When the Waiting Comes | Jentezen Franklin

Monday, March 9

Drawing from the life of Abraham, in this message, Pastor Jentezen Franklin shares how to fight for your family, even when you struggle to believe God’s promises. While you wait, if you protect your mind from doubt and fear, God will surely bring His promises to pass!

Key Verses

Genesis 12:1-4; Genesis 14:12-15:2; Genesis 13:7-11; Mark 9:24; Genesis 15:9-11

Key Points

Come out of the world. When you get saved, you can’t stay the same. There’s a difference between walking with God and just walking with someone who walks with God; you must have your own walk with God. There may come times of trial, but God will bless you and give you vision if you walk with Him in every season.

There is no battle more important than the battle for your family. When trials come, don’t just hope that things get better; fight for your family. The first battle in the Bible was someone fighting for their family. If ever there was a time to fight for your family, it’s right now.

There are days of belief and unbelief. Even when you believe, there may come times of unbelief. There will be days when you know God’s going to do it, and days when you doubt. But God can help you with your unbelief. God is not a man that He should lie. If He promised it, He will bring it to pass.

Eliminate the perches. Eliminate any place a vulture of doubt or fear can land in your mind. Prayerlessness, worry, and fear are all places for the enemy to perch on. Tell those thoughts of fear and worry that they can’t land in your mind.

Introduction

Today we’ll explore the message, “When the Waiting Comes” by Jentezen Franklin. The message encouraged us that the most difficult part of faith is often not the calling or the promise—it is the waiting in between. During that waiting season, God sees every sacrifice, every prayer, and every act of worship we offer to Him.

In the sermon, we see the example of Abraham, who obeyed God’s call to leave everything familiar and follow Him into the unknown. Even in uncertainty, Abraham continued to build altars, worship, and trust God. Yet when the promise seemed delayed, the real battle began. The waiting season brought doubts, fears, and “buzzards” of discouragement that tried to steal his confidence in God’s promise. But Abraham chose to guard the sacrifice and continue trusting God.

This message reminds us that the waiting season is not wasted. God sees the obedience, the worship, and the sacrifices we make while believing for His promises. Even when nothing seems to be happening, God is still working—and He is faithful to fulfill what He has spoken.

What stood out to you from Sunday’s message?

The Call to Leave and Build Altars

In Genesis 12:1–4, Abraham receives a call that would change everything. God tells him to leave his country, his relatives, and the familiar security of his father’s house. Abraham is asked to step away from comfort, predictability, and the life he had always known. This “coming out” was not just about geography—it represented leaving behind the old life in order to walk fully in God’s purpose.

Abraham’s response shows the heart of true obedience. He didn’t wait until every detail was clear; he trusted God enough to move forward. As he journeyed, Abraham repeatedly built altars, places of worship and surrender that marked his devotion to God. Each altar was a reminder that his life belonged to the Lord and that every step of the promise required dependence on Him.

This also reveals an important contrast in the story. Lot traveled with Abraham, but Lot largely lived on borrowed faith. While Abraham built altars and cultivated a personal relationship with God, Lot depended on Abraham’s spiritual covering. The message reminds us that genuine salvation brings real transformation and liberty—we cannot rely forever on someone else’s relationship with God.

The practical lesson is clear: every believer must develop their own walk with God. Like Abraham, we are called to leave behind what once defined us and build spiritual altars in our lives—moments of prayer, worship, and surrender that keep us connected to the Lord. When we obey and devote ourselves to Him, we position ourselves to see His promises unfold, even in the waiting.

What does Abraham’s willingness to leave his family, security, and familiarity in Genesis 12:1–4 teach us about obedience to God?

How did Abraham building altars demonstrate his devotion and dependence on God throughout his journey?

Why is it important for believers to develop their own personal relationship with God rather than relying on someone else’s faith, like Lot did?

Fighting for Family

Our families are the ones we are blessed to endure this life on earth with. God’s perfect plan for family is a loving father and mother rooted in the teaching of Christ Jesus, to teach their children—blessings from God—to live upright lives that honor our Father in Heaven. The Ten Commandments command children to “Honor your father and mother.” In this fallen world, not all of us are blessed with the ideal family that God envisioned. As followers of the risen Lord, we are blessed with the extended family of being brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus and are therefore called to serve as missionaries to the lost. The Great Commission of Jesus instructs us to “make disciples of all nations,” teaching the gospel to all, thus providing an opportunity for all of mankind to learn of the love of God. Each new believer then has the opportunity to create the beautiful image of God’s family.

In Genesis we learn that Abram was informed his nephew Lot had been taken captive while living in Sodom. Abram gathered together his trained men with the intention of freeing Lot from his captors. Pastor Franklin points out that this is the first recorded occurrence of war in the Bible. It was not about land or money; it was all about family. Through the grace of God, the victory was won, Lot was freed along with the king of Sodom. The king of Sodom was so grateful to Abram that he offered him all the spoils of the war—the riches of material possessions obtained.

Abram’s reply is found in Genesis 14:22–23 (NIV): “But Abram said to the king of Sodom, ‘With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, “I made Abram rich.”

Abram knew from whom his blessings flowed; he wanted to give all glory to God.

Pastor reminds us that it is better for us not to be for sale. God gives blessings freely: “Seek first the kingdom of God.” Our God will make us free indeed; He is able to move mountains. Pastor often exhorts us to fight for our marriage, fight for our children, and fight for our children’s children. We are encouraged to heal the wounds of the past and not give the enemy any stronghold in our lives. God will deliver our family from the clutches of the enemy, and with faith, prayer, and example, we can be a part of their deliverance.

Pastor’s challenge: How many of us are willing to go to war for our families?

Where in your family life right now is God calling you to “fight” spiritually (prayer, standing in the gap, breaking strongholds)? How does Abraham’s rescue of Lot inspire you?

Abraham refused Sodom’s riches so God alone got the glory. What “shortcut” or worldly offer tempts you in your family/finances/breakthrough? How can you say, “I won’t take even a thread”?

Pastor asks: “How many are willing to go to war for our families?” Name one family member or situation the enemy is targeting. What’s one faith step you’ll take this week to fight for their freedom?

When the Waiting Comes – Dealing with the Buzzards

After Abraham’s obedience and family rescue, God reaffirmed: “Do not be afraid… I am your shield and your exceeding great reward” (Genesis 15:1). But the promise required waiting. Abraham prepared the sacrifice—animals split, halves laid opposite—then sat in darkness. That’s when buzzards arrived, circling to steal the offering, worship, and promise.

These birds symbolize spiritual attacks in the waiting season: doubt, fear, bad reports, depression mocking God’s word. They target your family promises most—addiction, shame, lies saying “they’ll never change.” Pastor Jentezen said Abraham fought back: “Get off my prayers, you sorry buzzards. Get away from my praise.” You can’t stop birds overhead, but don’t let them nest.

Four ways to drive them off:

Eliminate perches — Prayerlessness, complaining, worry, negative thinking give the enemy a landing spot. Remove them.

Use past victories as scarecrows — Remind yourself (and the enemy): “I’ve seen God move before. No weapon prospers.”

Bring the fire — Buzzards flee fire. Invite the Holy Ghost’s fire through passionate praise and prayer.

Make noise — Declare the Word, worship loudly, give no rest to the enemy.

What “waiting season” are you in right now? What buzzards (doubt, fear, bad news) are attacking your promise or family?

Which of the four ways (eliminate perches, past victories, fire, noise) do you need most this week? How will you apply it?

How can you “make noise” through praise or declaration to protect a family member or promise?

Conclusion

The journey of Abraham shows us an important pattern in the life of faith. First, he obeyed God by leaving the familiar and stepping into the unknown. Then he fought for his family when his nephew Lot was taken captive, showing us that some promises require spiritual battle. Finally, he faced the difficult waiting season—protecting the promise God gave him while doubt and discouragement tried to steal his faith.

The message reminds us of several powerful truths: sacrifice doesn’t spoil, worship isn’t wasted, and God sees you in the waiting. When the enemy sends “buzzards” of fear, bad news, doubt, or discouragement, we must drive them away through prayer, praise, faith, and the fire of the Holy Spirit. Instead of giving the enemy a place to perch in our thoughts, we guard our hearts and stand on God’s promises.

This week, let’s take intentional steps of faith:

Identify one family member or promise that feels under attack.

Commit to proxy prayer for them every day this week.

Eliminate one personal “perch” (negative thinking, worry, or discouragement).

Add more fire to your worship and prayer time, reminding yourself of God’s past victories.

God is still faithful. Even when the waiting feels long, He has not forgotten the promise.

Closing Prayer

Father, we thank You that You are faithful in every season—even in the waiting. Strengthen our confidence in Your promises and help us stand firm when doubt or discouragement tries to take hold. Today we lift up our families before You. Break every chain, release every loved one who is being held back by fear, addiction, or deception, and restore hope in every home represented here. Give us courage to fight in prayer, faith to trust Your timing, and hearts full of worship while we wait. We believe You are working, and we declare breakthrough over our families and our promises. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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