15 February 2009

Text: Joel 2

“I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT”

(I) THE PROMISE OF RESTORATION

1. Physical restoration

a) Physical land

“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locusts has eaten…” Joel 2:25

“…For the open pastures are springing up,
And the trees bears its fruit…” Joel 2:22

b) Wealth

“The threshing floors shall be full of wheat,
And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.” Joel 2:24

2. Spiritual Restoration

“And it shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit…” Joel 2:28

a) All-Inclusive

“…I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh…” Joel 2:28

b) Powerful signs and wonders (Joel 2:28)

i) Prophesying

ii) Dreams

iii) Seeing visions

(II) THE SIGNFICANCE OF SPIRITUAL RESTORATION

1. To commence a new era – “The last days”

“And it shall come to pass afterward…” Joel 2:28

“…I will pour out My Spirit in those day.” Joel 2:29

“And it shall come to pass in the last days…” Acts 2:17

2. To forewarn the day of the Lord

“And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth:
Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.
The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.” Joel 2:30-31

3. To empower people to preach the Lord’s salvation

“And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved…” Joel 2:32

(III) THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE PROMISE OF SPIRITUAL RESTORATION

1. The pouring out of the Spirit on 120 disciples (Acts 2:1-4)

2. The powerful preaching of the gospel (Acts 2:16-36)

“Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.” Acts 2:33

3. The penitence and salvation of the people (Acts. 2:37-41)

(IV) PROPER RESPONSES TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE PROMISE

1. Personal faith in the prophecy of the day of the Lord

2. Pursuing the filling of the Holy Spirit

3. Preaching the gospel to whom we can