Restoration and the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit

 

Summary

In the book of Joel, we find a profound narrative of God's relationship with His people, marked by both discipline and promise. The people of Israel, having been blessed abundantly, fell into unfaithfulness and faced God's discipline through a devastating locust plague. This calamity brought them to a place of lamentation and repentance, leading to God's promise of restoration. God declared, "I will restore the years the locusts have eaten," offering hope that transcends the natural passage of time. This restoration is not merely about reclaiming lost time but about deepening our communion with Christ and multiplying our fruitfulness.

Today, we focus on another promise from Joel: the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all people. This promise, anticipated in Moses' prayer and fulfilled at Pentecost, signifies a radical shift from the Old Testament era, where the Spirit was given to a select few, to a New Testament reality where the Spirit is available to all believers. This outpouring empowers believers to prophesy, dream dreams, and see visions, transcending barriers of gender, age, and social status.

The Spirit's work is transformative, creating a community marked by praise, thanksgiving, and a God-centered focus. Unlike the Israelites in the desert, who were characterized by complaint and ingratitude, the Spirit-filled believers at Pentecost were filled with joy and proclamation of God's mighty works. This transformation is available to us today through Jesus Christ, who, having completed His work on the cross, pours out the Spirit on those who trust and obey Him.

To experience more of the Spirit's fullness, we must offer ourselves wholly to God, allowing Him to fill us. This is not a one-time event but a continual process of surrender and seeking. As we give more of ourselves to God, we can ask Him to give more of Himself to us, leading to a life marked by the Spirit's fruit.

Key Takeaways:

- Restoration Beyond Time: God's promise to restore the years the locusts have eaten speaks to His ability to redeem and transform our losses. This restoration is not about reclaiming lost time but about deepening our relationship with Christ and increasing our fruitfulness. God, in His eternal nature, can bring about a profound renewal in our lives. [01:29]

- The Spirit for All: The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all people, as promised in Joel, marks a significant shift from the Old Testament era. This promise fulfills Moses' longing for all God's people to be filled with the Spirit, enabling them to live transformed lives characterized by praise and thanksgiving. [14:27]

- Transformative Community: The Spirit-filled community at Pentecost contrasts sharply with the complaining Israelites in the desert. The presence of the Holy Spirit transforms believers into a community of praise, gratitude, and proclamation of God's mighty works, demonstrating the Spirit's power to change hearts and lives. [30:58]

- Surrender and Fullness: To experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit, we must continually surrender ourselves to God. This involves offering our lives as living sacrifices and seeking more of God's presence, allowing Him to fill us with His Spirit and produce His fruit in our lives. [36:41]

- Christ, the Giver of the Spirit: The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is made possible through Jesus Christ, who, after completing His work on the cross, pours out the Spirit on those who trust in Him. Our focus should be on Christ as the source of the Spirit, seeking Him for the fullness we desire. [35:25]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to Joel's Prophecy
- [00:56] - Lamentation and Repentance
- [01:29] - Promise of Restoration
- [02:24] - Promise of the Spirit
- [03:06] - The Spirit Anticipated by Moses
- [04:59] - Complaints in the Desert
- [07:00] - God's Provision for Moses
- [08:28] - Moses' Longing for the Spirit
- [10:13] - Old Testament Spirit Anointing
- [13:25] - Joel's Prophecy of the Spirit
- [15:44] - Effects of the Spirit's Outpouring
- [19:17] - Prophecy and Evangelism
- [25:58] - Fulfillment at Pentecost
- [30:58] - Transformation of the Community
- [36:41] - Path to Spiritual Fullness
- [38:25] - Personal Reflection and Conclusion

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Joel 2:25-29
2. Numbers 11:16-29
3. Acts 2:1-4

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Observation Questions:

1. In Joel 2:25, what does God promise to restore, and how does this promise relate to the people's experience with the locust plague? [01:29]

2. According to Numbers 11:17, what solution does God provide to Moses to help him bear the burden of leading the people? How does this reflect God's kindness? [07:19]

3. In Acts 2:4, what miraculous event occurs to the believers gathered on the day of Pentecost, and how does it fulfill Joel's prophecy? [27:19]

4. How does the sermon describe the transformation of the community at Pentecost compared to the Israelites in the desert? [30:58]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. What does the promise of God to "restore the years the locusts have eaten" in Joel 2:25 symbolize in terms of spiritual renewal and fruitfulness? [01:29]

2. How does Moses' longing for all God's people to be filled with the Spirit in Numbers 11:29 reflect a deeper understanding of the need for spiritual empowerment among believers? [09:41]

3. In what ways does the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, as described in Acts 2, signify a shift from the Old Testament era to the New Testament reality? [25:58]

4. How does the sermon illustrate the difference between a community filled with the Spirit and one characterized by complaint and ingratitude? [30:58]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt a loss or setback. How can the promise of restoration in Joel 2:25 encourage you to seek spiritual renewal and deeper communion with Christ? [01:29]

2. Moses desired for all God's people to be filled with the Spirit. How can you cultivate a similar longing for spiritual empowerment in your own life and community? [09:41]

3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of surrendering ourselves to God to experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit. What specific areas of your life do you need to surrender to God this week? [36:41]

4. Consider the transformation of the community at Pentecost. How can you contribute to creating a Spirit-filled community marked by praise and thanksgiving in your church or small group? [30:58]

5. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is made possible through Jesus Christ. How can you focus more on Christ as the source of the Spirit in your daily walk with God? [35:25]

6. Identify one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit that you want to cultivate more in your life. What practical steps can you take to grow in this area over the next month? [36:41]

7. The sermon contrasts a community of complaint with one of proclamation. How can you shift your focus from complaining to proclaiming God's mighty works in your conversations and interactions this week? [30:58]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Restoration Beyond Time
God's promise to restore the years the locusts have eaten is a profound assurance of His ability to redeem and transform our losses. This restoration is not merely about reclaiming lost time but about deepening our relationship with Christ and increasing our fruitfulness. In the book of Joel, the Israelites faced a devastating locust plague as a form of divine discipline, which led them to lamentation and repentance. In response, God promised to restore what was lost, offering hope that transcends the natural passage of time. This promise speaks to God's eternal nature and His power to bring about profound renewal in our lives, turning our past losses into opportunities for spiritual growth and communion with Him. [01:29]

Joel 2:25-26 (ESV): "I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame."

Reflection: Think of a loss or setback in your life. How can you invite God to transform this experience into an opportunity for deeper relationship and fruitfulness in Christ today?


Day 2: The Spirit's Outpouring for All
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all people, as promised in Joel, marks a significant shift from the Old Testament era. In the past, the Spirit was given to a select few, but now, through Jesus Christ, the Spirit is available to all believers. This promise fulfills Moses' longing for all God's people to be filled with the Spirit, enabling them to live transformed lives characterized by praise and thanksgiving. At Pentecost, this promise was fulfilled, empowering believers to prophesy, dream dreams, and see visions, transcending barriers of gender, age, and social status. The Spirit's work is transformative, creating a community marked by joy and the proclamation of God's mighty works. [14:27]

Acts 2:17-18 (ESV): "‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy."

Reflection: Consider how the Holy Spirit has been at work in your life. What barriers might you need to overcome to fully embrace the Spirit's transformative power today?


Day 3: A Community Transformed by the Spirit
The Spirit-filled community at Pentecost contrasts sharply with the complaining Israelites in the desert. While the Israelites were characterized by complaint and ingratitude, the presence of the Holy Spirit transformed the early believers into a community of praise, gratitude, and proclamation of God's mighty works. This transformation is a testament to the Spirit's power to change hearts and lives, creating a community that reflects God's love and grace. The Spirit's work is not limited to the past; it is available to us today, inviting us to become part of a community marked by joy and thanksgiving. [30:58]

Ephesians 5:18-20 (ESV): "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Reflection: Reflect on your role within your community. How can you contribute to creating a Spirit-filled environment of praise and gratitude today?


Day 4: Surrendering for Spiritual Fullness
To experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit, we must continually surrender ourselves to God. This involves offering our lives as living sacrifices and seeking more of God's presence, allowing Him to fill us with His Spirit and produce His fruit in our lives. This is not a one-time event but a continual process of surrender and seeking. As we give more of ourselves to God, we can ask Him to give more of Himself to us, leading to a life marked by the Spirit's fruit. This path to spiritual fullness requires intentionality and a willingness to let go of our own desires in favor of God's will. [36:41]

Romans 12:1-2 (ESV): "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you struggle to surrender to God. What steps can you take today to offer this area to Him as a living sacrifice?


Day 5: Christ, the Source of the Spirit
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is made possible through Jesus Christ, who, after completing His work on the cross, pours out the Spirit on those who trust in Him. Our focus should be on Christ as the source of the Spirit, seeking Him for the fullness we desire. Jesus' sacrifice opened the way for us to receive the Spirit, empowering us to live transformed lives. By keeping our eyes on Christ, we can experience the Spirit's power and presence in our lives, leading to a deeper relationship with God and a life marked by His fruit. [35:25]

John 7:37-39 (ESV): "On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’' Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."

Reflection: How can you focus more on Christ as the source of the Spirit in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to seek His presence and guidance today?

Quotes


God had blessed his people he had led them into the land that was flowing with milk and honey God's people though had become unfaithful and they had come under the discipline of God H God had sent locusts who he describes as my great Army chapter 2 and verse 25 and harvests were devastated. [00:00:22]

God says through Joel you are to lament that's the first thing and you are to repent that was the second and the people responded they came before the Lord and they prayed spare the people O Lord why should the Nations say where is your god in Chapter 2 and verse 18 God had pity on the people. [00:00:61]

God says I will restore the years the locusts have eaten and I think that um we found in our own Hearts this was a promise that speaks powerfully to us it is a wonderful promise that is full of Hope restoring time of course is impossible um but um we saw together that God is able to give back what we have lost. [00:01:94]

I will pour out my spirit on All Flesh your sons and your daughters shall prophesy your old men shall dream dreams and your young men shall see Visions even on the male and female servants in these days I will pour out my spirit that's a wonderful promise and I want us to see it today in the broad sweep of the Bible. [00:02:155]

In the Old Testament era the Holy Spirit the spirit of God was given only to a few God poured out his Spirit on some people who were called to particular tasks and you can pick up the references to this throughout the Old Testament the tasks for which the spirit was given are absolutely fascinating. [00:10:618]

I will pour out my spirit on notice it All Flesh that's the thing Moses longed for on your sons and on your daughters they shall prophesy your old men shall dream dreams and your young men shall see Visions even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my spirit. [00:14:851]

The gift of the spirit will not be limited by gender uh old men and young men so the gift of the spirit will not be limited by age it includes servants uh even male and female servants you notice that phrase at at the end so the gift of the spirit is not limited by social status. [00:15:919]

To prophesy is to be prompted by God to speak the right word at the right time in the right way to prophesy is to be prompted by God to speak the right word at the right time in the right way and many of you know about this from your own experience someone a brother and sis or sister in Christ. [00:16:978]

The most dynamic onetoone evangelists in my congregation are those who ask for and receive the gift of Prophecy they do not have canned monologues to bore people that's what the Cults have a canned monologue you know you learn how to make the presentation but OG V is saying now the people who are most useful in evangelism. [00:19:1164]

Think about how different the people of God on Pentecost where from the crowd with Moses in the desert the congregation in the desert they're taken up with complaining they're self-absorbed and they're thoroughly ungrateful for the blessings of God a congregation in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost just 120 but they're filled with the spirit. [00:30:1819]

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit from father and from son happens because of and when the work of Christ is complete and the spirit is poured out on who those who look to him in faith and walk with him in obedience and that takes you to the answer to the great question today how can I know more of the Holy Spirit. [00:36:2170]

You give more of yourself to God and then you ask him to give more of himself to you you give more of yourself to God present your bodies Romans 121 as a Living Sacrifice to God you offer yourself to God God will not fill what he does not possess don't expect to be filled with holy spirit. [00:36:2201]

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Transcript
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