WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
APRIL 21, 2022
TOPIC: WAIT FOR GOD’S PROMISES
BY T. O. BANSO
“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me’” (Acts1:4 New King James Version).
During the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, He announced the promise of the Holy Spirit, which anyone who believed in Him would receive. John 7:37-39 says, “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (New King James Version).
Before Jesus started His ministry, John the Baptist had said that while he baptized people with water unto repentance, Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11). So what Jesus said about the Holy Spirit was consistent with what John had said.
Jesus went further to tell His disciples what the Holy Spirit would do in their lives. “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17 New King James Version). In this scripture, Jesus called the Holy Spirit “another Helper” and “the Spirit of truth.” He continued in verse 26 by saying that the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father would send in His name would teach His disciples all things and bring to their remembrance all the things that He said to them.
Preparing the minds of His disciples further for the coming of the Holy Spirit, Jesus said in John 15:26-27, “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning” (New King James Version).
Also, as Jesus was preparing to leave the earth after His resurrection, He reminded His apostles of the promise of the Holy Spirit, saying, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49 New King James Version). The phrase “Promise of My Father” refers to the Holy Spirit.
Luke again records in Acts 1:4 that before Jesus ascended to heaven, He told His apostles not to depart from Jerusalem but wait for the Promise of the Father. “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me’” (Acts 1:4 New King James Version).
According to Jesus, John baptized people with water, but they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from that time (verse 5). They would receive power when the Holy Spirit had come upon them and they would be witnesses to Him in Jerusalem, all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (verse 8). But the instruction was that they must wait in Jerusalem.
In obedience to Jesus, His apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives and began to wait in the upper room. But they were not sitting idle. They continued with one accord in prayer and supplication (verse 14). Acts 2:1-4 says, “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (New King James Version).
The apostles and the other believers, altogether about one hundred and twenty, if we rely on the number in Acts 1:15, waited and received the Promise. That day, those in Jerusalem knew that something significant had happened. Although they misunderstood it, Peter, in his sermon, corrected their wrong impression and enlightened them.
Peter, referring in Acts 2:33 to the fulfilment of the promise of the Holy Spirit, said, “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear” (New King James Version).
Wait for God’s promises. If you will wait for the promises of God, both the general ones in the Bible and those He has specifically made to you, by His Spirit, you will obtain them. Concerning Abraham, Hebrews 6:15 says after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. This shall be your testimony, too, if you wait. Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:12).
God answers the prayers of those who wait for Him. He does not close His ears to their prayers. The beauty of prayer is in the answer that follows. It encourages the people who have received answers to continue to have faith in God and wait for Him rather than going ahead to do their own thing. It also encourages those still waiting for their manifestation of answers to continue to wait for God.
Many people have shared their testimonies of answers to prayer as they continued to wait for God. But the duration of waiting varies from one person to the other. The prophet Micah says, “Therefore I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me” (Micah 7:7 New King James Version).
Did you see the confidence of Prophet Micha? He was certain that the LORD would hear Him. The New Living Translation renders Micah 7:7 thus: “As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me.”
God does not deny those who wait for Him – those whose requests agree with His will for them (1 John 5:14). Matthew 7:7-8 says, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened” (New Living Translation).
Only those who have learnt to wait for God experience what He has promised them. Those who can’t wait will not only frustrate themselves and receive nothing from Him. Proverbs 20:22b says, “Wait for the LORD, and He will save you” (New King James Version). The author of Psalm 130:5 says, “I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope” (New King James Version).
Wait for the promises of God. I don’t know how long but wait. If God has promised, He will do it. Keep praying and continue what you are currently doing. Waiting for God’s promises to be fulfilled doesn’t mean being idle. Don’t be idle; don’t waste your time. Proverbs 13:12 says hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when dreams (desires) come true, there is life and joy (it is a tree of life). But our time is not always God’s time. His timing is perfect. So don’t be anxious. God won’t fail you.
Keep praying. Keep having faith in God. Maximize what you have now and where you are now. God will fulfil all His promises. “For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, It will not tarry” (Habakkuk 2:3 New King James Version). Wait for God’s promises.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner, and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and was raised on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, I will keep waiting for the fulfilment of Your promises in my life. In the name of Jesus, I will not be anxious. Holy Spirit, deliver me from impatience. I shall, through faith and patience, inherit the promises of God in Jesus’ name. Holy Spirit, help all the children of God whose hearts are sick; encourage them to wait for God’s promises and not give up.
(For over 800 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
