Introduction
In order to understand how to wait upon the Lord accurately, first we must see what’s the purpose of using an Eagle to explain the act of waiting upon the Lord?
Legend says that an Eagle at the age of 30-50, flies to a high place and there it endures a harsh trial of endurance and change. It can’t fly because its feathers are overgrown. Therefore it plucks all the feathers from its body. It plucks its talons from its feet because the talons have grown curled and useless. Its beak has grown too long and curled. It breaks its beak against a rock. Defenseless, it cries out and waits for the time of renewal.
Other Eagles hear its cry, and come to aid. They fly overhead, scaring off predators, and they bring food to their incapacitated friend.
Second, what does it mean to wait? In Hebrew (qavah – kav-waw’) the figurative meaning of the word is “to bind together like a cord.” It doesn’t mean to tie a cord around a bundle of sticks to keep them together. Instead, it’s the process of making a rope by twisting or weaving small strings together to form the rope. The more strands that are twisted or woven together in a rope, the greater is its strength. The literal meaning of the word is “hope”.
Like it happens to Eagle God makes us to go through harsh trials of endurance and change. This is necessary to shape our Christian character and faith. In such time we need to unite with the Lord like strands of a rope by waiting upon Him. This unity renews our strength. So let’s learn how to wait upon Him?
1. Let God be your only hope
A. Jesus told the Paralytic, “Get up, pick up your mat and Go home” (Matthew 9:6) This man had only 2 possessions. The clothes he wore and the mat! In Jesus’ day paralytics were left to beg in the street. This was their only way of survival. The mat on which this man begged was his only hope.
B. He slept on it, rested on it and watched the world pass by. He was ordered to put away that mat and to put his hope in Jesus.
C. Jehoshaphat’s prayer: (2 Chronicles 20:12) “Our eyes are set upon you.” God is our only hope: “My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.” (Psalms 25:15). Have you kept your hope in some one or something other than God?
2. Be still and alone with God
A. Be still and know that I am the Lord, (Psalms 46:10). Elijah was discouraged. and stressed out. Sent his servant away. Walked to a cave in holy mountain Sinai (by divine guidance).
B. Obviously God wanted to renew His weak servant’s strength, (1 Kings 19:1-9). God stirred up the nature. Yet God wasn’t there in the windstorm, earthquake or fire. Only in the stillness, (1 Kings 19:10-13).
C. Elijah’s strength to serve God was renewed after his fresh encounter with God. God’s renewing grace can be experienced only in isolation and stillness.
3. Submit to God’s sovereignty
A. Sovereign: Above or superior to all others/Supreme in power, rank or authority. God works in His own time and way, (Isaiah 55:8-9).
B. His sovereignty is expressed in our life in the form of His will. However God is not irresponsible. He always works all things towards a goal.
C. Do you know God is sovereign in your present situation? (Sickness, Financial issues etc.) Do you know that God is working through your problem to work towards the Goal He has set for your life?
Conclusion
The very situation that you are facing right now could be a trial of endurance and change. God makes His children to walk through such times because it’s the only way prepare you to meet God’s plan for your life. To take away what is unnecessary, and shape up your character and attitudes.
But God never forsakes or leaves behind His children at these times of correction. He is with you because He wants to renew your strength at the end of the trial period. The 3 principals I provided in my message today show how to wait upon the Lord for divine renewal. Wait upon the Lord – and you will soar like an Eagle.
If this sermon was helpful to you, please consider leaving your feedback in the comments section at the bottom. It would be a great encouragement to me personally.
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I’ve been struggling with a situation in my life that has just not been making any progress for the last 4 years. Needless to say, it’s caused depression and questioning God and faith. Began reading 2 Kings 4:8-32 and web-searched the meaning. One-click lead to another and I wound up on your site reading about Waiting on God. It was exactly the words I needed to hear right now. Crazy how if you seek you will find.
Thank you very much for this sermon! I am immensely blessed by the word of God and I have decided to share this sermon with my church members and I am sure that this sermon will encourage people like me (those who are waiting upon the Lord!) God bless you! Praying for you!
Thank you, and God bless you for this! More grace to you.
Thank you so much for this sermon! The three points you made are spot on, and I shared them with my church during a prayer meeting.
I am Pastor Apraku from Ghana. I have really enjoyed this powerful message and they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength indeed. My Church is having it’s annual 21 days Prayer and Fasting based on the same theme from Isaiah 40:31. It will go a long way to help my members. God bless you.
This is a great piece of work worth using for reference.
Thank you for your sermon. It answers the question why do I run into trouble even when I’m doing good? The answer from the Lord is “because I’m going to develop you!
Thank and praise my God for this sermon. God bless you in His Kingdom work
God bless you for this powerful message. I enjoyed reading it as it relates precisely to the condition that I am in. Once again it has helped me prepare my sermon. God Bless You once again.
I feel discouraged and stressed out just as Elijah was but your message reminded me to be still and alone with God for a fresh encounter. God bless you as you continue redirecting people to Him.
My heartfelt gratitude for these sermons. They are incredibly relevant for everybody. Explained very well. Your Teachings address real life, problems, and struggles! These presentations will help anyone, whether Born Again Christian or not, to gain insight and/or find answers for questions that are often discussed among amongst friends, family, colleagues and people with whom we come into contact with. May God bless you abundantly and sustain you in your valuable service for His Kingdom. Warm Regards.
This message was awesome. I really enjoyed reading it, that I used it for my New Years Eve short message. God blessed you always.
Thank you so much. Very helpful for me in the Lord’s Ministry.
I’ve enjoyed your message on waiting on the Lord. My husband passed and it will be 3 years on October 11th. I feel like I’m in a stage in my life where I’m like the Eagle going through harsh trials, endurance, and change. I’m waiting for God to renew my strength like the Eagle. He’s preparing me for something greater than I could ever imagine.
I’m Jude from Pune, India. I just loved your short but good word on Waiting on the Lord. I’m truly blessed. God bless you and may he use you greatly in His Kingdom.
Thanks for the illustration and explanation. Being a Minister, I was reàlly blessed.
Thanks for the massage, I am really encouraged. I must learn to wait upon the Lord in order to renew my strength.
I have been really ministered to through this message. Thank you very much. It’s a quiet Saturday afternoon, the Lord is talking to me about waiting upon Him. Your teaching is very useful to me. God Bless you. To God be the glory.
Thank You. It’s perfect and timely for me. Relevant for the times in which we live, and simple to follow. Finally, the imagery with the Eagle and explanation was a great way to begin the sermon.
I thank the Lord for you. May His grace be upon your life forever.
This is very encouraging, as I am in a season of waiting on the Lord for renewed strength. I trust that God is preparing me to walk in His purpose and destiny. I pray that God will continue to do an eternal work and provide me with the strength to endure and be refined, in the name of Jesus. This is an insightful and encouraging ‘rhema’ Word.
Thank you Pastor for taking your time to explain in plain language what it is to wait upon God. A task that I find particularly disturbing because it seems conditional. Having grown up in a family where my Papa was very conditional, I was used to loathe this. Now I know that it is alright because God’s intention is to build character and strengthen my emotions because He loves me. So that He can use me in His perfect plan. Praying for you. Do the same for me.
Thank You For Sharing. I truly was blessed by this message.
Thank you for the sermon on ‘How to wait upon the Lord’. I was blessed when l read it. The title ‘Wait upon the Lord’ was revealed to me in a dream.I pray that your anointing will not run dry in the name of Jesus. Amen
God bless you. I am blessed by this message.
Thank you so much for this sermon on waiting for The Lord! I am currently going through a trial in my life and there’s nothing I can do to change the situation except to wait on God to bring me out of it. Your sermon inspired me so much at a time when I’m really feeling down and I feel tired of waiting on God. Your sermon just gave me the spiritual boost that I needed and I feel that God spoke to me through your sermon. Thank you and God bless you! I hope that you continue to post… Continue »
There is a certain kind of Eagle which has oil under its wings that helps it to “soar” in the air. It implies that we need the Holy Spirit to keep us above situations and circumstances.
I’m a Pastor in an Anglican Church in Nigeria and really touched by this Sermon. I crave your indulgence to share the same with God’s people this evening. Thank you and may God bless your Ministry.
I was just thinking about how Elijah hid himself in a cave. The storms of life came down on Elijah with a destructive power but he realized that God was not in the wind storm, earthquake or even the fire. He realized this and remained inside God’s safe zone. Then he came forth from the cave when he heard God’s voice, which was much like Adam’s experience of communing with God before the fall. At this point Elijah’s strength was renewed and continued in his ministry. Thanks for sharing because I had never seen this part of Elijah’s life in… Continue »
My name is James. I am from South Africa. I was touched by your sermon on waiting upon the Lord. I’m a born again Son of God who is currently passing through a series of trials and and tribulations. Nothing seems to be moving on my side at the moment. Every side is dark and gloomy. I read your sermon just now and it gives me hope that my God will come to my rescue. Scriptures say that “All our trials are measured” before they are permitted to come to us.
Thanks so much for a wonderful message. May God renew you each day, to give us more from the inspirational Word of God.
Thank you so much, brother, for this message. I am in the midst of a trial that may last a while, and this was very encouraging to me. I thank God that I found your site!
This sermon really blessed my soul.
“For I have good plans for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.” Jeremiah 29:11. All other negative thoughts that come are not godly. So lets position(Read His word and pray) ourselves like King Johoshaphat and let’s watch Him fight for us by trusting Him and believing in Him. Thank you for this sermon. It’s powerful. God bless you.
Thank you Pastor for this message of the Cross. People desire anointing for ministry but refuse to pay the price for it. They want to live among the Chickens on the safer ground. But for the few, who are willing to suffer, to be remolded by the hand of the Potter, they shall fly like the Eagles to the admiration of Men and Angels and to the glory of God! Be encouraged Man of God!
Wow! Powerful sermon. May God bless you abundantly.
Wow! Thank you for this message. Knowing I’m not alone in times of hardship, really eased my tensions.
I praise God for you. Your teachings and sermons are very clear. My approach to tithing is going to change. Thank you.
Thank you for this sermon. It came at the right time when I was truly tired. I didn’t even have the strength to pray. All my prayers were gone. I believe it’s Gods timing. I give Him the glory and honor. May the Almighty add and bless your works, in Jesus’ name. Amen
Oh Lord today is May 16,2016. I’ve been waiting on the Lord for a husband for 17 years. I’m 51 years old . Last night I pleaded with God begging Him to take away my shame. Friends and family even church goers make fun of me. I’ve tried so hard to please God for a decade and no man has touched me. I don’t party or fornicate. I go to church and to work. 2 men asked me to marry them, but God said no and I obeyed. Later I saw why? Last night I cried to the Lord. I… Continue »
Look up, get up and don’t give up. Praise our Savior Jesus.
Lovely message, I know, waiting time is not the time to stop but the time to prepeare for the greater work ahead. Thanks.
To those who wonder what it really means to wait upon the lord. First of all you have to know that the word “wait” does not mean the Lord has left you and you are waiting in prayer for him to come back to you. The apostle Paul said in Hebrews 13:5 the Lord will never leave you or forsake you. What Isaiah 40.31 is saying is that if we become waiters or waitresses for god, in other words pray, read your bible, be faithful to church, just do what God says to do in faithfulness to him, then will… Continue »
Thank you. I really wanted to hear this message. I Am waiting upon the Lord and have been believing Him for a good marriage. Pray for me because at times I become fearful when I see my age tick away. I am 36 now.
Amen, I am a so overwhelmed child of God, and you don’t know what you just did to me, not only did you strengthen me, you also uplifted my spirit. I am currently in Prison and had been waiting for 4 years and 4 months now, without trial, even though, I still trust upon His promises. He said in Romans 8:28 “All things works for good of those who loves the Lord, and to those who are called to His purpose.” He also promised me that, “He will never leave nor forsake me.” He is trustworthy and always a presented… Continue »
Oh wow! I can see now that God’s time is the best
Fay, James 1 declares “Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptation. This, that the trying of your faith worketh patience, but let patience have her perfect work that at the end, you may be entire wanting nothing.” (James 1:2-4) God is working something in you and he wants you to be joyful because while you are waiting there is a substance that cannot be shaken that God is placing in you. You say that many of your friends are getting jobs before you, but will they be able to sustain? Will they be able to endure? Do… Continue »
Thank you for everything.
I’ve been waiting upon the Lord but I’ve fallen into sin many times during this waiting period. Again I get hurt by people and I come back to God and wait for hours in His presence. But I’ve never felt anything happen. I haven’t felt God’s presence yet. I just wanna know what’s the real process of waiting?Please pray that I will feel God’s presence soon and that I would be able to break free from my bondage.
It’s so hard to do. I just want to give up now and do my own thing. You pray and pray and fast and believe and actually work in faith but at the end just get disappointed. I guess I really won’t be an actor. It’s like deep in my heart something tells me I will be it but not through my power, but I don’t wanna wait. I am a teenager who has other people who don’t even have the passion as much as me getting into films. That hurts so much.