Tarry for the Holy Spirit.

Reading: Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5.

“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” Luke 24:49.

“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” Acts 1:4-5.

Here we have the first “tarry meeting” ever held. The word “tarry” means to “wait.” In modern times, well around 110 years ago in 1906 in Los Angeles, USA they held another refreshing “tarrying time,” that bought about a modern day Pentecost revival.

The idea of “tarrying” for the Holy Spirit is rooted in Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:4, and finds an historical counterpart in the Pentecostal Revival which started in 1906 at the Azusa Street Mission in Los Angeles. The down stairs area was set up as an assembly room.  Another upstairs room was termed as the “tarrying room.” It was the place where people went who desired to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Pentecostal power and anointing has been with us for over 2,000 years, but at times, a new refreshing wave comes again upon us. Mainly when God’s people again begin to “tarry” for the Holy Spirit. In our church services we like to be busy, in worship and praise, preaching and teaching, in prayer and testimonies, etc.

But when do we “wait” upon God? Many early Pentecostal churches had a “tarrying room” laid aside, for the use of believers that desired more of God, and would repent of their failings, prayer for a fresh anointing of divine power under the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

Those that had not had the experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, would wait upon God there, until they had received the gift of the Holy Spirit. It was not the room that was important, but the “TIME” given to “wait/tarry” upon God. We can have a “tarrying” time in every service.

We don’t need to fill our 90 minutes services with planned items, but should always be opened to God’s moving’s. Times of “waiting” upon God to move among us. If you are desiring the Holy Spirit in your life, you don’t need to go to an upper room, for this is the room, just “wait” upon God right now, and receive His blessing.

God can bless you in the worship, in the prayer time, even in the preaching, and yes, even when you come out for prayer.

Sometimes it is good to seek God when an appeal is given to be prayed for when seeking more of God. Remember the Bible says “when TWO agree together,” so it is good to have others pray with you.

1^ST POINT: THE PROMISE HOLY SPIRIT.

The risen Jesus appeared to His disciples and gave them these instructions. He tells them that something is going to happen to them. They are going to be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days later. This baptism of the Holy Spirit is the promise of the Father, and Jesus had previously told them about it.

The coming of the Spirit would take place in the very city where the Savior had been crucified, and the disciples would receive the Holy Spirit in the city where they themselves had forsaken the Lord and had fled to save their own skins. They would be made strong and fearless in the place where they had shown themselves to be weak.

When we get to Acts 2:1-4, which tells of the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, we will learn that they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Filling was necessary in order that they might serve. The fact was, that they were filled with the Holy Spirit for service in God, to God, and for God.

2^ND POINT: THE PROMISED FULFILLED.

“You shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” Acts 1:5.

The passive tense of the verb indicates that baptism does not depend upon our efforts to obtain the promise, but upon the Lord’s will. The simple future tense demonstrates that there is no uncertainty or doubt in the promise. The Greek word for baptized means “to immerse” or “to dip.” It also means being identified with someone or something.

Spirit baptism means we have been placed in spiritual union with one another in the body of Jesus Christ, the church (see 1 Corinthians 12:12-13).

CONCLUSION:

          At the beginning of Acts, Jesus’ followers appear confused and fearful. But, by the end of the book of Acts, they are well on their way to transform the Roman world with the Gospel. What made the change? Pentecost, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They had divine power to spread the Gospel.