Pour out
Let’s face it, the Bible can be hard to understand. It can’t be approached like a novel, with its engaging storytelling.
It’s not a murder mystery, where each page turned keeps you guessing, until the murderer is revealed.
It’s not a DIY manual or cookery book, with its step-by-step instructions on how to complete a task.
And it’s also not an encyclopaedia or dictionary that has information about all kinds of things.
No, the Bible is a library of books that includes historical records, poems and songs, wise sayings, eye-witness accounts, letters, and future-looking ‘prophetic’ writings.
It was written by more than 40 authors, over a period of 1,500 years. But God was the architect. He inspired it.
If you have ever read the Bible, you discover that there is an overall narrative, which is about the story of God and His interaction with His creation, primarily with people!
There is a small book of ‘prophetic’ writings deep in the Old Testament called Joel. He saw a great swarm of locusts devastate the land of Judah and out of that, God spoke to Him.
God said that there was going to be a time of great difficulty and struggle, but after that, there was a promise of hope and something new…
“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.”
In Joel’s time very few people had God’s Holy Spirit, and only a handful were used by Him to prophesy. But God said this was going to change and that there was going to be a massive outpouring of the Holy Spirit, for the majority and not the minority.
This new outpouring was for all people and had nothing to do with age, gender, ethnicity, class, intellect or how much money you had in the bank!
What God said has come true! How can I say that? Well, I have seen it for myself. Over many years that I have been a Christian, I have seen a wonderful variety of women and men, of different ages, nationalities, and backgrounds, all filled with God’s Holy Spirit, just as Joel prophesied.
Be encouraged: what God says will happen, in His way and in His timing.
God bless
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader