Friday, September 1, 2023

But first, wait

And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; Acts 1:4

Most of us know what the great commission is.  It is in the gospels and now here at the beginning of Acts.  Jesus told His disciples to: “Go into all the world and be His witnesses.”  It was the new mission the disciples were given after His resurrection.  However, in the scripture reading today and, in the gospels, there was something Jesus told them to do first.  Jesus told the people that were with Him the day He ascended into heave to go back to Jerusalem first and wait.  He told them to wait in Jerusalem until the promise of the Holy Spirit had come.  Jesus said that after they were baptized with the Holy Spirit, then they would receive power from on high to complete the assignment of being witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Sameria and to the end of the earth.

This revelation helps me immensely.  Having grown up in the church, it was continually stressed that we are to be witnesses, but it always seemed like a hard thing to do. When I learned that there was power available to be a witness, it made all the difference in the world.  Now I understand how to be a witness and also how to be effective at it.  Anyone can go out and talk about Jesus, but to truly get the results of others receiving the message, you must first receive the power of heaven from the Holy Spirit.

This truth actually carries over into everything you are called to in life.  It is the key to following the leading of the Holy Spirit.  As we begin to step into our purpose and God’s plan for the direction for our lives, the first thing to do is press into Him and wait for the power from the Holy Spirit to accomplish the instructions He gives.  This is a vital step to the success of your life mission.  Once that power comes on you, you will be able to reach your home, neighborhood, your city, country and the world.  The Holy Spirit’s power and direction in you will propel you into the assignments He has for you each day and will cause you to produce fruit every where you go.

Today I want to encourage you to wait.  Wait for the promised power of the Holy Spirit to fill you and direct you each day.  Just as the followers of Jesus in the beginning of the church needed to be filled up continually with His Spirit’s power, we do too.  Ask the Father for a fresh filling of His Spirit and begin to follow the steps He gives you to help and encourage others in life.  Be aware of the promptings and ideas that come to your heart throughout your day and be ready to step out when you know that power is there for you to produce fruit.  Become full of the power from on high that is available for you to walk in each day by filling up with Him before you start it.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 1:4-8

4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 

5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 

6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 

7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”