Previously, we left where we were answering the question of why sometimes one has to wait for the Holy Spirit. We said the first reason is

TRANSITION: where awaiting for preparation is necessary. The second reason is
PROTECTION: How? First, the Holy Spirit is already in them, but they need protection. Let me read this verse, " For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishopric let another take. Wherefore of these men who have companied with us all the time, the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, and they appointed two, Joseph called Barabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, and they gave forth their lots; the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. Acts 1:20-21, 23-24, 26. Peter even quoted the scriptures and prayerfully selected Matthias, but Matthias's name never reappeared in the Bible. In the Book of Acts, which I called the Book of Action, Mathias's name never appeared, not even once. Why? Because Peter spoke the right scripture before empowering the spirit in Chapter 2. Peter used logic and clever analysis, which is a kind of bet. Through the Church growth seminary, when Paul came on the scene, he heard the Holy Ghost fire and was chosen. Jesus chose all the disciples by Himself, and they failed when Peter tried to lead the way in selecting Mathias. Again, Jesus, even after ascension, chose Paul. Nothing like Mathias is there, and people should find a way of saying, "Sorry, Mathias, you cease to be disciples." But God, with His might, made Mathias disappear from the list peacefully. So, it's necessary sometimes to wait to be protected from making human decisions.

THIRDLY, VISION: Let me read this verse: " Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not Jeremiah 33:3. So Jeremiah was locked and couldn't do anything, but God said, “call on me and will show you the way." Abraham was told to look up, and God said yeah, that's how many your children will be. Abraham got impatient and began shortcuts, and Hagar got pregnant, and today we have the Arabs, suicide bombers, mention he had to pay the price. Even if what you are doing is fulfillment of scripture, is it the right time? Wait on the Lord, not wait for the Spirit.

Transition, protection, Vision, and lastly,

Evaluation: Let's look at Ezekiel 37, "The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down amid the valley which was full of bones, And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest. Ezekiel 37:1-3. Ezekiel said he didn't know whether the dry bones could leave. Let's look at verse 4, “Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord. So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. Ezekiel 37:4-8 KJV. Hear the bones come together but have no breath of Life. Note that it was after a command from the Lord. Ezekiel preached to dry bones shaking, but there was no commotion. People may preach, and you see shakings, yeah, 123 fire, we shall go out preach, but it's not the power of the spirit where there is a shake but no life. Let's look at verse 9, "Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. Ezekiel 37:9-10. Note that it was not that Ezekiel spoke to the dry bones; he talked to the wind or spirit, and there was creation. This was how the dry bones became a complete army. This was happening to 120 believers wondering what to do, but after Peter tried, there was rattling but no life or zeal to do the work. They heard a mighty wind. The spirit came upon them, and they were touching the world. Right now, the spirit is available for you to welcome him to come upon you and do something. This is when it's already in you, and you can openly confess that you were like Peter, looking clever and intelligent in words, but give yourself for Him to empower today, now!