Promises of God Session 3: Waiting in Eager Expectation of His Promises

Biblical waiting is eager expectation of good from our good God.

Description: In Session 3 of the “promises of God” series, Tricia Gunn expounds on Biblical waiting: eagerly expecting something good from God. The “waiting room” may not be where we want to be, but God is there with us, bearing long with us. He will avenge us speedily and answer our prayers in ways that are more than we could ask or imagine.

Transcript of the teaching:

I will wait for You

Welcome. Tonight the topic is waiting, time, and God’s purposes. Before we get started, though, I wanted to play a beautiful song that I discovered last year. The lyrics express Psalm 130 from a New Covenant perspective. You’ll find the lyrics in your notes.

Isn’t that beautiful? Maybe you are experiencing a season right now where you are waiting on God for a promise.

For some, it may seem like the world around you is just continuing on, but there is no way for you to escape the waiting room that you are in. The promise you are waiting on has affected every part of your life.

A while back someone I love was really struggling in a waiting season, and I had been meditating on God’s faithfulness. I wrote a paragraph from several scriptures with this person in mind and I shared it with them.

Most of it is from David’s Psalms – a man after God’s own heart – in the end David always turned away from his troubles toward God who was always faithful.  I’ve included this in your notes with all of the scripture references. And it goes like this:

You’ve kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book… I am worn out from sobbing. All night I flood my bed with weeping, drenching it with my tears. My vision is blurred by grief; my eyes are worn out… the Lord has heard my weeping. The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord will answer my prayer… Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning… Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me. He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. And so I walk in the Lord’s presence as I live here on earth! Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest… He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted… To comfort all who mourn…To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness… I’ll convert their weeping into laughter, lavishing comfort, invading their grief with joy… When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings… You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. (References: Psalm 56:8, The Message; Psalm 6:6-9, NLT; Psalm 30:5; Psalm 116:7-9, NLT; Psalm 126:5-6, NLT; Isaiah 61:1-3; Jeremiah 31:13, the Message; Psalm 84:6, NLT; Psalm 30:11-12, NLT)

I know that not everyone relates to that type of expression, but it’s deeply touching to those who are suffering. It’s the word of God. Jesus is the Word, and Jesus is compassionate and cares deeply about us. 

I believe many are in seasons of waiting – more than at any time in my life. So many families are having troubles, and the economy has wreaked havoc on practically everyone. Health issues, depression, and anxiety are rampant.

BUT – I have good news tonight. We don’t have to succumb to discouragement. 

Psalm 40:1-4, AMP – I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; And He inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up out of a horrible pit [of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock, steadying my footsteps and establishing my path. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear [with great reverence] And will trust confidently in the Lord. 4 Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who makes the Lord his trust.

When I read a passage like that, [written by David] I don’t even need to know the context to be able to see the heart, nature, and will of God. Circumstances may change, people may change, but God never does.

From this passage I can see – 

1. God wants us to wait expectantly for Him
2. He is inclined to us and hears our cries
3. It is His will to bring us up out of the pit of tumult and destruction
4. It is His will to set us firmly on the Rock of our salvation, Jesus Christ
5. It is His will to steady us and put us on the right path
6. It is His will to give us a new song, a song of praise to Him
7. It is His will that many will see the miracles He does for us 
8. It is His will that they also will trust confidently in Him
9. It is His will to bless us and prosper us
10. It is His will to grant us His favor
11. It is His will that we trust in Him

1 John 5:13-15 – These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. 14 Now this is the confidence [parresia] that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

Romans 10:11, AMP – For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] will not be disappointed [in his expectations].”

Some people read every Biblical account of the manifestation of God’s power in the natural lives of His people as symbolic – as if it was only for people in “Bible times.” And some people read the promises in the New Testament epistles as if they are all for the “sweet by and by.”

Why would the Old Covenant believers have it better than the New Covenant believers on this side of heaven? 

For instance, I heard someone argue that Romans 8:28 shouldn’t be used to say that God will work things out for us on this side of heaven because the context of that verse is talking about salvation.

Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Of course that’s talking about eternity, but if you know God, then you know that “all things” means ALL things. He didn’t qualify it.

This morning I was praying “Lord, how do I say what I am trying to say about this?” And the thought came to me – How do we know that all of the good things that God did for the Old Testament believers is His will for us?  Because God’s will – His desires – are not about the people in the Old Testament or about us – His will is about Him. If we know Him, we know His will. if we know His will, then we ask for it and it then becomes a promise for us. 

Though He bears long

Last week I read from Luke 18 where Jesus told the parable of the widow and the unjust judge. Jesus Himself  told us not to ever give up.

Luke 18:1 – men always ought to pray and not lose heart [The Message – never quit; NIV – not give up; NLT – never give up]…

Here’s that verse in the Amplified:

Luke 18:1, AMPC – Also [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not to turn coward (faint, lose heart, and give up).

I read the whole parable last week, but I want to just focus on one phrase tonight.

Luke 18:7-8 – … And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.”

The words “He bears long” is actually one Greek word. Here is part of the definition from Strongs:

makrothymeō  – to persevere patiently and bravely; to be of a long spirit, not to lose heart; to persevere patiently and bravely in enduring misfortunes and troubles; to be patient in bearing the offenses and injuries of others.

Makrothymeō  is the same word translated “patient” in 2 Peter 3:9 – 

2 Peter 3:8-9, NASB – But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,  not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. [metanoia –  change of mind]

When I first read that definition of makrothymeō , I thought, wow, I always read “though He bears long” as if it just meant He’s taking a long time, but “it’s ok because at the right time He’ll avenge speedily.”

But recently as I was studying this word – mak-roth-oo-meh’-o-  I saw that it’s not about Him taking a long time. It’s about Him doing EXACTLY what we are doing: persevering patiently and bravely; being of a long spirit; not to losing heart; being patient and brave in enduring misfortunes and troubles and bearing the offenses and injuries of others – because of His love.

Taking that definition, I’m going to read it with “My Father” inserted because Jesus said, “Though He – God – bears long with His elect.” 

And I’m also going to read it with us inserted  because we are His elect. We can talk about the word “elect” another time. But be assured, you are chosen in the Beloved.

My Father is persevering patiently and bravely with me. My Father is of long Spirit. My Father never loses heart when it comes to avenging me. My Father endures all of my misfortunes and troubles with me. My Father is patient as He bears all of the offenses and injuries I have suffered because He is gracious and merciful to me.

Hebrews 4:15-16, KJV – For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly [parresia] unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Jesus stepped into our world, putting on human flesh so that He could be touched with the feelings of our infirmities and purchase all the mercy and grace that we would ever need.

I looked at another word in that phrase “though He bears long with them”:

The word “with.” It’s the Greek word epi – it simply means upon, on, at, by, before; over; to, across

Thayers Greek dictionary it says “epi” is used especially after verbs that signify a mental affection or emotion, where we might use the word “over.” For example, in Matthew 18, Jesus said  – 

Matthew 18:12-13 – “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over [epi – Jesus rejoices OVER] that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.” 

In Luke’s account, it says He “he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.” (Luke 15:5)

Jesus, the Shepherd of the lost sheep, took that sheep and carried him home over His shoulders – holding him lovingly and compassionately. 

The Lord is bearing long over us, with us, before us, beside us. He isn’t way up there in heaven holding back His grace while we’re here on earth waiting for Him to pour it out.

He’s actually here WITH us. He is persevering patiently and bravely with us and over us. He is not losing heart.  

He is the Great I AM who was, who is, and who is to come, the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega.

He has brought eternity into the present by being present with us in the present circumstance. He’s in it for the long haul with us. He has never left us for a moment. 

I’m going to read from 1 Corinthians 13, but instead of “love” I’m going to insert “our Father” because God is love – 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8, NIV – Love [Our Father] is patient, [Our Father] love [Our Father] is kind. It [Our Father] does not envy, it [Our Father] does not boast, it [Our Father] is not proud. 5 It [Our Father] does not dishonor others, it [Our Father] is not self-seeking, it [Our Father] is not easily angered, it [Our Father] keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love [Our Father] does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It [Our Father] always protects, [Our Father] always trusts, [Our Father] always hopes, [Our Father] always perseveres. 8 Love [Our Father] never fails.

Jesus is the Substance

That is our Father!

And Jesus is the “exact representation of His Father’s nature.” And by looking at that phrase in Hebrews 1:3, I’m going to show you how Jesus Himself is our faith.

When we behold Jesus and keep our eyes fixed on Him we are beholding our Faith. 

Hebrews 11:1 – Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

Hoped – the verb is elpizō in the Greek – to hopefully trust in; to wait for salvation with joy and full confidence

Hope, noun – elpis – joyful and confident expectation of good in the future; anticipation with pleasure

That word “Substance” – “hypostasis” – means foundation, that which has actual existence, firm trust, assurance, confidence. It’s the same word used for “nature” in Hebrews 1:3 – 

Hebrews 1:3, NASB – And Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature [hypostasis – Jesus is the substance of God], and upholds all things by the word of His power.

Jesus is the visible substance of the invisible God. (Colossians 1:15)

Jesus is the substance of things hoped for. Jesus Himself is the evidence of things not yet seen.

John 14:9 – “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.”

When we pray in the name of Jesus, we are praying the substance of things hoped for.

Staying Power

One morning as I sat down to meditate and pray, the Lord gave me the word “Staying Power”. Here are a couple of definitions I found for “Staying Power”:

• ability or strength to last or endure; endurance; stamina.
• capacity for continuing (as in existence, influence, or popularity) without weakening.

As I was pondering this, the Lord led me to Hebrews 6, and I found that same word that Jesus used when He said, “though He bears long with us” – makrothymeō . 

It was a passage referring to Abraham and his endurance.

Hebrews 6:13-15 – For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” 15 And so, after he [Abraham] had patiently endured , he obtained the promise. [Isaac]

In Romans 4 we read about Abraham’s faith – 

Romans 4:17-18 – (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him [God] whom he [Abraham] believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, [by God] “So shall your descendants be.”

I want to pause here in Romans 4 to jump to Galatians 4 to introduce another side to this story lest any of us become discouraged when we compare ourselves to Abraham and his faith –

Galatians 4:21-22— Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? [Then Paul uses Abraham’s wife Sarah and her slave girl Hagar and their sons to illustrate law and grace] 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.

The back story here is that God had promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations and that the whole world would be blessed by his Seed, which was ultimately Jesus. 

This promise was made in Genesis 12 when Abraham was 75, but nothing was happening, so when he was 86, Sarah told him to sleep with her Egyptian slave girl, Hagar, and Hagar conceived Ishmael.

Galatians 4:23 – But he who was of the bondwoman [Ishmael] was born according to the flesh [“flesh” / sarx = self-effort], and he of the freewoman [Isaac] through promise…

Against all odds, Abraham and Sarah conceived Isaac through faith in God’s promise! At age 99 Abraham’s was all but “dead,” and Sarah was 89 – way past the age of child-bearing – but God did the miracle, and Isaac was born by promise.

Ishmael is described as the son “born of the flesh.” Ishmael was born of Abraham’s self-effort. At age 86 he was still able to father children naturally, but that changed by the time he was 99.

For 25 years Abraham waited on the promise. That’s a long time. But in spite of his mistakes, he pleased God because he had faith. 

Hebrews 11:6 – But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, [and honestly – if you look at the beginning of Abraham’s relationship with God – it was about as simple as that – God made promises to a heathen in the desert, and in Genesis 15:6 it says Abraham “believed in the Lord, and God accounted it to him for righteousness.”] and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Back to Romans 4 – 

Romans 4:19-20 – And [Abraham] not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. [He didn’t consider, “katanoeō” – fix one’s eyes or mind upon – he didn’t focus on the natural circumstances] 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,…

His faith grew stronger because he gave glory to God. What does it mean to “give glory to God?”  It’s the word is “doxa” in the Greek, and it means a “good opinion.” Abraham was strengthened in faith because he kept a good opinion of God, through thick or thin.

But again –  we know from Genesis and Galatians that Abraham tried the shortcut with Hagar, but it’s not recorded in Hebrews 11 in the “Hall of Fame of Faith.” 

The only thing recorded there is Abraham’s incredible faith. It was a faith that actually went even beyond the faith to believe that He could father a child at 99:

Hebrews 11:17-18 – By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, [As it says in Genesis 22 – his son, his only son, the son that he loved] and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

Can you imagine waiting 25 years for a promise,  God comes through,  but then He tests you by telling you to let go of it  TO see if you stilled believed that He would be faithful to His Word?!

Because Abraham counted God faithful, God counted him faithful.

It was the same with Sarah. She is remembered as a righteous person who counted God faithful.

While in Genesis 18 when the Lord came to Abraham to tell him that he would have a son within the year, Sarah laughed: 

Genesis 18:12-14 – Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” 13 And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, [in other words, I’ll be back about this time next year] and Sarah shall have a son.”

But Sarah’s doubt is not recorded in Hebrews 11 in the “Hall of Fame of Faith.” :

Hebrews 11:11-12 – By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

Even though both Abraham and Sarah had a season where they took matters in their own hands, it didn’t change the promise of God! And this reminds me of the New Covenant promise:

Hebrews 8:12 – …I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

What is remembered is that Abraham “did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God.” 

As I said last week, word “waver” is the Greek word diakrino which means to “separate, make a distinction, to be at variance with one’s self.”  When Abraham believed God about being the father of many nations, he wasn’t “at variance with himself.”

“Diakrino” is a compound word made up of two Greek words: “dia” a conjunction meaning “by means of” and “krino” meaning “condemnation.” together it literally means, “by means of condemnation”;  by means of having an opinion of yourself, your flesh. The word “doubt” literally has the word condemnation i

When we are at variance with ourselves it’s because we are doubting what God has said about us, and we doubt His promises towards us.

The way we give glory to God is to believe Him! It shows that we have a good opinion of Him.

How could Abraham have a good opinion of God when year after year God did not seem to be delivering on His promise?

Romans 4:21-22 – …and being fully convinced that what He [God] had promised He was also able to perform. [The Message says – Abraham didn’t tiptoe around God’s promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said.] 22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

Are we convinced that what God has promised, He is fully able to perform? YES! That’s “the righteousness of of faith!” 

You might be thinking, “Well, I know He’s able, but is He willing? Yes! For Abraham it was one and the same. Able and willing are inseparable when it comes to Jesus. 

This always reminds me of the leper that Jesus healed.

Luke 5:12-13, NASB – While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 13 And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; [The Message says, “I want to.” TPT says “Of course I am willing to heal you”] be cleansed.” And immediately the leprosy left him.

Wait on God

As we wait, consider what we are waiting on.  We are waiting on the Lord. We’re not waiting on a person to change or a circumstance to change. We’re waiting on God.

Psalm 27:13-14 – I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord; [wait – qavah – eagerly expect; look for. Biblical waiting is always eager expectation because we are waiting on God Himself!] Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!

The first time I looked up that word “qavah,” I had an instant picture of the father of the prodigal son on his front porch with binoculars because he knew his son was coming home! He was looking for his son with eager expectation! 

When we’re waiting on God, we’re always waiting for what is good. We don’t “wait” for bad news. We dread bad news. But we wait for good news!

One day the Spirit said to me, “Tricia, waiting doesn’t mean it will take a long time. Waiting simply means expecting something good. It will happen just as I said.”

Waiting Room

A couple of weeks ago I read an article by Brian Simmons, the author of The Passion Translation called “May Your Dream Come True.” In it he referred to the “waiting room” where you wait for your dreams to come true and for God’s promises to be fulfilled.  

From the article: “On our way to seeing our dreams fulfilled, we encounter difficulties and trials that we never asked for or imagined along the way. And we find ourselves ushered into God’s waiting room, the place no one likes to be. In the waiting rooms of life, it would be extremely easy to lose heart and to forget the dream that you carry. But if we forget our dreams, then it will only remain a dream and nothing more. We do not have to perceive seasons of waiting as a time of inactivity; instead, we can use them as a time of seeking the Lord for the next step forward. The Hebrew word for wait can also mean ‘to be entwined.’ For it’s in the waiting room that we begin to learn how to wrap our heart with His, combining our love for Him with His love for us. And it’s in the waiting room that we begin to understand that we can trust Him against all odds. God never gives us a dream or a promise that He does not intend to fulfill.”

In the article one of the sentences that jumped out: “On our way to seeing our dreams fulfilled, we encounter difficulties and trials that we never asked for or imagined along the way.”

We talk alot about asking and imagining, but there are some things we could never have imagined because God was protecting us. He knew that difficult seasons would surely come, but He knew He would take care of us through it.

In fact, we’ll be better off on the other side of it. We’ll talk about the boomerang effect on another night when we talk about the promise of protection and deliverance. 

The waiting room is a not a place where dreams die. They actually expand and grow. While we’re in the waiting room, we’re still active because it’s in the waiting room that we learn about the faithfulness of God in ways we could never have known without the passage of time and all the miracles that He does along the way.

Marker for a Miracle

One day about a year ago, as I was writing a prayer for someone I love, this phrase came out: “a marker for a miracle” (meaning –  anything I see or hear that is a manifestation of a lie, it marks a promise for a miracle).

I looked up definitions for “marker” and one of them in Oxford’s dictionary is “a promissory note, an IOU.” 

A marker for a miracle is a promissory note from God that He will perform a miracle for every time I see or hear an indication of any lie of the enemy.

I envisioned an x-ray showing a broken bone or a tumor. What I saw on the x-ray was a “marker for a miracle.” The broken bone or the tumor was only there to prove that God was going to do a miracle in that very spot.

Every time I see something that discourages me or makes me afraid,

every time I hear something that goes against the knowledge of God, His promises, or what I know to be true, I will take that thought captive to the obedience of Jesus on the cross and call it becomes a marker for a miracle.

It is a promissory note from God that He is going to do the impossible; He is going to do the exact opposite of what I am seeing and hearing.

Job

About 35 years ago Mark and I did a Bible study through our church in Memphis on the book of Job. The theme was “Why do bad things happen to good people?” No one was able to answer the question, and the study was pretty discouraging. 

But today, the story of Job is actually very encouraging. 

Job 42:10, 12, 16-17, NIV – the Lord restored [shuwb – to return, turn back, refresh, repair, bring back] his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before…. 12 The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part… 16 he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. 17 And so Job died, an old man and full of years.

God blessed Job in every way possible: His health, His family, His finances. All of it restored – and much more than before!

James brought up Job in the New Testament as an example of God’s compassion, mercy, and blessing:

James 5:10-11, NIV – Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience [noun form of “bears long” – makrothymia] in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. [The Message – they put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course!] You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

God is the same today as He was in Job’s time, but there is a big difference between Job and us. 

Listen to Job’s words in Job 9, while he was in the thick of his trial:

Job 9:32-35, NLT – God is not a mortal like me, so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial. 33 If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together. 34 The mediator could make God stop beating me, [was God beating Job? no – it was the devil. But when there’s no Mediator, it seems like God is doing it] and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment. 35 Then I could speak to him without fear, but I cannot do that in my own strength.

Have you ever seen that? It’s amazing, isn’t it? I love the Bible.

1 John 4:17-19 – [not in your notes, but I have to say it hear] Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. [literally punishment] But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.

The difference between Job and us is that we have a Mediator!

1 Timothy 2:5-6 – For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all…

Hebrews 7:25 – Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

The Greek word for intercession literally means to “strike the mark with an arrow.”  [Greek is “entygchanō]

The Greek word for sin is “harmartia” and it means to miss the mark and fall short – like when an archer pulls back his bow, aims the arrow and tries to hit the bullseye and fails. 

Jesus took away our “missing of the mark” with His intercession.

Romans 8:31-34 – If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession [entygchanō – He strikes the bullseye] for us. [He ever lives as our Mediator]

And this is the basis by which we pray in the name of Jesus – because He ever lives to make intercession for us by His blood and by His body broken for us and by His stripes.

And this is the basis by which we come into agreement with one another as the body and church of Jesus Christ.

For those who have considered giving up – don’t. God has NOT said no. If you still have breath, do not give up!

2 Corinthians 1:19-20, TLB – He [Jesus] isn’t one to say yes when he means no. He always does exactly what he says. 20 He carries out and fulfills all of God’s promises, no matter how many of them there are; and we have told everyone how faithful he is, giving glory to his name.

Reading of scriptures

In closing, enjoy this list of scriptures about waiting, about time, and about God’s plans. 

Jeremiah 17:7-8, NIV – “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. 8  They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Lamentations 3:21-26 – This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. 22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. 26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the Lord.

Isaiah 40:28-31, NASB – Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives strength to the weary, And to the one who lacks might He increases power. 30 Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, 31 Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

Galatians 6:9 –  Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary.

Psalm 37:4-7 – Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. 6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. 7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.

Romans 8:26-28, The Message – Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

Psalm 130:5-6, The Message – I pray to God—my life a prayer—and wait for what He’ll say and do. My life’s on the line before God, my Lord, waiting and watching till morning, waiting and watching till morning.

James 5:7-8, NIV – See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm…

Micah 7:7, NASB – But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.

Isaiah 49:23, NIV – “…those who hope in Me will not be disappointed.”

Psalm 25:1-3, NIV – No one who hopes in You will ever be put to shame. 

Psalm 5:1-3, NIV – Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament. 2 Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. 3 In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait expectantly

Psalm 62:1-2, The Message – God, the one and only—I’ll wait as long as he says. Everything I need comes from him

Psalm 62:5-8, TPT – I am standing in absolute stillness, silent before the One I love, waiting as long as it takes for Him to rescue me. Only God is my Savior, and He will not fail me. 6 For He alone is my safe place. His wraparound presence always protects me as my Champion Defender. There’s no risk of failure with God! So why would I let worry paralyze me, even when troubles multiply around me? 7 God’s glory is all around me! His wraparound presence is all I need, for the Lord is my Savior, my hero, and my life-giving strength. 8 Trust only in God every moment! Tell Him all your troubles and pour out your heart-longings to Him. Believe me when I tell you—He will help you!

Isaiah 26:3, The Message – People with their minds set on you, you keep completely whole, Steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don’t quit. Depend on God and keep at it because in the Lord God you have a sure thing.

Psalm 55:22, NASB – Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

Jeremiah 29:11, NIV – For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Psalm 31:14-15, NASB – But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord, I say, “You are my God.” 15  My times are in Your hand…

Ecclesiastes 3:11, NIV – He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Jeremiah 30:3, The Message – “The time is coming when I will turn everything around for My people…”

Isaiah 46:3-4, 9-10, NLT – “I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born. 4 I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.… 9 Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. 10 Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.”

Psalm 90:4, NIV – A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.

Hebrews 4:4 – …the works were finished from the foundation of the world…

Revelation 13:8 – …the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

1 Peter 1:19-20, NIV – [You were redeemed] with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.

Romans 5:6, NIV – You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

2 Timothy 1:9, NLT – For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was His plan from before the beginning of time—to show us His grace through Christ Jesus.

Matthew 25:34 – Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

Ephesians 1:4, NLT – Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

Ephesians 1:11, TPT – Before we were even born, He gave us our destiny; that we would fulfill the plan of God who always accomplishes every purpose and plan in His heart.

Philippians 1:6, TLB – And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in His grace until His task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns.

Matthew 6:8 – your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him

Daniel 10:12, NLT – “Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.”

Psalm 116:1-9, NLT – I love the LORD because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. 2 Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! 3 Death wrapped its ropes around me; the terrors of the grave overtook me. I saw only trouble and sorrow. 4 Then I called on the name of the LORD: “Please, LORD, save me!” 5 How kind the LORD is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours! 6 The LORD protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and he saved me. 7 Let my soul be at rest again, for the LORD has been good to me. 8 He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. 9 And so I walk in the LORD’s presence as I live here on earth!

Psalm 84:6, NLT – When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.

Psalm 107:6-9 – Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He delivered them out of their distresses. 7 And He led them forth by the right way, That they might go to a city for a dwelling place. 8  Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! 9 For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.

Amos 9:13-14, The Message – “Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. You won’t be able to keep up. Everything will be happening at once—and everywhere you look, blessings! Blessings like wine pouring off the mountains and hills. I’ll make everything right again for my people.” 

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