In The Meantime Part II | Charles Blake II | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

In The Meantime Part II

Charles Blake II

West Angeles Church of God in Christ • Sep 27, 2026 • 164 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In this message, Pastor Charles Blake II addresses 'the meantime'—the painful, uncomfortable gap between receiving a promise from God and seeing it fulfilled in life. Looking at the prophet Habakkuk's dialogue with God amidst hardship and injustice, Pastor Blake encourages believers not to mistake process for punishment. True spiritual maturity comes when we stop trusting in outward circumstances or temporary vehicles and choose to anchor our faith in the unchanging God who promises to finish what He started.

Themes

Trusting God in Seasons of WaitingProcess and TransformationGod's Unchanging CharacterPurpose vs. CircumstancesFaith Over Feeling

Pastor's Points

1.

Step 1: Get into relationship with the One who put promise and purpose inside of you.

2.

Step 2: Lean into studying His Word and acknowledging Him in all your ways.

3.

Step 3: Ask God what He wants you to do right now, not just what to do next.

4.

Step 4: Keep your focus on the Promise Maker rather than the vehicle you thought would bring the promise.

5.

Step 5: Continue to prepare yourself so you are ready to receive the promise when it manifests.

Key Points

1.
The 'meantime' is the period between when God gives a promise and when that promise is actually realized.
2.
Asking God honest questions during difficult times is not a sign of unbelief, but a sign of faith looking for divine answers.
3.
What feels like divine punishment is often just the natural consequences of human choices or God's refining process.
4.
Transformation is rarely pleasant or comfortable; God uses the pressure and heat of the meantime to purge and mature us.
5.
Do not put your ultimate hope in a job, proposal, or career path—put your faith in the God who gave the vision, not the vehicle delivering it.
6.
God delays certain blessings because He must first prepare our character to hold and manage what He wants to give us.
7.
The richest land on earth is the graveyard, filled with unfulfilled potential, unwritten books, and unpursued callings that were abandoned during the struggle.
8.
True spiritual maturity is reaching the place where your faith no longer depends on visible harvests or favorable conditions, but solely on who God is.

Sermon Moments

“Habakkuk's name means to wrestle or embrace wrestling, reflecting his deep struggle between what he believed about God and what he saw around him.”

“Touching a hot stove after your mother warned you isn't her judging you; it's simply the direct consequence of your own action.”

“We are most tempted to quit not at the start when excitement is high, nor at the finish when the line is in view, but right in the middle—in the meantime.”

“Evangelist Desane Parker reminded us from Paul's shipwreck that we must keep our faith in the One who made the promise, not in the ship taking us there.”

“Miles Munroe noted that the richest land on earth isn't the oil fields of the Middle East, but the graveyard—full of unfulfilled potential and unwritten songs.”

“As Elizabeth Elliot said, 'Do not dig up and doubt what you planted in faith.' Let the good Lord finish His work.”

“Habakkuk reached a maturity where his faith no longer relied on fig trees, vines, or cattle, but anchored strictly in who God is.”

This Week

Identify one area of your daily schedule or personal life that you have kept hidden from God and surrender it to Him today.

Stop asking God only about your next big life move; instead, ask Him in prayer what He wants you to obey and do right now.

Reflect on a current frustration or trial and reframe it not as God's punishment, but as His intentional process of refinement.

Examine where you have placed your trust, ensuring your faith relies on the Promise Maker rather than a job, career, or specific vehicle.

Commit to consistent Bible study this week to learn God's path and discover how to align your decisions with His Word.

When facing unexpected setbacks, resist the urge to doubt what you planted in faith—keep watering and trusting God with the yield.

Write down Habakkuk 3:17-18 and meditate on choosing joy in God even when surrounding circumstances look empty or unfavorable.

Remember This

The meantime is not punishment but a vital process of refinement; keep your faith fixed on the Promise Maker, because He will faithfully complete the work He began in you.

A Challenge for You

Are you strong enough to survive your meantime? Submit yourself to God's refining process today, stay focused on Him, and refuse to let temporary discomfort rob the world of the purpose He placed inside you.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.