It is the eve of Pentecost, the day that was set for the coming of God’s promised Holy Spirit and the ingathering of the church. At that time, the apostles were required to wait for ten days because it was necessary for them to be all together in one place for the day of Pentecost to be fully realized. The Holy Spirit could not be given until that day had come.
After Pentecost there was no waiting, as can be seen in Acts
chapter 8 verses14-17 and chapter 10, which record the accounts of Peter and
John, who journeyed to Samaria from Jerusalem and Peter who, while visiting
Joppa, travelled from there to Cornelius’ household in Caesarea.
So Peter and John laid their
hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. – Acts 8:17 (CEB)
While Peter was still
speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on everyone who heard the word. – Acts 10:44 (CEB)
However, there may be some today who God, in His infinite
wisdom, are made to wait…
· those who are not resting in the finished work of Christ
Jesus [Matthew 3:11]
· those who do not know that there is such an experience as
the baptism with the Holy Spirit [Acts 19:2]– they lack awareness or knowledge
· those who have not sincerely renounced sin [Acts 2:38]
· those who have not fully believed in Christ Jesus [Romans
8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14]
· those who have not specifically asked [Luke 11:13]
More often than not, the reasons for your having to wait do
not lie with the Holy Spirit but with you.
There are many believers who are waiting on a specific
feeling. They do not understand that the baptism with the Holy Spirit has
diverse manifestations – there are nine gifts after all [1 Corinthians 12] – it
is not only the gift of tongues as some believe.
the word of wisdom through
the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same
Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of
healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to
another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds
of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues
The manifestation is not necessarily expressed as an
uncontrollable ecstatic experience. So, if you are waiting on how you believe
the baptism with the Holy Spirit will be manifested in you, “STOP!”; instead
claim the promise by faith on the very assurance of God’s Word.
Very often, there is no particular feeling of sheer ecstasy
or emotion but the simple calm assurance in your heart that you have indeed
received. It’s an inexplicable knowing deep within.
Beloved, I pray that our sojourn, of more than forty days,
on the road to Pentecost has been beneficial to you in a lot of ways. May you continue
to walk further, with Spirit as your Paraclete, into this fascinating realm of
the spirit.
Amen†
Shelley Johnson “On the road to Pentecost: Waiting for the
Holy Spirit Baptism” © 2013 revisited June 7, 2025
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