“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.”(Joel 2:28-29)
Peter spoke these words from the prophet Joel in Acts 2 as he proclaimed the gospel on Pentecost. He shared that this prophecy was being fulfilled in their midst. The beauty is that God is continuing to do this very thing in our day! This promise is for us.
The declaration of the Lord to pour out his Spirit on all people is not only something that he has done and continues, but something we can ask for him to do. God’s word contained in scripture can and should direct our prayer lives. So according to this passage and our understanding of the Lord’s faithfulness to answer it, we can call on the Lord to flood our homes, churches, and communities with the outpouring of his Spirit.
By faith, we can ask the Lord to continue to pour out his Spirit, so that the Church will be empowered to bear witness to Jesus as Lord. O how we need the power today in our lives. Jesus said, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…” Gospel proclamation comes by and through the power of the Holy Spirit. We need this power!
Jesus told the disciples to “wait for the gift my Father promised.”We must not be so consumed with the “getting ministry done” mindset that we forget to wait on the power to do so. The Spirit will not only empower our ministry, but guide and direct us!
Some might ask, “so what use is there in asking and waiting since the Spirit has come?” Without the power of the Spirit there is no fruitful ministry. We need the Spirit! Consider the disciples prayer n Acts 4: “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak you word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” What follows is of great importance for us to take hold of…”After they prayed, the place they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”
Lord, pour our your Spirit!
Have you asked the Lord to do this in your life, family, church and community?
Acts 4 and 5 demonstrate how he loves to answer this kind of faithful praying!!
