GRACE

Sermon #54 Luke Sermons

Title: "Waiting for Him!"

Text: Luke 8:40

Subject: Waiting for the Savior

Date: Sunday Evening -- 2001

Tape # W-43b

Introduction:

When Moses asked the Lord God to show him his glory, the God of glory showed Moses three things about himself. --

His Goodness – "I will be gracious!"

His Sovereignty – "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious."

His Holy Justice

[Exodus 33:19] "And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy."

[Exodus 34:5-7] "And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. [6] And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, [7] Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation."

These three great, glorious attributes of our God are displayed throughout the Scriptures. We have a glaring example in Luke 8. Our text will be verse 40.

And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him. —Luke 8:40

Remember what we have seen in this chapter. I have deliberately waited until now to call your attention to this verse of Scripture because I wanted you to see it in its context.

The Son of God went to those who refused him in the land of Gadara; and there he saved one, to show the freeness and sovereignty of his grace. Yes, blessed be his name, our great God is gracious, gracious to whom he will be gracious, sovereignly gracious! But he is also holy, just and true.

After those men and women in Gadara, having seen his power and his grace, despised him and desired him to depart from them, God’s Salvation left those obstinate sinners to themselves! Thus he displayed his holy justice.

Sinners, be warned. He is a fool who trifles with God! Wisdom abandons those who refuse her counsels (Pro. 1:23-33; 29:1).

[Proverbs 1:23-33] "Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. [24] Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; [25] But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: [26] I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; [27] When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. [28] Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: [29] For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: [30] They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. [31] Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. [32] For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. [33] But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil."

[Proverbs 29:1] "He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy."

God is just. Let all men fear. Yet, he is gracious, sovereignly gracious. Let sinners rejoice in hope! Those to whom the Lord God is pleased to show himself gracious, shall be willing in the day of his power (Ps. 110:3.)

Made Willing by Providence (Ps. 107)

Made Willing by Grace (Rom. 2:4)

It is not my purpose tonight to continue in this line of thought; but I want to ever keep before you these two facts. –

You are responsible to believe and obey the gospel.

No sinner will ever obey the gospel except God grant him life and faith in Christ by his free, sovereign, irresistible grace!

Proposition: Tonight, I want to show you this sweet, challenging truth from our text. – The Lord Jesus delights to come to those who wait for him.

Few there are who wait for him, few there are in any town, in any congregation, in any household who wait for him. But, this is certain, -- the Son of God comes to all who wait for him. Let’s see if I can make good on that statement. Without question our text exemplifies this fact.

[Luke 8:40] "And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him."

But is this taught through the Word of God? Can we be certain that the Lord God will come in mercy and grace to meet the needs of all who wait for him, just as surely as he comes in wrath and judgment against those who despise him? What does the Book say?

[Psalms 27:14] "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

[Psalms 37:7] "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass."

[Psalms 37:10-11] "For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. [11] But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace."

[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."

[Lamentations 3:26] "It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD."

[Habakkuk 2:3] "For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."

[Hosea 12:6] "Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually."

Are you waiting for the Savior, waiting for the Christ of God, waiting for him? Let each one answer for himself; but I want to be found "waiting for him!" Let me show you three things in our text.

I. Here are some needy souls waiting for the Savior. -- "They were all waiting for him."

This waiting may be seen in several different forms.

A. A gathered congregation, waiting in the place of prayer is a congregation likely to be blessed with the Lord’s presence.

[Acts 10:30-33] "And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, [31] And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. [32] Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. [33] Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God."

Waiting requires punctuality. If we come to the house of God in hope of meeting the Son of God, we will make it our business to be punctual.

Waiting implies prayerful expectancy. We wait in hopeful anticipation.

Waiting involves attentiveness. We wait for the Savior when with submissive hearts we are resolved to bow to his Word, believe his doctrine, and obey his revealed will.

The lack of punctuality, and irregular attendance, show contempt for the Lord, not need of him.

B. A waiting people are praying people.

Earnestly Seeking Him

Looking for Revival

Prepared to Serve

C. Needy souls wait for the Lord to be gracious.

Needy sinners seek the Lord, sighing for mercy, searching the Scriptures, hearing the Word, inquiring after him "waiting for him."

D. When God’s saints are about to leave this vail of tears, you find them waiting for the Lord.

A dying believer, longing for home, longing for heaven, longing for Christ: says, like Jacob of old, "I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord" (Gen. 49:18).

E. We ought to ever be looking for, expecting, waiting for our Lord’s glorious second advent (Tit. 2:11-14; Rev. 22:17).

[Titus 2:11-14] "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, [12] Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; [13] Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; [14] Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."

[Revelation 22:17] "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

The first thing we see is a group of people waiting for the Savior. O my soul, let me be numbered among such people!

II. Here is the object of our souls’ hope. -- "Jesus was returned."

Oh, yes, the Lord Jesus will graciously appear to those who are "all waiting for him." There is no doubt about that.—

A. His Spirit, the pledge of his coming, is here already, teaching us to wait for him (Rom. 8:23).

[Romans 8:23] "And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."

B. His heart is with us, in sympathy with us, ready to bless us.

C. His work is here.

He has brought us into this hopeful, waiting condition, and finds a sphere in which to display his grace to saints and sinners.

D. Here is his promise. -- "Lo, I am with you always." – "I will come unto you."

E. It is our Lord’s custom and delight to be with his people. (Pro. 8:31).

F. If his presence is not manifest, the fault is ours, not his.

[Song of Songs 5:2-8] "I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. [3] I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them? [4] My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him. [5] I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock. [6] I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. [7] The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me. [8] I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love."

G. He has promised to return. – "Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts" (Mal. 3:7).

In Grace

To Revive

His Advent

[John 14:1-3] "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. [2] In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

What countless blessings his coming will bring!

III. Here is a blessed reception. -- "The people gladly received him."

A. Our fears will make him welcome. – Our fear is that he might be gone for ever (Ps. 77:7).

[Psalms 77:7] "Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?"

B. Our hopes make him welcome.

When the Savior comes again, when he visits us, we have hope that our sick will be cured, and our dead raised.

C. Our prayers make him welcome.

Those who pray that Christ will come are happy indeed when he comes.

D. Our faith makes him welcome.

Jairus now looked to have his child healed (verse 41).

E. Our love makes him welcome.

When our heart is with him, we rejoice in his appearing.

F. Our praise makes him welcome.

[Isaiah 12] "And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. [2] Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. [3] Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. [4] And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. [5] Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. [6] Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee."

The Lord Jesus never disappoints those who wait for him. He never refuses to come to those who welcome him. The Son of God is near us now: will we not open the doors of our hearts to receive him (Rev. 3:20)?

[Revelation 3:20] "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."

"Even so, Come, Lord Jesus!" Come, O Son of God, come and welcome! We wait for thee!

Don Fortner