His Spirit Poured Out

HIS SPIRIT POURED OUT

a prayer to open

Holy Spirit, come. Center my heart.

Fill my mind. Guide my steps.

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.

They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages . . . about the wonderful things God has done!” They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.

But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”

Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. . . . No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:

‘In the last days,’ God says,

‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy.

Your young men will see visions,

and your old men will dream dreams. . . .

But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD

will be saved.’”

In Old Testament times, God granted his Holy Spirit to only a select few for specific purposes and for a limited time. But upon the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, something brand new happened. The Holy Spirit became available to all who believe in Jesus, and for the first time in history, God’s people could access the power of God to share the gospel, participate in his restoration, and live a Spirit-led life.

• Read this passage again. What word or phrase stands out to you? Sit quietly, reminding yourself that you are in God’s loving presence, and ask him to show you how that word or phrase connects to your life.
• Have you experienced the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit? When? How would you describe it to a friend?
• What areas of your life have you tended to see as disconnected from God’s purposes and plans in the world (for example, your work, sexuality, pain, success, or failure)? What would those things look like under the Holy Spirit’s power and guidance?

Father, thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit. I pray for the ability to remember your presence with me and your promise and willingness to guide and empower my thoughts, words, and actions to carry out your purposes in the world. As best as I know how, I present to you those parts of my life I have considered secular and nonspiritual, and I pray that I would see your power and presence even there. I am open to you. Amen.