The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Joel 2:28-29,
"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."
As the Lord tells of a future time of blessing for Israel, he speaks of pouring his Spirit on "my servants." Peter quotes this portion, and the following from Joel in his response to the crowd that had gathered on the day of Pentecost at the birth of the church.
On Pentecost, as the early believers were gathered in one place the Holy Spirit came and filled them all in a very dramatic fashion. They all began to speak in languages they did not know. An astonished crowd gathered and Peter explained it was the promised Holy Spirit as he quoted this passage from Joel's prophecy.
Two millennia later we have become accustomed to the reality that the Holy Spirit comes and dwells within the hearts of believers. It still is, nonetheless, just as astonishing today as it was at the birth of the church! When we trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell, literally, in our hearts!
Paul speaks much of the indwelling Holy Spirit. He tells us the indwelling Spirit speaks of God's pouring of his love into our hearts, "Hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:5. He also tells us the presence of the Holy Spirit within us assures us of the freedom we have from domination of the sinful nature within our lives, "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you." Romans 8:9. He also assures us of our pending resurrection because of the presence of the Holy Spirit, "If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you." Romans 8:11.
As I stop and reflect on the reality of God's Spirit dwelling within my heart, I find it an amazing thing. As we read in Joel, "Surely he has done great things.Be not afraid, O land; be glad and rejoice. Surely the Lord has done great things." Joel 2:20-21.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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