And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophecy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions (Joel 2:28).
Reading beyond our promise text, we find the prophecy of great signs and wonders in heaven and earth, the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord, and the promise of final deliverance to all who call upon the name of the Lord.
The prophecy of the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit was not completely fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, but continues through the gospel dispensation and will have its final climax just before the coming of Christ. It is fulfilled, not only in the gift of prophecy and the other gifts that Jesus promised to the church, but also in a great baptism of the Holy Spirit to empower God's people for their final work on earth in preparation for their Lord's return.
Dr. Fisher once wrote to his friend, Lord Eldon, then in government service, asking a special favor. The answer was: "Dear Fisher: I cannot today give you the preferment for which you asked. I remain, Your sincere friend, Eldon. (Turn over.)" Then on the other side were these words: "I gave it to you yesterday."
So God answers the prayer of His children for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
"From the day of Pentecost to the present time, the Comforter has been sent to all who have yielded themselves fully to the Lord and to His service." "But near the close of earth's harvest, a special bestowal of spiritual grace is promised to prepare the church for the coming of the Son of man....It is for this added power that Christians are to send their petitions to the Lord of the harvest" (The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 49, 55). For this power let us daily pray.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul" (Ps. 138:3).
Reading beyond our promise text, we find the prophecy of great signs and wonders in heaven and earth, the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord, and the promise of final deliverance to all who call upon the name of the Lord.
The prophecy of the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit was not completely fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, but continues through the gospel dispensation and will have its final climax just before the coming of Christ. It is fulfilled, not only in the gift of prophecy and the other gifts that Jesus promised to the church, but also in a great baptism of the Holy Spirit to empower God's people for their final work on earth in preparation for their Lord's return.
Dr. Fisher once wrote to his friend, Lord Eldon, then in government service, asking a special favor. The answer was: "Dear Fisher: I cannot today give you the preferment for which you asked. I remain, Your sincere friend, Eldon. (Turn over.)" Then on the other side were these words: "I gave it to you yesterday."
So God answers the prayer of His children for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
"From the day of Pentecost to the present time, the Comforter has been sent to all who have yielded themselves fully to the Lord and to His service." "But near the close of earth's harvest, a special bestowal of spiritual grace is promised to prepare the church for the coming of the Son of man....It is for this added power that Christians are to send their petitions to the Lord of the harvest" (The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 49, 55). For this power let us daily pray.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul" (Ps. 138:3).
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