"A Poured Out Spirit!"

I will pour out my Spirit on all people…
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Joel 2:28-32

Have you ever pondered that scripture? What, exactly does it mean? What does a “poured out” Spirit look like? How would I know if I am one of the people that scripture refers to? The next part explains it, I think. It goes on to say that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. I “called on the name of the Lord” when I was 12 years old. I was baptized the Baptist way (totally immersed) so I think it was genuine. Did the Spirit get “poured” on me then? I’m not sure. I don’t think I lived much different from the way Ialways had up until then. Later on, I drifted away and got into some behavior that wasanything but Spirit-filled. At age 33, I fully committed my life (once again) to the Lord. This time was different: I was finally ready to make Him the Lord of my life.

Because my life was different after that (my attitude, my behavior, my thought patterns) I think that was when His Spirit was literally poured into my life. That was when I began to see some of the “Fruit of the Spirit” starting to manifest in my lifestyle—especially with my husband and my children.

If you’ve ever wondered about that little phrase as I have, maybe it is time to ask the Lord what it means for you. Then, be prepared to receive what the Lord of your life wants togive you lavishly and without any holding back. His joy, His peace, His grace—it’s all there when we let go of the stuff that is holding Him back. He is the same yesterday (as in the days of Joel), today (like right now!) and forever! Now, if that isn’t Good News, I don’t know what is!

Pastor Sally Jo Holmes