A Daily Devotional with Pastor Doug Crouse June 2, 2018 Commanded to Wait Scripture Reading – Acts 1:4b- 5 (NLT) "Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." Imagine with me just for a moment, that you were one of the 12 disciples that Christ Jesus called. For over three years, you had the privilege of watching Jesus teach and testify to the Kingdom of God in a way in which no person had ever done before. You were awe struck as by His voice the storm on the sea immediately ceased -  asking one another who this man could possibly be? You were amazed as He healed all manner of sickness with a touch or simply a command, even raising back the dead to life.

But then everything changed - Jesus died. And not any death, but crucifixion, that which was reserved for the worst of the worst. At this point in your minds - it was all over. He was gone. No kingdom had come.

But then again, three days later - and over a period of forty days, Jesus Christ appeared to you, eating and drinking with you. Showing His hands and His side - proving that truly as He had said, although none of you understood it - He was alive!

What do you imagine would be the first thing you all would want to do? Go and tell the people that Jesus was alive just as He had promised of course. But Jesus spoke to all of you and you were, 'Commanded to Wait'. To wait for the promise of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit to fill you.

The word baptize means to completely fill, to overwhelm, be made fully wet. Jesus spoke of this filling as a gift that the Father would send to each one who would ask and wait. And so the apostles did stay, and wait, continually asking, seeking knocking and praying for the gift of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, along with about 120 in an upper room.

If those first apostles were commanded to wait to receive this power from on high before they went out to testify, how much more should you and I? 

Prayer Father I thank-You for the gift of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. I want to receive everything that You have for me. I will make time to wait, asking, seeking, knocking and praying for Jesus to continually fill me, flow through me and use me for His glory and in His mighty name name. 

Memory Verse:  John 14:13 NLT “You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father."