“IN THE LAST DAYS, GOD SAYS I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT ON ALL PEOPLE”
Nov
14
Written by:
11/14/2010 12:00 AM
“IN THE LAST DAYS, GOD SAYS I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT ON ALL PEOPLE”
Nov. 14, 2010
(Acts 2:17 NIV) "'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.
Peter quoted these words from the prophet Joel on the day of Pentecost. This was also the day the Christian church began. Fifty days earlier Jesus had been resurrected from the grave. Jesus appeared many times during the next forty days. Just before ascending to Heaven Jesus told his apostles not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait until they were baptized in the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:4 NIV) On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. (Acts 1:5 NIV) For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." (Acts 1:8 NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
The Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the apostles and disciples on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:1 NIV) When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. (Acts 2:2 NIV) Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. (Acts 2:3 NIV) They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. (Acts 2:4 NIV) All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:5 NIV) Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.(Acts 2:6 NIV) When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. (Acts 2:7 NIV) Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?(Acts 2:8 NIV) Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?
The Jews that had gathered from many nations to celebrate Pentecost were amazed to hear the disciples from Galilee speaking in many languages or tongues. Some even thought that the disciples were drunk because they were speaking in tongues. However, Peter explained that the speaking in tongues was a fulfillment of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that Joel had prophesied about 800 years earlier. The disciples had received power from God through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. As soon as the disciples received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit amazing things began to happen. Peter denied he knew Jesus three times the night before Jesus was crucified. After Peter was baptized in the Holy Spirit he became very bold and gave a very powerful speech. (Acts 2:37 NIV) When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:38 NIV) Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:39 NIV) The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." (Acts 2:40 NIV) With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." (Acts 2:41 NIV) Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
On the day of Pentecost about 120 disciples were gathered together. On the same day there were 3000 members added to the church. That was truly amazing! There were soon many signs and wonders that were done through the apostles in the Name of Jesus. Multitudes were healed. (Acts 5:16 NIV) Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed. Also multitudes were saved and added to the church. (Acts 5:14 NIV) Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. (Acts 6:7 NIV) So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. (Acts 11:24 NIV) He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. The book of Acts tells about the beginning of the Christian church in Jerusalem and it`s spread to Judea, Samaria and other parts of the world. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost gave the church the power it needed to spread throughout the world.
God promised there would be an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the last days. Pentecost was a partial fulfillment of God`s promise. The Holy Spirit continued to be poured out during the 30 years that the Book of Acts covers. What about after that time? There have been many outpourings of the Holy Spirit since that time. At least two outpourings have occurred on Awaji Island. One began in the 1890`s. It started through a miraculous healing. Many children, especially boys, died from a disease in Fukura. The doctors seemed to be powerless to help the children with the disease. Teikichi Kawabe, a Free Methodist, became a missionary to Fukura in 1986. When his son got the disease he did not call a doctor. Instead he prayed and asked God to heal his son. God healed his son and a neighbor`s son. Suddenly, there was great interest in Christianity in the little fishing village of Fukura. In a year and one half Kawabe visited every home on Awaji telling them about Christianity. In time he moved to Osaka and had a church of more than 500 people in the 1920`s. Over 100 were baptized every year. Where ever he went preaching the Gospel people got saved. He became known as the St. Paul of Japan and started a bible school. From the move of God that started in Fukura a church was started there and several other places on Awaji.
Another move of God occurred in Sumoto after the Second World War. Two Wesleyan Holiness women missionaries came over from Canada in 1952 and started the Uyama Gospel Church. Soon after we came to Sumoto in 1999, I talked with Nakamura san, a long time elder of the church. He and his wife were baptized in the ocean at Ohama Park in 1953. According to Nakumura san there were tabernacles on the beaches as there was great interest in Christianity. Children distributed information in the schools. Within four years the church the missionaries started had 80 adults and children. The Catholic Church in Sumoto was also started during that time.
Will there be another move of God on Awaji? I believe there will be! There are about 15 churches on Awaji. Five of the churches have buildings that have been built in the last five years. The new churches have not been built because of a move of God, but they may be preparation for the next move of God on Awaji. What will the next move of God or outpouring of the Holy Spirit be like on Awaji? I don`t know. Our God is a God of great variety. However, I believe the next move of God will come with great power and that there will be signs and wonders. With God nothing is impossible. This church is a good example! We need to continue to pray and believe for a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Awaji!