Sweden Church
  • Home
  • Listen
    • Sunday Services
    • Real Time >
      • Where We Find Jesus Series
      • Temptations of Christ Series
      • Sermon on the Mount Series
      • Prodigal Son Series
    • Sweden Celebration 2020
    • Revival 2019
  • Sermon Series
    • 1 & 2 Kings Series
    • Titus Series
    • Jonah Series
    • What Kind of Man Series
    • Advent 2019
    • Ten Commandments Series
    • "No More" Sermon Series
  • Pictures
  • Our Blogs
    • The Pastor's Pen
    • The Layman's Pen
  • Upcoming Events
  • Contact Us

Waiting Patiently

5/27/2016

 
By Linda Johnson

"As Christian people, God has called us out of the boat.  We’ll either go to the Lord or we’ll sink.  We can’t quit or we’ll sink.”  That was the opening of our pastor's sermon.  The immediate image is of Peter stepping out of the boat. (Matthew 14:28-31)  What a beautiful reflection of a time when Jesus was on the earth.  Imagine being an eyewitness to such an  event.
 
 Isaiah speaks of a highway in Isaiah 35:8 and a way that will be called The way of holiness.  (Yes, the capital ‘T’ is right there in the middle of the verse.)  The thing to note here is that even fools won’t err on this road.  Why is that?  Because Jesus will be with them.  This is a reassurance that most of us who struggle to be Christians need to hear.  There’s always the concern that what one hopes for is to be a good witness.  But being human as only humans can be, you put your foot in it and then you’re on your knees praying that you didn’t do too much damage.  This brings us to Psalms 40--the text for Sunday’s sermon.

     Verses 1 through 3 show some of the cues to take to be better equipped to serve the Lord.  ‘Waited’ and ‘patiently’ are the first two mentioned.  It’s possible to wait and not be patient.  So, it’s important to wait patiently.  Wait and be patient until he gives you his ear and hears you.  When waiting, remember that God’s timing is always perfect.  Man’s timing (or women’s), well, that’s another story.  It’s necessary to trust in God’s timing.  

     There are seven things God did in these three verses--inclined unto me, heard my cry, took me out of the pit, took me out of the miry clay, set my feet on solid rock, established my goings, and put a new song in my heart. 

     God reached down from heaven and picked mankind up out of the pit, unstuck him from the clay and set him on the solid rock.  Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection did that for everyone.  All of mankind has an even chance to accept this saving grace.

The ones who do are believers in Jesus Christ.  The ones who don’t--let’s just say they blew their chances.
​
     Once Christians are planted on the solid rock, God establishes their goings.  That is, Christians become followers.  They’re rooted in their faith.  Followers are changed.  They sing a new song and praise God for it.  That’s why Christians get out of the boat.   Be a light to the world and let them hear your song.  Sing it.


Comments are closed.
    Picture

    Linda Johnson

    Linda Johnson moved to Douglas County with her husband Tom 12 years ago after retiring from teaching. Following Tom's death in 2016, Linda began facilitating a grief support group called GriefShare through Sweden Church.​ She serves as the Sunday School teacher for our High School class. Her "Layman's Pen" articles are also published in the local paper, The Douglas County Herald. 

    Andrea Strong

    Andrea is Pastor Joshua Strong's wife. She also serves Sweden Church as Church Secretary, website administrator, and Sunday School teacher to the Intermediate Class.

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    February 2015
    November 2013
    October 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012