Sermon Handout
- Jeremiah 29:11
- Luke 22:42
- Psalm 40:1-3
- Psalm 46:10
Main Points
The message is structured around the experience of being delivered by God from a difficult situation and how the resulting praise can impact others. The core points can be summarized as follows:
- How to Wait Patiently for the Lord:
- Surrender to God’s Sovereignty: Waiting patiently requires aligning with God’s timing, will, and plan, not our own. It is about seeking God’s glory above personal gain.
- Wait with Expectation: True waiting is not passive or despairing but filled with hopeful expectation, trusting that God is working all things for the good of those who love Him.
- Engage in Persistent Prayer: Waiting involves continuous communication with God, surrendering one’s will and relying on His strength and wisdom.
- The Result of Answered Prayer: Deliverance from the “Pit”
- God’s Power to Lift: The message emphasizes that God hears the cries of His children and has the power to lift them out of “horrible pits” and “miry clay.”
- The Nature of the “Pit”: The “pit” is used as a metaphor for various life struggles, including sin, addiction, depression, negative mindsets, confusion, and difficult circumstances that one cannot escape on their own.
- Divine Intervention is Necessary: It is stressed that self-effort, or even help from others, is often insufficient to escape these deep struggles. It requires the direct intervention and power of God’s hand to be pulled out.
- Establishment on Solid Ground: After deliverance, God does not leave a person in a vulnerable state. He sets their feet upon a “rock,” representing a solid, stable foundation in Him, and establishes their path forward.
- A Praise That Benefits Others
- A “New Song” of Praise: Deliverance results in a “new song”—a fresh, exuberant, and heartfelt expression of praise and gratitude for God’s faithfulness and redemptive work.
- Praise as a Public Testimony: This genuine praise is not a private affair. When others see the transformation in a person’s life and witness their joyful worship, it serves as a powerful testimony.
- Inspiring Faith in Others: The ultimate purpose of this public praise is that “many shall see it and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.” A person’s story of deliverance becomes a catalyst for others to develop reverence for God and place their own trust in Him.
The message concludes with a call to action, explaining that this entire experience is made possible through the foundational step of salvation by admitting one is a sinner, believing in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, and confessing Him as Lord.
Scriptures Referenced
The following scriptures were cited or alluded to during the message:
| Scripture Reference | Context in Message |
|---|---|
| Psalm 40:1-3 | The main text for the sermon, describing waiting for the Lord, being lifted from a pit, and receiving a new song of praise. |
| Psalm 46:10 | Used to illustrate waiting on God’s timing (“Be still and know that I am God”). |
| Luke 22:42 | Referenced to emphasize submitting to God’s will, quoting Jesus’ prayer (“Not my will, but thy will be done”). |
| Jeremiah 29:11 | Cited to show that waiting must be according to God’s good plan for us. |
| Romans 8:28 | Used to encourage waiting with expectation, knowing that God works all things for good. |
| Psalm 145:18 | Mentioned to affirm that God is near to all who call on Him in truth. |
| Proverbs 3:5-6 | Quoted to reinforce the necessity of trusting God completely rather than relying on one’s own understanding. |
| Ezra 7:28 | Referenced to illustrate that courage and deliverance come from recognizing the hand of God is upon you. |
| Psalm 37:23 | Cited to explain that God orders the steps of a righteous person and establishes their path. |
Overall Message
The overall message is that a personal experience of God’s deliverance from life’s deepest struggles is not meant to end with the individual. It is intended to produce a genuine, powerful praise that serves as a public witness. By patiently trusting in God during hardship, one can be lifted out and set on a firm foundation. The resulting “new song” of gratitude becomes a testimony that can lead others to revere and trust in the same God who saves and restores. Therefore, our personal trials and triumphs, when channeled into authentic praise, become a powerful form of ministry that benefits the entire community of faith and beyond.