This document contains announcements for church events at First Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi on Easter Sunday. It includes details on a prayer effort called "Praying For Our Jerusalem" to visit church members' homes to pray with them. It also lists upcoming events like a Sunday school class and luncheon. The majority of the document is a Sunday school lesson on what it means to wait for the Lord. It discusses waiting with anticipation like a child waits for Christmas, and strengthening one's relationship with God by "weaving strands" like prayer, Bible study, fellowship and sharing one's faith.

1. Matthew
CHAPTER 28
Verse 1-10
April 22, 2012 Easter Sunday
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI
Announcements!
"Praying For Our Jerusalem" Acts 1:8
Praying For Our Jerusalem is a prayer effort by which we attempt to go into every
home of our church family for the sole purpose of praying with the people in that
home. No gimmicks, no signing up for something, just to pray. Prayer Warriors will visit
up to four homes and pray with our church family from April 1-30.
BREATH OF LIFE
What: A Sunday School Class for those with a chronic cough.
When: Sundays @ 8 a.m.
Where: At FBCJ in the Chapel Parlor
Next Generation Leader Luncheon
What: A Luncheon For Young Professionals ages 20-39
"Are You A Contributor or Consumer"
When: Thursday, April 26, 2012 @ 11:45 a.m.
Where: Christian Life Center Auditorium
Who: Chris Maddux, Speaker
Price: $10.00 Per Person
Reservations: Call (601) 949-1941 or online at www.FBCJ.org

2. Mark The Date
What: FRIEND DAY
When: SUNDAY, APRIL 29th
Goal: 2,500 in Sunday School
Offering warm fellowship and refreshments!
Sunday School Lesson!
Commentaries Consulted:
 The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Copyright © Moody Press and
John MacArthur, Jr., 1983-2007
 Wait on the Lord by Steven P. Wickstrom
 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
What are we waiting for?
Philippians 3:20
“For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord
Jesus Christ;”
Because of Jesus’ promise to return, believers are to be: "awaiting eagerly the
revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ" 1 Cor 1:7, and “we are to wait for Him from
Heaven, Whom God raised from the dead, that is Jesus, Who rescues us from the
wrath to come." 1 Thessalonians 1:10
Psalm 27:14
14 “Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the
LORD.”
So how are we to “eagerly wait” for Him?
This word, wait is also found in Isaiah 40:31.
Isaiah 40:31
God texted this message to us through Isaiah over 2700 years ago!
Isaiah 40:31
31 “Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength;
(the major message of this passage is about strength)
They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk
and not become weary.” Isaiah 40:31

3. In life - occasionally we soar like an eagle, sometimes we run and don’t get tired,
but most of life is lived at a walk.
So we must learn to walk with the Lord (as Enoch did) and also to wait on the Lord.
In doing so, we will gain new strength!
Wait in Isaiah 40:31 comes from the Hebrew word – qavah – which has both a literal
meaning and a figurative meaning.
The literal meaning of the word qavah (wait) is: “to bind together like a cord”
Think of making a rope (cord) by twisting or weaving (binding) thin strands together to
form the rope.

4. The more strands that are twisted or woven together in a rope, the greater is its
strength.

5. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NIV
9 “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:
10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no
one to help him up!
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm
alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three
strands is not quickly broken.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NIV
A piece of string cannot lift very much weight because it does not have very many
strands in it.

6. A rope however can lift hundreds of pounds because it is made up of many strands.
When a rope lifts or pulls a load, it stretches a little while it is working. As it stretches,
the individual strands are pulled closer together.

7. Now imagine that One of those strands in the rope is Unbreakable!
That One would be none other than Jesus Christ!

8. While this “stress” is on the rope, the individual strands are pulled closer together,
closer to the Unbreakable One - to lift or to pull the load.
John 16:33
“In the world you have tribulation (pressure), but take courage; I have overcome the
world.” John 16:33

9. So our strength comes through being united with Christ.
Philippians 4:13
13 “I can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens me.”
2 Thessalonians 3:3
3 “The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.”
The “rope” of our lives gains us new strength by being twisted or woven or bound
together with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
We are to entwine our lives around His life while we are waiting!
A rope's strength remains constant even when it is not being used.
 When a rope is not being used, what is it doing?
1. The rope is “waiting.”
2. It “waits” for its Owner to put it to use.
So how exactly do we “wait” upon the Lord?
 The best analogy again is this one of a rope made up of many strands.
 The literal definition of “qavah” implies strength through numbers.
A rope is made up of many strands and so is our relationship with God.
 The more “strands” that we weave into our relationship with God, the stronger
that relationship will be.
What strands make up our relationship with God?

10. • Pray without ceasing.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 We are practicing the presence of God when we pray so we
must show up for practice.
• Read and Study the Bible daily - 2 Timothy 2:15
• Memorize the Word - Psalm 119:11
• Meditate on His Word day and night - Psalm 1:1-2

11. • Keep our focus on Jesus - Hebrews 12:2b
Hebrews 12:2b
2b “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith,”
Hebrews 12:2b
• Assemble with other Christians - Hebrews 10:24-25
Hebrews 10:24-25
24 “and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but
encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
Hebrews 10:24-25
• Share the Gospel - Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 19
• What are some other “strands” that we can weave into strengthening our
relationship with God?
That is how we renew and gain new strength.
That is how we rise up with wings like an eagle's.
That is how we run through life and not get weary.
That is how we walk through problems and adversity without fainting.
By weaving all the strands together, we “wait” upon the Lord. So while we are
waiting, we are to entwine our lives around His life!
So the literal meaning of the word qavah (wait) is: “to bind together like a cord”
The figurative definition of the word “qavah” is: “to hope, to expect.” The figurative
meaning of “qavah” conveys anticipation.

12. It is the same type of waiting that children do on Christmas morning while waiting for
Mom and Dad to get out of bed so they can open presents.
It is also the same type of waiting that a child does when told that their Granddaddy
built them a playhouse and is coming to pick them up and take them to play in it for
the first time!
So the child stares out of the window expectantly anticipating the arrival of the One
who loves them.
Luke 2:25-38
25 “And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was
righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was
upon him.
26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death
before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the
Child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law,
28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to
Your word;

13. 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said
about Him.
34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is
appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed—
35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many
hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her
marriage,
37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving
night and day with fastings and prayers.
38 At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and
continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of
Jerusalem.
Luke 2: 25-38
Until Christ returns, believers "groan within themselves, waiting eagerly for their
adoption as sons, the redemption of the body" (Romans 8:23).