Remember the Promise!

‘I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice, and it told Thy love to me; but I long to rise in the arms of faith and be closer drawn to Thee. Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord, to the cross where Thou hast died; draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord, to Thy precious bleeding side.’ (Frances Crosby, 1875) The words of this old hymn echoed in my spirit this morning as I met with the Lord. I was feeling a little down and tired. There is so much going on in the world and it seems that the world has already tucked away the celebration and the emotion of Resurrection Day. It’s like coming down from this extreme high with nowhere to go. The issues are still there, the foolishness is still there, the frustration is still there. But this morning, I heard the Lord say ‘Remember the promise.’ I heard that and wanted to push back a little bit and tell Him that I’ve been doing that but He repeated, ‘Remember the promise’.  Some of you are in a holding pattern, waiting on change to come or manifestation to take place. You are right on the edge – giving up on one side and pushing forward on the other. But today, God encouraged me to tell you to remember what He told you and hold on.

For forty days after Jesus was crucified, He appeared to the apostles teaching them about the Kingdom. He taught them and ate with them and showed them that He in fact was alive. Right before He ascended to heaven, He told them to expect the gift of the Holy Spirit. He said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” And then He was gone. This made me think of times when God has given you a word or instruction and told you to expect something and then silence. He has told you that breakthrough is coming but not when. He has told you that your name and ministry will be great but not where. He has told you that you will have a successful business but not how.  God was serious when He said, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and thoughts higher than your thoughts.” (Is. 55: 8-9 NLT) He has a plan and purpose for your life that goes beyond what you see right now. So when He promised the disciples the gift of a Comforter, He knew that His timing would have to be perfect. He knew that they were facing the loss of not only a teacher but hope itself. How do you face tomorrow when it seems there is no hope? Remember the promise.

After Christ’s ascension, they waited another ten days before the gift of the Holy Spirit arrived. I think it’s important to note what they did during this waiting period. They went into prayer and went about fulfilling the word of God. They set out to replace Judas as had been foretold in Psalms by David. Think about this. They had lost their leader and a fellow brother to betrayal and now they had to keep going and conduct business.  Doesn’t that seem like too much to ask at the time? I mean, why couldn’t they just pray and get themselves together before going on with the work. But I believe Luke gave us a glimpse into how to wait on the manifestation of a promise. It made me think.  Could it be that this is included so that you know that Kingdom work doesn’t stop? Could it be that this section was shared so that you would remember that before you were in your mother’s womb, God had laid out an order and purpose to your life that will have to be fulfilled? Could it be that Luke shared this so that you would know that even in the midst of despair, you can get on one accord with your brothers and sisters in Christ pray and something will be accomplished? They stood on the promise in faith. They kept pressing while they waited but they kept the promise at the forefront. Remember the promise.

When the day of Pentecost arrived, 50 days after the Passover and Christ’s crucifixion, the Holy Spirit came and essentially laid all the saints out. They spoke in tongues and heard a word that “pierced their hearts” (Acts 2:37). The church went forward from that moment. Despite the naysayers, the doubt and the distractions that were present, the believers received the promised gift. They received the Holy Spirit, the promise! The Comforter! The One who teaches us all things and reminds us of what the Lord has said!  So take this message and remember! Hold on to what God has told YOU! It does not matter what others say or do, you hold on to God’s promise. Remember that what He says cannot return void.  He said, “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with My word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.” Don’t give up, folks! Remember the cross and the sacrifice but don’t stay there, move forward to the promise and wait for it. It must come to pass! AMEN…