Philippians 1
If we are truthful with ourselves, we sometimes get tired of waiting. Life seems to be passing us by while we’re stuck in a moment, a season, or a predicament.
“If only God would move faster or bring resolution quicker, I can be free, jump for joy, and give more to Him. But here I am…somewhere I don’t want to be.”
Though waiting can sometimes be tough, there are four things we can learn while waiting:
1—Waiting gives us perspective. Waiting gives us the opportunity to see our situation differently. Instead of simply seeing the micro-level, in time, we see the macro-level. We see and understand that God has a bigger plan in store for us beyond our current circumstances. He wants to do something in us and through us for His glory.
When life has you stressed, frustrated, and anxious, I want to encourage you to take your concerns and cares to God. Give them to Him, knowing He loves you and will answer you. Allow His peace to guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. (Ref. Philippians 1:6, 4:6-7)
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. —Matthew 13:47-50
In this parable, Jesus is describing the kingdom of heaven. The net is cast into the sea and collects sea creatures of every kind. After coming ashore, the good and bad were separated. In like manner, the kingdom of heaven is shared with many people around the world. And many people will come to Jesus, the church, etc. At the end of the world, the angels will come and separate the just from the wicked.
1. God drew you. The just and the wicked will be separated, but the beauty of this parable is that the just and the wicked are gathered together. The wicked has an opportunity to become just.
In Matthew 14:22-33, Jesus sent His disciples away in a ship while he sent the multitudes of people following them away. While the disciples were on the seas, they were tossed with waves and a strong wind. Early in the morning, Jesus walked on the sea toward the ship. When the disciples saw Him on walking on the seas, they were afraid, but He told them who He was and not to be afraid. Peter cried out to Him and said, “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.”
Jesus said “come,” and Peter walked on the water toward Jesus.
1. Trust is a journey between two rivers of life. When God desires us to trust Him, we know it will stretch our mind, will, and capacity of our current standing. It will cause us to give up our desire to control people or a situation and move into the ‘unknown.’ What is unknown is not what God said, but how things will end up for us.
What is Doctrine?
Doctrine is considered an instruction or teaching that can be learned or developed through experience. Doctrine is associated with a person’s beliefs; the way they ‘see,’ perceive, or relate to the world around them. Each person has a countless number of doctrines on the issues, people, and situations they experience on a daily basis. The number of doctrines a person has is countless and continues to be shaped and expanded throughout a person’s lifetime.
Within Christianity, sound biblical doctrine is based on the biblical teachings, experiences, pastors, ministers, and interactions with fellow brothers and sisters in the local church community. Within the context of this message, doctrine will encompass God’s Word. God’s Word is the foundation of good sound doctrine:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Hebrews 12:1-4 – Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
After speaking about the many men and women that have received a good report through faith, looking faithfully to the heavenly city (in spite of hardships and persecutions), a word of encouragement is given. The writers tells the Hebrews that as they are surrounded by such patriarchs of faith (witnesses), they should lay aside the weights and sin that seem to so easily come upon them.
There are many times in our lives when we’re on top of things and all is going well. We feel invincible, able to leap mountains in a single bound, and feel so connected to the Lord. Then, as time may go on, we can’t seem to climb even a step on the mountain, we feel weak, and seem unable to hear anything from God. The weights of the world and life are upon us and sin croutches at our door – almost like an angry mob waiting to attack. It is at these times we feel the only option is to give up and give in – to allow whoever or whatever to have their way. It feels like it would be easier right?! Wrong.
1. The Holy Spirit knows more than you. How we understand ourselves, others, and the situations we encounter is limited by what we see, hear, and experience. The Holy Spirit receives all of His information from God (John 16:13-14). And God knows what you are thinking, what you’ll say before you say it, and things to come (Psalm 139:1-3; Matthew 6:8).
2. The Holy Spirit will teach you what He knows. Jesus said the Holy Spirit will teach us ALL things (John 14:26). ‘All‘ encompasses a complete revealing of everything without holding anything back. There is nothing the Holy Spirit will hold back from you.
Why do I always have to go through trials and temptation? I don’t want to continue facing the same things over and over and over AND OVER again! I just want to be free.
Have you ever felt like that? Have you ever felt like the Apostle Paul when he said that when he wants to do right, sin is right there (Romans 7:21)? OR the things you want to do you don’t do, but the things you don’t want to do, THAT you find yourself doing (Romans 7:15)? Many of us can relate to Paul’s statements of temptation and sin, but we often stop there without going any further. We continue to live in a cycle that goes from temptation-sin-repentance-temptation-sin-repentance and it never seems to stop. We want to get off the merry-go-round, but it doesn’t seem like we ever can. Why do I have to go through this? Why can’t God just take it away because He knows I want to serve Him. If I didn’t have this ‘sin’ issue, I could just run for Him.
Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
1. Faith proves what you believe. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. For those mentioned in Hebrews 11, the substance of what they were hoping for was the eternal city (Hebrews 11:13-16) and the evidence of what they were hoping for was their obedient life. They were living as if they believed they would receive entrance into the eternal city (eternal life). Their lives proved (gave evidence) of what they hoped for.
2. Faith doesn’t fill in the blanks. The path the Lord desire you to travel upon (before reaching eternal life) doesn’t come with complete instructions. There will be times when the Lord will not tell you where money will come from, where you will live, who will help you, or what will happen tomorrow. You must believe that He will never leave or forsake you as He promised.
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