April 27, 2014

Wait on the Lord Vol. 14, No. 17

WORSHIP
Suggested Worship Songs:
Bless the Lord, Majestic, God is Here, Blessed Assurance, Christ is Enough, Everlasting Love

WELCOME
Hate to Wait? What is the longest waiting period you have experienced so far?

WORD
Genesis 16:1-2
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar. So
Sarai said to Abram, “Now behold, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid;
perhaps I will obtain children through her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
God promised Abram that he would be the father Hagar ran away because Sarai mistreated her. Her
of many nations. Ten years later, Abram was solution to her problem was also a shortcut – to
already eighty five, and he still did not have a flee! But God dealt with her.
single child. His wife Sarai was already seventy
He commanded her to return and to submit to
five, desperate to have a son. So she schemed to
Sarai’s authority. God also graciously made a
have her maidservant Hagar bear Abram’s child
promise to also multiply her son’s descendants
for her (Genesis 16:2-3).
(Genesis 16:9-10).
Sarai and Abram did not realize that this human
God’s commands always come with a promise. But
solution would take its tragic course of
often, the blessing only comes after obedience.
generational chain of consequences in the history
of Abraham’s descendants. God’s Way
Beware of Shortcuts God expects us to respectfully submit to authority.
This expresses our trust in Him (1 Peter 2:18-19).
Sarai brought more problems when Hagar
Running away from problems will not solve them.
conceived with Abram. We can glean two
You will only end up in a vicious pattern of taking
important lessons from Genesis 16:4-6.
the easy way out. Relying on our own solutions
First, wives should be careful with what they rather than God's causes long-term problems.
suggest to their husbands. Learn from the
God wants you to wait on Him. As you wait, He will
mistakes of Eve and Sarai. Do not be the voice of
transform your character into His likeness. Before
the devil.
taking any step, pray to seek God for wisdom to
Second, husbands should be responsible in the act in His way.
decision-making in the family. Do not abdicate
your responsibility with passivity. You are the
God’s Timing
spiritual leader at home. Whatever happens to We want the best, but we do not want to wait. We
your family, you are accountable. want it right here right now. God has already given
us His promises so do not take the shortcuts. To
Always remember that you may choose to take a
know God’s timing, pray.
shortcut for immediate solution, but you will not
be spared from its consequences. Some of it might Some of us move ahead of God’s way, while others
be immediate, some are not. are too slow to act, still asking God for signs even
when God is already clear with His command.
God’s Promise
Spiritual maturity will prompt you when to move
To wait on the Lord, you must know God and His and when not to move.
promises. The more you know God, the more you
can trust and wait on Him and His promises.
WORD (cont’d)
God’s Best (Genesis 17:16-17) Abram made mistakes, but he returned to God.
However, his mistakes caused the long term
Abram was 99 years old when God appeared to
conflict between the descendants of Ishmael and
him and declared the fulfillment of His promise.
Isaac. Ishmael became the father of all Arabs, in
God changed his name to Abraham, which means
conflict with everyone who live in the East of his
father of a multitude of nations. He also changed
brothers (Genesis 16:12). This is true throughout
Sarai’s name to Sarah, which meant that she would
history even today. The Arabs are the brothers of
become the mother of all nations.
the Jews (Isaac’s descendants) and they are in
Finally, after 25 years of waiting, when Abraham constant battle against each other.
was 100 years old and Sarah was 90, she bore him
If we want God’s best, we must wait on the Lord.
a son, and they named him Isaac. When it was
God’s best is the product of God’s promise
impossible for them, God gave them a son in His
received God’s way in God’s timing.
way and in His time, so that it would be all by Him,
and His would be all the glory. Whatever your situation today, rest in the Lord
and wait patiently on Him (Psalm 37:7). He will
“The folly of not waiting for God is that we
fulfill His promise to give you His best. Trust Him
forfeit the blessing of having God work for us.”
completely. God said it, so believe it.
– John Piper
He will fulfill it.
Discussion Questions:
(Leaders: Please choose questions that are appropriate to the level of spiritual maturity of your members)
1. Shortcut. How did Sarai influence her husband in finding a solution to have a child according to Genesis
16:1-2? How did Abram respond?
2. Return and Respect. In what areas of your life today is God asking you to “return” and submit to your
authorities? How will you respond?
3. God’s Best. What is the formula to receive God’s best? How will you apply it in your life?

WORKS
I Will Wait Weekly Prayer Points
Write down at least 10 things you will wait on the I. Thanksgiving
Lord. Match every item with a specific promise • Worship God for who He is, what He has
from God. done, and what He will do in our lives
1. II. Country and the World
• Upright and moral governance of Public
2. Servants and a God-centered Philippines
3. • Repentance and Salvation
4. III. Church
• That CCF Members would honor and love God
5.
and make disciples
6. • Elders, Pastors, Leaders, and Families
8. • Ministries and Churches worldwide

9. IV. CCF Facilities

• New Worship and Training Center
10. • Prayer Mountain
V. Personal Concerns
• Deeper intimate relationship with God
• Righteous living
• Salvation of family and friends