God's Holy Fire: 'The Last Days Are Now'

Monday, May 11, 2026

[Peter, on Pentecost, quoting from Joel 2:] "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."

Key Thought

So much handwringing goes on to determine when the "last days" will occur. However, the prophecy of Joel 2 begins to be fulfilled in Acts 2. Therefore, the events happening then are the beginning of the "last days"! Since the coming of the Holy Spirit that first Pentecost after Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, we have been in the last days. Jesus' coming again is assured. He stands at the edge of history. Since Jesus' incarnation, we have stood at the "culmination of the ages" (Hebrews 9:26) waiting for God's final victory when he sends Jesus to return for us (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). And the key to these last days? The Holy Spirit - God's presence within us, God's presence for us, and God's assurance to us that we are part of his great victory (Ephesians 1:13-14). The Holy Spirit comes to all who belong to Jesus. No wonder old and young, men and women, have words from God to share and dreams from heaven to inspire!

Today's Prayer

Almighty God, thank you for the coming of your Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Thank you for sending your Spirit to me when I came to Christ. Thank you for your abiding presence within me and your assurance for me through your indwelling Spirit. I await, with the help of the Holy Spirit, the great victory that I know is coming in Christ. Thank you for this assured hope! In Jesus' name, I praise you! Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

20 Related Resources by Heartlight

Illustration

Illustration of 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."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Monday, May 11, 2026

A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps...."
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
"Put on your shoes so that you are ready to spread the Good News that gives peace. And having strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in..."
A daily guide from the gospels that challenges readers to live for Jesus.
""What do you mean?" exclaimed Nicodemus [when Jesus told him he must be born again to see the Kingdom]. "How can an old man go back into his mother's...."
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
"Dear Precious Disciple, Satan uses a very effective form of temptation on many of you who are My followers. He gets you to avoid looking at your own...."

About This Devotional

God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.