Wait, be Empowered And Move with The Holy Spirit

bjbj There is a divine power available for those who wait. When we make decisions after waiting for God, we bring a peaceful presence into our community. s think about Jesus. Before starting his ministry, Jesus waited for thirty years. Jesus came to save the world. But only when he was thirty years old, then he decided to start his ministry. It makes me wonder how he makes choices for his life. I am sure he is thoughtful. I am sure he makes good decisions. But Jesus seems to take his time. Jesus seems to wait for something. I am guessing this is what Jesus did while waiting. He meditated and learned how the Christ should live. He pondered about what he should teach and do. He thought about his next three years of ministry. Then he decided to start his dynamic ministry. Even then, he took each step slowly. Jesus went to John the Baptist and was baptized. Then, the Holy Spirit came on Jesus like a dove. Jesus then went to the wilderness. He was there for 40 days and 40 nights. He was tested there. He took enough time of waiting and preparing. After that, he went out to serve people. I think Jesus tried to wait for God, before making any decision. Jesus tried to rest before God, as he makes each decision. Jesus tried to wait for the presence of God to lead him. He tried to wait until he feels inner peace and harmony. So, during his ministry, he went to mountains and prayed there again and again. Right before making any important decision, Jesus waited for God. In waiting, Jesus discerned and made valuable choices for his ministry, such as choosing twelve key students. Jesus waited, until he knew for sure what the next big step for his ministry was. Even on the night he was betrayed, he waited. He wanted to make the final decisions being inspired by his Father. So, Jesus sought privacy. In silence, he listened to God. Because prayer is listening. Jesus listened to his Father. Then he understood the reason why he came to the world. Before taking this last step, he waited and thought about, and examined his life. Then, he realized the divine wisdom saying, You are the lamb of God who takes away sins of the world. God is giving you away for the forgiveness of sins of every human being. Through your blood many will be saved. Then Jesus died for us. Jesus shed his blood to save us. Then he waited for three days. Then, he was raised from the death. Also, at the end of his earthly ministry, Jesus said to his students, I am going to send you what my Father has promised. So, stay in Jerusalem until you have been empowered from on high. (Luke 24: 45-49) Jesus said this again and again. In another time, while they were all eating, Jesus said: Do not leave Jerusalem. But wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1: 4-5) Jesus asked the students to wait, so that they be empowered by the Holy Spirit. When they were empowered, they were able to continue the awesome ministry of Jesus. So, that is the secret: wait, be empowered, and move with the Holy Spirit. Jesus didn t tell them what was exactly going to happen. Jesus simply said that something was going to happen. So, they wait in Jerusalem, the very city where Jesus was crucified. Jesus lets them wait for 50 days: five zero. Then Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to them. By that time, they were waiting together in one place. Then suddenly a sound like the blowing wind came from heaven. It filled the whole room, the whole church. Then what looks like tongues of fire were separated and came to rest on each of them. Then all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to speak in many languages as the Spirit empowered them. (Acts 2:1-4) Now they can tell the story of Jesus to the end of the world, because they are filled with the Holy Spirit. You may still say, I am not sure about this waiting. I don t like waiting. We are Americans. We don t wait. So, let me introduce an American who waited. Norman Vincent Peale talks about waiting in this way: My own method is to seek privacy and sit quietly until I achieve a fairly relaxed state of mind and body. Then I practice conceiving of God, the Creator, as actually touching me, actually re-creating me, then, and there. I consciously feel new life passing from God into my body, into my mind. I picture my spirit as being renewed again, making vital electric contact. I then say aloud slowly the following affirmation, In God (I) live, and move and have (my) being. (Acts 17:28) The Kingdom of God is within me. Some of you are European Americans. So let me bring a European. Brother Roger of Taiz said something like this: When you feel like walking in a thick fog, waiting for Christ means giving him the time to put everything in its place. Then a fountain of gladness springs up in the desert of your heart. It is not just any kind of joy, but that jubilation which comes straight from the wellsprings of Eternity. So, Jesus asks his students to wait. Then they receive what Jesus promised: the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of their beloved Jesus. After that they daily welcome the movement of the Holy Spirit of Jesus. Being empowered by the Holy Spirit, the students boldly proclaim the story of Jesus. They also heal people. They help a lot of people because they are filled with the Holy Spirit. Whether you wait or not, God still loves you. God loves you and gave the only Son for you. But if you wait, you will be able to walk closely with this God the Christ. So, wait, be empowered, and move with the Spirit. urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags PlaceName urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags PlaceType urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags time urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags City urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags place Hour Minute o:ls trans 2 3 Wait, Empowered, and Move with the Spirit user Normal user Microsoft Word 10.0 Wait, Empowered, and Move with the Spirit Title Microsoft Word Document MSWordDoc Word.Document.8