Waiting Through the Spirit
(week 45/03)
Olubi Johnson
Galatians 5:5 (NKJV): 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
In our article, Time to seek the Lord we saw that we are in a transition time between the healing of the 2nd. Circumcision and the manifestation of the glory of God in the church as it was in the life of Christ (John 2. 11, 14. 12).
This transition time is also a time of waiting for this manifestation of the glory of God which Paul calls in Gal 5. 5 above “the hope of righteousness” which is the same thought brought out in Colossians. 1. 27: “Christ in you the hope of glory”.
The time of waiting is also a time of trial or temptation since “hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Proverbs. 13.12).
Waiting for the manifestation of God’s promises sometimes can be very trying especially when we think “the appointed time” (Habakkuk. 2. 3) is already past.
However the scripture commands us to wait even when it seems the appointed time is past:
Habakkuk 2:2-3 (NKJV): 2 Then the LORD answered me and said:
“Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.
Hebrews 10:34-39 (NKJV): 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
So we are to persevere during the time of waiting, not giving up or becoming discouraged.
How do we do this?
The Holy Spirit through Paul says we are “to wait through the Spirit” Galatians.5.5).
In other words during the time of waiting get your strength and encouragement from the Holy Spirit through the Word and prayer.
So as we wait we do not wait passively but rather actively by daily prayer in the Spirit, reading, meditation and confession of the Word.
As we do this the Holy Spirit will show us things to come (John 16.13) and tokens of the “blade and the ear” (Mark. 4. 28) of things we are expecting so encouraging and strengthening us to wait until the full manifestation comes
