ten days of waiting
“…for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Acts 1:5 ESV, emphasis added.
AMP says “not long from now.”
MSG says “And soon.”
KJV says “not many days hence.”
Regardless of your translation or paraphrase of choice, it’s safe to deduct a couple of things from the text: 1) that Jesus has promised His disciples something incredible and 2) there is no clear indication as to precisely when the promise would be fulfilled. We know today that the final culmination of the promise and it’s coming to fruition was 10 days, yet I believe that the aforementioned timeframe was nowhere near the minds of those who gathered in the upper room. As much as the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in that upper room was and is the benchmark of this story, I believe the 10 day waiting period communicates to us something of valuable importance.
A MICROWAVE GENERATION
Especially in today’s society, patience is a touchy subject. I mean c’mon; I get mad when my frozen burrito somehow survives its 2 minute and 30 second plate-rotating nuking process with a still slightly cold center. Our need for faster transportation, faster wifi, faster communication, etc have simultaneously aided in our technological advancement as society as much as it has created within us a subconscious impatience. Imagine with me if your Amazon Prime delivery timeframe simply said “not many days from now” or “not many days hence.” Yeah… I’m be irate too. And yet I believe, even in a much slower society, Jesus was intentional to instigate a waiting period between the pronouncement and the promise.
I have said throughout the years that the zeal in those first few days, tarrying for the promise, was most likely shared by many. Fear had to be knocking on the doors of their hearts as they waited. After all — their King was brutally murdered a little over a month prior. Yet even in that context, the resurrected man who ascended into the cloud right in front of His disciples told them to expect a “delivery” in just a little while. With this strange mixture of emotions present, I can only imagine the first couple days of contending in the upper room looked vibrant and even expectant.
Day 1: they prayed all the big prayers, entering with praise and thanksgiving, probably recited the way Jesus had taught them (Matthew 6). Additionally, the early days of contending included a little administrative house cleaning. Peter and the other apostles address the whole Judas thing and took steps for appointing new leadership… as those first days close, nothing happens but, wow, the excited had to be building.
Day 2: back at it again, allowing their prayers and meditations to run deep, maybe repentance and forgiveness, casting down burdens, retelling the testimonies of all Jesus did… and still no promise yet.
Day 3: alright y’all— this is it. Jesus likes doing things after three days. “Today has to be ‘not many days,’ right?!” All the big prayers, they probably got loud on that day (but not too loud because they were basically hiding for their lives from the religious spirit that sought to destroy them). I also have a nagging suspicion that on the third day the chorus for the song Awesome God was written (I can’t prove that but I have a feeling). Needless to say, it had to be incredible… but still nothing.
Day 4: …
Day 5: …
And so on and so on…
STRENGTH IN THE WAITING
One can imagine how exhausting the contending may have been. Yet somehow the words of Isaiah 40:31 proved true for the faithful ones in the upper room; their strength was renewed as they waited. I don’t know about you but contending doesn’t come natural or easy, yet I have witnessed His grace produce a strength “not my own” in times I’ve needed it most. I’m not just talking about needing strength for the seemingly endless line at IN-N-OUT Burger, but the waiting for provision to come when all hope seems lost. Or waiting for the clean bill of health after a long bout of treatments. Or waiting for that loved one to come home after being gone for many years. Whatever we are waiting and contending for, I believe the same supernatural strength in the upper room is available today for those who wait upon the Lord. The key in the verse from Isaiah 40 is no not wait upon the outcome, but rather wait upon the Lord. And then alas — the fire fell.
Day 10: Promised Fulfilled. From what I read in the book of Acts there was no secret formula or recipe to seeing the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise aside from taking Him at His word and waiting. The Holy Spirit couldn’t be whipped up or conjured; He simply came at the most opportune time according to His will. What may have seemed like an impossible outcome became reality in a moment. A sound, a wind, and a fire descended on the faithful hearts of those who waited upon the Lord and His faithfulness.
As sure as the promise was given, it came. I can imagine how stretched their faith was after 10 days of contending and waiting upon the Lord. In that short season of waiting, the disciples and apostles learned afresh how to trust in the Lord and lean not on their own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). I believe the 10 days served as a refiners fire for Jesus’ followers just as our seasons of waiting serve us the same. Maybe it’s more than 10 days of waiting. Maybe it’s 10 months, or 10 years. I can say with utmost confidence and humility that the Lord is faithful to His promises. And I know most of you reading this can say the same. Whether we can see it or not, our lives are FULL of the faithfulness of the Lord. We may not all have testimonies of God parting the Red Sea but I have witnessed the Lord part waters of impossibility for both me and my family and I believe the Father is calling a generation in this hour to receive His strengthening in the waiting and contend to see the impossible unfold before us.
Here’s a little encouraging thought for you… the Promise that was poured out in the upper room is still being poured out today. We have at hand what they contended for. What a joy it is, then, to wait for your promise while having been and continuing to be filled with THE Promise. Whatever the promise, and regardless of how long, let Him be your strength as you wait, and watch the Lord display His faithfulness before you.