We Are the Ones for Whom We Have Been Waiting I. Prayer II. Introduction A. We are the ones for whom we have been waiting B. An excellent line from a political speech! 1. A summons to action 2. An awareness that if things must be done, someone must be willing to go out and do them! C. Every generation awaits for some type of savior figure 1. Someone is expected who will stand up and point the way 2. Yet that person rarely, if ever, seems to come around 3. Things do not change; they just remain the same 4. Then the next generation comes, waiting for the same savior! D. The sad irony is that the people who wait could very easily be the ones to accomplish what they seek: if they would only stop waiting and start working! E. Yet salvation does not come through any political process 1. Romans 1:16 2. The Gospel is God’s power for salvation 3. Any kind of political change is nebulous and unreliable! F. Yet the sentiment is also true in spiritual terms G. Let us consider it and what the Scriptures say III. For Whom Are We Waiting? A. For generations, Israel awaited the Messiah from God 1. Luke 2:25, 2:38 2. When Jesus came, few believed in Him, because He was not the Messiah for which they waited: the person who would restore physical Israel’s political fortunes 3. The Jews are still waiting for that individual, and they will be waiting a long time! B. When Jesus was on the cross, the Jews waited to see what would happen 1. Matthew 27:49 / Mark 15:36 2. They were waiting to see if Jesus would be redeemed in the way they expected 3. Yet He was not C. As Christians, we await a Savior from Heaven 1. 1 Corinthians 1:7, Philippians 3:20-21, Galatians 5:5, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 9:28 2. Romans 8:19-23: await release from corruption D. Yet for what else are Christians waiting? 1. Are they waiting for the preacher to do the work of bringing souls to the church, as they depend on him show them the way? 2. Are they waiting for the elders to tell them what they are supposed to do in their lives? 3. Do they feel inadequate to do the work themselves, and look toward whom they consider “more mature” Christians to do the work instead? E. Perhaps, instead, Christians should recognize that it is they themselves for whom they have been waiting! III. Growth in Christ A. While the preacher can encourage brethren and show them the way, and elders should shepherd and direct the flock (2 Timothy 4:1-2, 1 Peter 5:1-4), each Christian has the obligation to grow for him or herself! B. Each Christian, despite his or her spiritual age, is to work in the Kingdom! 1. Galatians 3:27-28: we have all put on Christ 2. We are all to then grow to maturity (cf. Romans 6:3-7, 1 Peter 2:1, Hebrews 5:12-6:4) C. How do Christians mature? 1. Hebrews 5:14: by constant practice! 2. Christianity cannot just be learned; it must be lived to be understood! 3. While you can gain some understanding from hearing the Word and observing the examples of others, if you will not practice it yourself, you will never grow! 4. Hence, the need for imitation: 1 Corinthians 11:1, 1 John 2:6 D. In the end, we are the ones for whom we have been waiting! 1. Consider the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11:1-38 2. Who will say that their faith in God is stronger than theirs? 3. And yet, Hebrews 11:39-40 4. Thus, Hebrews 12:1-2 5. The mantle has fallen upon us: it is our duty to take it on and go forward! E. What are we to do? IV. Being the Ones for Whom We’ve Been Waiting A. What do we do when we see that the church building could be fuller? 1. Are we to wait and see what will happen? 2. Or should we ourselves go out and encourage the struggling and erring (Hebrews 10:24, Galatians 6:1-2, James 5:19-20)? 3. Should we go forth and preach the Gospel in word and deed (Matthew 28:18-20, Romans 1:16)? B. Interlude: “The World’s Bible” (#512 in Sacred Selections) C. After all, if we are not the ones for whom we have been waiting, who is? 1. If people are not going to learn of God from us, from who will they? 2. If we are not the salt of the earth, or the light of the earth, how will people see the light? From where will the salt come (cf. Matthew 5:13-16)? 3. Indeed, we are the ones for whom we and others have been waiting! D. What do we do when we feel weak? 1. Do we wait for someone to make us feel better, or accomplish the work for us? 2. Or should we recognize that we are growing in Christ, and keep on striving for the prize (Philippians 3:13-14)? E. What do we do when we consider the future? 1. Do we find some version of the knight in shining armor that comes in and makes everything better? 2. Or should we realize that today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2), and while we have breath on this earth before the Lord returns, that we are the ones who will have to advance God’s Kingdom among our fellow men (Matthew 25:1-13)? F. Will we recognize that our waiting will be in vain if we do not get busy in the Kingdom? V. Conclusion A. Matthew 24:45-51, 25:1-31 B. Our Master has departed, and we await His return C. We are the servants, the virgins D. We are entrusted with the house, the talents E. Will we wait for instruction or will we recognize that we are the ones for whom we have been waiting to accomplish God’s purposes right now? F. The consequences of inaction are dire! G. Let us rise up and take on the mantle of faith! H. Invitation Scripture, Meditation, and Application 1: For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20). As Christians we live in patient hope, awaiting the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But our waiting ought not to be passive; we have been called to work to glorify the Lord Jesus in all we do. We cannot expect anyone else to be the ones working while we wait; all of us must work unto the Lord. May we await Jesus in expectant hope while seeking to advance His purposes in His Kingdom! 2: And [Jesus] suffered [the healed demoniac] not, but saith unto him, "Go to thy house unto thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and how he had mercy on thee" (Mark 5:19). A lot of Christians know that work should be done but feel they are not ready to do it. They may feel as if they are too young in the faith, or too inexperienced, or not as effective as someone else. Yet all ought to be active in the work of God in Christ. We gain preparation and skill through practice. We cannot imagine we will grow while we wait for others to do the work for us. May we actively advance God's purposes in the Kingdom of Jesus to His glory and praise! 3: (For he saith, "At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, And in a day of salvation did I succor thee:" behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation) (2 Corinthians 6:2). Far too often Christians rationalize their lack of participation in Kingdom work by expecting to have opportunities to do so in the future. Perhaps they think they will have more time or experience then; maybe others have unfortunately told them their turn will come in the future. Yet today is the only day we have guaranteed; now is the only acceptable time to work in the Lord's vineyard, and those around us may not have tomorrow in order to be saved. May we do God's work in Christ today! 4: "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath set over his household, to give them their food in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing" (Matthew 24:45-46). Jesus' witness is clear: we are His servants, entrusted with the stewardship of His work until He returns. Thus, we are the ones for whom we have been waiting. We will each be held accountable for how we have used the time and resources with which He has blessed us. Will we use the gifts of God to advance ourselves or share them with one another and with all to His glory and honor?