Westside Care Center Tuesday, December 5, 2006

Prayer Principle 3A: Submission Patience Mr. C. Pat Lanyon

Introduction: (3A. Submission, Patience/ Endurance)

Last week we saw the importance of being sensitive to God when He is revealing His will. This week we discover that some aspects of God’s will require a wait. Waiting for anything is not easy, therefore we need an additional character trait to advance toward knowing and doing God’s will. It is two basic or similar character traits as one: patience and endurance.

In Hebrews, the author is exhorting his Jewish Christians not to revert back to Judaism, even though they were undergoing great persecutions. Doing the will of God often includes reproach. But every believer has an inheritance promised hereafter, not to mention God’s grace that he is giving to each of us each day that we live.

Heb 10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

Two chapters later the writer of Hebrews called it a race we are running, and we have to lay aside weights to finish it where we want to finish. He reminds us of a host of runners that have already run just displayed before us in Hebrews chapter 11. It is called the chapter of the Heroes of the Faith.

Each of these examples endured much, but kept running because they looked at other things than the trials and troubles they had to live with while doing the will of God.

Doing the Will of God involves, at the very least, two components: Waiting and Trusting as you wait:

1E. WAIT ON GOD:

Ps 37.7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Is 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.

2E. TRUST IN GOD:

Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Applications:

1. I will list three ways I am suffering even though I am in the place God’s will is for me, and then I will list the one thing I should be focusing on while I and suffering, and then I will be able to finish doing God’s will and receive the reward.

2. I will list 10 ways that I know God is for me as I learned from Romans 8:31.

3. I will list 3 people I love who are struggling while doing God’s will at this time, and I will pray for them every day this week.

Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load.

4. ____________________________________________________________________

5. ____________________________________________________________________