“…He told them, "Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you what he promised. Remember, I have told you about this before.” Acts 1:4NLT
The NASB version tells us “…He COMMANDED them to not leave Jerusalem but wait…” I chuckled as I read that. Would any of the people in my church follow His command and WAIT.
Of course, you attend the most perfect church in the world. Your church would wait. On any given Sunday, people come in late for a variety of reasons. During the same service, people leaving early for a plethora of reasons. The lamest I’ve heard for skipping altar time— ‘I needed to check, if the dog got tangled on its chain.’ (Their dog runs free within an electronic fence.)
There have been several church services I’ve attended, which were over promptly at 11:30 a.m. If, for any reason, it lasted until noon, people got up and walked out. Once, we attended a service beginning at 10:30 a.m., finishing at 2:30 p.m. Every ethnic race was there— one of the most interesting services, I’ve ever attended. One church we attended allowed the preacher to preach until he finished and then they participated in altar calls. Then went back to evening services from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. A church I thoroughly enjoy, starts at 11 a.m. and finishes between 1 or 2 p.m. —dependent on Holy Spirit. Whenever they have evening services at 7 p.m., they will stay until Holy Spirit is finished— be it 1 or 2 a.m. Prayer meetings we’ve attended continued until 3 to 4 a.m. Brownsville Revival at Pensacola FL, people waited in lawn chairs all day. Following their day long wait, they attended a service lasting from 10 p.m. upwards to 2 a.m. seven days and nights a week.
Out of all the churches I’ve described— I don’t know IF one church and all of their flock would WAIT, until the Father sent what He had promised. I’m not even sure if one person would wait. After all, Jesus disclosed an undetermined amount of time, for an uncertain reward.
What did the Father promise to give? Comfort? Power? Will we need power? Look at all the denominations who believe they’ve received everything God has to give through salvation. Do they need God’s power? They’re convinced, they’re doing fine without it.
Could I wait? Hey, I’m ADHD. My thought train takes off down another track. If this devotional was a book, it would never get written. Short spans of time work for me. In a conversation, I can jump the track to a new subject leaving you wondering where I’m at. (God can keep up with me in prayer!)
You can’t begin to know how thankful I am for the original 120 people in the upper room. They did our waiting, not just theirs, until God sent His Holy Spirit.
As I read this scripture, Holy Spirit prompted in my heart, He needs people who will wait once more— in prayer and one mind. He desires people who will travail in prayer, to birth His glory in this nation. “On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; All day and all night they will never keep silent. You who remind the Lord, take no rest for yourselves;” Isa 62:6NASB.
I’m going to be truthful, I don’t know if I can wait without becoming distracted. Can you? Or will you even try? It’s your choice. You choose.
PRAYER: Papa God, You know the weakness of our frames. Peter, James and John couldn’t even tarry one hour in prayer. Help us to not be weaklings, but be filled with Your power to answer You call, in Jesus’ name I pray.
by Debbie Veilleux
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