Joel 2:28 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.

I cannot read the text above without rejoicing and thanking God for such a wonderful promise.

Jesus confirmed those Word when he said:

John 16:5 but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, Where are you going? 6 Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

The church of Jesus, shortly after his resurrection, was marked by the fulfillment of the Word of God, that He would pour out His Spirit on all flesh:

Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

We are all privileged, because in the past only prophets and some kings had the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

But the church of Christ, generally speaking, has not appreciated this wonderful privilege.

Many are looking for material blessings more than spiritual blessings, forgetting that spiritual blessings are actually God's great treasures for us in the world.

You must not be deceived, for God's priorities have not changed and never will.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

When you prioritize correctly, that is, put God's things first, everything else around you happens naturally, according to your needs, because Jesus said:

Matthew 6:25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Matthew 6:31 So do not worry, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

Trust God, seek God's gifts, and show Him that you REJOICE His promises and that you VALUE THEM and that you WISH THEM, more than anything you have or will have in this world.

The Lord bless you and keep you.

Pastor Val Martins