Waiting on God
Bill Chapman’s message centred on the theme of Waiting on God and the importance of being attuned to His presence and purpose. He began by sharing a personal thought: "Too many of my people see something that I am doing as unusual and they dismiss me and miss the angels." This highlighted how easily we overlook God's work when it doesn't align with our expectations.
Bill urged the congregation to be open to the adventure God wants to take us on—experiencing His glory, grace, and power. He emphasised that pressing into unfamiliar and uncomfortable places, where only angels tread, requires us to step out of our comfort zones. This could be as simple as showing compassion, such as giving someone a hug. The key question posed was: Are we really listening to the Holy Spirit?
Reflecting on Isaiah 40:27-31, Bill reminded us that God never tires and provides strength to those who wait upon Him. He challenged the church to consider what it means to truly "wait on God" and how often we are willing to do so. We often follow God’s preordained plans passively, but Bill called for an active response: "God, how can I serve? Use me."
Through biblical stories, Bill illustrated the power of saying "yes" to God. Jacob’s journey, where he encountered angels and realised God's presence, shows how obedience can lead to divine encounters. Bill invited the church to imagine what Llanelli could look like if everyone who follows Christ took an adventurous step of faith, trusting God even in the unknown.
Bill referenced other biblical stories to illustrate the importance of obedience:
- Gideon had to trust God's plan by reducing his army and relying on trumpets and torches.
- Joshua followed God’s unusual command to bring down the walls of Jericho by marching silently for six days.
- Peter responded to Cornelius' vision from an angel, opening the door for the gospel to reach new places.
The message ended with a call to action: We must learn to linger in God's presence, be faithful in prayer, scripture reading, and Sabbath observance, and ask God to use us in His transformative plans. Through trust and obedience, we can experience the adventure God has prepared for us.
