“I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49)

Jesus is preparing His Disciples for the day that He is going to return to the Father. Jesus gives them a directive, wait. Luke writes, “On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.” (Acts 1:4) In Scripture, the idea of stay and wait has some interesting references. Stay and wait means to sit down, to watch, to anticipate, to hope, to investigate, to pay attention, and to be still. I remember a quote which I heard in a sermon by Henry Blackaby, author of Experiencing God, He said, “When God tells us to wait on Him, He will wear you out.” In other words, God will keep you very busy as you wait on Him.

A few examples from Scripture to contemplate, as you wait. “For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” (Habakkuk 2:3) “but those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31) “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10) “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and be still before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.” (Ezekiel 22:30) “Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the LORD, and he will avenge you.” (Proverbs 20:22) “Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14) “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” (Romans 8:25) “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:5) “keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.” (Jude 1:21)

These Scriptures are so that you will know waiting is a good thing in the Kingdom of God and a good thing today in your life. However, in Luke and Acts Jesus tells the Disciples to wait for the power and the gift. First, let us look at the power which they will receive. The power itself comes from God, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” (Acts 1:8) In order for us to understand this power we must hear the words of Jesus. While teaching the disciples after the Lord’s Supper He says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) Our abiding connection to Jesus is where we receive the power. Jesus says stay till you are clothed with the power. Often, we do not stay connected with Jesus. We are busy doing things for Jesus, but these things are done in our own strength. We rely upon ourselves instead of being filled and clothed with Jesus and His strength.

I love to drive. So, I love modes of transportation that I can drive. It has been this way from the day my dad set me in front of the steering wheel in his truck. Thanks to him, I was driving years before I could get my license. I even delivered newspapers on a Fordson Tractor. I love sports cars. My first car was a 1967 Pontiac Firebird. I admire the lines, the beauty, and yes, the speed of a sports car. I enjoy watching one on the road when I see them. I tell you this so I may set up the following illustration. As Christians, Jesus tells us that He has come to give us life and life abundantly. Living the Christian life in our own power is like owning a new Ferrari. It has no gas in the tank, no oil in the oil pan, no battery for the electronics, no fuel injectors for the engine, no fluid in the transmission or air in the tires. It can look good, but it is really going nowhere.

We wonder why we are struggling in our Christian life when we do not learn to abide in Jesus Christ. We don’t spend time in His Word. We don’t pray. We don’t rely on and trust Him. Thus, we can do nothing. However, when we do abide, clothe ourselves in Him, He does give us what He promised. He promised power for our lives.

Jesus also talks about a gift. This gift is the Holy Spirit. Jesus is teaching His Disciples and says, “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:15-17) He also tells them, the Holy Spirit “you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:17) When Jesus first meets with the Disciples after the Resurrection He said, “receive the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit is with them. However, after Jesus returns to the Father, there is the coming of the Holy Spirit, whom the Father sent. Jesus said, “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7) When Jesus returned to the Father, the Holy Spirit came to dwell in us. That is what happened at Pentecost. When the Spirit comes into our lives, He empowers us to spread the message of Jesus. His message is, “repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:47) Pentecost was when people would hear the message in their own language by the Holy Spirit. The Disciples filled with the Spirit, were telling the Message. When the early church “prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” (Acts 4:31)

In these days, we are to learn to wait on the Lord. We are to be still before Him. Then, He can fill us with power to live before the world, abiding in Him and telling them the Good News of forgiveness. When you wait on God, He can do an amazing work in your life.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block