Waiting to Begin
Rev. Charles Oppong-Poku | January 10 2025 | Acts 1:4-5
KEY VERSE:
Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. Acts 1:4 (NIV)
MESSAGE: After His resurrection, Jesus commanded His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Holy Spirit. This waiting period was not idle or purposeless; it was a time of preparation and anticipation for the empowerment they needed to fulfil their mission.
For most of us, waiting feels like a waste of time. However, in Scripture, waiting is a spiritual commitment to pray, listen, and anticipate what God will do through His people (Isaiah 40:28-31). The disciples waited in prayer (Acts 1:14) and sought the Lord's guidance (Acts 1:23-26). “Waiting to begin” reminds us that God often uses seasons of waiting to prepare His people for significant assignments. Waiting on God must be done in obedience and expectation, for empowerment, and with purpose.
The disciples were instructed not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for the Holy Spirit. Their obedience to this command positioned them to receive what they needed for the mission ahead. Obedience in waiting demonstrates trust in God’s timing. “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him” (Psalm 37:7). The disciples were expected to wait in expectation, for empowerment and with purpose. Jesus assured the disciples that the Holy Spirit would empower them. Their waiting was filled with hope and anticipation of God’s promise being fulfilled. The promise of the Holy Spirit was essential for the disciples to receive divine power, wisdom, and boldness to be effective witnesses for Christ. While waiting, the disciples were to be united in prayer and fellowship, preparing their hearts and aligning themselves with God’s plan. Waiting is not passive but active, involving faith, prayer, and readiness. FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
Life is sometimes filled with wasted waiting. Let's redeem these earthly waits into spiritual times of prayer, listening, and anticipating what God will do through us next! Like the disciples, we must wait in obedience, expectation, and purpose, trusting that God will provide the empowerment we need at the right time.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, help me to trust Your timing and remain obedient as I wait for Your promises to unfold. Teach me to wait with expectation and prepare me for the work You have called me to do. Fill me with Your Spirit, that I may live and serve in the power of Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 10: Genesis 15 — God’s Covenant with Abram
DAILY word study: WAIT The Greek word for "wait" in Acts 1:4 is perimenō (περιμένω), a compound of peri (around) and menō (to remain or abide). It implies staying steadfastly in a place or condition with anticipation.
In Acts 1:4, perimenō conveys an active form of waiting that involves readiness and obedience. The disciples were not simply biding time; they were preparing through prayer and unity for the fulfilment of God’s promise—the Holy Spirit. Waiting, in this sense, reflects trust in God’s timing and an expectation of His power. Theologically, waiting teaches reliance on divine provision rather than human effort, as underscored in passages like Isaiah 40:31 and Psalm 37:7.
Reflection: God's command to "wait" is often a call to align our hearts with His purpose and timing. Are you embracing waiting as a spiritual discipline, trusting God to fulfil His promises at the right moment?
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