Wait for the Power
After the resurrection, Jesus visibly appeared to more than 500 people in person to put an exclamation point on His ministry: to convince them that what He had said about life and eternal life was true. It was to be the catalyst for the beginning of the "church", i.e. the assembling of believers together. The church is not a building, it's not a place, it's you and me.
In Acts 1:4 he gives some of His faithful followers the first instruction over a meal: "don't leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about." In verse 8 He would clarify: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
They were going to be given POWER...wonder-working power. It would change them from the inside out and it would em-power them to transform others too. It would be a landmark moment for people of faith. It was already spectacular because after He said this He was "beamed up" in a Star Trek kind of way and out of here! What should they do....wait. How long? Until the power comes?
I remember on Christmas morning as a child being so excited about celebrating that on Christmas Eve I could barely go to sleep. I was the oldest child so I was the first one to get up and run towards the tree and the presents underneath it. But I was not allowed to go until the power came; or should I say until mom and dad were up and ready to lead us. Those moments of anticipation were brutal at times because it seemed like it took them forever to get ready! The anticipation of what Santa might have brought me I am likening to the excitement of these faithful followers as they "waited" on the gift of the Father. They knew it was going to be great. They did not know the magnitude of it and they did not know when it was coming. For me, the gift did come and it was great: Santa's AND the promised Holy Spirit. One delivered a gift, the other a gift that keeps on giving!
Waiting is not easy. But moving into something before you have been properly refreshed, recharged or given divine revelation could be a disaster. Practice "waiting for the power" today. While you are waiting for lunch, the meeting, your children, the stop light, just thank God for the power that comes as you wait. Isaiah said it like this: they that WAIT on the Lord will renew their strength. They will rise up like an eagle and fly against the winds of change and adversity. They will run without growing tired and walk without stumbling.
Direction is coming. Strength is being injected into your spirit. Innovation is growing inside of you. Don't make haste: wait for the power!
In Acts 1:4 he gives some of His faithful followers the first instruction over a meal: "don't leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about." In verse 8 He would clarify: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
They were going to be given POWER...wonder-working power. It would change them from the inside out and it would em-power them to transform others too. It would be a landmark moment for people of faith. It was already spectacular because after He said this He was "beamed up" in a Star Trek kind of way and out of here! What should they do....wait. How long? Until the power comes?
I remember on Christmas morning as a child being so excited about celebrating that on Christmas Eve I could barely go to sleep. I was the oldest child so I was the first one to get up and run towards the tree and the presents underneath it. But I was not allowed to go until the power came; or should I say until mom and dad were up and ready to lead us. Those moments of anticipation were brutal at times because it seemed like it took them forever to get ready! The anticipation of what Santa might have brought me I am likening to the excitement of these faithful followers as they "waited" on the gift of the Father. They knew it was going to be great. They did not know the magnitude of it and they did not know when it was coming. For me, the gift did come and it was great: Santa's AND the promised Holy Spirit. One delivered a gift, the other a gift that keeps on giving!
Waiting is not easy. But moving into something before you have been properly refreshed, recharged or given divine revelation could be a disaster. Practice "waiting for the power" today. While you are waiting for lunch, the meeting, your children, the stop light, just thank God for the power that comes as you wait. Isaiah said it like this: they that WAIT on the Lord will renew their strength. They will rise up like an eagle and fly against the winds of change and adversity. They will run without growing tired and walk without stumbling.
Direction is coming. Strength is being injected into your spirit. Innovation is growing inside of you. Don't make haste: wait for the power!
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