Bible League: Living His Word "After this,I will pour out my Spirit on all kinds of people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will have dreams, and your young men will see visions. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants, both men and women." Our verses for today were the first Bible verses that the Apostle Peter quoted when he gave his sermon on Pentecost Sunday (Acts 2:14-41). The godly Jews from around the world who were present in Jerusalem at the time wondered how the Apostles could proclaim great things about God in their own languages. Peter cited the words of the prophet Joel to explain it to them. It was the pouring out of the Holy Spirit that Joel had prophesied. Jesus himself had promised His disciples that He would send them the "Helper from the Father," that is, the Holy Spirit (John 15:26). Jesus had also told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they had been "baptized with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:4-5). In Old Testament times the Holy Spirit was usually only given to special people, at special times, and for special purposes. At Pentecost, in contrast, the Holy Spirit was for the first time poured out as a permanent possession for everyone who believed the gospel message. The Spirit was poured out on "all kinds of people," "men and women," and even "servants." In point of fact, ever since Pentecost the Holy Spirit has been given to anyone who believes in Jesus Christ and the gospel message. There are no longer any barriers to the reception of the Holy Spirit. Anyone and everyone who believes receives His supernatural help and empowerment. There are many possible manifestations of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Joel specifically singles out three of them for mention: prophecy, dreams, and visions. The people of God, therefore, should not be surprised if the Holy Spirit gives them a prophetic word, like He gave Agabus (Acts 11:27-30), or a dream, like He gave Paul (Acts 16:9-10), or a vision, like Peter (Acts 10:9-16). Indeed, the people of God should not be surprised if the Holy Spirit gives them any of the possible manifestations of His presence. After all, the Holy Spirit is a supernatural source of help working inside of us. The Holy Spirit has been poured into you. Don't be surprised, then, if His supernatural expressions manifest themselves in your life. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingEzekiel 1, 2, 3 Ezekiel 1 -- Ezekiel's Prophecy at Kebar; The Visions of Four Figures and Divine Glory NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Ezekiel 2 -- Ezekiel's Calling and Instruction NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Ezekiel 3 -- Ezekiel Eats the Scroll; Warning to Israel NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Hebrews 9 Hebrews 9 -- Christ has Entered into the Holy Place Once for All NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.Insight Have you ever grown tired of praying for something or someone? Paul says we should “devote” ourselves to prayer and be “alert” in prayer. Our persistence is an expression of our faith that God answers our prayers. Faith shouldn't die if the answers come slowly, for the delay may be God's way of working his will in our lives. Challenge When you feel tired of praying, know that God is present, always listening, always answering—maybe not in ways you had hoped, but in ways that he knows are best. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Luke 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.If ever one of woman born might have lived without prayer, it was our spotless, perfect a Lord, and yet none was ever so much in supplication as he! Such was his love to his Father, that he loved much to be in communion with him: such his love for his people, that he desired to be much in intercession for them. The fact of this eminent prayerfulness of Jesus is a lesson for us--he hath given us an example that we may follow in his steps. The time he chose was admirable, it was the hour of silence, when the crowd would not disturb him; the time of inaction, when all but himself had ceased to labor; and the season when slumber made men forget their woes, and cease their applications to him for relief. While others found rest in sleep, he refreshed himself with prayer. The place was also well selected. He was alone where none would intrude, where none could observe: thus was he free from Pharisaic ostentation and vulgar interruption. Those dark and silent hills were a fit oratory for the Son of God. Heaven and earth in midnight stillness heard the groans and sighs of the mysterious Being in whom both worlds were blended. The continuance of his pleadings is remarkable; the long watches were not too long; the cold wind did not chill his devotions; the grim darkness did not darken his faith, or loneliness check his importunity. We cannot watch with him one hour, but he watched for us whole nights. The occasion for this prayer is notable; it was after his enemies had been enraged--prayer was his refuge and solace; it was before he sent forth the twelve apostles--prayer was the gate of his enterprise, the herald of his new work. Should we not learn from Jesus to resort to special prayer when we are under peculiar trial, or contemplate fresh endeavours for the Master's glory? Lord Jesus, teach us to pray. Daily Light on the Daily Path 2 Kings 4:26 "Please run now to meet her and say to her, 'Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?'" And she answered, "It is well."2 Corinthians 4:13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE," we also believe, therefore we also speak, 2 Corinthians 6:9,10 as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, • as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things. 2 Corinthians 4:8,9,10,16,18 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; • persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; • always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. • Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. • while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 John 1:2 for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. 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