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Wait on God and Know Him More

by Pastor Thomas Schaller
April 29, 2009
Unedited

Isa 40:31 - we read about God's sovereignty...the earth and around it

is the devil, Eph. 2:2. He has authority in the atmosphere. Remember?
...this is so...how many astronauts have gone to space and testify to
the presence of God. Some have returned and become evangelists.
Some have been deeply affected by being outside of the atmosphere.

The devil is here, not out there. God uses him. God is ALMIGHTY! He is
greater than anything that happens in this world. He is the God that
we relate to continually in our lives in the pres. of death...bec. of sin
(Rom. 3:23). We are in a body of death and a world of sin, and the
world of the devil. There is the intricate networking of the devil in the
minds of people. The whole world is subj. to evil. Even though there is
good and morality of men in the world...morality is what society is
based on. Therefore, society is unstable.

This being said, we find ourselves living by sight, with our eyes
distracted, our ears distracted, legs crippled, hearts wounded (Isa.
1:5; Jer 17:9). We are harassed by atheistic projections of Satan.
Friends fail us, betrayal happens, we are staggered by dark clouds that
hide God. We are in a world where we realize and recog. that in a
short time, we are in gt. need of comfort, wisdom and direction.

We look to the world, and we can only go as far as the natural man.
We turn to philosophy, magazines, religion, people, friends, and
ungodly council and find ourselves in gt. need. For this reason: we
turned to God.

God came into this dark world. He decided to speak to us, seek us,
elect us and reveal his nature to us. Even after long times, you don't
see your life improving outwardly, changing outwardly, we have a high
calling to know a living God in this dark world. We are learning how to
wait on God, Isa 40:31.

There are 4 words for that word "wait" in the Hebrew. I'll share that in
a few minutes. Turn to Gen. 15 with me.

Gen. 15:13 - to Abraham, your seed shall be a stranger...and they

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shall afflict them 400 years. Here's the people in Egypt. 70 people
went down to Egypt. God said, at the right time, 400 years, I'll bring
them out. During that time, the people were suffering as slaves in
Egypt, building cities for Pharaoh.

In Ex. 12, the number that came out was in vs 41 - the wandering of
the children of Israel was 430 years. Afterward...the host of the Lord
went out of the land. They left Egypt 430 years later.

I remember reading this. It was a time. During the suffering, we would

easily say, Where is God? You may be in a similar situation. You may
not see things changing externally in your life. WE may go long
periods of time. God raises up a king, and has him in power, as long as
He wanted. There was a Pharaoh that didn't know Joseph. Pv. 21:1,
God turns the heart of a king any way he wants too.

All over the world, kings, nations, presidents, people in power, all of
this, God controls. There is power around the world. It is at work. The
devil said to Jesus, worship me and I'll give you all the kingdoms of
the world. Jesus didn't deny that the devil could do that, but he said,
you shall worship God alone.

We are in an evil world. All the powers we see are at only one level.
They are for an appointed time. There is another long prophecy that
fascinates me, Isa 7:14, a virgin shall bring forth a child. Around 750
BC. Gal. 4:4. This raises the question, I want to hit, that we had in a
cafe rap in Bombay on waiting on God. Learn to be quiet and listen to
God. Learn how to wait upon God. Learn how to relate to God and
know his nature.

We know about the nature of evil. WE see it in the news...in

history...we see that even the gt. men of history made terrible
mistakes. Ask David...or Aachen. God's eyes are everywhere. He sees
good and evil. The need for us and the gift we have is that we have a
relationship where we know God is BIG and AWESOME.

The devil wants to make God look small. Higher critics repudiate the
Inspiration of the Bible. They say the Bible isn't totally trustworthy.
The devil does that. He is in every church, with people of influence,
and wants to diminish what we have by waiting on God and relating to
God personally by faith.

Evolutionists defy creation. The devil teaches young people this...that

diminishes the testimony of God's wisdom.
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Lukewarm believers are in contrast to discipleship and say its too

radical. They say, if you really follow God, you'll end up with nothing.
OOO...contraire. You are enriched 100 fold. The Bible that you don't
read, that isn't being preached, that Bible says, when we wait on God,
He is our portion and life.

WE are not out of here yet. But, God said to Abraham, in 400 years
you'll be taken out. God is our portion. The change outwardly isn't the
content of our life.

Jer. 23:24 - we want to actually know God. You know God in your
faith, in your local assembly, in a diff. marriage, in the youth, in old
age. You know God with cancer or without it. You know God with or
without a job...with a car of no car, or with only a lousy bicycle. They
that wait upon God will rec. strength in the inner man.

What is the value of church life? That we would be built up and

strengthened in our inner man. People around the world have a ref. to
us. One brother in India said, I listen every day to Grace Hour.
Another man said, I'm coming to Baltimore to get a laptop so I can
watch services on the internet. He is a disciple of Pastor Cannon over
here to my left.

God has shown Himself. WE are growing in the Holy Spirit in us as we

learn to wait upon him. In our hearts we wait upon God. We relate to
his sovereignty. He does all things well.

I know you can do everything. No thought of yours can be hindered,

Job 42:3. Our God is in the heavens, Psa 115:3; there is no wisdom
against the Lord, Pv. 21:30.

Think of the Cicada’s in Baltimore. When we first moved down here,

they hatched. These insects come out of the ground every 17 years. I
heard them, they were buzzing in the night. They go in the trees.
Hatch eggs. The eggs drop on the ground, and somehow they sit there
for 17 years. Isn't that cool? We saw the 2nd hatch a few years ago.
How many were excited about that. A person in the church, their dog
gained 7 pounds from eating them. What's that have to do with our
msg?

God is in heaven. He is supreme over all things. At his pleasure, Ex.

14, the Red Sea divided. Num. 14, the people went down to the pit. He
caused the sun to stand still...I Kings 17, 2 Kings 6:5 - the iron swam
on the water. He does what he pleases.
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Our calling is to relate to him in His sovereignty. A car accident isn't an

accident. Its providence. In the world, its an accident. In our faith, its
an oppor. in God's plan. We wait upon God.

Wait = 1. twist, whirl, dance, writhe, waiting on God is to travail or be

in anguish. I think of a woman giving birth to a baby. A believer is with
God in a dance, writhing, or travailing. When we wait on God, we way,
O God...How long, O God? Psalm 42. We rejoice in His sovereignty. He
may be dumb with silence. But, we don't react.

Like in Fireproof, he and his wife started to argue. Instead, he went

out the door. We say, we can do all things through Christ. I don't know
what is going to happen. All we can do is walk close and tightly with
God. If we wait on God, and make our requests known to him, He will
hear us.

We don't say, I will deal with that. I will get out of it. God will deliver
us in His time in His way. Meanwhile, we listen to him. Our ears often
are distracted by ungodly council. By our emotion, distraction, and
impatience...but God is a God of patience, mercy and love. WE wait for
God. God will teach us who He is. What a lesson that is. We need to
realize, in all our afflictions, Isa 61:9, he is afflicted. There is no
problem where God is not our divine source of strength. There must
be.

Sometimes in my life, I say, O Lord, I can't handle this. The Lord says,
That is good for you. I am with you. Walk with me and listen to me
and trust me. Put your trust in me and I'll show you how great I am on
your behalf. Then, you find yourself empowered, with freedom, love
and joy and God's ability. They that wait on God, that relate to Him,
kind of doing a dance with him, whirling, travailing with him.

Wait = 2. Psa 62:5 - silence, cut down, rest, cease and be still. Maybe,
silence before God is for weeks or months. Be still and watch what the
Lord will do.

Jesus said, Where have you been devil. He said, I've been up and
down walking on the earth. God goes to and fro on the earth. The devil
tries to put pressure on us that we are not built for. He takes away
from us.

Plurality of leadership, instead of the call of the pastor-teacher. We

need body life. Devil gives alcohol and drug addiction as a substitute
to the human race. It happens.
A man in India said to me, my pastor told me you are his spiritual
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father. Six years ago, I was a Hindu, and they kicked me out of the
family. I followed Christ, at the expense of losing everything. They are
now believers. I wept with him when I heard it. I said, tell me again.

We may have pain. Why do we think life should not be difficult, or

when we believe in God there will be no difficulty. But, in our pain,
trouble, God says, focus on me, make me your treasure. Psa 16:8,
God is our inheritance. WE are rooted and grounded in love and learn
how to rejoice a lot.

I flew from India to Germany...I was upgraded to business class. An

hour before landing the steward said, what would you like for
breakfast...a waffle. I didn't like it. 3 hours later, I told my son, I don't
feel good. I knew I was going to vomit. The plane starts to pull
back...I said to the steward, I don't feel good. I went in there...and
when I do that, it sounds like I'm wrestling with a bear. I came out
and they gathered there. They were horrified. They called the captain.
He comes back and interviews me. He said, we may have to take you
off the plane bec. of the swine flew. They said, you may have to go
through decontamination. I said, Its from something I ate on your
plane.

The steward said, everyone heard you. I said, well, what's that mean?
Am I supposed to apologize to everyone? Is that my fault? They got a
doctor to interview me...She said, I think he can fly. I said, thank you.
I can fly. Lets go. A half hour later...I go back and everyone is looking
at me...the whole trip...they don't serve me any food...No food for
you...Really! Its like, put a hood over my head. (laughing)

I don't know why I brought that up. Bec. of waiting...Lets close. What
do we want to say in closing? We'll not easily be moved. Life, who
knows what's coming down the road? We don't know. Many of you are
great examples. WE have seen Christ in your lives. We've seen Christ
in diff. parts of the world. There is no shame. Are there misund'gs,
Yes. Is there attacks against our faith. Yes. But, we will not be moved.
Where can we find the purpose to evangelize the world with the
gospel.

Pastor Rijan has a vision for 70 countries...We say, Hallelujah! That's

the way to go. We will have opposition personally, as a church, but we
can do all things through Christ. There is opposition against the Bible.
What do we have unless we have the Pure Word of God, Pv. 30:5.
What do we have? Everyone in our neighborhood needs God. Evil is
here.
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One last verse: Psalm 76:5 - none of the men of might have found
their hands. Isn't it amazing when a mighty man can't find his hands.
He can do nothing. Pharaoh...where's your hands. God stopped him.

They look at us as simple people. But, we have found the hands of

grace, we have the Bible, we have a vision, we are impacting the
world...in China...we found our hands. They that wait on God, and put
all their trust in him, will not be ashamed. It will go down to our
kids...and grandkids. The heart of a king is in the hand of the Lord.

Man has his own purposes, Pr 16:9, but God orders the steps. Its all
for our training and learning. God needs us in our trouble, bec. then
we will know that He is our mighty God. Ask Daniel the prophet! Would
you pray with me?

...Say yes to Jesus...anyone...Father, teach us...that in our lives, we

need quiet life before you in devotion and faith and stir up ourselves
and wait on God...We say...no...no...this is what I believe. This is what
God has said...In your name we pray, Amen!