During the gold rush, prospectors had to know where one deed ended and another began. Establishing those boundaries for yourself involved fulfilling certain requirements and then staking your claim.
Staking your claim meant (1) That whatever gold came out of that mine or creek was rightfully yours, and (2) That you had to dig, pan, or otherwise work to find said gold. It was a commitment to work.
It’s a lot like that with God’s promises. God freely makes promises to people in the Bible, and those who have counted them meticulously say that there are nearly 8,000. I’m taking their word for it.
But which of these promises are mine? (Excuse the pun.) How do I know what promises are made to me and can rightly be claimed today? That’s where the work comes in. Many are like the “claim jumpers” of old who attempt to cash in on other people’s promises! We call foul!
For example, take Jesus’ promise of Acts 1:8. Many are awaiting the Holy Spirit and His power when they’re already here. The promised Spirit came at Pentecost, and He has been indwelling and providing spiritual power for all of God’s children for nearly two thousand years!
In other words, Acts 1:8 is a promise you have no need to “claim,” because Jesus fulfilled it for everyone (see Acts 2). Rather, we are to be filled with that Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), commit to walk in that Spirit (Galatians 5:25), put sin to death through that Spirit (Romans 8:13), and not grieve that Spirit by evil speech (Ephesians 4:29-30).
So our joyful task is not to wait, but to ACT in light of that promised power, as Jesus Himself commanded us to do in what we call “The Great Commission” of Matthew 28:18-20. To take the Gospel across the ocean or across the street requires power which already is ours.
It’s not complex. Each time we act in obedience to this or any other command, we are walking by faith and claiming God’s promises.
“Father, we thank you for the promised Holy Spirit, our Comforter and Counselor. We thank you for the fruit He produces and the power He provides, making real Jesus’ presence and blessings. Amen.”