Podcast Summary: "When the Waiting Comes" with Jentezen Franklin

Podcast: Jentezen Franklin at Free Chapel
Episode Date: March 9, 2026
Speaker/Host: Jentezen Franklin

Overview

In this stirring message, Pastor Jentezen Franklin explores the theme of waiting on God—what it means to live in the space between God's promise and its fulfillment. Using the story of Abraham (Genesis 12–15) as the foundation, Franklin unpacks how faith, devotion, and spiritual warfare play a part during seasons of waiting, showing both the struggle and the hope inherent in trusting God's timing for oneself and one's family.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Calling of Abraham: Radical Obedience

• God’s call to Abraham was “seemingly over the top” (06:27), asking him to leave all that was familiar (family, security, homeland) without revealing the destination.
• Abraham’s call came from a context of idol worship; yet, he heard and obeyed God even without the spiritual pedigree.
• Quote:

  “It's a powerful thing when God calls you... If you ever encounter Jesus Christ and he calls you and he saves you as he will, if you'll call on him, he will call you out of the world that you're in.” (07:14)

2. The Importance of Personal Faith and Association

• Lot, Abraham’s nephew, prospered only by association with Abraham, not through his own relationship with God.
• Franklin warns: Don’t rely on the faith of others—your walk must be personal and direct.
• Quote:

  “Sometimes you can only walk with somebody who's walking with God so far, and then you'll miss it. You got to have your own walk.” (09:05)

• The people you associate with are “a photograph of your future.” (10:33)

3. The Battle for Family: Spiritual Warfare

• Franklin emphasizes that the “first battle in the Bible was not over land or borders. It was for family” (15:02). Abraham risked all to rescue Lot, modeling the necessity of fighting for loved ones in spiritual battle.
• He passionately urges listeners to prioritize the spiritual well-being of their families over petty offenses or material gains.
• Key moment:

  “There is no battle more important than the battle... for the family. You have to fight for your family. You have to fight for your marriage, you have to fight for your children.” (15:02)

4. The Choice Between God and the World's Offer

• After the rescue, Abraham is faced with the King of Sodom (representing the world’s riches and shortcuts) and Melchizedek (symbolizing divine provision).
• Abraham refuses to enrich himself through Sodom’s wealth, choosing integrity and God’s promises over expedient gain.
• Memorable declaration:

  “I will not take anything from yours, lest you should say, I have made Abraham rich.” (04:33)

5. The Season of Waiting: Between Promise and Fulfillment

• Despite Abraham’s radical obedience, fulfillment did not come instantly. God reiterates “I am your shield, your exceeding great reward,” yet Abraham still wrestles with delayed fulfillment (“I go childless,” 22:32).
• Franklin connects this to the lived experience of believers:
  There are days of strong belief and days of doubt—“Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief.” (23:12)
• Key quote:

  “There are days when you feel like it's going to happen. And there's days when you wonder, where is God? How long, O Lord, how do I know this thing is going to happen?” (23:08)

6. Driving Away the Vultures: Defending the Promise

• The “vultures” represent spiritual attacks—doubts, discouragement, negative reports—that circle during seasons of waiting (27:07).
• Abraham physically drives away buzzards from his sacrifice, symbolizing spiritual persistence to protect what God has promised.
• Franklin’s imagery:

  “While I'm waiting, I am not about to let you steal the promise of God... Right before the breakthrough comes, the vultures... show up.” (27:28)

7. Practical Spiritual Advice: Keeping the Promise Safe

Franklin offers practical, memorable spiritual counsel (32:39–36:47):

• Eliminate perches: Remove places of prayerlessness or weak praise where negativity can “land” in your life.

  • “Prayerlessness is a perch. Pitiful little weak praise is a perch.” (32:41)

• Hang up an effigy: Remind yourself and the enemy of past victories—let your faithfulness in trials serve as a warning to doubts and fears.

  • “You ought to hang up some of those past victories and say, I just want to remind you that the Lord did it then and he'll do it again.” (34:39)

• Pyrotechnics (Fire):
  Maintain spiritual fervor—a passionate, fiery relationship with God drives away discouragement and defeat.

  • “We need fire in our worship. We need fire in our preaching. We need fire in our relationship with Jesus. That's what the devil fears.” (36:49)

8. God’s Arrival: Faith Rewarded

• After Abraham’s perseverance, God appears as a flaming torch, passes through the sacrifices, and reiterates his covenant—signifying God’s faithfulness to those who wait.
• Quote:

  “After he drove them away… a flaming torch… it was God. And he walked between the sacrifices… driving away the vultures of death and doubt and discouragement.” (38:39)

9. Final Admonition: Take Action for Your Family

• Franklin calls families—especially fathers and mothers—to spiritual arms: don’t let the buzzards of division, addiction, or apathy settle in your home.
• Key challenge:

  “If you feel like the first battle in the Bible was for a man's family, that ought to be first in your life. My family.” (41:01)

Memorable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• On radical obedience:
  “It's a powerful thing when God calls you... If you ever encounter Jesus Christ and he calls you and he saves you as he will, if you'll call on him, he will call you out of the world that you're in.” (07:14)
• On spiritual independence:
  “You can only walk with someone who's walking with God so far... you got to have your own walk.” (09:05)
• On fighting for family:
  “There is no battle more important than the battle... for the family. You have to fight for your family. You have to fight for your marriage, you have to fight for your children.” (15:02)
• On the world's shortcuts:
  “I will not take anything from yours, lest you should say, I have made Abraham rich.” (04:33)
• On waiting:
  “There are days when you feel like it's going to happen. And there's days when you wonder, where is God? How long, O Lord, how do I know this thing is going to happen?” (23:08)
• On spiritual attack in waiting:
  “While I'm waiting, I am not about to let you steal the promise of God... Right before the breakthrough comes, the vultures... show up.” (27:28)
• On driving out negativity:
  “Prayerlessness is a perch. Pitiful little weak praise is a perch.” (32:41)
• On fire in faith:
  “We need fire in our worship. We need fire in our preaching. We need fire in our relationship with Jesus. That's what the devil fears.” (36:49)

Notable Segment Timestamps

• 00:33–04:33: Scripture reading and exposition—Abraham’s calling, Lot’s captivity, first mention of tithing.
• 06:25–08:50: Radical nature of Abraham’s obedience and the transformative power of a divine call.
• 10:23–12:34: Influence of association, and the importance of personal walk with God.
• 14:03–16:47: Abraham’s rescue of Lot—the Bible’s first battle, prioritizing spiritual warfare for family.
• 22:17–24:56: Wrestling with God during unfulfilled promises; “Lord, I believe. Help thou my unbelief.”
• 27:07–31:35: The imagery and meaning of driving away vultures—persevering through doubt and discouragement.
• 32:39–36:47: Practical advice: eliminating “perches,” hanging up effigies, igniting spiritual fire.
• 38:03–39:08: God’s response—a flaming torch confirms the covenant through sacrificial waiting.

Flow & Tone

• Franklin’s tone is deeply pastoral yet urgent—encouraging listeners with stories, practical steps, and passionate exhortation.
• He blends biblical depth with relatable real-life examples, creating an atmosphere of hope and spiritual challenge.
• The message flows from biblical exposition to personal application, ending in a corporate call to action for families and individuals to contend for God’s promises.

Conclusion

This message provides encouragement and practical strategies for anyone navigating a long season of waiting on God’s promises—especially regarding family and spiritual breakthrough. Franklin insists that spiritual passivity is not an option: waiting is active, involving prayer, praise, fervor, and spiritual warfare. Protect your promise, resist discouragement, and stay positioned for God’s eventual, faithful fulfillment.

Core Takeaway:
In the waiting, protect your promise—fight for your family, drive away discouragement, and trust that God will do what He said He would do.