Candace’s Sermon Notes
There are some seasons where God is not saying “go”, because God is saying “grow”
Palm Tree posture = you bend, but you don’t break
How big can I believe, how LONG can I believe.
Hopelessness = Premature anticipation of the non-fulfillment of the promises of God.
Someone’s already given up on the promises God made to you for 2019! God’s got 6 more weeks!!
I’m asking because I do believe I’m ON THE WAY.
I’m not talking about beginning strong, I’m talking about finishing well.
God is NOT unjust. He will not forget!
Some people get “alright” and when they get “alright”, they get amnesia.
The people that you bless, won’t always be the ones that bless you back.
As a child of God, you can live with the confidence that you WILL NOT BE EXPLOITED!
I’m a God of recompense.
Sometimes I don’t repay evil by doing evil to other people--I repay evil by doing GOOD to YOU.
The best “get back” is a “come up”.
I prepare a table in the PRESENCE of your enemies. He allows them to watch you succeed, in spite of them trying to orchestrate your failure.
When people remember, they THINK something. When God remembers, he DOES something.
God knows how to put you on the right mind at the right time.
Waiting takes your drive, your get-up-and-go, zeal, veracity, your tenacity. But don’t become sluggish!
Faith AND patience...inherited the promises.
Some promises require more than strong faith, some promises require LONG faith.
“Don’t be weary in doing good.”
DUE SEASON can happen in any season. A return for your labor.
You cannot impact those you insult.
Even though Abraham made a mistake, he still got the promise. They learned the lesson. Your mistakes aren’t sovereign, God is. They waited patiently, but not perfectly.
Waiting well isn’t about managing time, it’s about managing me. Ishmael represents something that we produce when we move impatiently.
Don’t worry while you wait.
Worry is mediation on negative narratives.
Jesus uses logic, in Matthew 6:27...can you add an hour to your life by worrying?!
Worry doesn’t make IT better, it makes US worse.
Worry makes you develop a habit of unhappiness.
Don’t be worrisome while you wait.
How it affects others.
They both want each other to be what only God can be.
Other people should not be casualties of my own progress.
Work while you wait.
Don’t waste this period!
Build something, write something, start something, grow something…
God’s gonna put a tailwind behind my back.
I can love you better when I don’t NEED you.
Worship while you wait.
Not even because of what it does spiritually, but because of what it does emotionally.
Worship is not therapy, but it is therapeutic.
God is everywhere all the time, but manifest presence is where you get to experience His presence.
The fruit of His presence is FULLNESS of joy. Joy is strength.
When you’re not desperate, you can make wise decisions. You can’t be desperate and wise at the same time.
“I’m gonna pray that God gives you unearned ability to finish.”
PRACTICAL ASSIGNMENT:
Write down what you’re waiting on God for right now.
Write down some worship-statements about God. “God, you are _______” (try to leave yourself out of these statements, and make them JUST about God)
Find someone to encourage this week. How did it go? How did it make YOU feel?
BIBLE ASSIGNMENT:
Can you think of Bible characters who were busy or diligent or patient while waiting for something? (or pick one below to study and tell the group about next week!)
Daniel, Mary, Samuel’s mother Hannah, David, Jesus (before his ministry), Noah
Read Psalm 23:5 in context. What do you think this verse means?