I will pour out my Spirit on all

“I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh” n Avon Gorge, by Bristol docks

“I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh” Avon Gorge mud flats, the entrance to Bristol docks!

Peter addresses the crowds at Pentecost Acts chapter 2 14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy…” [Joel 2: 28 -29]

22 23 24 32 33 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him… “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear…

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do? ” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call. ”

“I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh” “I will” – a future promise, a prophesy by Joel, now realised “in the last days”! Since the Day of Pentecost, we have been in “the last days” – the days of the Holy Spirit’s out-pouring on the church!

“I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh” “Pour out” – a sense of abundance & overflowing (see also v 33) - rushing wind & tongues of fire; - speaking in tongues & miraculous languages - “amazement” & ”drunken” joy & merriment - see Titus 3: 6: The Holy Spirit has been “lavished on us generously”

“I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh”

“I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh” “my Spirit” – the spirit of God who gave us Christ … (his conception, his early years development, his calling & baptism, , his overcoming temptation, his miracles, his ministry, his death & his resurrection were ALL by the power of the Holy Spirit) …is now given to us by Christ

“I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh” “on” – the Holy Spirit as IN “in-dwelling” and ON “anointing”

“I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh” “all flesh” v 17 sons & daughters } irrespective of… v 18 men & women } …gender / status v 17 young & old } …age / experience v 18 servants } …rank / role In Joel ch. 1, Joel was addressing • Drunkards (Joel 1: 5) • Farmers (Joel 1: 11) • & Priests (Joel 1: 13) … all needed to repent & receive a new anointing ~ includes us TODAY! (see verse 39) So don’t count yourself out!

“I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh” Joel’s understanding of the “pouring out of the Holy Spirit” was from the Old Testament era: Illustrations from people “filled with the Holy Spirit” before Joel’s prophecy can be seen in every period of Israel’s history: • The formation of Israel • The Judges: • The United Monarchy • The Divided Monarchy

Bezalel Exodus ch. 31 verses 1 -11 & Exodus chapters 35 -39 The first to be “filled with the Holy Spirit” n Not a prophet, priest or king – a craftsman and artist! * Don’t separate the secular and the sacred Don’t count yourself out because your task isn’t “spiritual” enough n

Gideon – the reluctant hero Judges 6: 34 n n First asked to sort out his own family’s failings; Then filled with the Holy Spirit to take on the whole Midianite army Don’t count yourself out because you feel the task is too great

David the shepherd boy • Samuel anointing a son of Jesse with oil to be the new king of Israel • David – the youngest of 8 sons, left to tend the sheep (v 11) 1 Samuel 16: 7 “Do not consider his appearance or height…Man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart” 1 Samuel 16 v 13: “The Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power” Don’t count yourself out because of other people’s expectations of you.

Jehaziel 2 Chronicles ch. 20 ~ Jerusalem under siege from three armies ~ a national disaster King Jehoshaphat’s prayer: v 12: “We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are upon you” v 14: “The Spirit of the Lord fell upon Jehaziel” Don’t count yourself out because you’re not a leader or upfront person

“I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh” If the O. T. era’s anointing of the Holy Spirit was … for certain people, for certain tasks, at certain times then now in these “last days”, the Holy Spirit falls… for all people, for all tasks, for all occassions So. . 1. Repent & be baptized and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2: 38) 2. Be encouraged – “this promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off” (Acts 2: 39) 3. Don’t count yourself out – remember Bezalel, Gideon, David & Jehaziel.

“I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh”

“I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh” “Let your Living Waters flow over my soul”