A Promise from the Father

by Joi Hayward | Articles, Holy Spirit

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)

Jesus told the disciples to go to Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came upon them. Could they have believed they were ready? Not only did they walk with Jesus who is God, but saw Jesus crucified and witnessed His resurrection.  Jesus spent 40 days with the disciples before they witnessed His ascension into heaven. Yet, Jesus told them God commanded them to go to Jerusalem and wait. What more did they need?  A Promise from the Father, Obedience, Oneness, and Holy Spirit.
A Promise from the Father: When God gives us His Word on anything we can expect that He will do exactly what He says. There is nothing to fear. His Word is a Promise and it is not contingent upon anything other than Himself. This is the reason why God entered into the Covenant with Himself as Abraham slumbered. He didn’t consider man then and is not considering man today. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord (Jeremiah 17:5).

Obedience: The disciples were given instruction. Wait in Jerusalem. Our prayer life, fasting, and reading and studying the Word will solidify our fellowship. We cannot have fellowship with God and be disobedient to His Word. These men could not have been called disciples if they did not keep the Word of God (John 8:31).

Oneness: Our personal development is vital. It requires that we pray, fast, study, and meditate on the Word. This is how we have fellowship with our Father. However, the proof of oneness is manifested when we have Oneness with one another in the body. Others must be our focus. Ultimately our confidence and faith in God assures us that we are well cared for and our prayers can then transform into intercession, our fasts will increase from individual to individual and corporate, and our personal studies and meditation will overflow into conversation or become teaching.

Holy Spirit: He is the Leader and the Guide. Without the Holy Spirit, who is also God, the witness will be of our own. God’s promise of the Holy Spirit was bigger than the disciples personal witness. He is the free gift to bear witness from generation to generation and from nation to nation. For God knew the hearts of men and gave them the Holy Spirit to bear witness that salvation is available to all. If we do things on our own we might reach a few, but God’s plan entails every nation. We need the Holy Spirit to do the perfect work of the Father.

Prayer: Father, we thank you for the time of development and preparation. We receive your precious promises now. We hold fast to them and stand firm in your Word. We will be sensitive in our Jerusalem and wait for Holy Spirit to lead and guide us that we might be partakers of Your Perfect Witness from generation to generation and from nation to nation.

Copyright © Dartanion & Joi Hayward Ministries
All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Joi was born to Pastors John and Vanessa Frisby of The House of the Good Shepherd, Philadelphia, PA. She is the third eldest of five children. Joi received a bachelors of Science degree in Human Resources and Accounting from the University Of Maryland University College, is certified in Project Management, Defense Acquisitions, and Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL).

Joi has served in a ministering capacity in every church she has attended. She has served in church administration, dance ministries, choirs, planning support, event coordination. She spearheads and supports a variety of community outreach initiatives supporting homeless shelters and orphanages.

As a fulltime Daughter of the Most High God, wife, mother, theological student, department of defense employee and member of the Body of Christ, Joi knows and believes in the importance of balance. She is focused on living a life pleasing to God, serving and supporting her husband, being the best mother to her children, accomplishing multiple levels of education, and exceeding the expectation of work assignments as an example to other working wives, mothers, and students.

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