The Word — No longer anticipation but expectation

Published 9:00 am Sunday, April 3, 2022

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Looking at the disciples you know they must have been excited. With anticipation they waited for the Holy Spirit to come. Jesus told them that he must leave so that the Holy Spirit would come. It was important to Jesus that the Holy Spirit be with the disciples. So much so that he left this earth so that He would come. Jesus said wait, until He comes. Why was it so important for them to wait for the Holy Spirit?

The simple truths to this question are that Jesus’ body had to be glorified. Once his work was complete and he was seated at the right had of God, then the Holy Spirit could come (John 7:37-39 & Acts 2:1-4). However, today we simply “receive” the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has already come to earth — he is here.

Acts 8 explains, “14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they would receive the Holy Spirit. 16 (For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.”

We are now able to “receive” what Jesus wanted us to have. Scripture shows us the importance of the Holy Spirit. John 14:26 tells us that the Holy Spirit is our helper. He convicts us (the world) of sin found in John 16:7-8. He lives within a Christ Follower found in I Corinthians 3:16. He gives us revelation found in I Corinthians 2:10. He give us wisdom and power found in Acts 1:8 and Ephesians 1:17-20. He guides us found in John 16:13, He seals us found in Ephesians 1:13. He intercedes for us found in Romans 8:26-27. He makes us ‘new’ found in Romans 8:10,11. He sanctifies and empowers us to live for Jesus found in Galatians 5.

When I was a child, I would get excited when it was time to go on vacation — anticipation. However, every week I get excited as Sunday approaches. I get excited to gather with all my brothers and sisters to worship God together. Every day I get excited to be able to sing and praise the Lord. I never know what my day brings, but when I open my eyes, I know that God has something for me, today. I no longer live with anticipation, but with expectation. God has something for you every single day. Receive the Holy Spirit – He is right here.

Yvette Perrin can be reached at theword2yvette@ gmail.com.