You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied,
And you will praise the name of the Lord your God,
Who has dealt wondrously with you;
Then My people will never be put to shame.
So you will know that I am in the midst of Israel,
And that I am the Lord your God
And there is no other;
And My people will never be put to shame.
“It will come about after this
That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind;
And your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
Your old men will have dreams,
Your young men will see visions.
And even on the male and female servants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

Joel 2:26-29

We know that the Apostles saw the fulfillment of the Spiritual truth of this passage coming about in the Church (Acts 2), so it is worth examining this prophesy which is fulfilled in us as Christians.

What is most encouraging to me about this passage is the way in which no one gets left out of the process. All mankind, the prophet said, has had God’s Spirit poured out on them. Young and old, free and slave, everyone has access to the rich spiritual blessings that proceed forth from the Lord. That is the truth of God’s Grace and His Gospel; everyone has equal access and opportunity in Him.

Not only that but God is not standing by with a measuring spoon to hand out carefully sized portions; God outpours his Spirit in its full measure. There is no rationing of supply.

When we look to the less-than-powerful way the Spirit indwells us, we are not seeing a different, less powerful God. We are seeing a change in our own hard hearts that has kept the Lord from changing our lives! Let us embrace the outpouring of grace from the Lord, and never be put to shame.

Ethan Kirl

Originally Published December 22, 2020