What Is God Doing Today? What Are We Doing For God Today?

JANUARY 23, 2022 STUDY NOTES ACTS 2:17-18 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES WHAT IS GOD DOING TODAY? WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR GOD TODAY? INTRODUCTION Last Sunday we looked at the first part of Acts 2:17 and the meaning of the “last days” In “times past,” God spoke through the prophets at different times and in different ways, Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, God now speaks through His Son in the time period known as the “last days,” Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; The “last days” began with the first coming of Christ to the earth, 1Pe 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, The “last days” will come-to a conclusion when Christ returns to the earth, Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: “Revelation” is the last book of the New Testament, and it is the book of the “last things” It is the direct teaching of Christ concerning the end of the age and the coming of the new age The “Revelation” is the most detailed description of the future that has been written Therefore, the “last days” are the time-period between the two comings of Christ to the earth The “last days” are the time-period between the birth of Jesus and the return of Jesus There are many verses referring to the days preceding the return of Christ to the earth We can identify those days as the “last days” of the “last days” People get excited about a study of events at the time of the return of Christ People want to know, what is God going to do when Christ returns to the earth? Our most important study should be, “What is God Doing today?” (A study of Acts) Our greatest concern should be, “What are we doing for God today?” Look at the world we live in today, what are people doing today? Paul did not watch the national news from ABC, CBS, NBC, or FOX before he wrote, 2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. The fact is, the national news media is reporting today what Paul wrote to Timothy, 2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. The truth of our world today is identified in, 2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (Which is happening day by day) Paul also tells us what Christians must be doing today, 2Ti 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; In our study of Acts we will learn what God was doing in the early days of the Church Age In our study of Acts we will learn what Christians were doing for God in those days The question for us is, “What are we allowing God to do through us today?” That should be the major concern for our Christian life today and for our church family That which is most important is not what God is going to do in the last days of the last days Page 1 of 4 It is time for Christians to allow God to do what God “will do” through us today Today, we must read, study, learn, and live according to Acts and all NT scripture What was God doing on the “Day of Pentecost” in Acts 2? Those who were in Jerusalem on the “Day of Pentecost” wanted to know what was happening, Act 2:12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Satan attempted to answer their question through mockers, Act 2:13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. Peter quickly corrected their false theory and began to answer their question Peter stood to explain what God was doing that day, and within the time of the last days Act 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel (Read Joel 2:28-32) They were witnessing what God had said He would do, as foretold by the Prophet Joel Peter did not say that the events on the Day of Pentecost fulfilled all of Joel’s prophecy Peter said that what occurred on the Day of Pentecost was within the prophecy of Joel What was happening on the Day of Pentecost was what the prophet Joel had predicted (Joel 2:28) But there are events within the prophecy of Joel that were not fulfilled that day And there are events within the prophecy of Joel that are yet to be fulfilled Peter’s explanation was, what you have seen and heard was foretold by the prophet Joel Therefore, it is not something that cannot be explained, God’s Word explains it Peter quotes from Joel 2:28 in Acts 2:17 Act 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: Compare Acts 2:17 with Joel 2:28, Joe 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: The first phrase of Acts 2:17, “And it shall come to pass in the last days” is not identical with Joel 2:28, “And it shall come to pass afterward,” yet Peter sees a fulfillment of prophecy Peter sees in the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost a preliminary fulfillment of Joel 2:28 The complete fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy was not fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost Much of the prophecy of Joel is yet to be fulfilled, but Peter said we have seen its beginning Peter knew that what they had seen and heard that day confirmed the fulfillment of all prophecy The final and complete fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy is yet to come at the time of the 2 nd coming The present ministry of the Spirit in the life of every believer is an example of what God will do The promises of God to Israel and the Church will be fulfilled in the coming Kingdom of God “I will,” tells us what God was doing, it is God who will “pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh,” At Pentecost, God was doing what had been promised by Jesus, Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. On the Day of Pentecost, the promise to send the Holy Spirit was fulfilled, which Peter stated in, Act 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. “He hath shed forth” is the same original word as “I will pour out” in Acts 2:17 The coming of the Spirit was the beginning of the ministry of the Spirit within the present age Which is also stated in, Act 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: The pouring out of God’s Spirit within all believers is still the present ministry of the Holy Spirit The pouring out does not refer to the receiving of a portion of the Spirit, we receive His Person, 1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? It is the total person of the Holy Spirit that indwells the Christian today Page 2 of 4 The promise that I will pour out my Spirit “upon all flesh,” has the meaning of all “mankind” The reference of “all mankind” is not to be applied to every living person, but all of God’s people God would not only pour “out of” His Spirit on His chosen nation, the Jews, as He had done In the OT God dwelt “with” His people, in the NT God dwells “in” His people, Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. The Jews were astonished at the thought of God pouring out His Spirit “upon all flesh,” Act 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. Today the Holy Spirit pours the love of God into the heart of all believers, Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Only born-again believers receive the Holy Spirit) God through the Holy Spirit abundantly pours out upon the believer the mercy of God’s salvation, Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; (“He shed” is the same as “I will pour out”) God will continue to “pour out of His Spirit” upon all believers throughout this present age The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Spirit’s work in believers within the “last days” Peter tells us of the results of God’s Spirit being poured upon all flesh within the last days “All flesh,” has the meaning of without distinction, young, old, male, and female are included Which is the meaning of your sons and daughters, your young men, your old men God pours out His Spirit on all believers, whoever they are, wherever they are, for a purpose Because of the Spirit within us we are gifted to serve God and have received power to serve God Every Christian has been gifted to serve God, 1Pe 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. In this present age God is pouring out His Spirit on all believers so that we can all serve God now Which Peter explains, “your sons and daughters shall prophesy,” Peter speaks with excitement His words should excite us today, his words should motivate us, it can happen today How exciting it would be if it would happen in Prairie Grove Baptist today, throughout this year “Prophecy” is not limited to knowing or telling the future before it happens “Prophecy” most often refers to the speaking forth of God’s Word, speaking out for God Speaking out for God under the influence of the Holy Spirit, being filled with the Spirit Which is what was taking place on the day of Pentecost, the disciples were filled with the Spirit, Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. The tongue speaking was speaking in earthly language they had not learned, Act 2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? Act 2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? They spoke in different languages the wonderful works of God, Act 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. What was God doing? He was speaking to every nation through the believer at Pentecost What were the followers of Jesus doing? They were doing what the Spirit had gifted them to do What does God want to do today? The same thing that He was doing on the Day of Pentecost Because God has poured out His Spirit on all believers, all believers can speak out for God today, 1Co 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. Prophesying is communicating the Word of God to others, which has its purpose In the context of 1 Cor. 14:3, the one prophesying was speaking in the tongue of the one listening The result of prophesying is spiritual growth, spiritual encouragement, and comfort What are we doing for God today? Are we speaking forth the wonderful works of God? Page 3 of 4 How do we compare today with the Christians on the Day of Pentecost? Peter stated, Your young men shall see visions, visions were common in the OT and in the early church Visions happened while people were awake, their purpose was supernatural insight God was giving guidance and direction to His servants, and sometimes foretelling the future Does God still give visions in the same way today? Like He gave to Isaiah, Daniel, and Paul? God certainly can, if necessary, but with the completed Word of God visions are not necessary, 2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (Scripture meets the needs of today, use it) God’s Word is sufficient for the guidance and direction of our life today and for the future There are those today who claim a vision of a new revelation from God, but is that necessary? Whatever they claim is new from God must be compared to what God’s Word already says If it doesn’t match up with scripture it is not from God, the other source is Satan If it does match up with scripture, then it is not something new from God A Godly vision today is the Holy Spirit illuminating the truth of a verse of scripture to us Teaching us what God’s Word is telling us, and guiding us to obey what we have learned Our vision today should be the fulfilling of the Great Commission, Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Our vision today should be souls being saved as we share the gospel with them Christians today should dream of sharing the gospel with the lost world And your old men shall dream dreams: Dreams occur while someone is sleeping In the OT, God informed some people and warned some people through dreams Often the dreams pertained to events of the future for individuals or God’s people as a whole God gave some the ability to interpret dreams (Gen 40:8; 41:12; Daniel 2) In the NT, God spoke to Joseph in a dream concerning Jesus, (Matthew 1:20; 2:13-14) Does God speak to us through dreams today? The answer is the same as presented for visions Christians today should be dreaming of what God will do through us as we obey His Word Peter tells us what God will do in us if we obey His Word Act 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: “My servants” literally reads “my bond slaves,” those who belong to God “Handmaidens” refer to a female servant, servants and handmaidens confirm verse 17 “I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh,” young, old, male, and female are included “In those days of my Spirit” is a reference to the ministry of the Spirit in the last days “And they shall prophesy” servants of God are to prophesy, to speak for God Today the Spirit is poured out upon all believers so that all believers can speak for God Which is what God wants us to do today, Jesus promised that we can do it, Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Those who belong to God must be committed to the will of God, Eph 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; Our vision should be to do “the will of God,” which should be the dream of our “heart” Paul explains why that should be true, 1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. Listen to the song, pray that it will be your dream, and your vision this year Page 4 of 4