22 June 2019

THE FRUITS OF 'WAITING'

By John Ollis

When we are young, we seem to have unceasing and exuberant energy, and with it comes what we call in Australia a “gung ho” or “she’ll be right mate” attitude, and with that there is no or little fear of death and calamity. It is only as we get considerably older do we begin to feel the “effects of aging” and the consequent aches and pains and tiredness as our body begins to wear out and the consequent need to have a rest in the afternoons.

I began to think that this is a bit like that in our Christian life, when we are young in the Lord, there is a freshness and a vitality and an “I can do that” mentality, and even when we fail many times (spiritually) we generally keep on going. I guess the lack of Biblical Discipleship can sadly feed that attitude. until we painfully become aware that WITHOUT HIM I (OR WE) CAN DO NOTHING WITHOUT HIM. I have been meditating on Isaiah 40:29-31 NKJV He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might, He increases strength, even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, But those who WAIT ON THE LORD shall renew their strength.
They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
MESSAGE He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired,
they walk and don’t lag behind.

I would like to suggest if new Believers are told FROM DAY ONE there is strength available for them to face any and every situation, and it is only when we don’t ask as James says “we have not because we ask not”. We must learn we cannot live the Christian life in our own strength, As the Message says, we do not have to be a dropout. I understand the Hebrew word for renew in verse 31 also has the picture of EXCHANGE, (our weakness for His strength). The key word in these three verses is WAIT, and this is a pro-active waiting, not just sitting around hoping the “bus” will come along sometime, but with a spirit of anticipation EXPECTING (the door will swing open and the King walks through) the strength will come AS SOON AS WE NEED IT.

There is an old Pentecostal saying which I am appreciating more and more after almost 68 years of Christian experience, I MUST STAY UNDER THE SPOUT WHERE THE GLORY COMES OUT. Or to use a modern illustration, if we want to have our smart phone and other electronic devices to work, WE MUST KEEP THEM PLUGGED IN .

If it is only information and not a revelation to you that you can’t make it on your own, I recommend you ask the Lord to give you that 18 inch drop from your head to your heart, let the Logos word BECOME A RHEMA WORD. When this happens we learn to throw ourselves on the Lord and the strength truly begins to flow. May I share a personal testimony with you, like the Disciples I have been asking the Lord to teach me how to pray, as I have written numerous times I still feel like a novice when it comes to prayer, and I believe the Lord is teaching me and I thank Him for this, but I had to ask, and He is answering. TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY.