POURED OUT ON US
Carey Madding
Today's Scripture: “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.” Joel 2:28-29, ESV
Theme: The Apostle Peter quoted this prophecy of Joel’s on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on all believers, ushering in the Church Age.
TAG, YOU’RE IT!
Have you ever played “Tag”? There is always one person who is “It.” That one unfortunate child chases all the rest, until another is caught or tagged—and then becomes “It.” It is exhausting for all the kids, but “It” has it especially hard!
When I was a child, my dad was in the US Air Force. He would be on TDY (Temporary Duty) away in another state or country for weeks or months at a time. When I was in middle school, he was in Thailand during the Vietnam War for a year. The thing that I remember most about my parents’ marriage during those years is the way they would pass the baton of leadership. When my dad was away, my mom’s word was the law. When my dad came home, she would remind us to “Go ask your dad.” I cannot imagine what a relief it was to not be “It” and to go off duty for a bit. But it would also be hard to give up that leadership role and take a back seat.
IN THE OLD COVENANT
In the Old Testament, God raised up leaders to guide His people. He anointed them with His power and the ability to hear His voice. Think Moses, Aaron, Samuel, David, the judges, or the prophets. These anointed ones could discern His will and speak for Him. There were only a few individuals in each generation hearing from God. It was not widespread. God did not speak to His people directly. He spoke though His chosen leaders. For example, when David was anointed King by Samuel, the oil poured on him symbolized the Spirit and David began to hear and discern God’s will from that day forth.
BY THE SPIRIT
After the exile of the Israelites to Babylon for seventy years, God raised up the prophet Joel, who through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit encourages the returnees. They came back to a country destroyed and barren, without walls or a temple. God had previously resided in Solomon’s temple and now He seemed distant, silent. But Joel foretold a time when God would pour out His Spirit on all people, not just a chosen leader, and not just occasionally.
Fast forward to the fulfillment of that prophecy. When Peter preached on Pentecost, after the Upper Room experience of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon all who were gathered to pray, he refers to this prophecy from Joel 2. It had come true in his lifetime, and it ushered in the new Covenant. Jesus, named “God with us,” had come and brought this nearness to pass. When He returned to heaven, He sent the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to indwell every single believer.
Make It Personal: You too, Believer, have the Spirit of the Living God residing in you. If you ask for Him to fill you, to direct you, to empower you, to convict you, He will do these things. For these are the very reasons He was given. You can also stifle and ignore Him. “Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19, ESV) but rejoice and rely on Him to empower your life!
Pray: Lord, thank You for Your Spirit. I ask that He fill me to overflowing, so that I can follow You more closely. I give Him permission to convict, nudge, challenge, and empower. I want to be like Samuel: “Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears” (1 Samuel 3:10). I will listen and obey. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Read: 1 Samual 16:13, Acts 2:1-8, 12, 14-21; John 14:25-26, 16:7-11
Weekly Memory Verse: “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” Hebrews 1:1-2, ESV