Today's Word -- WAIT

 Prepositions are important. What are prepositions? From  WaldenU we get a proper definition: A preposition is a word or group of words used before a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to show direction, time, place, location, spatial relationships, or to introduce an object.

When we study out the word WAIT, the preposition after it shows us what it means in that particular verse.

Psalm 27:14 

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. 

To wait on the Lord is to WAIT FOR the Lord to lead us in the right direction, to speak what He wants us to hear. As a good private, we wait for our General to command us where to go and how to get there. We know He is leading an army because the next phrase in this sentence tells us to 'be of good courage' and He (the Lord) will strengthen our hearts [so that we will not fear but be emboldened and follow Him]).

Isaiah 40:31

But they that 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

To WAIT UPON the Lord in this verse means to 'twist [together, like a rope], to endure, to stretch'; to look eagerly for, to patiently watch for together. The implication here being that we, as a group, as the church, are to anticipate with joy the coming of the Lord, knowing that (Nehemiah 8:10) "The joy of the Lord is our Strength". Are we doing so? Is eager anticipation to meet Jesus Christ on His return filling our minds, our hearts? Or do you have fear and trepidation? 

    If you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, having believed that He Is Lord, that He died for you on the cross; conquered death, hell and the grave; walked out of the tomb with a glorified body, then joy and anticipation surely fill your soul, your heart and your mind. For you have endeavored to have a personal relationship with your Savior. 

    But if fear and terror fill your mind at the thought of meeting Christ and God one on one, with the knowledge that you will be judged for your unbelief and your wicked ways, then you need to repent now and call upon The Name of The Lord to forgive you. 

    That way of life you think is okay to live is surely your choice, as it was mine so long ago. But if it is not a godly lifestyle, aligning itself with The Word of God, then there needs to be a change. Not just a change of how you are living, but a change of heart that changes your motivation for living. 

    Are you content? Do you know real peace? Do you crave a happy life? Yes, being a Christian is hard. Yes, living a holy, godly lifestyle may be difficult at first. People will stop loving you, stop associating with you, stop talking to you, stop hanging out with you. It is not to attain a holier-than-thou attitude, but to be completely aware that without the grace of God through Jesus Christ we are utterly and totally lost in our sins. But it's so worth it to be friends with Christ Jesus. 

I AM A FRIEND OF GOD -  Israel Houghton 

IN THE WAITING - Vicki Yohe

 

Wait On The LORD: Psalm 37

 

Wait on the LORD, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land: When the wicked are cut off, You will see it.

Psalm 37:34

Wait on the LORD, and keep His Way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land: When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.

In this verse wait means a couple different activiites we should be doing before Jesus Christ returns; and we should be doing them at the same time.

The first is 'collect and bind together'. Sounds odd doesn't it, that Wait means that? But what are we collecting and binding together? Souls. Proverbs 11:30

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life;

He that wins souls is wise.

How do I win souls for Jesus? I tell you about my Jesus and what He's done for me. I tell you how He died on the cross and shed His blood for me. With joy I speak how he rose from the grave, conquering death, hell and the grave; that He holds the keys to all those doors to save a wretch like me!

I tell you how He loves us so much that He left His glory behind in heaven, and took on the form of mankind. That God gave His only begotten Son no place of His own to rest from the cradle to the grave. Luke 9:58 "the Son of man has no place to lay His head".

And when you accept and believe that Jesus is God's only begotten Son, that He did those marvelous things, and believe that the Word of God is True, it is then you come to the realization that you are a sinner and must repent of your wickedness to God, for He will truly forgive every rotten thing you have ever done. That's what He does: God is a God of Justice and Mercy and Love: He forgives His children of their sins. That's the collection part of Wait.

But the binding part? When we believers fellowship with one another and encourage each other in the Word and through the Blood, we are binding ourselves not only to each other, but to God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit who calls you through the Word that is preached and shared and prclaimed by God's prophets and ministers to the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son.

We sing Bind Us Together with cords that cannot be broken. Cords of love and faith and joy.

The second part of Wait is 'eagerly anticipating' or 'looking forward to' Christ's return. It is an attitude of the heart which is played out in our everyday lives. When we are eagerly awaiting His return, we live a lifestyle that removes everything not welcome in a Christian's life. But not by ourselves. We need the Holy Spirit of God to empower us to live holy and fruitful lives. I need the Holy Spirit to empower me to live a holy and fruitful life. And I need Him everyday.

I wait on, upon, for the LORD, and keep His Way. He shall exalt me to inherit the land: When the wicked are cut off, I will see it. Psalm 53 describes what will happen to the wicked, who trust themselves and have not put their trust in God. But at the end in verses 8 and 9, it is the believer who rejoices in His God.

I rejoice in the God of my Salvation.