If I didn’t make it out alive or sane from Chemistry and Physics, at least I discovered that there’s something called a chain reaction! What’s a chain reaction? I’m glad you asked! According to scientists it is “a sequence of reactions where a reactive product or by-product causes additional reactions to take place. In a chain reaction, positive feedback leads to a self-amplifying chain of events.” (www.answers.com)
The prophet Joel spoke very eloquently, with a measure of urgency about a spiritual chain reaction that was yet to come. He said to the people of his day: “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh… And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth… And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved… For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the LORD has said…” (Joel 2:28-32) Read the entire passage to get the full context.
In this chain reaction there is a series of events that take place. The first event is: The Spirit is Poured Out (vs. 28-29). The second event is: The Signs and Wonders would appear (vs. 30-31). And the final event is: The people respond to God (vs. 32). Without getting into too much detail, Joel’s proclamation speaks to a time when God’s Spirit would be poured out upon God’s people of all ages, races and classes. Once the Spirit is poured out, signs and wonders would appear to confirm the divine outpouring. Once confirmation is complete, people who witness this supernatural event would then respond to God with their hearts.
The New Testament Church realized the partial fulfillments of that prophesy (Acts 2). Yet, I firmly believe that God is setting things up so that he could pour out his Spirit in this generation to completely fulfill that prophesy! And I firmly believe that his purpose for doing so is to reach lost souls for the kingdom of God. This is the reason why Holy Spirit Month January 2012 was coined the way it was. My hope is that through this experience, you and I would be ready for that outpouring.
The Outpour: Revive Us Again! series has been amazing! This past weekend Pastor Gerry Pasikatan (pastor of FilCan Church) preached a powerful message entitled, “Our Greatest Need in 2012”, and in the afternoon Pastor Patrick Jacques (assistant pastor of Toronto East Church) presented a dynamic session on “Leadership That Matters.” I look forward to this coming weekend (Jan. 21st) when we’ll be blessed to hear a message in the morning worship service by Pastor Marvin Clarke (assistant pastor of Toronto West) and, in the afternoon, a presentation by Pastor Eustace Williams (Personal Ministries Director of Ontario Conference of SDA) on, “Developing an Evangelistic Mindset”. Can’t wait!
My hope, continually, is that you would be blessed throughout the series. Remember to pray for God’s outpouring on your church family so that it would corporately rise to the challenge of fulfilling his mission (Joel 2). Also, pray for God’s outpouring in your life so that you would fulfill his will. Remember to invite a friend to receive a blessing. And pray for individuals to make life-changing decisions for Christ.
God Bless!
Pastor John
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