Sermon Starters: Waiting on the Lord

Title: Waiting on the Lord
Text: Isaiah 40:27-31

Introduction

• An old song
• The context of Isaiah 40--return from Babylon
• Remember Jeremiah 29:11?
• Israel had been waiting almost fifty years.
• God doesn't get weary. We shouldn't either.

1. The yesterday of waiting

• Reconciliation is accomplished. 
• All the promises in God are yes. (2 Corinthians 1:18)
• By contrast, illustration of human things we may not be sure will come through. Battle of the Bulge--will they show up?
• The situation of Hebrews: a promise has been given--enter into his rest. (Hebrews 3-4). We are currently in the wilderness. We are wandering. We are headed for the Promised Land. 
• Christ will come again. (Hebrews 10) 

2. The tomorrow of waiting

• Abraham (make you a great nation)
• Paul (will Jesus come back before I die)
• Judah in captivity (imagine those born at the beginning, the middle, and the end)
• What are we planting for those who come after?
• "A great society is one where the old plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit under." Greek proverb
• Hebrew 11

3. The today of waiting

• We need to enter God's rest every day called today (Heb. 3).
• The Parable of the Ten Virgins
• No temptation has taken you (1 Cor. 10:13)
• I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)
• We have a comforter (John 14)

Conclusion

• Wait with confidence (not like waiting from pay day to pay day)
• Remember it's a done deal. (Jer. 29)
• Lay up for the future.
• Enter every day (buy land)