TUESDAY July 26, 2022

Waiting for the Promise

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; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Acts 1:4-5

Jesus, after His Resurrection, remained among His disciples for 40 days. After His Ascension, the disciples were commanded to remain in Jerusalem to wait for the Promise of the Father. There were 120 of them who waited and continued to pray in an upper room. They included the Twelve and Mary the mother of Jesus.

These people remained in the upper room for another 10 days––waiting. This made a total of 50 days. Interestingly, the word Pentecost literally means “50.” It correlates with the Festival of Weeks on the Jewish calendar, which happens 50 days after the Feast of Passover.

Before the Spirit came, they were all in one mind and one accord––there was unity of Spirit––no divisions among the Church. The Holy Spirit, like a mighty rushing wind, would come upon them. Tongues of fire would sit upon them, and they would all begin to speak in tongues (Acts 2:1-4). Everyone who would hear them would be a witness of them speaking in their dialect giving praise and glory to God. From that point forward, God’s Spirit changed the disciples to Apostles––meaning “sent out ones.” They would receive power to preach, to teach, and to heal.

Our church has to be in unity for the Holy Spirit to move among us. Small dissentions and constant murmuring, backbiting, judging, and living in sin, will grieve the Spirit of God (Ephesians 4:30). The word grieve means “to hurt” or “bring pain” to the Holy Spirit. He cannot do His effective work. Unless God’s people repent and have a change of heart, He will go somewhere else to do His work.

Ask the Lord to help you be in unity and in one accord with other believers. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit; you need His power to be a witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit comes because we are a united people; He does not come to make us a united people.
~A.W. Tozer~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!