POUR PROMISE Part 2

Last week we explored a prophecy delivered by God through the Prophet Joel in which God promised to pour out His Holy Spirit in the last days (end times). "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. . . ." (Joel 2:28). (If you have not read it, I encourage you to stop reading right here and read last week's blog on this subject for the purpose of continuity.)

We looked at the CERTAINTIES associated with this prophecy. Let's continue in this vein and now consider the CERTAINTY OF THE NECESSITY! The necessity of this divine out-pouring is predicated on the timing, importance and purpose of God. Let's pursue this with a closer look.

1) God's timing is critical! This out-pouring of the Holy Spirit is declared to be "afterward". I believe this "afterward" refers to the end times. Because so many signs of the end times are occurring now before our very eyes, God's promised out-pouring could happen at any moment, maybe even today or tomorrow or next week. Of course only God knows when, but He did tell us in His Word to be on full alert, expecting it and living in anticipation of it.

2) The importance is also clear. God, who "cannot lie" (Titus 1:2) made the absolute promise to pour out His Spirit! Since He said it, it will absolutely take place at His appointed time. It will probably be the last opportunity extended by God to give the followers of Jesus the enablement and power of His Spirit to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, giving all humanity one last occasion of repenting and coming to personal faith in Jesus before the seven-year world-wide tribulation. And let's be clear about this fact. The Scripture teaches that there will be a "falling away" of those who profess to know Jesus before the return of Jesus to earth. "Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day (Christ's return) will not come until the great falling away takes place first. . . ." (II Thesalonians 2:3). It will be a period of widespread apostasy or defection from the faith, often interpreted as a significant departure from belief and adherence to the principles taught by Jesus and the Apostles. This "falling away" makes this out-pouring of God's Spirit all the more important and necessary.

3) God's purpose for this pouring out of His Spirit also needs careful consideration:

• His purpose is to usher in the last days of life as we now know it and the first days of His magnificent reign as Messiah King Jesus! He is preparing to bring an end to one age and a beginning of another age by a great pouring out of His Holy Spirit! In fact, this is exactly how He ended the age of the "Law" and ushered in the age of "GRACE" (Acts, Chapter 2). What better way to close out one age and introduce another! God's plan is always best!

• God purposes to transform all opposition to Him and to His kingdom to total submission to His authority, righteousness, His governance, to His will, way and eternal kingdom.

• God's purpose for pouring out His Spirit is also to accomplish the necessary transformation in the soul, mind, heart and spirit of humanity, which is so aleinated from the knowledge of God and His great plan of salvation. It is to give all humanity an opportunity to receive a new spiritual heart and a new spirit placed within them, by God. "I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26).

  Why? Because God says, "The heart (of all men) is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick (wicked); who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). He also said, "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you" (Ezekiel 36:25).

• Thus, God wants all of us to be completely holy, living in obedience and devotion to Him. He purposes to purify our hearts, motives, intents, desires and saturate our lives with His presence, power and purity. He wants our will to be blended with His will, our purposes to be wrapped up in His purposes, our life to be folded into his life so He is alive within us. He does not desire a part of us; He demands every part of us!

• God purposes to pour out His Holy Spirit to create an inner holiness in each of His devoted followers since all means of our efforts, rituals, programs, etc. have failed miserably to accomplish that created inner holiness. Of necessity, it takes the cleansing, purifying and empowering work of God's Spirit to bring us into and sustain us in holiness. Nothing Else Will Do!

  Let's also examine the CERTAINTY OF THE MEANS! God, as we previously talked about, is the Author of the out-pouring of His Spirit; it is His to do the Pouring! We also previously looked at our own personal responsibility to receive His pouring. Our part is simply repentance - a complete turning away from sin, all unrighteousness, our spiritual rebellion and disobedience, and a total turning to God! " 'Yet, even now,' declares the LORD, 'return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend (tear) your hearts and not your garments.' " (Joel 2:12-13) ". . . everyone who calls on the name of the LORD (in repentance and faith) shall be saved" (Joel 2:32).

  We dare not take this personal repentance too lightly! Repentance was the message of the Old Testament Prophets! Joel is just one of these examples. John The Baptist declared repentance to be necessary as he ministered at the Jordan River. "In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand' " (Matthew 3:1-2). He said further, "I baptize you with water for repentance, but he (Jesus) who is coming after me is mightier than I . . . He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" (inner refinement) (Matthew 3:11). Jesus, Himself, reiterated that same message of repentance. "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17). The Apostles preached repentance ". . .'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ. . . .' " (Acts 2:18). Personal repentance is absolutely necessary! We have that message both in the Old and New Testaments; don't ignore it!

  God uses preaching, teaching and praying as means to prepare people to receive the out-pouring of God's Holy Spirit. When the 120 disciples were gathered in the "Upper Room", following Jesus' ascension back to heaven, for 10 days prior to and on the Day of Pentecost, they were in earnest prayer. "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:1-4). This first miraculous out-pouring of God's Spirit resulted in the birth of the Church and the resident in-dwelling of God's Spirit that enabled the early Christians to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem, all Judea, Samaria and throughout the entire world as Jesus had commanded them.

  Lastly, let's ponder the CERTAINTY OF THE EFFECTS of the out-pouring of the Spirit of God. Every one is affected in some powerful manner when the Spirit is poured out; no one escapes and no one is immune. Some accept and some reject, but the Holy Spirit is made available to all - thus the words, "All Flesh". The Living God makes contact with everyone! The Spirit's out-pouring surely makes an impact on those who are in right relationship with God! God said through the Prophet Joel, ". . . your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams and your young men shall see visions" (Joel 2:28). God blesses His own people with the gift of enlightenment; they see truth as revealed by God and receive unveiled knowledge and profound wisdom! These blessings are all wrapped around holiness of life, character, choices and priorities. The Spirit of God, when poured out upon God's people, cleanses their inner being and consumes all impurities. It's God's gift of purification! This out-pouring of God's Spirit also produces immeasurable power. Jesus said, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. . . ." (Acts 1:8). The Greek word in the New Testament is "dunamis". It is from that word that we get "dynamite". The word means power, might, strength. The Spirit gives us dynamite power; power over sin, temptations, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. These three areas were the very same ones that satan tempted Eve in while she was in the Garden of Eden and the very same ones satan tempted Jesus in while He was forty days and nights in the wilderness. Note the references, "So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise. . . ." (Genesis 3:6). (Please see Matthew 4:1-11). And the Apostle John warns us, "For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh, and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life - is not from the Father but is from the world" (I John 2:16). You and I must guard our flesh, our eyes and our pride of life, for we can be sure satan will tempt us here! Dynamite power is for holy living and is also for proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus! So, the Spirit's pouring has an impact on those who do not yet have a personal relationship with Jesus. Again, the Prophet Joel states, "Whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved" (Joel 2:32). This is the result of a great turning to God in full repentance and faith!

  The Spirit of the LORD takes the joy Jesus promised and applies it to our hearts and lives. "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." (John 15:11) Likewise, Jesus promised us His abiding peace. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. . . ." (John 14:27).

  If you are like me, you can hardly wait for the Great Out-Pouring of the Holy Spirit! Incredibly, it will be so widespread and literally powerful that no one will ever be the same!