"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, your young men shall see visions. . . . I will pour out My Spirit in those days."-Joel 2:28-29 (NKJV)
The prophecy above was delivered by the prophet Joel sometime around 800 B.C. It's a prophecy packed with a promise that was almost unthinkable at the time: God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh-men and women, young and old.
This was amazing because up until that time, God's Spirit only had come upon certain people for certain situations, such as Moses' elders (Numbers 11:25) and Samson (Judges 14:19). It had been like that for many centuries until God's Spirit was poured out upon the early church:
Suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:2-4 NKJV)
Bystanders couldn't figure out what was happening, and assumed that the first disciples were drunk. Peter stood up and set the record straight:
"But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. . . . I will pour out My Spirit in those days . . . .'" (Acts 2:16-18 NKJV)
Joel's prophecy had been fulfilled and continues to be fulfilled as we who comprise the Christian Church are filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). True to His Word, God has poured out His Spirit on all flesh-men and women, young and old, Jew and Gentile. Anyone from anywhere can experience the blessing of God's Spirit if he or she is in Christ (Galatians 3:28).
Discuss with the group what it means to be filled with the Spirit. Share how you have experienced the Holy Spirit’s presence in your own life. How has He poured Himself into your life?
Dig into Joel 2:28–29 and Acts 2:16–18. What was the purpose of God pouring out His Spirit on His children? Why do you think this happened the way in which it did? How did this fulfillment and filling change everything for the followers of Christ?
Decide as a group to read Pastor Bob’s book The Holy Spirit. Study on your own as you read through it, and then share with the group what you learn about the Spirit’s message and ministry to believers. (Books are available at www.ActiveWord.org.)
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