Today’s Scripture is: Acts 2: 14-18 (MSG)
Peter Speaks Up
14-18 That’s when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: “Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight. These people aren’t drunk as some of you suspect. They haven’t had time to get drunk—it’s only nine o’clock in the morning. This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen:
“In the Last Days,” God says, “I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people: Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters; Your young men will see visions, your old men dream dreams. When the time comes, I’ll pour out my Spirit On those who serve me, men and women both, and they’ll prophesy.
I love that this passage is aggressive! It doesn’t have “maybe’s” in it. God doesn’t say that He “might” pour out His Spirit… or if we act a certain way, He “might” give us His Presence…. He says He WILL pour out His Spirit on us. We will prophesy, we will see visions, we will dream dreams…! Doesn’t that get you excited… to know that the God of all creation will pour into us His Spirit, and His supernatural wisdom and power? The only requirement is that we believe in Him – and believe that He will do it!
Sometimes I have a hard time believing though. Do you? I don’t have a hard time believing that God is all powerful and supernatural…. I have a hard time believing He would download that power into me so I can have a supernatural affect on those around me. He did it to the disciples and to the 120 people meeting that day at Pentecost… but me? It’s easy to criticize those in the crowd that assumed the disciples and all the others were drunk, but how often am I one of those people? I want to come up with a natural explanation for the supernatural – even when the evidence is right in front of me. But if I believe what the Bible says… I mean truly believe, then I have to believe that I’m part of the “every kind of people” in this passage. I will be filled..I will prophesy! Don’t you know God is just waiting for me…and for you…to truly believe and receive so He can do supernatural things through us?
There were a group of atheists that met in Austin a while back and they were asked if there was anything that could change their minds about the existence of God. They said yes, “If we saw a miracle”. So can you imagine how many people far from God or complete non-believers could come to know Jesus through seeing miracles? Do we as Christians truly believe that God can do miracles through us, use us as His instruments of healing, and preaching, and prophesying, and sharing visions that come true! This is all part of the power in us that comes from His Spirit (His Presence) being poured out into our lives.
I want to be used by God! I want to believe and not doubt! I want people to see through me, the supernatural God I serve! I want people far from Him to be in awe of our God, to come face to face with His love and power in a way that is undeniable. I know that it’s going to take boldness, it’s going to take faith, it’s going to take belief, and it’s going to take humility…. knowing that He will use me… but He is God and I’m not!
Lord, I surrender to you. Thank you for pouring out your Spirit on me. Thank you for the visions and dreams and prophesies that are to come. Thank you for reminding me that you are a Supernatural God…the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. I’m not worthy of the gift of your Spirit, Father – but I thank you for it and ask that you increase my faith and give me wisdom and boldness to make a difference for your Kingdom! I love you, Amen.
Thanks for letting me share today! What grabs you about this passage?
Denise