The Weariness of Waiting and the Reward of Patience (33 min)

This message isn't for everyone.  It is an encouragement to the friends of the bridegroom. John the Baptist prepared for years in the wilderness for a very intense and important ministry making the way straight for Jesus to come.  I hear the Lord say many forerunners are tempted to be weary from watching.  The promise of the Bible over and over is that the night is long.  Right now, the Lord is establishing the watchmen to endure what is coming.  Patience is a huge part of what it means to be ready.   This message is about the vibrancy found in patience!

 

Here are the passages I refer to:

 Revelation 1:9  I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

 

Habakkuk 2:1-4  I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected.  2  Then the LORD answered me and said: "Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.  3  For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.  4  "Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.

 

Habakkuk 2:13-14  Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts That the peoples labor to feed the fire, And nations weary themselves in vain?  14  For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.

 

Daniel 12:1-4  "At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book.  2  And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.  3  Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.  4  "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase."

 

There is a promise of grace for patience:

1 Peter 1:8-13  whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,  9  receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.  10  Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,  11  searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.  12  To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.  13  Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;