The man answered, “I’m the second speaker on the program.”

That’s a really bad old joke isn’t it?

This morning we want to talk about what it means to wait - specifically waiting on God. There are times in our lives when we wait - and we wait - and we wonder what God is doing - or if He's doing anything at all.

We’re praying for spouses or our kids or what’s going on at work or with our friends - and we wonder if God is really listening. Why doesn’t He do something? There are times - when we’re in the middle of hard times or illness - we ask, “How long is God going to let this go on?” Or we’re praying for God’s direction in our lives - about school or marriage or retirement or you name it. “Why doesn’t God give clearer direction to my life?” Overwhelmed by the demands and pace of life - we ask questions and wonder when God will give the answer.

This morning we want to focus on what to do while we’re waiting on God. I’d like you to keep one statement in mind. If you remember nothing else remember this: Waiting on God is never wasted time. Let’s say that together. “Waiting on God is never wasted time.”

Thinking about what to do while waiting on God I’d like to share one verse with you - Psalm 27:14. If you want you can turn there and wait. We’ll be there shortly. But, before we get there it’ll be helpful for us to see how Psalm 27:14 fits in the big picture of David's life. Because David was someone who understood - by experience - what it meant to wait on God.

In first Samuel 16 - starting at verse 1- we read that the Lord said to the Priest Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Saul was still alive and king of Israel. But, his sins were so bad that God had rejected him as king. Samuel was grieving - upset - by what was going on. God says to Samuel - Fill your horn with oil, and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons." - “Don’t grieve. I’m working here.”

So Samuel goes to the home of Jesse - a man of no great rank - living in “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” There Samuel asks to see Jesse's sons. This is like Donald Trump showing up at your door and offering you the CEO position in one of his companies. Only this is better - God has chosen one of your sons to be the next king of Israel.

Here’s Jesse - with a certain amount of excitement and nervousness - Jesse begins introducing each of his sons to Samuel. There's a procession in which each son is made to pass before Samuel. Each son comes - beginning with the oldest, Eliab - then Abinadab - then Shammah - and so on until 7 of Jesse's sons have been introduced to Samuel. And each time a son is introduced God says to Samuel, "This is not the one I've chosen."

So Samuel says to Jesse, "This is it? Isn't there another one?"

"Well," Jesse says, "There is one more. He’s just a boy and he’ way out I the field watching the sheep."

So David is brought in before Samuel. Samuel - the High Priest - takes his horn of oil and anoints David as king - right there in the presence of his father and older brothers. And - as a sign of God’s blessing and presence in all this the Spirit of the Lord comes upon David.

Hold onto this. A promise has been made here. God says that David is to be king of Israel. And the problem is what? Saul is still the king.

For about 20 years God’s promise hangs over David's life - and the relationship of David and King Saul. For about 20 years there was this strange love/hate relationship going on between the two of them.

On one hand David is Saul's trusted servant - his musician - that Saul would call on to play for him - who’s music would soothe Saul’s spirit. David was the best friend of Saul’s son Johnathan. They hung out together. Saul gave his daughter Michal to David in marriage. David was Saul's trusted armor bearer. David was a mighty warrior - the commander of thousands - who risked his life many times to defend Saul and the people of Israel.

And yet - whenever God blessed David - Saul became more jealous - more fearful. Saul placed a death sentence on David. David fled for his life - living in villages - fields - mountains - the cave of Adullam - and even the countryside of his enemies, the Philistines. A fugitive on the run.

For 20 years there’s this promise just hanging there - "David, I have chosen you to be king over Israel." Do you think that there might have been times when David wondered if he’d misunderstood God? Or, if there might have been times when David wondered what God was doing? Wondered at God’s timing of all this? Ever been there?

Even after Saul dies - there's civil war between the House of Saul and the House of David. Until finally - after all this hardship - and bloodshed - and intrigue - pain and suffering - after all these years - the promise is fulfilled and David becomes king of Israel.

What does it mean to wait on God? David writes in Psalm 27:14: "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord!"

There are three truths to waiting on God - here in verse 14 - three truths that I’d like to have us focus on. First is that waiting on God means that we WAIT WITH EXPECTATION.

Say that with me, “We wait with expectation.”

David says, "Wait for the Lord." The Hebrew word for "wait" is "qäwâ" - which means to wait in eager expectation with our whole being.

What do we expect from God?

There’s a story about a salesman who had a flat tire. It was a dark rainy night. The salesman had a flat tire on a a very lonely road. To his dismay he didn't have a lug wrench. He couldn't get the tire off to change it. Seeing a nearby farmhouse, he set out on foot with the expectation that the farmer would have a lug wrench.

As he was walking the salesman began to think to himself - will the farmer even come to the door? If he does, he’ll probably be furious at being bothered. He'll say, "What's the big idea of getting me out of bed in the middle of the night?" That made the salesman angry. Why, that farmer is a selfish old clod to refuse to help me.

Finally, the salesman reached the farmhouse. Frustrated and drenched, he banged on the door. "Who's there?" a pleasant voice asked from inside.

"You know good and well who it is," yelled the salesman, his face red with anger. "It's me! And you can keep your old lug wrench! I wouldn't borrow it if it was the last one in the county." (1)

What do we expect from God? Should He operate in our time frame - in the ways we understand - to bring the fulfillment we think is best?

I’m one of those people who waits to be last person to board a plane. I’m not afraid of flying. I wait because I don't like getting trampled.

Have you noticed this? In the waiting room? The boarding call goes something like: "Ladies and gentlemen we’re ready to begin boarding flight 302 for Turlock." At that point almost everyone grabs their bags - checks their tickets for the millionth time - starts eyeing the competition - the other people they have to beat to the gate.

"Ladies and gentlemen - we'd like to begin boarding our first class passengers - those traveling with small children - and anyone needing special assistance" It seems like everyone needs special assistance. No matter what seat they have - there's this crushing movement to the gate.

Unless we’re flying baggage-class on Southwest - everyone has their seat assignment - their seat will be waiting for them no matter when they board the plane. But, it doesn't matter. We've been waiting. We want to go now. We’re moving to the gate.

“A watched pot never [what?] ...boils.” It’ll boil when its good and ready to. It depends on altitude and temperature and how much water is in the pot. At the proper time it’ll boil.

Biblical waiting involves eager expectation. But expectation that is tempered with the understanding that God - in His time - in His way - will move. But only when its the right time to do so.

God has our seat assigned. He's assigned the gate number - the flight number - the type of aircraft. He knows the route and the destination. There’s a certainty - we will go. He will take us forward. He will fulfill His promises to us.

Do we wait expecting His answer? Are we willing to wait for Him to move us forward?

Secondly - waiting on God means that we WAIT WITH COMMITMENT.

Say that with me, “We wait with commitment.”

In verse 14 David says, "Be strong." The Hebrew word is "häzaq." It has the idea of a conscious - dogged decision to stand firm - to dig our heals in. No circumstances - no interval of time is going to move us from what we believe.

We’re in an election season. In Ancient Greece, to prevent idiotic statesmen from passing idiotic laws, lawmakers were asked to introduce all new laws while standing on a platform with a rope around their neck. If the law passed, the rope was removed. If it failed, the platform was removed. (2)

How firmly are we convinced that God will fulfill His promises? How strong is our faith in God?

Do you remember the child’s toy - the big vinyl doll with the heavy weight of sand at the bottom? No matter how many times we’d punch it - it’d bounce back up again. That’s what we’re talking about here.

The apostles - James and Paul - were beheaded by the sword. Simon, Philip, and Andrew - were all crucified. Peter was crucified upside down. Mark had his feet tied together - was dragged through the streets - and was thrown in a dungeon to die. And then - and then - they burned his body. James was stoned. Matthias was stoned and beheaded. Thomas was run through with a spear.

In the last hours of His life, Jesus was alone in the Garden of Gethsemane - bloody sweat pouring from Him - agonizing in the crucible of the spiritual battle. A few short hours earlier, in the Upper Room - Jesus had spoken of His confidence that God would win the victory. That confidence never changed because of the circumstances. He never went out looking for His own solution to the cross. Never gave up on the Father. He kept coming back to God’s will - trusting in God. And, God did bring the victory.

This is the type of commitment we're called to. Maybe not martyrdom - but obedience - trust - regardless of circumstances or intervals of time.

Some people ridicule that kind of faith. They’re following Benjamin Franklin's advice: "God helps those who help themselves." We’re very clever people. With these pauses between God’s promise that He’s at work and the visible movement of God - we're tempted to find our own solutions - to become involved with things God never intended us to be involved with.

Those who are mature in their faith know this - God does bring the victory. They’re willing to wait for Him.

Waiting on God means expectation - God will move. It means commitment - to hang in there and trust God for His coming promise. Thirdly, waiting on God means WAITING WITH COURAGE.

Share that with someone, “Wait with courage.”

David writes, "Let your heart take courage." The Hebrew is "amets" - literally, "strengthen yourself".

Imagine soldiers on the battlefield during a cease-fire - scattered - wounded - ammunition spent. There’s no idleness. There is an urgency to regroup. To take stock of what remains. To distribute supplies. To bandage wounds. To use the time wisely to prepare. To gather strength for what comes next. The cease-fire will end. The enemy will come.

God gives us times of waiting, to prepare - to take stock of the resources He’s given us. To equip ourselves - to regain our focus.

Sometimes we're rushing all over the place - working 25 hours a day - running after kids - ministries and programs - all the things that life is full of - and we have needs - and we pray with expectation. And we wonder, where is God?

David tells us to look around and see what God is already doing. Strengthen what we have. He gives us abilities and talents. Are we developing them? Are we using them in service for Him? Are we developing spiritually? How is our prayer life? Do we have quality time in Bible study? Today, are we living in obedience to God?

Get ready! Because when God wants to move we need to be ready to be moved.

David writes, "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord!"

What was the one statement? Waiting on God is never wasted time. Say that with me. “Waiting on God is never wasted time.”

Waiting on God means three things. The first is: Expectation - God will move. Second: Commitment - to hang in there and trust God for His coming promise. Third: Courage - preparing - to be ready with what He’s given us. Because He will fulfill His promises. He will answer our prayers. He will move us forward.

What does this have to do with renewal? Satan would rather have us focus on all the things we’re waiting on God for rather than waiting on God for all these things. To discourage and defeat us. Rather that having us look to God with expectation - to be in a place where God can and will renew us.

Do you remember Isaiah 40:31? “...those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.” (KJV)

Notice the order: “Those who wait...shall be renewed.”

Have you ever seen surfers waiting on the water? They’re not wasting time. They’ve got their boards. They’re watching the waves - the sets - the patterns of the waves. They’re ready to paddle. When the right wave comes - they’re moving - paddling - catching the wave. Mounting it and carried along.

God sends waves. Waves of renewal - that move His people forward - soaring as on wings like eagles - running without getting tired - walking without weariness.

This is an amazing and unique congregation. Imagine - The Almighty God of Creation - has brought us to be here. Blessed us with paid for facilities here on “G” Street. Given us starter money for renovation. Has worked within the congregation so that today there’s a harmony here. So that people here genuinely and deeply care about each other. God is assembling a ministry team of people with a heart for the things of God. Gifted each of us with unique abilities.

In Merced we’re a unique congregation. That’s not to say that we’re better than others. But a realization that God - even before the founding of the universe - God planned out our unique role and the privilege of ministry together in Merced.

Knowing all that God has done and given to us as potential - do we pray and live with expectation - that God is going to move us? Are we committed to serving Him - willing to give everything to Him - so that He can move us forward? Are we preparing ourselves - our ministries - this facility - so when He moves we’ll be ready?

Because when He moves - and He will - and He is - we want to ready - to mount up - to be renewed and lifted up - running and walking in His strength into the great things He has planned to do in us and through us.