Wonderful World of Waiting
By Dr. David Biberstein g66 Published: Jan 05, 2020
THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF WAITING
Ephesians 1:1-14
Introduction:
Waiting on the Lord has always been a challenge for me. When I entered FWBC as a freshman student in the fall of 1962, I heard Dr. Ed Simpson say in the first chapel that within the next four years it was likely many of us would discover Who would be our Master, Who would be our Mate, and what would be our Mission. So with much eagerness and impatience I attempted to start filling in the blanks. I eagerly entered the wonderful world of waiting. Yet, as the Pennsylvania Dutch say it, “The hurrier I went, the behinder I got.” So repeatedly I sought counsel and wisdom, and this is what I heard, especially from one who happens to be present today.
“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”
--Ps. 27:14
“Wait for the LORD and keep his way.”
--Ps. 37: 34 (written when he was old - v. 25 I was young and now I am old.)
“I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning.”
--Ps. 130:5-7
Illustration:
The Bible seldom speaks, and certainly never its deepest, sweetest words to those who always read in a hurry. Nature can only tell her secrets to such as will sit still in her sacred temple till their eyes lose the glare of earthly glory and their ears are attuned to her voice. And shall revelation do what nature cannot? Never. The man who shall win the blessedness of hearing the voice of divine wisdom must watch daily at her gates, and wait at the posts of her doors. (F.B. Meyer)
Illustration:
On January 13, 1892 a young woman by the name of Amy Carmichael waited quietly before the Lord. He made it clear to her that she was to give her life to him as a missionary and permit him to direct her just as he pleased.
She landed in India on November 9, 1895 and there she remained until her death on January 18, 1951. (56 years of service) During her years of waiting she lived and taught a “Confession of Love” that reflected her belief about Christian life and service.
- My vow: Whatsoever You say unto me, by Your grace I will do it.
- My constraint: Your love, O Christ, my Lord
- My confidence: You are able to keep that which I have committed unto You
- My joy: To do Your will, O God.
- My discipline: That which I would not choose, but which Your love appoints.
- My prayer: Conform my will to Yours
- My motto: Love to live—live to love.
- My Portion: The Lord is the portion of my inheritance
Explanation:
Here today, many years after my college years I stand before you still learning to wait. God, in his humor, has kept that word before me by placing Joleen and me on Wait Road in Columbia City. So I want to share how I have been led to a pivotal waiting passage found in Ephesians 1. As I read the passage, please notice that this Prison Epistle is The Book of the Church and this text spotlights Gods names, attributes, and actions or decrees. In fact there are over 20 third person pronouns in this text. (he, him, his) and a similar total of Divine names and titles. These verses simply bleed deity.
Text:
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will---to the praise of his glorious grace which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment---to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. ”
“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession---to the praise of his glory.”
We can enter the wonderful world of waiting by meditating on five divine foundational truths developed in Eph. 1:1-14.
Ed. Note:
The following five weeks will explore in an introductory way the Five Gs of God: Glory, Goodness, Greatness, Guidance and Grace.. Further development of these may come at a later time. For those interested in getting in contact with Dr. Biberstein regarding any of these topics may do so by contacting the Fort Wayne Alumni Center.
