Pentecost Sunday marks the day the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples, ushering in the birth of the Church as we know it. No longer does God's presence dwell in a literal temple, but His Holy Spirit now resides within each believer. As we celebrate this beautiful promise, it's worth drawing our attention to the waiting that occurred before this promise was ever fulfilled.
Before the coming of the Holy Spirit, Jesus instructed his disciples to "wait for the gift my Father promised" (Acts 1:4). This message explores what it means to "wait faithfully" by looking at the disciples' journey of waiting and receiving the promised Holy Spirit.
The Struggle of Waiting
We've all struggled with impatience at some point - the long lines, the inefficiencies, the constant pursuit of productivity. It's human nature to want shortcuts and avoid waiting. Even something as simple as being caught outside in a rain shower can test our patience, as we impatiently make a run for it through the storm to our cars rather than waiting it out.
Those in waiting seasons are all too familiar with this impatience. Whether waiting to grow a family after years of infertility, waiting for the fulfillment of a promise from the Lord, or any other prolonged period of waiting, it's easy to believe two tempting lies:
1) That the waiting is meaningless
2) That life doesn't truly begin until the waiting is over
If you're currently struggling through a season of waiting, take heart - you can learn to wait faithfully.
How the Disciples Waited Faithfully
1. They Remained Among Believers
The disciples gathered together in one place for the 10 days between Jesus' ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:13-14). They knew that scattering apart would only diminish their strength and confidence, just as it had when Jesus was arrested.
As Psalm 84:10 states, "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere." There is power in waiting alongside other believers, supporting and encouraging one another in God's promises. Trying to endure a waiting season alone often leads to isolation and weakened faith.
2. They Remembered God's Promise
During their wait, the disciples constantly meditated on God's promise of the coming Holy Spirit. When the Spirit did arrive, Peter addressed the crowd with boldness, quoting Scripture to remind everyone that God had declared this would happen (Acts 2:14-21).
In seasons of waiting, it's crucial to remember and pray over God's promises rather than pushing them aside. This prevents doubt from creeping in and strengthens faith through prayer and meditation on God's Word.
3. They Postured Themselves to Receive
The disciples positioned themselves expectantly to receive the promised Holy Spirit. When describing the moment in Acts 2:1-4, it's noted that "they were all together in one place" and "all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit."
Sometimes we miss our promises because we're not spiritually ready or positioned to receive them. It's important to remain watchful and prepared so that when the promise comes to fruition, we can properly steward it.
4. They Released the Promise to Others
Perhaps most beautifully, after receiving the Holy Spirit, the disciples didn't hoard the miracle for themselves. They realized their waiting was designed for the benefit of others, that "about three thousand were added to their number that day" (Acts 2:41).
God's timing is perfect, and sometimes the waiting is less about us and more about allowing the maximum number of people to be impacted when the promise is released. Our willingness to spread the blessings we receive can be a profound testimony to others.
Waiting with Childlike Faith
A poignant story by Laverne W. Hall illustrates this idea of waiting faithfully:
During a severe drought, local ministers called for a community prayer meeting and asked everyone to bring an object representing their faith. While most people arrived clutching Bibles, crosses, and rosaries, one small child showed up carrying an umbrella.
When the rains finally fell at the end of the prayer meeting, the child's umbrella seemed to overshadow all the other objects. The umbrella demonstrated a simple, unwavering belief that God would provide rain when asked.
As you wait for God's promises in your life, aim to have that same childlike faith - an expectant assurance that your needs will be met if you wait patiently and obediently on the Lord.
Waiting with Purpose
For all its difficulties, waiting is never without purpose in God's Kingdom. The disciples' long periods of waiting allowed them to be spiritually prepared to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and share that gift widely to advance the Gospel.
If you find yourself in a trying season of waiting right now, take comfort that:
Your waiting is not in vain or meaningless
It is deepening your faith and dependence on the Lord
It is producing a testimony that will impact others for Christ
When the promise finally manifests, you will be ready to be a vessel for its multiplied blessings
Though the way is difficult, do not become discouraged. As you remain grounded in the Word, in prayer, and in the fellowship of other believers during this time, you are waiting faithfully. God's promises will come to pass, and the testimony produced through your patience will be a beautiful fragrance unto Him.
So wait faithfully, friends. Hold tightly to God's promises. Your deliverance is coming soon.
