“STAY IN THE CITY!”

Luke 24:44-49                                               (ESV )

“44 Then HE said to them, "These are MY words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about ME in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."

45 Then HE OPENED THEIR MINDS TO UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES,

46 and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the CHRIST should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,

47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

48 You are witnesses of these things.

49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. BUT “STAY IN THE CITY” until you are clothed with power from on high."”

Not being able to travel to my sons house in the near future is extremely painful, for his daughter (our first grandchild) is celebrating her fifth birthday!  For those who have grandchildren, the joy is indescribable.  Not being able to see them when we want is almost torturous!  But I am Blessed to (so far) have escaped the virus that is plaguing our nation.  Prayerfully, it will be a thing of the past soon and we can get back to no restrictions in our lives.  

In the passage of Scripture above, the disciples were explicitly instructed BUT “STAY IN THE CITY” UNTIL they were clothed with power from on high!  JESUS CHRIST was risen from the dead, and was about to ascend into Heaven, and they had to “STAY IN THE CITY” waiting for power from on high!  Their joy and excitement had to be off the charts, but they had to WAIT!  To my knowledge, Scripture doesn’t record exactly what the HOLY SPIRIT was WAITING for, but without a doubt, the disciples had to WAIT for the HOLY SPIRIT to release them to go.  

Imagine, if you will, HAVING YOUR MIND ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES for the first time?  The WORD had been living in your midst for over three years and ONLY NOW you were able to SEE what HE had been saying to you?  Now it all was fitting together like a puzzle, painting the most awesome picture one could imagine.  Their minds were “illuminated”, but they were instructed to “STAY IN THE CITY” until they were clothed with power from on high!  

The number of times that mankind has to WAIT ON THE LORD in Scripture is far too many to count.  We seem to always want to do things quicker than anyone else, to be first in everything we do.  “BUT “STAY IN THE CITY” until you are clothed with power from on high” is not given as a suggestion, but a command!  The HOLY SPIRIT is not swayed by our impatience, rather our obedience.  My prayer is that I will “STAY IN THE CITY” until HE is ready to use me