The Delay Is Over: It's Time to See It | John F. Hannah | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

The Delay Is Over: It's Time to See It

New Life Covenant Church Southeast • Mar 2, 2025 • 61 min

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

Summary

In this encouraging message, Pastor John F. Hannah teaches through the life of Abraham to remind believers that a delay from God is never a denial. When impatience leads us to force outcomes in our own strength, we pause God's clock and create unnecessary complications. However, God is faithful to step back into our situations, remove guilt and shame, and restart the clock on every promise He has spoken.

Themes

God's Timing and PromisesOvercoming ImpatienceFaith and PerseveranceSpiritual MaturityGod's Faithfulness and Power

Key Points

1.
Delay does not mean denial; what God has spoken will come to pass in His appointed time.
2.
God often delays blessings until believers mature spiritually, preparing them to handle elevation and give Him glory.
3.
When people grow impatient waiting on God, they often try to force outcomes through human effort, putting God's clock on pause.
4.
Self-made opportunities and shortcuts must not be mistaken for divine provision from God.
5.
Even after years of silence and human mistakes, God reappears to restart the clock on His promises.
6.
God reveals Himself as El Shaddai (God Almighty) to invite believers out of shame and guilt into a fresh season of walking blamelessly.
7.
Sarah received power to conceive because she focused on God's faithful track record of goodness rather than her physical limitations.
8.
Abraham remained firm in faith despite natural impossibilities by giving glory to God and staying fully persuaded of His power.
9.
When a believer holds onto God's faithfulness in one hand and His power in the other, divine promises are birthed.

Sermon Moments

“Delay means someone or something is late or slow according to a schedule, but delay does not mean denial.”

“You put God on the clock... and when it doesn't happen after a certain age, you turn the clock off. You don't want it anymore because you didn't get it when you wanted it.”

“Had I given it to you in your younger years, you would have messed it up. But now you're at the age where you can handle being blessed and carrying elevation.”

“When you put your hands in it, the clock stops. It is amazing how you look at opportunities and put God into stuff that He's not in.”

“You have to close out certain chapters to give God space to do what He said He was going to do.”

“At 99, God steps in and reveals Himself as El Shaddai—Almighty God—telling you to get up out of your guilt and shame because it's a new season.”

“Hold God's faithfulness in one hand and His all-powerful ability in the other hand; when faithfulness and power get together, a promise is birthed.”

This Week

Stop trying to force outcomes through human effort and place your timetable back in God's hands.

Identify areas of regret or past missteps and receive God's forgiveness to start fresh with a clean slate.

Write down specific testimonies of God's past faithfulness to strengthen your trust during long seasons of waiting.

Meditate on God's identity as El Shaddai (God Almighty) whenever you confront situations that seem naturally impossible.

Replace anxious thoughts and doubt with daily verbal praise, thanking God for His power and timing.

Encourage fellow believers who feel stuck or delayed by reminding them that God's delay is never a denial.

Live with active spiritual expectation, trusting God to fulfill His promised word in His perfect appointed season.

Remember This

A delay from God is never a denial; when you anchor your faith in His past faithfulness and His unlimited power, He will restart the clock and fulfill His promise.

A Challenge for You

Step out of guilt, silence, and self-made plans to fully yield your life to Almighty God, trusting Him to anchor your faith and fulfill His word in your life.

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