Be Willing to Wait on God for What You Need Most

Waiting for Water

The Point

Be willing to wait on God for what you need most.

INTRO

The time that we’re living in right now is different from any other time in history. We can get just about anything we want—right when we want it.

You want to watch a show or a movie? Just instantly stream it. You want some food or some coffee and it’s in your hand with in minutes. You get into an argument with your friends about some useless fact—just Google it or ask Siri and you have the answer literally in seconds. We just don’t have to wait for anything anymore.

Check out how long this guy in the Bible has to wait for what he needs…

John 5:1-9 NIV

Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.4They waited for the moving of the waters.From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had.5One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

7“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

8Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

Check out as the group has to wait for their person who promises them water in week three of Thirst.

PLAY WEEK 3 OF THIRST.

MESSAGE

This week, we watched as the group waited for the messenger. He told them not to go to that compound where they promised water because they were lying about it.

He told them to head in the opposite direction and follow the sparrow, and they’ll find what they need, what they’re looking for. So they decide to wait for him and let him lead them to the water they need.

This is a great place to stop and pause and ask you the question: what are you waiting for in your life?

To find out if you get into that school?

For that guy to just ask you out already?

For some situation or circumstance to change in your family or with your friend?

Some of you are waiting on results or reports.

Even in an on-demand time where we don’t have to wait for entertainment, information, and food, the reality is we do have to wait for things. Often they’re a lot bigger and more important things than entertainment and food.

Let’s go back to the story in the Bible that we looked at earlier.

4They waited for the moving of the waters.From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had.5One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.

Here’s this guy who has been disabled for 38 years. All he wanted was to get into that water and be healed. He wanted it so bad,and he waited so long to get to that water.

(Tell about a time you had to wait for something.)

So then look at what happens in verse 6…

6When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

Why do you think Jesus asked that? He knows the guy’s been waiting there for a long time, and then He asks him if he wants to get well. Uh, duh Jesus! Of course he does! Why even ask that?

Jesus was setting up what He’s about to do. It’s like the setup to the punch line of a joke. He’s just getting ready for it. Jesus was setting up that what that poor man really wants is about to be over. The guy won’t have to wait anymore.

If you were in his situation and Jesus asked you, “What are you waiting for?” what would you say to Him? How would you respond?

What area of your life are you waiting for that you want God to show up and answer your prayer in?

Well, here’s the guy’s response to Jesus…

7“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

He wants it! He’s been trying and trying to reach the water and be healed. He’s been trying to do it on his own though, and because of that, he keeps failing.

I wonder what people keep beating him to the water. It’s probably people who are stronger than him and able to get along better than him.

Here’s the thing…when we try to do things on our own strength, it might or might not work out for us.

There are always going to be people throughout our lives who are going to be better, smarter, stronger, more talented, that will beat us to what we’re trying to do on our own, to where we want to go to. That’s just the reality of life.

Now, here’s where the good part comes in! Here’s the hopeful part! Check out what it says…

8Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

BOOM!!! HEALED!!! The waiting for water’s over for this guy! But don’t miss what this is really saying…

The thing he was waiting for, the water, to get into the pool, he didn’t even need it. It wasn’t the water that healed him. It was Jesus.

No need for that water…just, “Hey guy, just get up and go!”

Done and done!!! Isn’t that so awesome?

You see, sometimes we’re waiting on something, but God’s got something better in store for us. He’s saying, “You don’t really need that! Check out what I’ve got in store for you!”

Or maybe you’re like the guy—you keep trying to get to the water on your own, and it just keeps not working out for you.

You don’t make the team.

You don’t get the part.

You can’t break that bad habit.

The grades aren’t getting better.

There’s still that tough situation in your family.

You still aren’t friends with that person.

You just need to stop doing it on your own—waiting, and trying, and waiting, and trying.

Some of you just need to give that thing over to God and let Him handle it. Let Him meet that need. Wait ‘til it’s on His timing and His strength and power.

So here’s what I want you to do right now…

CLOSE

Close your eyes and bow your heads.

Maybe you’re waiting on something that just isn’t happening yet. Or maybe there’s something that needs to be changed, or fixed, or made well in you that you know no matter how hard you try, you won’t be able to do it on your own. If that’s you and you want to give that thing over to God, and wait on Him, and let Him give you want you need, and let Him take care of that situation in your life … if that’s you, then just raise your hand right now and let me pray for you…(pray for the students).

With your eyes still closedand heads still bowed…

Maybe you’re here today and you can kind of identify with the disabled guy. Maybe there are some things in your life that just aren’t working quite right, or maybe there are some areas where you feel like you’re broken or messed up … and you’ve been trying to get through it or move on from it on your own. Maybe you’ve been doing things your own way, and you know now that it’s just not working out and you realized today that what you really need is an encounter with Jesus to make your life right. If that’s you and you want to have that encounter with Jesus and let Him heal you and give you want you need ... if you want to accept that God loves you so much that He’s already sent Jesus for you … and you know that you want that for the first time in your life right now, raise your hand and repeat this prayer after me…(Have students repeat a prayer after you.)