The Character Of A Waiter by Pastor Anwinli Ojeikere: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

The Foundation of Waiting

Waiting on God begins with knowing Him. You cannot wait on the person whose voice you do not recognize. John 10:27 — His sheep hear His voice, He knows them, and they follow Him. This is not passive waiting; it is the posture of one who has cultivated a relationship deep enough to discern when God speaks.

One of the reasons sheep are such a fitting picture of the believer is that a sheep is, by nature, senseless. A sheep does not have sense of its own. A sheep needs a shepherd at all times. Psalm 23:1 — The Lord is my shepherd. In other words, to be led by a shepherd you must first be a sheep. If you are not senseless, you do not need spiritual guidance. If you rely too much on your own sensibility and intelligence, you do not need the person of God.

The Two Characters of a Sheep

Research reveals two defining characteristics of sheep that explain why God likens us to them.

• Sheep are senseless. They do not have understanding of their own. Proverbs 3:5-6 — Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Human understanding will fail you. You will see people with the highest degrees who could not master the art of marriage. Intelligence is good, but your human understanding has a ceiling. As a sheep, you need to depend on Him completely.
• Sheep are directionless. They have no path of their own to follow. They need to hear the shepherd to be directed. If you already have a fixed direction in your life, there is no need to be directed. But if you come to Jesus and say, \"Lord, I do not know the way — you who know my tomorrow, help me\" — that is the posture that opens the door to His leading. He shall direct your paths.

What It Means to Be a Waiter

Waiters are followers. They are the ones who say, \"Lord, I want to do your will. Anywhere you send me, that is where I will go.\" A waiter is one who remains positioned to be interrupted by God at any moment. No matter the ambition or goal they may carry, they are always ready to say: not my will, but Thine be done.

But you cannot make this confession if you do not know Jesus. You cannot have this declaration without knowing His voice. How well do you know Him? When was the last time He spoke to you? When was the last time you sat in quietness and said, \"Lord, I want to know you more. I want to hear your voice\"?

It is not only in the moment you need to choose a spouse that you should seek Him. He says, in all your ways, acknowledge Him. I am going to this friend — Lord, what do you think? I want to confide in someone before I speak — Lord, can you tell me? At every point in time, you are in relationship with Him because you know your life is empty without Him.

Renewed Strength for Waiting

For those who have given up on their assignment, on purpose, on the very reason they were created — there is a call to be revived. The Holy Ghost carries strength for those who have grown weak. He energizes. He empowers. He revitalizes.