The Waiting Time
You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I sent the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high. Luke 24:48, 49, RSV.
To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many day you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit" Acts 1:3-5, RSV.
Luke ends his Gospel and begins his history of the early Christian church in Acts of the Apostles with the same thought. Namely, that Jesus charged His followers not to move forward in His Great Commission to them to take the gospel message to the world until they had received the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the task.
That was just the advice they needed at that time. Filled with the excitement of the Resurrection, the natural thing would be to rush out and tell others about the greatest truth in history.
But Jesus recognized that they were not ready for action yet. He realized that even though they had the truth of the gospel message, they still lacked the power to preach it successfully. "The Savior knew that no argument, however logical, would melt the hearts or break through the crust of worldliness and selfishness. He knew that His disciples must receive the heavenly endowment; that the gospel would be effective only as it was proclaimed by hearts made warm and lips made eloquent by a living knowledge of Him who is the way, the truth, and the life. The work committed to the disciples would require great efficiency; for the tide of evil ran deep and strong against them. A valiant, determined leader was in command of the forces of darkness, and the followers of Christ could battle for the right only through the help that God, by His Spirit, would give them" (The Acts of the Apostles, p. 31).
One of the most difficult truths for genuine believers to grasp is that waiting is often more important than action. Too many of us are like Peter. We jump into action before we know exactly what we are doing--we charge ahead without the power to accomplish the task.
Waiting time must always precede exploits. Study, prayer, discussion, and sharing wisdom are important. The time for action will come after we have the Spirit's power and direction and wisdom to carry out our Lord's mission according to His will.
You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I sent the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high. Luke 24:48, 49, RSV.
To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many day you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit" Acts 1:3-5, RSV.
Luke ends his Gospel and begins his history of the early Christian church in Acts of the Apostles with the same thought. Namely, that Jesus charged His followers not to move forward in His Great Commission to them to take the gospel message to the world until they had received the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the task.
That was just the advice they needed at that time. Filled with the excitement of the Resurrection, the natural thing would be to rush out and tell others about the greatest truth in history.
But Jesus recognized that they were not ready for action yet. He realized that even though they had the truth of the gospel message, they still lacked the power to preach it successfully. "The Savior knew that no argument, however logical, would melt the hearts or break through the crust of worldliness and selfishness. He knew that His disciples must receive the heavenly endowment; that the gospel would be effective only as it was proclaimed by hearts made warm and lips made eloquent by a living knowledge of Him who is the way, the truth, and the life. The work committed to the disciples would require great efficiency; for the tide of evil ran deep and strong against them. A valiant, determined leader was in command of the forces of darkness, and the followers of Christ could battle for the right only through the help that God, by His Spirit, would give them" (The Acts of the Apostles, p. 31).
One of the most difficult truths for genuine believers to grasp is that waiting is often more important than action. Too many of us are like Peter. We jump into action before we know exactly what we are doing--we charge ahead without the power to accomplish the task.
Waiting time must always precede exploits. Study, prayer, discussion, and sharing wisdom are important. The time for action will come after we have the Spirit's power and direction and wisdom to carry out our Lord's mission according to His will.
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