Jesus Is Waiting
We must learn to be patient like Jesus, who waits for His enemies to be made His footstool, so that we can endure trials and be saved.
In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of patience and endurance in the Christian faith. They emphasize that Jesus is already the Lord and King, but He does not yet fully exercise His kingship. The speaker encourages listeners to learn and practice patience in their daily lives, as it will be crucial in the end times when the whole world will face trials. They also highlight the need to overcome impatience, which is often associated with pride. The sermon concludes by reminding listeners of God's patience and offering resources for further spiritual growth.
Full Transcript
God lives and works today. The Bible means it when it describes God as the Father of patience. There has never been anyone more patient than He.
We should be ashamed in view of our own impatience and inability to wait. Listen to today's meditation by Basilia Schlink called, Jesus is Waiting. Haven't we all caught ourselves at times being impatient? Impatience is a characteristic that goes along with pride, for proud and haughty people don't know how to wait.
The mark of the high and mighty is that they expect everything they demand to be carried out the minute they open their mouths. They can't wait. They can't endure any opposition or delay, and they can't bear to have their will be crossed.
One day I was struck by a verse in Revelation. Chapter 11 verse 15 tells about a mighty heavenly choir which is praising God and singing, The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever. The word has moved me deeply, for it didn't say that the world will become God's kingdom.
No, it has become. Jesus is already Lord and King, and nevertheless He doesn't practice His kingship. That was inconceivable for me.
Furthermore, Jesus patiently bears being rejected, hated, mocked, treated shamefully, and disgraced. He waits, as it is written in the Scriptures, until all of His enemies are made His footstool. I was overwhelmed by the evidence of Jesus' humility, that He can wait so long and humbly endure the abuse of His enemies, not only long ago on His way to the cross, but today too.
He need only say one word, and all of His opponents would be instantly crushed and destroyed. But Jesus waits, and continues to wait, so that many may still be saved. This picture of the waiting Jesus helped me to fight against my own impatience, and to become free from it, for I don't have to wait to ask for Jesus' help.
He's our mighty King and Redeemer, upon whom we can call for help right now. We are now entering the last times of which the Bible speaks in Revelation 13, saying that we will all need to have endurance and faith. Everything depends upon our learning and practicing patience now, day by day, so that when the hour of trial comes upon the whole world, we will be able to endure patiently, with humble hearts, until Jesus comes again.
And then He will lift us out of the tribulation, and establish His glorious kingship.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Patience of God
- A. God is the Father of patience
- B. He is patient with us
- II. The Problem of Impatience
- A. Impatience is a characteristic of pride
- B. Proud people can't wait
- III. The Example of Jesus
- A. Jesus is patient and humble
- B. He waits for His enemies to be made His footstool
- IV. The Importance of Patience
- A. We need patience to endure trials
- B. Patience is essential for salvation
Key Quotes
“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” — Basilea Schlink
“He need only say one word, and all of His opponents would be instantly crushed and destroyed.” — Basilea Schlink
“He waits, as it is written in the Scriptures, until all of His enemies are made His footstool.” — Basilea Schlink
Application Points
- We must practice patience day by day to become free from impatience.
- We can apply the example of Jesus by being patient and humble, even in the face of adversity.
- Patience is essential for enduring trials and for salvation.