Wait for the Promise
Wait for the Promise
“And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, ‘you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’” Acts 1:4-5
Waiting is normally annoying but in the kingdom of God, waiting is strategic.
As a pregnant woman is enlarged while waiting, so we too are enlarged in waiting on the Lord. We are enlarged in faith, enlarged in desperation, enlarged in humility.
It is obviously the will of God to baptize every believer with the Holy Spirit, and at times it is important to spend time waiting on God.
Jesus gave His disciples some counterintuitive advice—don’t leave Jerusalem, but wait and pray. They obeyed. They waited and waited and waited. Nine days later they were still waiting, but on day ten they received the promise of the Father. Why the waiting? Why didn’t God send the Spirit on day two or three?
Those ten days were days of preparation. While we cannot be certain exactly what took place in the lives of these Christ-followers, we can be certain that after ten days of prayer, they were more prepared to receive the promise of the Father than they would have been on day one.
Are you willing to obey? To seek, wait, keep seeking, and receive? Are you willing to wait on God to give you what he promised?
Heavenly Father, I take hold of the promise you give me— the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This baptism into your manifest presence is the gift of greatest value to me, and yes, I will obey, and wait as long as you want me to. This promise is worth the process.
YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
Unless otherwise indicated, the English Standard Bible (ESV) is used.
This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.
“And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, ‘you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’” Acts 1:4-5
Waiting is normally annoying but in the kingdom of God, waiting is strategic.
As a pregnant woman is enlarged while waiting, so we too are enlarged in waiting on the Lord. We are enlarged in faith, enlarged in desperation, enlarged in humility.
It is obviously the will of God to baptize every believer with the Holy Spirit, and at times it is important to spend time waiting on God.
Jesus gave His disciples some counterintuitive advice—don’t leave Jerusalem, but wait and pray. They obeyed. They waited and waited and waited. Nine days later they were still waiting, but on day ten they received the promise of the Father. Why the waiting? Why didn’t God send the Spirit on day two or three?
Those ten days were days of preparation. While we cannot be certain exactly what took place in the lives of these Christ-followers, we can be certain that after ten days of prayer, they were more prepared to receive the promise of the Father than they would have been on day one.
Are you willing to obey? To seek, wait, keep seeking, and receive? Are you willing to wait on God to give you what he promised?
Heavenly Father, I take hold of the promise you give me— the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This baptism into your manifest presence is the gift of greatest value to me, and yes, I will obey, and wait as long as you want me to. This promise is worth the process.
YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
Unless otherwise indicated, the English Standard Bible (ESV) is used.
This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.
Posted in Year on Fire
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