THE MESSAGE NOW
Vol. 3, No. 38 – Monday, 17th September, 2018
(John 14:15-17, 15:26-27, 16:5-15; Acts 1:12-14, 2:1-4)
WAITING FOR THE FATHER’S PROMISE
Deducible from all of today’s texts (and indeed from the caption of this edition) is a word of great prominence. Of prominence because of its inherent two characteristics. The word in question is the word “waiting”.
It is a word comprising pain on the one hand and pleasure on the other. Pain because, the art and act of waiting is never a pleasant one. Sometimes, waiting can be physically absorbing and emotionally torturing.
However, the word “waiting’ has its positive/pleasurable end. So, in terms of its pleasure aspect, the art and act of waiting does not last forever: there is always an end. Consider the twelve Apostles who had been fed and given every necessary comfort for three years and half. And, now, their lives and future were abruptly summarized by a promise: the promise that another comforter will be sent to them.
It was a promise without date or time. How long the Apostles had to wait was equally out of the equation. Their experience must have been that of mockery and of the shame to face the Jewish public. Maybe that was one of the reasons they moved into the Upper Room to avoid embarrassment. For whilst their Master (our Lord and Saviour) was physically present, they were regarded as the privileged few. But a remarkable lesson was offered to us contemporary Christians by the Apostles. On arriving at the Upper Room, they prayed. They kept heaven continually informed about its promise. And for ten days, it was as though heaven was brass. The truth remains that should God give a word of promise, the matter for which that word was given was already a done deal.
I will not be surprised to know that those ten days of waiting were the most grievous and gruesome days for the Apostles. But at last their moments of waiting came to a sudden end. What they did not realise was that their ten days of waiting and the Upper Room was their examination moments, having received lectures from the Lord for three and half years.
Those Apostles whilst in the Upper Room (the examination hall) kept the fire of faith glowing. Should any one of them had failed, such a-one would have been exempted when the Holy Ghost came on the day of Pentecost. Did not Demas fail before the moment of his reward? (see 2 Tim.4:10). But Acts 2:1-4 tells us that they all received the Holy Ghost.
The waiting room of life is a spiritual examination room. For waiting itself is always an examination of our faith. Understand what the Lord is saying dearly beloved, none of those apostles and disciples (120 of them) was ever forgotten by God whilst in their waiting room.
Your waiting to get married, expand your business, be better off, have your home sorted out, pass that examination, receive that promotion, obtain that visa, see those children excel, get pregnant, be financially empowered and have your spouse change for the best and be well-off are not forgotten by the Lord.
Understand dearly beloved that there must have been a reason why the Holy Ghost was delayed until when the day of Pentecost was fully come. One answer might be that the Lord knew that the city of Jerusalem would be full of celebrants on that day. And, Of course, that was a good opportunity to get as many ready souls saved.
God also knew that the miracle of being heard in diverse tongues though those tongues were being expressed by Jewish-speaking people who had no prior knowledge of those tongues and nations would convince those people from diverse nations that the coming of the Holy Ghost was far beyond the ordinary.
And wasn’t that the case in the end? (See Acts.2:5-12, 14-41). Beloved, there is a reason for everything. Remember the Apostles in the Upper Room: there was something they did which contemporary Christians must borrow a leaf from. In their despondency, they did not consult friends, Pharisees, pastors or family members. Neither did they consult their big university books. Instead, they prayed. Never cease to pray. If you stop praying, you will be laid back in life.
IN THE END, IT IS NO FARCE THAT HE/SHE WHO WAITS FOR GOD WILL NEVER SEE SHAME IN THE END OF THE VERY END.
Question and Answer Session:
Question: Which of the twelve Apostles was a tax collector?
Answer: Matthew.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Counselling, Prayers and Appointments: Please contact contactus@expressimageglory.com or 08098198155.
Donations and Financial Supports – Please support the Kingdom of God through Christ Jesus by paying your hard-earned money to only this one account and no other: Express Image Glory Ministry, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Account number – 0020881228.
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ALTAR CALL:
Backslidden – living in sin – needing fresh recommitment (say):
Christ Jesus, You are the Anointed One of the Most High. I come to you today as I am. In your mercy, help me out of my situation. Heal my soul, my spirit, my body, my life and my destiny. I acknowledge you as the only true lover of my soul. Please, deliver me on every side and save me through and through. I promise from the depth of my soul to be yours from henceforth, in Jesus name. Help me now O God. Be my Lord, my Saviour and my all in all from this day. Thank you Lord (read Ps.54 in closing and pray more).
HYMN: Sweet Is The Promise
PRAY NOW:
1. Repent of every known sin that may be blocking your advancement.
2. O glorious angels assigned to me by the Lord, convey my file onto my Maker!
3. O Thou Arm of the Lord, as I attend this forthcoming Conference, meet me in the following areas of my life(mention them).
4. O light of Jehovah, shine brightly ahead of me and show me things that I need to see.
5. From this forthcoming Conference, my change from the Lord shall begin.
6. Whatever is negative that I am holding onto, that is making me experience negativity, I drop you today and I depart from you right now.
7. Pray very hard for Express Image Glory Ministries, the success of the forthcoming Conference, ministers, all equipment and the venues.
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