04.01. Before Pentecost

"Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." -- Luk 24:46-49

Before Pentecost Jesus told His disciples, ’Do not start any revivals yet. Do not begin to preach yet. Do not try to win souls yet. You are not ready. You tarry in Jerusalem until you be endued with power from on high!’

Now the above Scripture is all the more remarkable when you consider that Jesus had taught these men for three and a half years. No preacher ever got as good seminary training as these apostles got under the personal teaching of Jesus. Remember also that Jesus had already risen from the dead, and for forty days had been teaching them concerning the kingdom of God.

Remember, too, that the day He rose from the dead, He breathed on them and said, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost" (John 20:22), and they did receive the Holy Spirit to dwell in their bodies. You recall that Jesus had promised them in John 14:17 that the Holy Ghost "dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." Then when Jesus rose from the dead, He breathed on the disciples and said, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost," and they did. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit began the day Jesus was glorified, the day He was raised from the dead. Yet Jesus said to these people who were saved, who were taught in the Scriptures, who were happy, whose faith was restored, these people who had the Holy Spirit dwelling in their bodies, ’"tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." He said, ’I have a job for you to do. I want repentance and remission of sins preached in My Name in all the world. You are the ones to go to all nations. You are My witnesses of these things. But tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.’