Day #119 - Upper Room

The Presence - A Devotional for living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with a water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit…” When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying… They all joined together constantly in prayer.

Acts 1:4-5, 13a, 14a NIV

Photo by Igor Rodrigues on Unsplash

Have you ever waited for a gift that you knew was coming but you had no idea what to expect?

Imagine the most generous and powerful friend you have tells you they have something for you and can’t wait to give it to you. They go on and tell you it will be any day. How would it feel to wait like that with the anticipation of something great but not really knowing what the gift will look like?

The disciples of Jesus spent forty days with Him after His resurrection and got what had to be the greatest lesson on the kingdom of God. How amazing would it be to time travel to hear that teaching? Jesus gave His disciples, both some of the women and men who followed Him, very specific instructions about waiting for the gift His Father promised them. He told them they were about to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Right after this talk, Jesus ascended to heaven right in front of His disciples, where angels met them and said He would return as He left.

The disciples went immediately and waited on God in prayer in an upper room in Jerusalem. The Bible says they prayed constantly for the next ten days. They knew the Holy Spirit baptism was an important part of receiving the full ministry of Jesus. This would be the initial fulfillment of John’s prophecy that Jesus would baptize in the Holy Spirt and fire. But they didn’t know what it was going to look like. They were the first people in history to experience this baptism of the Holy Spirit.

They already had an encounter as we looked at yesterday by receiving the Holy Spirit when Jesus breathed on them. But as we can see, there was more for them to experience in God. These disciples were zealous to have everything that Christ had promised.

In the American church we have become so passive and complacent far too often. We can tend to live on yesterday’s experience and not think we need more. Other Christians may ask for God to baptize them in the Spirit and get prayer once or twice and if they don’t have the experience they were expecting they either move on believing that was it or that it might not be God’s will for them.

Look at the hunger and posture of waiting in expectation the disciples modeled for us. I want to be clear, the Holy Spirit baptism is a gift and is not earned. However, I believe sometimes God is doing something in us and He is looking for us to press in by faith to receive all He has for us.

Have you ever waited on God for 10 days in prayer? Have you ever fasted and prayed? Have you gone on a prayer retreat? Have you waited earnestly for a promise even while yielding the control of knowing the outcome?

There is more for you in the Holy Spirit beloved believer. No matter what it looks like, seek Jesus with all your heart for all that He has for you.

Jesus, I want the baptism of the Holy Spirit and I want more encounters with You. Thank you for yesterday and for my past experiences, but I need another encounter with You. Help me wait on You and press into prayer until I receive all You have for me. You are worthy of the waiting. Make my room like the upper room. In your name, amen.