Worship Song: They that Wait Upon the Lord Here's the audio file in Japanese. ↓ Bible Passage: Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Title: "Learning to Wait" Introduction - Ah, these university days are really great, aren't they? You're making new friends, enjoying new experiences and learning new things in every class you take. Everyday is an adventure! Maybe you're thinking that by the time you graduate you'll have learned everything you need to know for your life ahead. I thought the same thing. When I finished graduate school and headed out to my first job, I had so much enthusiasm and confidence. It was then I that discovered that I never really graduated and that life itself was a university. God has been my gracious teacher all these many years and sitting at His feet, I've learned so many lessons. And it's one of those lessons that I'd like to share with you today - learning the lesson of patience. 1. Wait - When I was young, as you are now, I wanted to conquer the world! I was often in a rush to experience life and beat it on my terms. The police weren't impressed with the way I rushed so much in my high school and university days. They gave me several speeding tickets to try and convince me that speed wasn't always necessary! From my very youngest days, I had always heard the proverb, "patience is a virtue," but it wasn't until I was 18 years old that I really began learning that lesson. In my last year of senior high school, I committed my life to Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. That's when I truly began to sit at the feet of the Master and learn the great lessons of life. Right from the very beginning, I felt that God was calling me - calling me to serve Him, to follow Him, and to give my energy enthusiastically to some kind of religious work. But this avenue didn't open up to me right away. I had to be patient and wait for the Lord's best timing. There was a lot of preparation that I needed to do first! After high school, God sent me into the military service, the United States Marine Corp. to be specific, for several years of tough discipline and training. That was when I came to Japan for the first time and lived in Okinawa for almost 3 years. 2. Wait - "Upon the Lord" - After my first and only tour of duty with the Marines, I felt God leading me to go back to my hometown and start studying at a local university there. It was during this time that the Lord began to focus my lesson of patience on Him. I came to Japan a second time during my junior year of college - this time to study as an exchange student at Seinan Gakuin University in Fukuoka. One year of Japanese studies passed so quickly. I learned so many things during those 12 months, Japanese culture and history, the Japanese language and of course, for me personally, how to serve God with joy and patience. On the final day of my life there in Kyushu, I had climbed aboard a bus to take me to the airport and then finally back home to the US. As I was sitting there looking out of the window and feeling a bit sad about leaving, the still, small voice of God spoke to me. He said, "Don't worry. You're going to come back." It was then that the Lord focused that lesson of patience. He was telling me not just to wait, but to wait on Him! In English, our Bible passage today just says "wait" upon the Lord. Here, I think the Japanese is so much better. In your language, you say 待ち望む. In English it's translated as to look forward to or to wait eagerly for. And that's what I started doing that day - waiting eagerly for the Lord to guide me and bless me everyday. I also began to anxiously look for the day when I would have a chance to come back to this lovely country again. 3. Now, Fly Like an Eagle - And now, after many years of waiting for God's leading, the chance finally came! Thanks to God using a dear friend from school days, I could spread my wings and fly all the way across the Pacific Ocean to Hokkaido! God be praised for the wonderful lessons of life. God be praised for dear friends that God can use. And praise God for the promises of the Bible - promises that are just as true today as they were thousands of years ago in the days of Isaiah the prophet: "They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Now, don't be mistaken and think that Don's got this lesson of patience all figured out. Often I get in a rush and the Lord calls me back to sit at His feet and quietly listen to His teachings. Patience may be a virtue, but it's also a process. It's something we need to learn and practice everyday. Conclusion - Do you get frustrated when things don't come as quickly as you'd like them to? Is it hard to wait for your teachers to give you all the lessons you want? Is it hard to wait for all your students to learn the lessons you want to teach them? And the answer I'm sure is, "Of course!" So today, this is our chance to sit together at the Master's feet. Let's listen to His peaceful voice as He teaches us how to wait eagerly for Him. If we do, then He will give us strength - strength to run and not get tired, strength to walk and never faint. And above all, He'll give us wings to fly high into the sky - on the wings of eagles! Shall we now stand together again, and in both Japanese and English, let's claim this promise of the Bible. Let's sing together this wonderful praise song in the words of Isaiah. [Sing "They that Wait Upon the Lord" in Japanese and English one time each.] Our Closing Blessing - "The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace." - Numbers 6:24-26 「願わくは主があなたを祝福し、あなたを守られるよ うに。願わくは主がみ顔をもってあなたを照し、あな たを恵まれるように。願わくは主がみ顔をあなたに向 け、あなたに平安を賜わるように」。 民数記 6:24-26 ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼
Thanks so much for coming to English Chapel today. Go in peace and may God bless you with joy in your heart throughout this day. ✞ ✞ ✞ ✞ ✞
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About This PageThis is my personal space to share my messages and thoughts about Hokusei English Chapel and the things that God brings in to my life. Archives
October 2015
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