Thursday, March 23, 2017

The LORD's Spirit Poured Out Joel 2:28


As the LORD blessed the humbled people of Judah, Joel told them the LORD would be “in the midst of Israel” and they would “never be ashamed”. In chapter two and verse twenty-eight, Joel told the people “afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh” where we read:

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:

The verse begins, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh;” Joel began with the phrase, “And it shall come to pass afterward” or “following after, hinder and behind ”, “that I will pour out” or “shed, spill forth, expend, sprawl out and gushed out” “my spirit” which means “the wind, breath, mind, vivacity of God's spirit” “upon all flesh” which refers to “the bodies and mankind”. While the LORD is “in the midst” of His people, He will “expend” His Almighty Spirit upon people everywhere.

The verse goes on to say, “and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:” Joel added, “and your sons” or “male children and grandsons” “and your daughters” which means “girl children and granddaughters” “shall prophesy” or “speak forth by inspiration”, “your old men” which refers to “the elder and ancient men” “shall dream” “bind firmly, recover, become strong or robust in” “dreams” which means “dreams with prophetic meanings”, “your young men” or “youth or a young man of mature age but unmarried which is used for young warriors” “shall see” or “behold, inspect, perceive and consider” visions” which refers to “divine revelations”. When the LORD “pours out” His “spirit”, both older and younger males will be affected by as they “dream dreams” and “see visions”.

When we meditate upon these words of Joel, we understand this to mean not only the fulfillment of this prophecy in Joel's day, but also in the days after Jesus ascended into heaven. In chapter two and verses sixteen through eighteen Peter the apostle on the day of Pentecost said, “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; and it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy”. The LORD was to “pour out his spirit” upon “everyone” both older and younger, and the manifestation of His spirit was that older men would have “divine dreams” with “prophetic meanings”, and the “younger men” would have “divine revelations”. May the LORD “pour out His spirit” upon us in these last days, and may all who see the evidence thereof come to the saving grace of Jesus Christ our LORD.

Next time Joel tells how the LORD will “pour out” His “spirit upon the servants and the handmaids”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites,
http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.




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