Waiting is Winning
Pastor Weston Stutz
September 8, 2024
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Main Topics Discussed
Introduction: Celebrating God's Faithfulness
Opening Remarks: Acknowledging the significance of the church's anniversary and thanking everyone for being part of the journey.
Personal Reflection: Sharing personal story about God’s faithfulness and miracles in life and ministry.
Main Theme: "However good I thought God was going to be, He's been so much better."
Reflecting on God's Faithfulness
Miracles Over the Years: Celebrating how the church grew, survived challenges, and witnessed miracles (financial, spiritual, relational).
God’s Provision: Stories of unexpected blessings, including how the church building was purchased, support from unexpected places, and surviving difficult times.
Key Phrase: "However good I thought God was going to be, He’s been so, so much better."
Celebrating Church Growth and Impact
Growth in Ministry: Number of locations, international missions, and community impact.
Three locations: Point Loma, La Jolla, Downtown Pop-Up Church.
Missions support in eight countries, including Jamaica, Indonesia, and Ukraine.
Personal Reflection for Congregation: Encouraging the congregation to reflect on their own journey of faith. “How did you get here? How did you find Jesus?”
The Challenges of Waiting on God
The Reality of Waiting: Acknowledging that not every day is a highlight. Most days are filled with hardships and waiting.
Comparison Trap: Warning against comparing your hardships with others' highlights. “Don’t compare your back page with someone else’s front page.”
Highlight vs. Hardship Days: Waiting on God can feel frustrating, but it's part of the process of spiritual growth and trust.
Learning to Wait on God
Biblical Example: David's Journey:
David’s highlights (defeating Goliath, becoming king) were just 2% of his life. Most of his story involved hardship, waiting, and trusting God in the cave of Adullam.
1 Samuel 21:10-22:2: David’s time in the cave—feeling abandoned, surrounded by the distressed, yet choosing to worship and trust God.
Key Scripture: Isaiah 40:31 – "Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength..."
Waiting is not a punishment but a preparation. God uses the waiting period to strengthen us for what's ahead.
Lessons from David's Story – Winning While Waiting
Don’t Wait to Worship:
David turned the cave into a place of worship.
Psalm 142: David cried out to God from the cave.
Encouragement to worship God in the midst of hardship, not just in the highlights.
Don’t Lose the Sheep:
David faithfully tended sheep for years before fighting Goliath. God prepares us for bigger assignments through our faithfulness in small tasks.
1 Samuel 17: David’s faithfulness with the sheep prepared him to face Goliath.
Challenge to be faithful in the small things, recognizing their importance in God’s plan.
Don’t Microwave the Cave:
Avoid rushing the process. David had opportunities to kill Saul and take the throne early but chose to wait on God’s timing.
1 Samuel 24: David refused to take matters into his own hands, trusting God's timing.
Waiting allows God to shape our character and build trustworthiness.
Trusting God in the Process
God is Weaving, Not Just Waiting: The Hebrew word "wait" (kavah) means "to weave together." While we feel like we’re waiting, God is weaving something beautiful in us.
Patience in the Process: Encouragement to embrace the waiting season, trusting that God is preparing us for the future He has planned.
Conclusion: Moving Forward in Faith
Invitation to Trust God's Timing: Trust that God is weaving together your story even when it seems like nothing is happening.
Call to Action: If you're in a waiting season, turn your cave into a house of worship, be faithful with your "sheep," and resist the urge to rush God’s process.
Prayer and Commitment
Prayer for Patience in the Waiting: Asking God for strength to trust His timing and to be faithful in small things.
Call to Salvation: Invitation for those who want to give or recommit their lives to Jesus.
Closing Prayer: Thanking God for His faithfulness over the past six years and asking for His continued guidance as the church moves forward.
Biblical References
Psalm 3:4 - "I cried out to the Lord, and He heard me."
Emphasizes calling out to God in times of need.
Isaiah 40:31 - "Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength."
Highlights the promise of renewed strength for those who patiently wait on God.
1 Samuel 21:10-22:2 - David flees from Saul, pretends to be insane, and later hides in the cave of Adullam.
Illustrates David's hardships and seasons of waiting.
1 Samuel 17:32-37 - David describes how protecting sheep prepared him to face Goliath.
Demonstrates faithfulness in small tasks, preparing for greater challenges.
Luke 21:1-4 - The widow's offering of two mites.
Shows sacrificial giving, even from scarcity.
Luke 16:10 - "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much."
Teaches the importance of faithfulness in small responsibilities.
Mark 1:12 - "The Spirit sent him out into the wilderness."
Refers to Jesus being led by the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the importance of following the Spirit's guidance.
These verses were used to illustrate themes of waiting, trust, and faithfulness in the journey of following God's plan.
Reflection Questions
How has God’s faithfulness been evident in your life, even when things didn’t go as you expected? Reflect on a time when He exceeded your expectations.
In what areas of your life are you currently in a season of waiting? How can you trust God’s timing and purpose in this season?
How can you turn your personal “cave” (a time of hardship or waiting) into a place of worship? What steps can you take today to worship God despite your circumstances?
Reflect on the “small tasks” or responsibilities in your life. How can you be more faithful in them, recognizing they may be preparing you for something greater?
In what ways have you tried to “rush” God’s process in your life? How can you practice patience and trust that God is weaving something beautiful, even when you can’t see it yet?
Daily Activities
Monday: Reflect on God’s Faithfulness
Activity: Spend 15 minutes in quiet reflection or journaling about God’s faithfulness in your life. Write down moments when God showed up, provided for you, or performed a miracle.
Application: Acknowledge that God has been better than you expected, and let this reflection fill you with gratitude as you begin your week.
Tuesday: Embrace the Waiting
Activity: Identify an area of your life where you are waiting on God. It could be a personal goal, a prayer request, or a season of difficulty.
Application: Read Isaiah 40:31 and remind yourself that waiting is part of God's preparation. Pray for patience and strength to embrace the waiting season instead of rushing it.
Wednesday: Worship in the “Cave”
Activity: If you are facing a difficult situation, take 10 minutes today to worship God. Play a worship song, sing, or pray, focusing on His goodness despite your circumstances.
Application: Like David worshipped in the cave (Psalm 142), choose to honor God in your hardship. Let worship be your response, even when it’s hard.
Thursday: Faithfulness in the Small Things
Activity: Reflect on your daily tasks and responsibilities. Choose one “small” responsibility (whether at home, work, or church) that you often overlook.
Application: Commit to doing this task with excellence today, seeing it as an opportunity to be faithful in the small things, as David was faithful with his sheep.
Friday: Trust God’s Timing
Activity: Meditate on 1 Samuel 24, where David had the chance to rush God’s plan by taking the throne but chose to wait. Reflect on areas where you’ve tried to rush God’s timing.
Application: Pray for wisdom and peace to trust that God is weaving something good, even if it’s not visible yet. Surrender any urge to take control and trust His perfect timing.
