Read

Acts 1:4–8 “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 water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ Then they gathered around him and asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’”

Think

Most of us hate waiting. We live in a culture of instant everything—food, answers, gratification. We microwave. We refresh the feed. We tap “Skip Intro.” So, when Jesus tells his disciples to “wait in Jerusalem,” it sounds… inefficient.

Think about it. The greatest event in history had just happened. Jesus had risen. Death was defeated. The disciples had seen him alive with their own eyes. If there were ever a time to get moving, this was it.

But instead of sending them out, Jesus tells them to sit still.

Why?

Because resurrection power wasn’t the end goal. Spirit-empowered living was.

Jesus knew that what was coming next couldn’t be done in human strength. Not the preaching. Not the persecution. Not the Church. They needed more than enthusiasm. They needed power. And that kind of power only comes from heaven.

So, he says: “Stay. Wait. Don’t rush ahead without the Spirit.”

It’s hard to wait in Jerusalem when the world feels like it’s burning. It’s hard to pause when purpose is tugging at your sleeve. But obedience often begins in the waiting room.

We don’t talk about this much, but there’s a kind of faith that waits before it acts. A holy pause that says, “God, I don’t want to move without you.” It’s not passivity—it’s preparation. It’s aligning your spirit with his Spirit.

And look at what Jesus promises: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…” That word “power” in Greek is dunamis—where we get the word dynamite. This isn’t just inner strength. It’s explosive, mountain-moving, fear-defeating power. The kind that launches a movement. The kind that turns fishermen into world-changers.

But first… they had to wait. Maybe you’re in a season like that. You’re eager to move, to act, to build or fix or help. But the doors haven’t opened yet. The vision’s not clear. And you’re wondering if something’s wrong.

Maybe not. Maybe you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.

Waiting isn’t wasting when God’s the one who told you to stay. The Spirit is worth waiting for.

So, breathe deep. Lean in. Stay in Jerusalem—until the fire falls.

Apply

What’s one area of your life where you feel God saying, “Not yet”? Instead of trying to force something forward, ask him to fill you with fresh patience and power. Carve out 10 quiet minutes today to simply be still before him—no agenda, no asking—just waiting. Try praying: “Lord, I’m willing to wait for what you want to do in me. Help me not to rush ahead of your Spirit.”

Pray

Jesus, thank you for not calling me to do anything you won’t empower me for. I don’t want to move in my own strength. I want to move in yours. Teach me to wait. To trust. To stay when staying is harder than going. Fill me with the kind of power that changes me—and sends me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.