Acts 2:17 Now Available feat. Nick Chambers

ActsPentecost

May 19

Acts 2:17 is now available on all streaming platforms!

The Verse

“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;”

Pentecost Sunday. It’s on this day that we celebrate the outpouring of the Spirit on the Church 50 days after the resurrection of Christ! As Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Spirit (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4), on Pentecost we see its fulfillment. This day is a celebration of so many important things: the infilling of the Spirit, the miraculous speaking of other tongues in languages never learned, the giving of power for mission and evangelism, and the resulting creation of a diverse church. You can read the full story in Acts 2:1-13.

As a crowd gathered around the group of disciples seeking answers, the apostle Peter sought to address them. Because the feast of Pentecost was happening at the same time in Jerusalem (one of three annual “pilgrim feasts” that Jews would come in town to worship for), devout Jewish worshipers from “every nation under heaven” were those present. Peter gives them a backdrop from the prophet Joel that had been written hundreds of years prior in Joel 2:28 to explain what they were seeing with their eyes and hearing with their ears.

In order to explore this central passage about Pentecost, we’ll make four simple observations:

First, we are in the last days (“...and in the last days…”).

The “last days” that Joel spoke of are now the days we are currently living in. They aren’t the “last day” when Christ will return in glory, but simply the last days leading up to that last day. What the people of Israel had longed for and awaited in the Spirit for centuries had arrived on the scene. The same Spirit that hovered over the chaotic waters of creation, that filled the temple, and that filled Jesus was now available to and filling those who put their trust in Jesus in these last days! To live in these last days means the Spirit is available to all of us.

Second, this was God’s declaration (“...God declares…”).

We’re told that God was the one announcing the arrival of the Spirit! What took place in the Holy Spirit filling the disciples was God’s declaration and God’s doing. The Spirit’s outpouring wasn’t because someone had finally cracked the God code. Pentecost was always part of God’s gracious purposes for humanity! The God who declared and delivered His promised Spirit to His disciples in the upper room is the same God who declares and delivers today on the same promise. It was God’s delight to pour out His Spirit on Pentecost in the last days, and it continues to be His delight today.

Third, the Spirit doesn’t play favorites (“...on all flesh…”).

Though in the Old Testament, we saw God’s Spirit resting on particular people for particular roles at particular times (artists, prophets, kings, etc.), here we see a great leveling. God is pouring out His Spirit on all flesh. Every son and daughter, male and female, young or old, is a candidate for the Spirit! Gender and age aren’t factors.

Fourth, the Spirit speaks in a variety of ways (“...shall prophesy, dream dreams, see visions…”).

What’s the result of the Spirit being poured out? Sons and daughters prophesy. Young men see visions. Old men dream dreams. We’re not told exactly how this all will happen, but simply that it will happen. Yes, the Spirit may speak to different people at different times, but He speaks nonetheless. The Spirit is part of God’s plan to communicate with His people. He first draws our hearts to look at the beauty of Jesus, but as we do, He also transforms us to look like Jesus and then empowers us for ministry and service in His kingdom.

Today is a great day to reflect with gratitude on the work of the Spirit in your life!

Imagine for a moment what a “Spirit-less” life might be like. What if the Holy Spirit hadn’t been poured out on Pentecost?
What are some ways the Spirit has met you in the past? Take time to thank God for those…
Is there anything the Holy Spirit might want to speak to you today? Take a moment to slow down, take a few deep breaths, and ask Him to speak to you… He might want you to encourage a friend with a particular word or passage of Scripture; He might give you a sense of boldness to share Jesus with a friend at work. Perhaps He wants to encourage you or convict you of something that’s been distracting you from Him. Whatever it is, take the time to listen! He loves to speak as we take time to listen and be led by Him. God loves to answer this Pentecost prayer in real time today.