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

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

[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."
— Acts 2:17 NIV

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.

Comments

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
Ephesians 4:32
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
Quotemeal
A daily dose of Christian quotes to inspire and encourage.
Quote by Luis Palau:
"One encounter with Jesus Christ is enough to change you, instantly, forever."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Morning Thought: Matthew 28:20
"It is well there is One who is ever the same, and who is ever with us. It is well there is one stable rock amidst the billows of the sea of life. O my..."
Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'God even Examines Your Secret Motives'
"The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and...."

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."

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.

More God's Holy Fire

Translations