Receive the Holy Spirit!

Joel 2

Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, August 29.

The threat of the ravenous locust army was upon Israel. How were the people to respond to this clear and present danger? God spoke to his people through His prophet in Joel 2:12-13, “‘Yet even now,’ declares the Lord, ‘Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping and mourning; and rend your heart and not your garments.’ Now return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of evil.”

The message was the same – “Return to Me with all your heart.” The character of God had not changed – “He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of evil.” When the danger is real, turn to a real source of help! More than save you from your circumstances, God will give you His presence, as promised in Joel 2:28-29, “It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”

God’s promise was that He would give Himself to His people, and that is why Christ came. In Acts 2:16-21, the Apostle Peter quoted the entirety of Joel 2:28-32 in his first sermon after Pentecost, after the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the first disciples. In response to hearing Peter proclaim Pentecost as the fulfillment of the ancient prophet’s message, the witnesses asked, “What shall we do?”

Seize the moment and return to the unchanging God of the Bible, whose presence is your greatest protection from the clear and present danger – “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

God bless you!

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YOUTUBE:

If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.