the church is going to accomplish what the Apostles accomplished; if the church is going to see and experience what they experienced; we must do what they did.
Learn to “wait” in His presence!
