Acts 2:14-21 – 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 dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
“Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.” Again, Peter is here quoting from Joel 2:28-32 “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” Previously we reviewed that the Holy Spirit dwells within all Christians and transforms them to be increasingly like Christ. With the Holy Spirit within, the nature of Jesus is within. Our natures are changed from what they were to what God designed them to be. The change comes over time. As we age and move closer to Heaven, so our natures are changed to be more like the residents of it. All Believers have the Holy Spirit living within. That happens at the time of being born from above (John 3:16). Also, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the power of the Holy Spirit, is available to all Believers and as we have seen, certainly to all Believers today. Praise God!
Peter, quoting Joel, states that sons and daughters will prophesy, young men will see visions and old men will dream dreams. As we have previously noted that this will happen in the Last Days, which certainly we are in. We should not misinterpret the scripture to mean that only these, the young and the old, will be prophesy. Rather we should understand that what is being expressed is not the young or the old, but the young and the old. Not that only males or females, but by both females and males. The gifts of the Spirit, the empowering of the Spirit, is for all of God’s people, young or old, female or male, and all races and all ethnicities. The only prerequisite to be eligible to have the gifts of the Spirit flow through oneself is that we love the Lord Jesus Christ and that our hearts and minds are actively seeking His person and His will.
“Your sons and daughters will prophesy…” We know in the Old Testament that there were prophets, such as Ezekiel, Isaiah, Daniel and others. We also know that prophecy is also a gift that the New Testament Saints (which we are) would do (Acts 19:6, 1 Corinthians 14:5). A prophecy can be something that applies to all (Genesis 9:9-17), or can be something that is specific for one person (1 Samuel 10, John 13:18-30, Matthew 26:33-34, Acts 13:9-12).
Visions and dreams are not just something seen or dreamt as men see things and dream dreams. They are supernatural visions and dreams from God. He gives them for purpose and to accomplish His will. An example would be when the Lord spoke to Ananias in a vision to pray for Saul, whom the Lord had given a vision that Ananias would come to pray for him (Acts 9:10-12). The Lord gave Nebuchadnezzar a prophetic dream that Daniel then translated (Daniel 2).
These gifts of God are meant not only for pastors, teachers or elders, or those whom we might think are specially gifted, but the Word clearly states they are for His servants. Family, the gifts of God are meant for all His Saints. They are meant for you and for me, male and female, for all who love and serve Jesus. All means all. Seek God, seek to do His will, and be open to the Holy Spirit moving through you for God’s purposes and you too may experience God blessing you in such a way. Family, we need to turn off the television, get off the couch, push away from the computer and plead to God that we will be used by Him to lead people to Him and to glorify Him. Ask Him to use you however He would like to.
One other thing, you may have already have experienced God using one of the gifts through you, though you may not have understood. Certainly that is possible with gifts such as the supernatural gifts of knowledge and discernment. The point is for us to get off the couch and seek to do the will of God that He intends to do through our lives. Whether we are talking about the gifts of God, or just walking with Him, isn’t that the truth for all of us (Ephesians 2:10)? Let us always praise God and give glory to His name. Praise God! In all ways praise God! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.