Dealing with Day Nine

By Gobel Brockman

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. There appeared to them tongues as of fire, being distributed and resting on each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.” - Acts 2:1-4

   This past Sunday (as I write this) was Pentecost Sunday. We celebrated the arrival of the promised Holy Spirit and the birth of the New Testament church. There are many things I could address on this subject, but for today I want to focus on one thought. On the day of His ascension, Jesus told His disciples to return to Jerusalem and “wait for the promise of the Father.” (Acts 1:4) They obeyed and went to the upper room to pray and wait.

One day passed.
Two days passed.
Six days passed.
Nine days passed.

   I try to imagine how those men and women felt in that time of waiting. The were exactly where Jesus told them to go, and they were doing exactly what Jesus told them to do - WAIT. I can’t help but wonder if there was any uncertainty in their minds as the days passed. (I can picture one of them asking Thomas, “Do you think it will happen today?” with Thomas replying, “I doubt it!”) They were praying and waiting. And waiting....and waiting....

Then Day Ten arrived.

SUDDENLY.

   All the praying and waiting paid off. The promise arrived, and the world hasn’t been the same since! But here’s an interesting point: the Greek word for suddenly in that passage is aphno, which means “unaware, unexpected.” They were praying for the promise, and when it arrived it STILL caught them “unexpectedly unaware!” My question for today is this: the answer came on Day 10, but what would have happened if they had grown tired of waiting on Day 9?

   I ask simply because I know how I can be sometimes, and I know I’m not the only one. Waiting can be challenging. Microwaves and digital clocks have us programmed for instant results, but God operates on a schedule that totally ignores man’s impatience. Today I simply want to remind us all that when God promises God delivers, but He alone decides the delivery day. We no longer have to “tarry” for the promised Holy Ghost, we can simply ask and receive. But there are times in our lives when we are seeking an answer and God will tell us to “pray and wait.” So if you’re waiting on an answer from God, follow the “Day of Pentecost” example of the disciples: do what Jesus tells you to do, keep praying, waiting, and believing, and stay put. The Holy Ghost changed their lives, and He will do the same for you.

   Don’t grow weary on Day 9. Day 10 is worth the wait.