“…I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.” Joel 2:28
When the Apostle Paul wrote to the believers at Corinth, he spoke very clearly concerning his “speech and preaching.” In doing so, he reveals to us what is to characterize the believer’s speech and the communication of truth to both believer and unbeliever alike. He describes his speech and preaching as “…not with enticing words of man’s wisdom.” (1 Cor. 2:4) His reliance is not in man’s ways or man’s capacities to communicate the things of God, especially with regard to the man’s wisdom, as opposed to that of God. In other words, Paul speaks and preaches in a manner absolutely dependent upon the Spirit of God. The reason for this is two-fold.
Firstly, God’s work is done only by God for the glory of God. He does not need man to do it, though He chooses man through whom the work is accomplished. The pattern for us is always the Lord Jesus, who became flesh, to reveal by the Spirit the things of God to us by His Life and word. The second reason for Paul’s dependence upon the Spirit was the effect that the Spirit would have upon those who would hear His word. Paul writes that he speaks and preaches “…in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” The reason for this is clear: “…That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” (v.5) The great objective in speaking and preaching by the Spirit of God is to produce faith so that first of all, the soul may be saved, but then, that the believer may be transformed into the image of Christ. But how is this to be done practically?
When Joel penned the prophetical words concerning the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost, he did not fully realize how that would occur, nor the effect that it would have. However, one thing that is so very clear in his words is the magnitude of the power of God in the outpouring, as it was to be “upon all flesh.” He would then specifically declare that, “…your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.” What did he mean by this? On the day of Pentecost we see that the Spirirt of God came upon all of the disciples, men and women alike. They all spoke of the “wonderful works of God,” in the demonstration and power of the Spirit. What was the result? Over three thousand individuals were saved that day, representatives from over much of the then known world. Why did Joel mention “daughters” with the “sons?” Does not the Scripture teach a certain structure of different callings and gifts in the church, attributing to men seemingly a greater and more prominent role? There is no question that the Spirit of God has so structured the body of Christ, specifically the church, in such a manner, with gifts distributed as He has willed, so that, as there is that unity of the Spirit, there will be the blessing of God. However, it must never be minimized that the outpouring of the Spirit is upon all flesh, both men and women, sons and daughters. How then does this work, so that there is peace in the church, and order in the body of Christ? It begins with God’s design, but also, with His provision. The same Spirit of God was given to all on the day of Pentecost, and this for the declaring of the wondrous works of God. Every man and woman, in the sphere of their responsibility and calling, was given the Spirit in such measure that their “speech” and “preaching,” in essence, the expression of their living, would be in the demonstration and power of the Spirit. Whether in the family, church, ministry, or work place, by one’s words and deeds, Christ would be revealed to the heart and life by the Spirit, that many be saved.
Dear Father, Empower us to speak. In Jesus’ name, Amen.