Wait on God’s Power: Why You Can’t Move Without It
By Pastor Jeff Hoisington
Have you ever tried to do something before you were truly ready? Sometimes we rush ahead without the strength, wisdom, or resources we need—forgetting that we first have to wait on God’s power.
I’ll never forget the time I tried to use my dad’s compound bow as a teenager. I had fallen in love with archery and practiced for hours with my kid-sized bow. But one day, eager to impress my friends, I decided to grab the real thing—my dad’s professional bow.
What I didn’t realize was that the tension level (called the draw) on his bow was much stronger than mine. I couldn’t pull it back with my arms alone. So, in my teenage determination, I got creative: I held the handle down with my foot, threw the string over my shoulder, and squatted up with all my strength.
It worked—sort of.
I got the bow pulled back, but then realized something terrifying: I couldn’t hold it. It hurt. And I hadn’t thought about how to let it go. When I finally released my foot from the handle, the bow snapped forward like a giant rubber band—except I was caught right in the middle of it.
Let’s just say both my pride and my body took a painful hit that day.
I wasn’t ready. I had the knowledge of how to use the bow, but I lacked the strength to wield it.
The Disciples Faced the Same Reality
In Acts 1, the disciples were in a similar place. They had seen the risen Jesus. They had heard His teachings. Their hearts were burning. They were ready to run out and tell the world.
But Jesus told them something unexpected: “Wait.”
“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised… For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4–5)
They had knowledge, excitement, and passion—but they didn’t yet have power.
Jesus told them to wait on God’s power before moving forward.
Can you imagine how hard that must have been? They had witnessed the greatest miracle in history: the resurrection of Jesus Christ! And yet… they were told not to leave the city.
Why?
Because the mission ahead wasn’t something they could accomplish in their own strength.
Jesus didn’t say, “Go make a plan, then go.”
He didn’t say, “Take a class, then go.”
He said: “Wait on God’s power.”
Don’t Move Without Power
Sometimes, the hardest thing for us to do in our walk with Christ is to wait—especially when we feel ready, eager, and called.
But waiting isn’t passive. It’s preparation.
Like pulling back a bowstring, the tension builds. The readiness increases. But you can’t release until the strength is there.
Jesus knew what the disciples didn’t: the mission wasn’t just about going—it was about going empowered.
We aren’t called to go in our own wisdom or effort. We’re called to wait on God’s power so we can go in His strength.
When Our Expectations Miss the Point
Even after all they had seen, the disciples still misunderstood the big picture. In Acts 1:6, they asked:
“Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
They were thinking about political victory. About earthly kingdoms. But Jesus redirected their focus:
“It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set… But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…” (Acts 1:7–8)
They wanted Jesus to fix what was “out there.”
Jesus was more concerned with what needed to happen inside them.
He wasn’t just restoring a nation—He was redeeming the world.
We fall into the same trap today. We want Jesus to fix the systems, the headlines, the broken things in our world. But He’s after something deeper.
He’s after hearts.
Receive Power. Be a Witness. Then Go.
Jesus lays out the pattern in Acts 1:8:
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Receive power.
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Be my witnesses.
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Go to the ends of the earth.
This is still His plan for us today.
Have you received His power? Are you being a witness?
We don’t have to overcomplicate it. Being a witness is simply telling the truth about what you’ve experienced with Jesus.
The early church didn’t grow through flashy marketing or big campaigns. It grew one conversation at a time, one story at a time, one Spirit-filled witness at a time.
But it started with people who were willing to wait on God’s power before they stepped out.
A Personal Exercise: “Witness in 60 Seconds”
Here’s a simple but powerful challenge for you this week:
Write down your answer to this prompt:
👉 “One way Jesus has changed my life is by…”
Take 3–5 minutes to complete that sentence honestly and simply.
Then, practice saying it out loud. Pray and ask God to give you an opportunity to share it with someone this week.
You don’t need a pulpit or a platform.
You just need to tell the truth.
That’s witnessing.
That’s the mission.
And it begins when we wait on God’s power—and then go in His strength.
Are You Staring Into the Sky?
At the end of Acts 1, we see something powerful. After Jesus ascended, the disciples were left staring into the clouds.
“Men of Galilee,” the angels said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky?” (Acts 1:11)
It’s almost as if the angels were saying: “Hey! Snap out of it. You’ve got work to do.”
Some of us are still standing there, waiting for a sign, waiting for the perfect moment…
But Jesus already gave the command.
He said: Wait on God’s power.
Then He said: Go be my witnesses.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Move Without God’s Power
We don’t know how much time we have left on this earth. People around us are searching for hope, meaning, and truth. They need to hear about Jesus now.
The same Spirit that filled those first disciples is available to you today.
You don’t have to wait in Jerusalem.
But you do have to wait on God’s power.
And when He fills you—go boldly, go empowered, go as His witness.
A Prayer for Boldness
Here’s a simple prayer you can pray right now:
“Father, I don’t want to move without You. Fill me with Your Spirit. Use me to be Your witness. Give me boldness to step out in faith, wisdom for the right words, and power to glorify You. Use my story, my voice, and my life for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
✅ Have you shared your 60-second story with someone? Drop a comment or send a message—I’d love to hear how God is using your testimony!
➡️Hungry for more? Check out this post to rediscover your passion and hunger for Jesus like never before.
