Wait on the Lord

In one of my previous blogs, I posted a little chorus called ‘Wings As Eagles.’ I also got a nice response about it and I just felt I needed to share a few things about waiting on the Lord. This is an area that is so difficult for all of us to do. We are so prone to rushing ahead of the Lord and we should be learning to ‘WAIT’ on Him.

I’ve heard loads of comments about patience that I find is so funny. Many times people will say, “Don’t pray for patience because then you will end up going through a lot of trials and testings.” This is the wrong view of the whole matter! The Lord doesn’t wait for us to pray for patience before He begins teaching us. One of the fruit that we are supposed to be showing is long-suffering (patience). The Bible doesn’t tell us only to pray for ourselves to grow in areas where we won’t have to go through trials. If you are not praying and seeking to become more like Christ (regardless of any trial you might have to go through) then you are in sin.

Hebrews 12:5-13 makes it very clear that God’s chastening yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness. God will chasten His children whether or not they ask for chastening. Many times God uses this thing called waiting to teach us patience! It doesn’t matter if we want to wait for something or not. In fact, many times we don’t want to wait and begin to throw our own tantrum in hopes that the Lord will give us our demand. Funnily enough, it’s very seldom we get what we want when we demand it. When we do get it then we normally regret having demanded it due to the heartache it causes us.

The Lord works everything out according to His will; therefore, we should be very careful about demanding our way. Moses was considered the most humble man on earth and this is what he said to the Lord, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.” (Ex. 33:15) That should be our whole focus when it comes to waiting.

I’ve heard several pastors make the comment that instead of being so caught up in the gift, we should be desirous of the Giver of the gifts. The gifts cannot satisfy but the Giver of the gifts can satisfy every longing in our hearts! Wait on the Lord and you will see your very life change before your eyes. Don’t demand things because you think that will be what makes you happy but ask the Lord to give you what He wants you to have.

Psalm 27:14; Wait on the Lord: be of good courage and He will strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the Lord

Older Women Teaching Younger Women

The third problem I see is that older women in the faith do not teach the younger women. In Titus 2, Paul is sharing with Titus what should be done within the local church. In verses 1-5, we find out what the women are supposed to be doing. Paul starts off with the men, “But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things–that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.”

I’m sure the first question that comes to mind is, “If you’re talking about the women then why did you include the men?” The simple answer is because when you come to the women the Bible says “the older women likewise” so everything that has been told to the men in the previous verses must also apply to the women. Is it to be thought that the women can do whatever they want and the men have to follow the Bible? Of course not! So these things will apply to each of the women.

I want to mention to the older women in the faith that if you don’t have someone younger you can teach and train then find someone! You are responsible to the Lord to teach those younger in the faith then you! Do you proudly share that you have been saved 5, 10, 15, 20 or even more years in the faith? Find someone who has been saved less years then you and begin to disciple her!

“But I don’t know much!” might be your protest. “I haven’t learned a whole lot and I’m not good at sharing my faith. I don’t know what to say!” Have you learned so little in your walk with the Lord that you don’t see other women, younger in the faith, doing something that goes contrary to the Word of God?

“You don’t understand! I don’t know how to share with them. What if they get upset at me?” Last time I checked the Bible, we are commanded to be submissive to one another and to help one another (Gal. 6:1; 1 Pt. 5:5) Which is more important – following commands of Scripture or following your own path?

On the other hand, I realize that some people do not even know how to begin so I will help you to begin the path! When I first started out trying to talk to people, I was so scared I wouldn’t even know how to begin. Many times I asked the Lord to give me strength and courage to say something then I would fail! Does this sound familiar to you?

I finally began sharing my testimony because I was quite comfortable with how I accepted the Lord into my heart and I knew that was something no one could dispute. After all, my testimony happened to me not to anyone else! Of course, this also was very hard at first but it became easier. Eventually, I began sharing little praises about the Lord every now and then after I finished giving my testimony. From there, I went to encouraging people in the Lord and for many years all I did was encourage people. I tried over and over to say something I felt would help others to grow spiritually but always fell short for two reasons.

1.) I was afraid of the response. (1 Pt. 3:14)

2.) I didn’t want to hurt people’s feelings. (Prov. 27:17)

The Lord continuously convicted my heart over my lack of devotion to Him. It all boils down to one thing if you refuse to disciple other women. You love man more then God. If God sent His only Son to die on the cross for you then why would you turn down the opportunity to serve Him in any way you can? Give Him your whole heart and soul.

The Bible tells us that all the law and the prophets are based on 2 commandments.

• Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind. (Deut. 6:5; 10:12; 11:1, 13, 22; Josh. 22:5; Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30; Lk. 10:27)
• Love your neighbour as yourself. (Lev. 19:18; Matt. 22:39; Mark 12:31; Lk. 10:27; Rom. 13:9; James 2:8)

How can you, as an older woman in the Lord love the Lord your God? By obeying the Lord. One of the directions put forth in the Bible is that the older women teach the younger women in Titus. But wait! Before you can teach the younger women anything you need to make sure that you are learning and growing. You need to make sure that you are becoming more like the Lord Jesus Christ. What kinds of things should you be learning first of all?

1. You must be reverent in behaviour. Now, of course, this doesn’t mean to go around with a sour look on your face all the time! We can be reverent in behaviour and be joyful in our salvation. The KJV puts it like this “…they be in behaviour as becometh holiness…” Your life must exemplify the holiness of the Lord. You must be willing to be holy even as Christ also is holy.
2. You must not be a slanderer or a false accuser. There are many women out there that love to stretch the truth. They love to lie and talk about others (gossip)! This is not to be. As older women in the faith, we should be willing to tell the truth regardless of the cost to us. We should also desire to help others instead of tear them down with our words. (James 3)
3. You must not be given to much wine. Someone who is a drunkard is not a good testimony to the Lord and Ephesians tells us ‘… be not drunk with wine wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” We should be so filled with the Spirit in the same manner as a drunkard is filled with alcohol. I know some drunkards and they love their drink! That is exactly how we should be when it comes to being filled with the Holy Spirit!
4. You must be a teacher of good things. There is only One that’s good and that is God! Be a learner of the Word of God and you will be able to be a teacher of the Word of God.

As you pray about these things and seek to live a holy life before God, ask Him to help you to be both a learner and a teacher. Find someone younger then you and teach them what the Lord has taught you. Ask the Lord to bring the right person into your life so you can begin to teach them. Do you have little ones at home? Begin teaching them obedience NOW and as you grow older in the Lord you will find it gets easier to teach other women. May we all seek to live a holy and godly life in Christ Jesus.

Maranatha,

Desert Pastor’s wife

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