The Father’s Timing
The Father’s Timing
Bill Hyer
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost is the model of all the great revivals in history. Acts 1:1-14 tells us key components about revival. The first is that revival comes how and when God chooses.
In Acts 1:6, we’re told, “So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’” Because Jesus had risen from the dead, the Apostles had an expectation about God fulfilling His promises for His people. While their expectation was based on prophecies of Scripture, they had two things wrong. One was how the reign of the kingdom of God would come. It wasn’t by political power ruling through the force of human government but by the power of the Holy Spirit ruling in people’s hearts. The second was timing. They were thinking it was “at this time.” Jesus responded, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” (Acts 1:7-8)
In these words, Jesus says God’s kingdom is coming in power and it will be in the Father’s time. And what was their response? It was not a passive resignation to “whatever God wills.” It was a greater urgency to pray because they believed God would give revival how and when He wanted.
Bill Hyer
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost is the model of all the great revivals in history. Acts 1:1-14 tells us key components about revival. The first is that revival comes how and when God chooses.
In Acts 1:6, we’re told, “So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’” Because Jesus had risen from the dead, the Apostles had an expectation about God fulfilling His promises for His people. While their expectation was based on prophecies of Scripture, they had two things wrong. One was how the reign of the kingdom of God would come. It wasn’t by political power ruling through the force of human government but by the power of the Holy Spirit ruling in people’s hearts. The second was timing. They were thinking it was “at this time.” Jesus responded, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” (Acts 1:7-8)
In these words, Jesus says God’s kingdom is coming in power and it will be in the Father’s time. And what was their response? It was not a passive resignation to “whatever God wills.” It was a greater urgency to pray because they believed God would give revival how and when He wanted.
Posted in 2024 Breakthrough Fast
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