Spirit Poured Out

“It will happen afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions. And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days, I will pour out my Spirit. I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood, fire, and pillars of smoke.” Joel 2:28-29 (WEB)

“Now when the day of Pentecost had come, there were all with one accord in one place. Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.” Acts 2:1-4 (WEB)

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Is the idea of a coming, glorious “outpouring of the Spirit” something to genuinely hope or wishful thinking that is bound to burn out in time? This is an interesting question worth examining because we can see more and more of this language abounding in our American Christianity today (at least in the circles I am running in). The hope or expectation for God to “do something” on our behalf fuels and stokes the fire of our faith - or does it? Let’s examine what the Scriptures actually say about the “outpouring” of the Holy Spirit.

On the cross, Christ healed once, for all time, the separation between God and man. This is why I frequently refer to the “finished” work of the cross. We have been brought near to God through the blood of Christ.

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off (from relationship with God and His promises to Israel) are made near in the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13 (WEB), parentheses are mine

Through His broken body, Christ canceled the perceived distance between God and man, bringing us back into union with the Heavenly Father. This is why the veil tore in the temple upon Christ’s death (Matthew 27:51) - no more separation (real or imagined) between God and man. The forgiveness of sins means relationship and the restoration of union with God.

“You, being in past times alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil deeds, yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without defect and blameless before him...God was pleased to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 21,27 (WEB)

The restoration of our relationship with God was accomplished by Christ on the cross, but it was realized (or brought to manifestation) through the events of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit “came from heaven” and filled the disciples who waited in the Upper Room. This coming of the Spirit was foreseen throughout the prophets (see the familiar Joel passage above) but also promised by Jesus Himself prior to His crucifixion (John 14:26).

Like the crucifixion, the outpouring of the Spirit happened once for all. When we believe, we come into this reality. There are not subsequent outpourings of the Holy Spirit that we can hope will deliver us from the glaring issues of our day. This isn’t a hopeless mindset because the truth is we have already been given everything we need. Christ, the hope of glory, already lives within us in all of His glorious fullness. What is left is the “unwrapping” of this incredible gift. This occurs through proper knowledge about the finished work of the cross, spiritual process, and the renewing of the mind (“sanctification”).

Our hope, therefore, is not to be placed in something God “will do” but in what God has already spoken. The crucifixion and resurrection mean that everything is being restored and made new. God is restoring everything to the glory of its original design. This restoration, this inheritance, this salvation, begins within you and me. This promise of God was introduced at the resurrection, guaranteed at the sending of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:22), and now unfolds in our day-to-day experience.

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us...he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ...to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ...I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.” Ephesians 1:7-10,18 (NIV)

Now, there are certainly still tangible (“sensational?”) manifestations of the Spirit amongst God’s people (prophecy, tongues, miracles, healing, etc.). However, these manifestations are not new “outpourings” - they are evidence of what has been there all along. Trust in what has already accomplished brings manifestation. If we think in alignment with God’s Spirit, we will see the fruits of God’s Spirit in and amongst ourselves. This is why Christ said, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24, NIV). The hard part is convincing our stubborn intellect to accept spiritual reality. Our lives become filled with the divine presence through spiritual awakening (trials and temptations), prayer (focus on God), and learning in accordance with the Truth.

To bring some practicality to everything here - I would suggest avoiding any teaching that is insistent that a “movement of God” will bring about some sort of sudden or dramatic change to the spiritual landscape. These teachers blow fumes that generate a certain spiritual energy and fervor but, when the dust settles, nothing has actually changed or will change. It is all illusion and hype that leaves us exhausted and confused.

God does not force Himself on humanity. The Spirit was poured out once for all time. What is left is our spiritual maturation, development, and awakening. The Spirit hovers. Humanity welcomes Him by loving Him. The manifestation of the Spirit and His purposes must mean repentance (changing our mindsets to match the finished work of the cross) and rest (intellectual, emotional, spiritual) in what Christ has already done on our behalf. When this happens, change occurs. Our understanding and experience come into alignment with the kingdom of God. In the words of Isaiah:

“This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.’” Isaiah 30:15 (NIV)

Let’s put our hope in what has already been accomplished through the broken body of Christ and the glory of Pentecost, not in sensationalism or any human being who preaches sudden and dramatic change. God’s kingdom is already available in its fullness. It is within you and me, waiting to be discovered by those who will seek God’s will at any and all cost. Let’s trust in what has been accomplished. In this trusting, we will awaken to God’s fullness. In awakening to God’s fullness, we will grow His kingdom.