DON'T LEAVE JERUSALEM
What people do and say during their last hours and days on earth typically speaks of what is most important to them. At the very end of Jesus' days on earth, he revealed some important and powerful things. After he was crucified, but before he left to be with his Father in heaven, he breathed on his disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.” Jn 20:22 So, at this time, the apostles received the Holy Spirit. Moments later, however, Jesus told them, "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.” Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4
After this, he said,
"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.” Acts 1:8
Interestingly, even though the disciples received the Holy Spirit by Jesus blowing on them, this would not be enough to carry out the plan of God’s purpose and power on earth. To receive the power that they needed and that Jesus walked in himself, he told them, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, but you have heard me speak about.” Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4 Jesus was getting ready to give them the gift of power that would come UPON them, and to get it, they needed to stay in Jerusalem and wait for that gift. The disciples had the Holy Spirit within them, but did not yet have the Holy Spirit UPON them. Remember this:The Holy Spirit within you is for you – the Holy Spirit UPON you is for others.
I think we would all agree that the body of Christ as a whole has been, for the most part, impotent and desperately needs the flow of God's power. The world seems to laugh at the church because it talks of an all-powerful God but doesn’t display this God. Great revivals reveal that God's power is available and can be tapped into. Also, great revivals were preceded by pressing, passionate prayer and that's precisely what the disciples did as they waited in Jerusalem for the gift of power Jesus told them about. Acts 1:14
We have a world around us that is in desperate need of the manifestation of the power of God and the grace found through Jesus Christ! Jerusalem speaks of a place where God abides and has intimacy and communion with his people. Jerusalem is where God comes and dwells with his people. Prayer is a Jerusalem for you. The word of God tells us to pray continually. 1 Thess 5:17 God wants you to experience all that he is! Revival will be released to this world through those who will tap in! Are you excited about going deeper and releasing the Spirit of revival? If so, I want to say to you what Jesus said…
DON'T LEAVE JERUSALEM
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