”In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”“
Acts 1:1-5 ESV
We are two days away from the eclipse of 2024. I have heard millions may be traveling down I-35 to Texas to witness this great cosmic phenomenon. It will be a solar eclipse. The moon will pass between the earth and the sun for a time the sun will be obscured. Some are expecting a great cosmic energy to emanate from this event, but no one really knows. All we do know is we will not be able to see the sun.
Before Jesus’ death He told His disciples plainly, “I will rise again on the third day.” That’s what they heard but that is not what they comprehended. Resurrection day of 2024 has come and gone. We have celebrated our Risen Lord. Jesus is not in the tomb. The grave clothes have been left behind, and now we have entered into a new section of time.
In Jewish tradition this is the time between Passover and the Feast of the Weeks known as “Counting the Omer.”
”“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest, “You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering. You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a grain offering of new grain to the Lord.“
Leviticus 23:10, 15-16 ESV
At the end of these 50 days the Jewish people would celebrate again in Jerusalem. They would wave an Omer (around a quart) of the barely harvest before the Lord. 50 days after Jesus death was Pentecost when Jesus sent His Spirit to indwell His people.
”When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.“
Acts 2:1-4 ESV
So what to do with the days of “Counting the Omer?” What did the first disciples do? Jesus told them not many days from now you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit, but until then you must wait.
Waiting is a hard thing especially when you have been promised an extraordinary event. You don’t know what that event will look like or feel like but you know it’s coming. We have been promised an event. A day will come when the sky will be rolled back and Jesus will ride in:
”Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of Lords.“
Revelation 19:11-16 ESV
So in essence the church, THE BRIDE OF CHRIST, is in the days of “Counting the Omer.” We also are waiting on a glorious day, but until that day we wait as the disciples waited on the filling of the Holy Spirit. Continue gathering together with the family of God. Ask the Holy Spirit to prepare your heart to receive more of God’s anointing. Spend time in prayer and spend time in God’s Word. God wants to pour out more of Himself into each of us just as that day at Pentecost.
Wait and Count Your Omer. Give thanks for all God has done!
Waiting is the hardest thing to do, but that’s when we prepare. That’s my prayer that we prepare for His coming.