In the Bible we find multiple promises for the people of God, and these promises have never passed or been overlooked, because we serve a God who fulfills everything He says. For this reason, we must hold firmly to His Word and trust that what God declares will come to pass in His perfect time. Throughout the Scriptures we see how the Lord makes covenants, speaks through prophets, reveals His purposes, and then fulfills each promise with precision. We can quickly review some of those promises that were fulfilled: God promised Abraham a son whose offspring would be as numerous as the stars of heaven, and that promise, though humanly impossible, was fulfilled. On the other hand, God promised the people of Israel that He would deliver them from the oppression of Egypt, and with a mighty hand and outstretched arm He fulfilled it. These accounts, and many others throughout the Scriptures, reveal something essential: God does not lie, He does not fail, and His promises are trustworthy.
The Scriptures say:
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
Joel 2:28-29
This prophecy of Joel is one of the most remarkable promises God made to His people, for it pointed forward to a time when the Holy Spirit would dwell within believers in a new and powerful way. And this prophecy was clearly fulfilled in chapter two of the book of Acts. After the departure of our Lord Jesus Christ to the Father, the disciples gathered in obedience, waiting for the promise that Jesus had spoken about. Suddenly, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them, filling them with power from on high. They began to speak in new tongues, and people from various nations—who had come for the feast of Pentecost—were astonished to hear the disciples speaking in their own languages. Was not that glorious? It was a visible, undeniable manifestation that God had fulfilled exactly what He said through His prophet Joel.
The death of Christ and His resurrection opened the door for us to receive the greatest blessing of the new covenant: eternal life. But in addition to giving us salvation, Christ also left us His Spirit—the Comforter—who strengthens us, guides us, convicts us of sin, gives us wisdom, and sustains us every single moment. The disciples on the day of Pentecost received that promise, not because they were better than us or because they earned it, but because God is faithful. When God promises something, He fulfills it. And just as the glory of God was displayed in that upper room, it was a sign for all the nations gathered there that the God of Israel is alive, powerful, and sovereign over all history.
Beloved brothers, let us place our hope in the promises of God. Let us not grow weary or faint-hearted when we feel that His answer takes time. Many promises in the Bible took years, even decades, to be fulfilled, but each one came at the perfect moment. Abraham waited, Joseph waited, Moses waited, David waited, the prophets waited—and all saw the faithfulness of God. The timing of God is not like ours, but His timing is always perfect.
Let us trust with all our hearts that faithful is the One who promised. His promises do not expire, they do not lose value, and they are not affected by circumstances. If God has spoken, it will be done. Let us remain firm, praying, believing, and giving thanks, because the God who fulfilled His promises in the past is the same God who will fulfill His promises today.
2 comments on “The outpouring of God’s Spirit”
The outpouring of God’s Spirit
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The Lord Jesus Christ promised his disciples they would receive the Comforter, the Holy Spirit of God, who would come from the Father and the Son. The words of Jesus Christ confirmed the revelation which Joel had received many years before the Scriptures were fulfilled:
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions”
(Joel 2:28)
The power of the Holy Spirit was manifested, in addition, the fact that the apostle could speak and understand foreign tongues, and in the actions of healing which the apostles
performed, as Peter did, for instance.
Jesus, our Lord, promised his disciples they would receivw a Comforter to help and to be with them, for they were not alone in this World:
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you.”
(John 14:26)
The outpouring of God’s Spirit was a great blessing the Father sent to the Church through his Son Jesus Christ.
His power acted among people and performed wonders of healing, teaching them the revelation of the Scriptures, even as had been announced by the words Jesus had taught to them—words which they could transmit to us, and that now are written in the Bible.
The children of God, believers in his Son Jesus Christ, are “temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in us”
(1 Corinthians 3:16).
We believers, by the grace of God, really are blessed people and we should be God-fearing people. And our aim with that should be not to grieve the Spirit, who acts in us and leads us to every good work; who also gives us understanding of the things of God and comfort us in our troubles, takes our prayers to the Throne of God.
The Lord God has always been good and merciful to his children.
Let’s give thanks to Him.
AMEN