Scripture Focus:

Acts 1:4-8 – Jesus tells the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit
Acts 2:1-4 – The Day of Pentecost
Supporting Scriptures:

John 14:16-17 – “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper…”

Romans 8:11 – “The Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you.”

Zechariah 4:6 – “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord.

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1. Introduction: Don’t Move Until You’re Empowered

> “But wait for the gift my Father promised…”
(Acts 1:4, NIV)

Before the disciples preached, performed miracles, or changed the world—they had to wait. Jesus told them not to move until the Helper, the Holy Spirit, came to empower them.

Too often, we try to move ahead in our own strength. But just like the Upper Room experience, there are moments in life when God says: “Wait. Pray. Prepare. The power is coming.”

This week, I reflect on how that same Holy Spirit has moved in my life, giving me power and confirmation—especially when the odds were stacked against me.

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2. The Upper Room: A Season of Waiting and Trusting

> “They all joined together constantly in prayer…”
(Acts 1:14, NIV)

The Upper Room was a waiting room, but it wasn’t passive. It was a place of prayer, unity, and expectation. Jesus had promised power—and they believed it would come.

At DM9 and Diamonds of Distinction, there have been seasons where I had to wait—when doors didn’t open right away, when clarity wasn’t immediate, and when obedience meant staying still. But it was in that waiting that the Holy Spirit confirmed, aligned, and filled me.

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3. The Power: Not Just to Participate, But to Dominate

> “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues…”
(Acts 2:4, NIV)

When the Holy Spirit came, it was undeniable. Boldness replaced fear. Power replaced timidity. Purpose became clear. It was a dominating presence that changed everything.

The Holy Spirit is not a passive comforter—He is the power of God at work in us and through us.

He doesn’t just come to participate—He comes to take control.

He doesn’t just counsel—He dominates every obstacle when we surrender.

The same Spirit that raised Christ from the grave now lives in us.

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4. The Connection: My Story & the Spirit’s Work

Every moment of success I’ve experienced—from playing to coaching, mentoring, and launching DM9—wasn’t because of my own strength. It was the Holy Spirit empowering me, giving me the words to say, the favor I didn’t earn, the strength I needed after setbacks, and the discernment to know when to act and when to wait.

The Holy Spirit confirmed things in my spirit long before they came to pass—and when they did, I knew it was God’s power, not my own effort.

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5. Application: What the Holy Spirit Means for You

The Holy Spirit:

Guides you in truth (John 16:13)

Empowers you for purpose

Reveals things your eyes can’t see

Gives boldness to do what you couldn’t do on your own

Transforms you from the inside out

As an athlete, a leader, a student, or a believer—you don’t have to do life alone. The Helper has come. The question is: Have you made room for Him to move?

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6. Reflection: Don’t Rush the Upper Room

Ask Yourself:

Am I depending on my own strength or the Spirit’s power?

Am I willing to wait in prayer until I’m filled?

Do I recognize the Holy Spirit working in my life already?

> “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord.
(Zechariah 4:6)

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7. Final Charge: Make Room for the Helper

To every student-athlete, mentor, and believer:
Don’t run ahead of God. Don’t move without the Helper. The Holy Spirit gives you what you don’t have—wisdom, power, peace, strength, boldness, confirmation—and He will carry you when your own power runs out.

Wait. Pray. Be filled. Then move.