100:00:01,000 –> 00:00:06,000The only hope for this lot would be200:00:06,000 –> 00:00:10,000God if you gave your Spirit to every single one of them.300:00:10,000 –> 00:00:12,000There’re about a million.400:00:12,000 –> 00:00:18,000It’s as if you went into an area that was marked by severe poverty500:00:18,000 –> 00:00:22,000and touched by the need, you say,600:00:22,000 –> 00:00:25,000Oh that everyone would be a millionaire.700:00:25,000 –> 00:00:28,000Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.800:00:28,000 –> 00:00:29,000I’m David Pick.900:00:29,000 –> 00:00:31,000Glad you could be with us today.1000:00:31,000 –> 00:00:33,000And Colin with an introduction like that1100:00:33,000 –> 00:00:35,000I think we need you to explain what we just heard.1200:00:35,000 –> 00:00:38,000Well, I’m in the middle of the story of Moses1300:00:38,000 –> 00:00:40,000where all the people are grumbling and complaining1400:00:40,000 –> 00:00:42,000and he can’t do any good and all the rest of it.1500:00:42,000 –> 00:00:45,000And Moses gets absolutely exasperated1600:00:45,000 –> 00:00:46,000and he comes to God and he says,1700:00:46,000 –> 00:00:49,000Oh, that you would pour out your Spirit on them.1800:00:49,000 –> 00:00:52,000The Holy Spirit, of course at that time1900:00:52,000 –> 00:00:54,000only given to a very few people.2000:00:54,000 –> 00:00:56,000And here’s this vast crowd.2100:00:56,000 –> 00:00:57,000You know, the only solution is2200:00:57,000 –> 00:00:59,000pour out your Spirit on the whole lot.2300:00:59,000 –> 00:01:02,000I think that was unimaginable to Moses.2400:01:02,000 –> 00:01:03,000But hundreds of years later2500:01:03,000 –> 00:01:05,000you have the Lord saying through Joel2600:01:05,000 –> 00:01:08,000I will pour my Spirit out on all flesh.2700:01:08,000 –> 00:01:10,000And of course that’s wonderfully fulfilled2800:01:10,000 –> 00:01:12,000on the Day of Pentecost.2900:01:12,000 –> 00:01:14,000And the heart of being a Christian3000:01:14,000 –> 00:01:18,000Is that in coming to faith in Jesus Christ3100:01:18,000 –> 00:01:22,000God gives that person his Holy Spirit.3200:01:22,000 –> 00:01:24,000No such thing as a Christian3300:01:24,000 –> 00:01:26,000Without the Holy Spirit.3400:01:26,000 –> 00:01:29,000And so this is a wonderful part of the Bible’s story,3500:01:29,000 –> 00:01:31,000And it’s a marvellous story3600:01:31,000 –> 00:01:33,000Of how God has fulfilled his promise3700:01:33,000 –> 00:01:35,000and it gets to the heart of the Gospel.3800:01:35,000 –> 00:01:37,000We will see that today in the book of Joel3900:01:37,000 –> 00:01:40,000Chapter 2 and verse 284000:01:40,000 –> 00:01:42,000As we begin a message about a faith4100:01:42,000 –> 00:01:43,000that is more than believing4200:01:43,000 –> 00:01:44,000Here’s Colin.4300:01:44,000 –> 00:01:48,000We are returning today to the book of Joel4400:01:48,000 –> 00:01:50,000Last week a wonderful promise that we heard4500:01:50,000 –> 00:01:53,000God says I will restore the years4600:01:53,000 –> 00:01:54,000of which I’ve eaten4700:01:54,000 –> 00:01:56,000and today we’re going to look at4800:01:56,000 –> 00:01:58,000an even more wonderful promise4900:01:58,000 –> 00:02:00,000that is given in the same chapter5000:02:00,000 –> 00:02:01,000We’re especially looking at verse 285100:02:01,000 –> 00:02:03,000And verse 29 of Joel5200:02:03,000 –> 00:02:04,000And chapter 25300:02:04,000 –> 00:02:07,000And it shall come to pass afterward5400:02:07,000 –> 00:02:09,000that I will pour out5500:02:09,000 –> 00:02:13,000my Spirit on all flesh5600:02:13,000 –> 00:02:15,000and your sons and daughters5700:02:15,000 –> 00:02:16,000shall prophesy5800:02:16,000 –> 00:02:17,000your old men shall dream dreams5900:02:17,000 –> 00:02:18,000and your young men6000:02:18,000 –> 00:02:21,000shall see visions.6100:02:21,000 –> 00:02:23,000I want us to see this wonderful promise6200:02:23,000 –> 00:02:24,000that will be familiar6300:02:24,000 –> 00:02:26,000to many of us of course6400:02:26,000 –> 00:02:29,000I want us to see it in the broader sweep6500:02:29,000 –> 00:02:31,000of the Bible’s story6600:02:31,000 –> 00:02:32,000And so we’re going to look at6700:02:32,000 –> 00:02:34,000three places in the Bible6800:02:34,000 –> 00:02:35,000First, we’re going to look at6900:02:35,000 –> 00:02:37,000the promise of the Spirit7000:02:37,000 –> 00:02:41,000anticipated by a prayer of Moses7100:02:41,000 –> 00:02:43,000That’s back in the book of Numbers7200:02:43,000 –> 00:02:45,000then we’ll come to the book of Joel secondly7300:02:45,000 –> 00:02:48,000And see how what Moses prayed for7400:02:48,000 –> 00:02:50,000was promised through the prophet Joel7500:02:50,000 –> 00:02:52,000and then we’ll move forward7600:02:52,000 –> 00:02:53,000to the book of Acts7700:02:53,000 –> 00:02:55,000and see how what Moses prayed for7800:02:55,000 –> 00:02:57,000and was promised through Joel7900:02:57,000 –> 00:02:59,000was fulfilled through our Lord,8000:02:59,000 –> 00:03:01,000and Savior, Jesus Christ8100:03:01,000 –> 00:03:04,000on the Day of Pentecost8200:03:04,000 –> 00:03:06,000So would you turn back with me8300:03:06,000 –> 00:03:07,000now, then8400:03:07,000 –> 00:03:08,000to Numbers and Chapter 118500:03:08,000 –> 00:03:11,000And I put the worship folder in Joel8600:03:11,000 –> 00:03:13,000because we’re coming back there8700:03:13,000 –> 00:03:16,000But Numbers and Chapter 118800:03:16,000 –> 00:03:18,000is where we have our first8900:03:18,000 –> 00:03:20,000as it were, stopping point today9000:03:21,000 –> 00:03:23,000I want us to look at the spirit9100:03:23,000 –> 00:03:28,000Anticipated in the prayer of Moses9200:03:28,000 –> 00:03:30,000Let me just walk you through this story9300:03:30,000 –> 00:03:32,000very briefly9400:03:32,000 –> 00:03:35,000God has brought his people out of Egypt9500:03:35,000 –> 00:03:38,000He has made a covenant with them9600:03:38,000 –> 00:03:40,000You will be my people and I will be your God9700:03:40,000 –> 00:03:42,000And he is leading them through the desert9800:03:42,000 –> 00:03:44,000towards the Promised Land9900:03:44,000 –> 00:03:46,000Because there is not food in the desert10000:03:46,000 –> 00:03:48,000He provides for them everyday10100:03:48,000 –> 00:03:50,000by a miracle of grace manna10200:03:50,000 –> 00:03:52,000like a kind of seed10300:03:52,000 –> 00:03:54,000that is found on the ground10400:03:54,000 –> 00:03:56,000when they get up, it’s the provision of God10500:03:56,000 –> 00:03:58,000for them miraculously, everyday10600:03:58,000 –> 00:04:01,000And so these people are wonderfully blessed10700:04:01,000 –> 00:04:03,000but they were not very happy10800:04:03,000 –> 00:04:05,000And it is remarkable how God’s people10900:04:05,000 –> 00:04:07,000though we are blessed in so many ways11000:04:07,000 –> 00:04:10,000can sometimes be so very unhappy11100:04:10,000 –> 00:04:12,000and unsettled11200:04:12,000 –> 00:04:14,000and you’ll find this in verse 111300:04:14,000 –> 00:04:16,000in Numbers chapter 1111400:04:16,000 –> 00:04:18,000The people complained11500:04:18,000 –> 00:04:20,000that’s really the key word of this story11600:04:20,000 –> 00:04:22,000they are complaining in the11700:04:22,000 –> 00:04:24,000hearing of the Lord, so God’s listening11800:04:24,000 –> 00:04:26,000every time you complain11900:04:26,000 –> 00:04:28,000In the hearing of the Lord12000:04:28,000 –> 00:04:30,000they complained about their misfortunes12100:04:30,000 –> 00:04:32,000and you get the feel of this complaining12200:04:32,000 –> 00:04:34,000from verse 512300:04:34,000 –> 00:04:36,000where they say, you know, they’ve got manna12400:04:36,000 –> 00:04:38,000a seed-like substance12500:04:38,000 –> 00:04:40,000and they’re not satisfied12600:04:40,000 –> 00:04:41,799with that so they say, oh that we12700:04:41,799 –> 00:04:43,799had meat to eat12800:04:43,799 –> 00:04:45,799and then, this makes me smile12900:04:45,799 –> 00:04:47,799it might make you smile too13000:04:47,799 –> 00:04:49,799they say, We remember13100:04:49,799 –> 00:04:51,799the fish that we ate13200:04:51,799 –> 00:04:53,799in Egypt that cost13300:04:53,799 –> 00:04:55,799nothing! Well of course13400:04:55,799 –> 00:04:57,799it cost nothing, because they were slaves13500:04:57,799 –> 00:04:59,799they didn’t have any cash, they were never paid13600:04:59,799 –> 00:05:01,799so all that happened13700:05:01,799 –> 00:05:03,799because they were slaves where they tossed a few13800:05:03,799 –> 00:05:05,799scraps of fish to keep body and soul together13900:05:05,799 –> 00:05:07,799keep them working, but the only thing14000:05:07,799 –> 00:05:09,799they remember is because they had no economic14100:05:09,799 –> 00:05:11,799means and they’re slaves, they say14200:05:11,799 –> 00:05:13,799Well we never paid anything for this, it would cost14300:05:13,799 –> 00:05:15,799anything. It’s amazing how14400:05:15,799 –> 00:05:17,799hindsight, distance14500:05:17,799 –> 00:05:19,799enhances the view and14600:05:19,799 –> 00:05:21,799they go on with this marvelously14700:05:21,799 –> 00:05:23,799idealized picture of this wonderful14800:05:23,799 –> 00:05:25,799life in Egypt,14900:05:25,799 –> 00:05:27,799completely forgetting the realities of it15000:05:27,799 –> 00:05:29,799and they talk about the cucumbers15100:05:29,799 –> 00:05:31,799verse 5, the melons15200:05:31,799 –> 00:05:33,799the leeks, the onions15300:05:33,799 –> 00:05:35,799and the garlic15400:05:35,799 –> 00:05:37,799I don’t know why they got so excited about garlic15500:05:37,799 –> 00:05:39,799but15600:05:39,799 –> 00:05:41,799this was the state of mind15700:05:41,799 –> 00:05:43,799whatever we don’t have is what we want15800:05:43,799 –> 00:05:45,799and now our strength15900:05:45,799 –> 00:05:47,799is dried up, verse 5 and there is nothing at16000:05:47,799 –> 00:05:49,799all but this manor to look at16100:05:49,799 –> 00:05:51,799What a way to refer to the provision16200:05:51,799 –> 00:05:53,799of God! To dismiss16300:05:53,799 –> 00:05:55,799it and to16400:05:55,799 –> 00:05:57,799esteem it only16500:05:57,799 –> 00:05:59,799in this way16600:05:59,799 –> 00:06:01,799and Moses gets to the point which you can16700:06:01,799 –> 00:06:03,799understand where he has16800:06:03,799 –> 00:06:05,799just about had16900:06:05,799 –> 00:06:07,799enough of these people17000:06:07,799 –> 00:06:09,799who are so difficult17100:06:09,799 –> 00:06:11,799to lead17200:06:11,799 –> 00:06:13,799and so, verse 11, Moses says17300:06:13,799 –> 00:06:15,799to the Lord, why have17400:06:15,799 –> 00:06:17,799you dealt ill with your Servant?17500:06:17,799 –> 00:06:19,799That’s with Moses himself17600:06:19,799 –> 00:06:21,799why have I not found favour in your sight17700:06:21,799 –> 00:06:23,799that you lay the burden17800:06:23,799 –> 00:06:25,799of all these people17900:06:25,799 –> 00:06:27,799on me, and then he really18000:06:27,799 –> 00:06:29,799lets go. Did I conceive18100:06:29,799 –> 00:06:31,799all these people?18200:06:31,799 –> 00:06:33,799Did I give them birth, that you18300:06:33,799 –> 00:06:35,799said to me, carry them in your18400:06:35,799 –> 00:06:37,799bosom, as a nurse18500:06:37,799 –> 00:06:39,799carries a nursing child, to the18600:06:39,799 –> 00:06:41,799land that you swore to give to their fathers?18700:06:41,799 –> 00:06:43,799I mean, Moses must have had a really18800:06:43,799 –> 00:06:45,799bad day in the office18900:06:45,799 –> 00:06:47,799to speak to19000:06:47,799 –> 00:06:49,799all mighty God in this way.19100:06:49,799 –> 00:06:51,799But he’s at the end of it, I can’t take19200:06:51,799 –> 00:06:53,799any more. What I do19300:06:53,799 –> 00:06:55,799with this crowd.19400:06:55,799 –> 00:06:57,799And the Lord has19500:06:57,799 –> 00:06:59,799compassion on Moses, and verse19600:06:59,799 –> 00:07:01,79916, he tells Moses19700:07:01,799 –> 00:07:03,799to gather 70 men19800:07:03,799 –> 00:07:05,799from among the elders of Israel, and19900:07:05,799 –> 00:07:07,799verse 17, I will20000:07:07,799 –> 00:07:09,799come down, and20100:07:09,799 –> 00:07:11,799talk with you there,20200:07:11,799 –> 00:07:13,799and I will take20300:07:13,799 –> 00:07:15,799some of the Spirit,20400:07:15,799 –> 00:07:17,799capital S,20500:07:17,799 –> 00:07:19,799that is on you,20600:07:19,799 –> 00:07:21,799and put it20700:07:21,799 –> 00:07:23,799on them, on the 70,20800:07:23,799 –> 00:07:25,799and they shall bear20900:07:25,799 –> 00:07:27,799the burden of the people with you,21000:07:27,799 –> 00:07:29,799so that you may not bear21100:07:29,799 –> 00:07:31,799it yourself alone.’21200:07:31,799 –> 00:07:33,799Now he has a wonderful provision of God21300:07:33,799 –> 00:07:35,799to help Moses.21400:07:35,799 –> 00:07:37,799So now Moses has some helpers,21500:07:37,799 –> 00:07:39,799but not just some helpers, he has 70 helpers!21600:07:39,799 –> 00:07:41,799And God gives to these 70,21700:07:41,799 –> 00:07:43,799the 70 elders,21800:07:43,799 –> 00:07:45,799a portion of the Spirit of God21900:07:45,799 –> 00:07:47,799that has been and is22000:07:47,799 –> 00:07:49,799upon Moses.22100:07:49,799 –> 00:07:51,799And do you know what happens next?22200:07:51,799 –> 00:07:53,799The people have been complaining22300:07:53,799 –> 00:07:55,799about Moses and now22400:07:55,799 –> 00:07:57,799he has 70 helpers, so they complain about22500:07:57,799 –> 00:07:59,79970 helpers.22600:07:59,799 –> 00:08:01,799And the Spirit has been given to22700:08:01,799 –> 00:08:03,799two of these men, two of the 7022800:08:03,799 –> 00:08:05,799are, in verse 26,22900:08:05,799 –> 00:08:07,799eldad and midad.23000:08:07,799 –> 00:08:09,799And because the Spirit is on23100:08:09,799 –> 00:08:11,799them we’re told they were prophesying23200:08:11,799 –> 00:08:13,799and the people complain about23300:08:13,799 –> 00:08:15,799this, you know, eldad and midad.23400:08:15,799 –> 00:08:17,799Who do they think they are, and why23500:08:17,799 –> 00:08:19,799are do they this? And they complain, and they23600:08:19,799 –> 00:08:21,799come to complain to Moses23700:08:21,799 –> 00:08:23,799complaining that the Spirit of the Lord23800:08:23,799 –> 00:08:25,799is on these two men, and Moses23900:08:25,799 –> 00:08:27,799responds to this as in verse 2924000:08:27,799 –> 00:08:29,799and this is the point here of the story.24100:08:29,799 –> 00:08:31,799Verse 2924200:08:31,799 –> 00:08:33,799complaining that the Spirit24300:08:33,799 –> 00:08:35,799of God is on eldad and midad, just24400:08:35,799 –> 00:08:37,799two men,24500:08:37,799 –> 00:08:39,799Wood says Moses that all24600:08:39,799 –> 00:08:41,799the Lords’ people were prophets,24700:08:41,799 –> 00:08:43,799that the Lord would put his Spirit24800:08:43,799 –> 00:08:45,799on them, and you see the force24900:08:45,799 –> 00:08:47,799of what he was saying?25000:08:47,799 –> 00:08:49,799Here are all these people,25100:08:51,799 –> 00:08:53,799and they bear the name of the Lord25200:08:53,799 –> 00:08:55,799and they profess faith.25300:08:55,799 –> 00:08:57,799They have had25400:08:57,799 –> 00:08:59,799experiences of being delivered.25500:08:59,799 –> 00:09:01,799But they are25600:09:01,799 –> 00:09:03,799habitual complainers.25700:09:03,799 –> 00:09:05,799They are25800:09:05,799 –> 00:09:07,799self-absorbed.25900:09:07,799 –> 00:09:09,799They are thoroughly ungrateful26000:09:09,799 –> 00:09:11,799for the blessing of God26100:09:11,799 –> 00:09:13,799that they continue to receive every day,26200:09:13,799 –> 00:09:15,799and putting26300:09:15,799 –> 00:09:17,799seventy spiritually gifted26400:09:17,799 –> 00:09:19,799elders over them doesn’t solve the problem.26500:09:19,799 –> 00:09:21,799And Moses again, is at the26600:09:21,799 –> 00:09:23,799end of himself and saying, what can be done26700:09:23,799 –> 00:09:25,799about this.26800:09:25,799 –> 00:09:27,799And he says, in effect, the only26900:09:27,799 –> 00:09:29,799hope for this lot would be27000:09:29,799 –> 00:09:31,799God if you gave your spirit to27100:09:31,799 –> 00:09:33,799every single one of them.27200:09:33,799 –> 00:09:35,799There’s about a million.27300:09:35,799 –> 00:09:37,799And I’ll27400:09:37,799 –> 00:09:39,799tell you what that’s like. That’s kind of27500:09:39,799 –> 00:09:41,799like going, at this point in the27600:09:41,799 –> 00:09:43,799Bible story, it’s as if you went27700:09:43,799 –> 00:09:45,799into an area that was marked by27800:09:45,799 –> 00:09:47,799severe poverty.27900:09:47,799 –> 00:09:49,799And28000:09:49,799 –> 00:09:51,799touched by the need, you say28100:09:51,799 –> 00:09:53,799oh that28200:09:53,799 –> 00:09:55,799everyone would be a millionaire.28300:09:55,799 –> 00:09:57,799And28400:09:57,799 –> 00:09:59,799even as you say it, you think well28500:09:59,799 –> 00:10:01,799it would transform everything here28600:10:01,799 –> 00:10:03,799if that was the case, but of course it28700:10:03,799 –> 00:10:05,799would never happen.28800:10:05,799 –> 00:10:07,799But Moses has this kind of wistfulness here28900:10:07,799 –> 00:10:09,799Here’s this29000:10:09,799 –> 00:10:11,799crowd and they’re almost unleadable29100:10:11,799 –> 00:10:13,799But29200:10:13,799 –> 00:10:15,799if they were all filled with the Spirit29300:10:15,799 –> 00:10:17,799it would be different.29400:10:17,799 –> 00:10:19,799You’ve given the Spirit29500:10:19,799 –> 00:10:21,799just a 7029600:10:21,799 –> 00:10:23,799But if they were all filled with the Spirit29700:10:23,799 –> 00:10:25,799they wouldn’t constantly be complaining29800:10:25,799 –> 00:10:27,799they wouldn’t constantly be so self-absorbed29900:10:27,799 –> 00:10:29,799and they wouldn’t be so ungrateful30000:10:29,799 –> 00:10:31,799if only30100:10:31,799 –> 00:10:33,799If only30200:10:33,799 –> 00:10:35,799But this is telling30300:10:35,799 –> 00:10:37,799us something very important about30400:10:37,799 –> 00:10:39,799what God had given and what God30500:10:39,799 –> 00:10:41,799had not yet given at this point30600:10:41,799 –> 00:10:43,799in the Bible story. In Old Testament30700:10:43,799 –> 00:10:45,799times, the Spirit30800:10:45,799 –> 00:10:47,799was given only30900:10:47,799 –> 00:10:49,799to a few and only31000:10:49,799 –> 00:10:51,799for particular spheres of31100:10:51,799 –> 00:10:53,799service. The31200:10:53,799 –> 00:10:55,799list actually is very interesting31300:10:55,799 –> 00:10:57,799For example, we’re told31400:10:57,799 –> 00:10:59,799that the Spirit of God was given to a man called31500:10:59,799 –> 00:11:01,799Bezelel who was a craftsman31600:11:01,799 –> 00:11:03,799He was working on the31700:11:03,799 –> 00:11:05,799furnishings for the tabernacle31800:11:05,799 –> 00:11:07,799and the scripture says, in Exodus 3131900:11:07,799 –> 00:11:09,799God says, I have filled him32000:11:09,799 –> 00:11:11,799with the Spirit of God32100:11:11,799 –> 00:11:13,799and all craftsmanship32200:11:13,799 –> 00:11:15,799he was very craftsman and he was given32300:11:15,799 –> 00:11:17,799the spirit for crafting32400:11:17,799 –> 00:11:19,799in wood and in stone32500:11:19,799 –> 00:11:21,799the furnishings of the tabernacle, fascinating32600:11:21,799 –> 00:11:23,799the spirit was given to judges32700:11:23,799 –> 00:11:25,799like Othniel the Spirit of the Lord32800:11:25,799 –> 00:11:27,799was on him, or warriors32900:11:27,799 –> 00:11:29,799like Gideon the Spirit of the Lord clothed33000:11:29,799 –> 00:11:31,799him, the Spirit of God was33100:11:31,799 –> 00:11:33,799given to prophets for their particular33200:11:33,799 –> 00:11:35,799task, messengers come from33300:11:35,799 –> 00:11:37,799Saul the Spirit of God comes upon them33400:11:37,799 –> 00:11:39,799and they’re able to prophesy33500:11:39,799 –> 00:11:41,799and of course the Spirit of God33600:11:41,799 –> 00:11:43,799was given to kings, Godly kings33700:11:45,799 –> 00:11:47,799men like David, who remember33800:11:47,799 –> 00:11:49,799after he sinned grievously33900:11:49,799 –> 00:11:51,799and prays in Psalm 5134000:11:51,799 –> 00:11:53,799he says this34100:11:53,799 –> 00:11:55,799do not take your34200:11:55,799 –> 00:11:57,799holy spirit34300:11:57,799 –> 00:11:59,799from me34400:11:59,799 –> 00:12:01,799so he knew that he34500:12:01,799 –> 00:12:03,799had experience of the34600:12:03,799 –> 00:12:05,799Holy Spirit of God given to him34700:12:05,799 –> 00:12:07,799for his particular task of being34800:12:07,799 –> 00:12:09,799a king34900:12:09,799 –> 00:12:11,799so there was a35000:12:11,799 –> 00:12:13,799kind of aristocracy35100:12:13,799 –> 00:12:15,799of the spirit in the Old Testament35200:12:15,799 –> 00:12:17,799some people for some35300:12:17,799 –> 00:12:19,799particular purposes but not35400:12:19,799 –> 00:12:21,799all the spirit of God35500:12:21,799 –> 00:12:23,799given to a chosen few35600:12:23,799 –> 00:12:25,799and35700:12:25,799 –> 00:12:27,799Moses utters35800:12:27,799 –> 00:12:29,799this prayer35900:12:29,799 –> 00:12:31,799this cry36000:12:31,799 –> 00:12:33,799almost that comes out of his36100:12:33,799 –> 00:12:35,799difficulties of trying to leave36200:12:35,799 –> 00:12:37,799this incorrigible group36300:12:37,799 –> 00:12:39,799of people, and36400:12:39,799 –> 00:12:41,799he is saying if only God you would give36500:12:41,799 –> 00:12:43,799your spirit to all of them36600:12:43,799 –> 00:12:45,799that would make all the difference in the world36700:12:45,799 –> 00:12:47,799because without your spirit being given to36800:12:47,799 –> 00:12:49,799all of them this vast crowd just becomes36900:12:49,799 –> 00:12:51,799a rabble, and37000:12:51,799 –> 00:12:53,799almost unleadable37100:12:53,799 –> 00:12:55,799now that’s the force37200:12:55,799 –> 00:12:57,799of the prayer in37300:12:57,799 –> 00:12:59,799Numbers and chapter 1137400:12:59,799 –> 00:13:01,799so I’m calling that the Spirit37500:13:01,799 –> 00:13:03,799anticipated37600:13:03,799 –> 00:13:05,799in the prayer of Moses37700:13:05,799 –> 00:13:07,799That’s just37800:13:07,799 –> 00:13:09,799one of the points we’ll look at today37900:13:09,799 –> 00:13:11,799stay with us because we’ll hear about the38000:13:11,799 –> 00:13:13,799spirit promised in the book of Joel38100:13:13,799 –> 00:13:15,799The message is called A Faith38200:13:15,799 –> 00:13:17,799that is More than Believing and it’s38300:13:17,799 –> 00:13:19,799one of the most requested messages over the38400:13:19,799 –> 00:13:21,799the past year. We’ve bundled 10 of38500:13:21,799 –> 00:13:23,799these most popular messages into38600:13:23,799 –> 00:13:25,799a series we call Listener Favourites38700:13:25,799 –> 00:13:27,799If you ever miss one of the series38800:13:27,799 –> 00:13:29,799don’t forget you can always catch up38900:13:29,799 –> 00:13:31,799or go back and listen again online39000:13:31,799 –> 00:13:33,799at our website39100:13:33,799 –> 00:13:35,799or as a podcast39200:13:35,799 –> 00:13:37,799on all your favourite podcast sites39300:13:37,799 –> 00:13:39,799follow the link from our website39400:13:39,799 –> 00:13:41,799or search for Open The Bible UK39500:13:41,799 –> 00:13:43,799We’re in Joel Chapter 239600:13:43,799 –> 00:13:45,799Here’s Colin! Now turn back to39700:13:45,799 –> 00:13:47,799Joel and you’ll see the significance39800:13:47,799 –> 00:13:49,799of this perhaps more clearly39900:13:49,799 –> 00:13:51,799Joel in chapter 240000:13:51,799 –> 00:13:53,799In other words, we look secondly40100:13:53,799 –> 00:13:55,799at the spirit promised40200:13:55,799 –> 00:13:57,799through the prophet Joel40300:13:57,799 –> 00:13:59,799now if you go back to40400:13:59,799 –> 00:14:01,799Joel Chapter 2 you can help me with the key40500:14:01,799 –> 00:14:03,799here, notice it40600:14:03,799 –> 00:14:05,799it shall come to pass afterward40700:14:05,799 –> 00:14:07,799so what that means is40800:14:07,799 –> 00:14:09,799this promise has been given for future40900:14:09,799 –> 00:14:11,799generations beyond the time of Joel41000:14:11,799 –> 00:14:13,799which is already hundreds of years after Moses41100:14:13,799 –> 00:14:15,799it shall come to pass41200:14:15,799 –> 00:14:17,799at some point in the future41300:14:17,799 –> 00:14:19,799afterward.. God says that41400:14:19,799 –> 00:14:21,799I will pour out41500:14:21,799 –> 00:14:23,799My Spirit on41600:14:23,799 –> 00:14:25,799notice the word, say it with me41700:14:25,799 –> 00:14:27,799All flesh41800:14:27,799 –> 00:14:29,799All flesh… that’s what Moses would have41900:14:29,799 –> 00:14:31,799longed for42000:14:31,799 –> 00:14:33,799would have loved to see back in the desert42100:14:33,799 –> 00:14:35,799but never saw42200:14:35,799 –> 00:14:37,799and here’s what’ll happen. When the Spirit is poured out42300:14:37,799 –> 00:14:39,799on all flesh, your sons and your daughters shall42400:14:39,799 –> 00:14:41,799prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams42500:14:41,799 –> 00:14:43,799your young men shall see visions42600:14:43,799 –> 00:14:45,799even on the male and female42700:14:45,799 –> 00:14:47,799servants in those days42800:14:47,799 –> 00:14:49,799I will pour out42900:14:49,799 –> 00:14:51,799My Spirit. So here is something43000:14:51,799 –> 00:14:53,799in the unfolding story of the Bible that is43100:14:53,799 –> 00:14:55,799completely new43200:14:55,799 –> 00:14:57,799something Moses longed for43300:14:57,799 –> 00:14:59,799the visibility of imaginary43400:14:59,799 –> 00:15:01,799something that is now being promised43500:15:01,799 –> 00:15:03,799and it’s being promised for a future time43600:15:03,799 –> 00:15:05,799but God is giving this promise43700:15:05,799 –> 00:15:07,799giving His people hope for the future43800:15:07,799 –> 00:15:09,799through the prophet Joe43900:15:09,799 –> 00:15:11,799I will poor out My Spirit on all44000:15:11,799 –> 00:15:13,799flesh, all people44100:15:13,799 –> 00:15:15,799not a privileged few, all44200:15:15,799 –> 00:15:17,799of God’s people and Joe44300:15:17,799 –> 00:15:19,799spells this out. What does all44400:15:19,799 –> 00:15:21,799mean? Well all means all of44500:15:21,799 –> 00:15:23,799God’s people. Sons and44600:15:23,799 –> 00:15:25,799daughters. So the44700:15:25,799 –> 00:15:27,799gift of the Spirit will not be limited by gender44800:15:27,799 –> 00:15:29,799Old men44900:15:29,799 –> 00:15:31,799and young men so the45000:15:31,799 –> 00:15:33,799gift of the Spirit will not be limited by age45100:15:33,799 –> 00:15:35,799it won’t be a gift that only comes45200:15:35,799 –> 00:15:37,799when you’ve been a Christian for 40 years45300:15:37,799 –> 00:15:39,799or whatever45400:15:39,799 –> 00:15:41,799servants45500:15:41,799 –> 00:15:43,799so the gift of the Spirit will not be limited45600:15:43,799 –> 00:15:45,799by social status45700:15:45,799 –> 00:15:47,799or45800:15:47,799 –> 00:15:49,799achievement in this world45900:15:49,799 –> 00:15:51,799all46000:15:51,799 –> 00:15:53,799my people46100:15:53,799 –> 00:15:55,799and notice what God46200:15:55,799 –> 00:15:57,799says will happen when the Spirit46300:15:57,799 –> 00:15:59,799is poured out. It gives us the evidence46400:15:59,799 –> 00:16:01,799of the presence of46500:16:01,799 –> 00:16:03,799the Spirit in people’s lives46600:16:03,799 –> 00:16:05,7993 things46700:16:05,799 –> 00:16:07,799Number 1, your sons and your46800:16:07,799 –> 00:16:09,799daughters shall prophesy46900:16:09,799 –> 00:16:11,799that’s what will happen when the Spirit is47000:16:11,799 –> 00:16:13,799poured out on all flesh47100:16:13,799 –> 00:16:15,799now to prophesy47200:16:15,799 –> 00:16:17,799here’s a simple definition, to prophesy47300:16:17,799 –> 00:16:19,799is simply47400:16:19,799 –> 00:16:21,799to be prompted47500:16:21,799 –> 00:16:23,799by God47600:16:23,799 –> 00:16:25,799to speak the right word47700:16:25,799 –> 00:16:27,799at the right time, in the right47800:16:27,799 –> 00:16:29,799way. To be prompted by God47900:16:29,799 –> 00:16:31,799to speak the right word48000:16:31,799 –> 00:16:33,799the right time48100:16:33,799 –> 00:16:35,799in the right way48200:16:35,799 –> 00:16:37,799and many of you know about this48300:16:37,799 –> 00:16:39,799from your own experience and48400:16:39,799 –> 00:16:41,799perhaps not thought about it in this way48500:16:41,799 –> 00:16:43,799but it happens multiple times among God’s people48600:16:43,799 –> 00:16:45,799it’s very wonderful48700:16:45,799 –> 00:16:47,799may happen out in the foyer, may happen48800:16:47,799 –> 00:16:49,799in the course of the sermon even48900:16:49,799 –> 00:16:51,799God says something to you and what they say to you49000:16:51,799 –> 00:16:53,799is just what you needed49100:16:53,799 –> 00:16:55,799to hear49200:16:55,799 –> 00:16:57,799and it’s so49300:16:57,799 –> 00:16:59,799what you needed to hear that your only49400:16:59,799 –> 00:17:01,799conclusion is that God had prompted them49500:17:01,799 –> 00:17:03,799in a very special way to say it to you49600:17:03,799 –> 00:17:05,800and it felt like a gift from the Lord49700:17:05,800 –> 00:17:07,800that they said that in that way and at49800:17:07,800 –> 00:17:09,800that particular time49900:17:09,800 –> 00:17:11,800you go out from the service and say50000:17:11,800 –> 00:17:13,800God had something for me today50100:17:13,800 –> 00:17:15,800and it was very special. That’s part50200:17:15,800 –> 00:17:17,800of the work of the Spirit and it happens in our50300:17:17,800 –> 00:17:19,800private conversations. God may50400:17:19,800 –> 00:17:21,800be the means of you saying something really50500:17:21,800 –> 00:17:23,800helpful before you’ve left this building today50600:17:23,800 –> 00:17:25,800to another brother or sister50700:17:25,800 –> 00:17:27,800and you may not know just how helpful it really50800:17:27,800 –> 00:17:29,800was and when the Holy Spirit50900:17:29,800 –> 00:17:31,800is poured out this is51000:17:31,800 –> 00:17:33,800the sort of thing that happens51100:17:33,800 –> 00:17:35,800among the people of God51200:17:35,800 –> 00:17:37,800and it happens not in only our informal51300:17:37,800 –> 00:17:39,800conversations, it happens within our structures51400:17:39,800 –> 00:17:41,800of ministry. I thank51500:17:41,800 –> 00:17:43,800God for all the times51600:17:43,800 –> 00:17:45,800when I’ve had the experience51700:17:45,800 –> 00:17:47,800and many of you know about this51800:17:47,800 –> 00:17:49,800in ministry you’re working with51900:17:49,800 –> 00:17:51,800a team and52000:17:51,800 –> 00:17:53,800there’s some question that the team’s wrestling52100:17:53,800 –> 00:17:55,800with should we do this, should we do52200:17:55,800 –> 00:17:57,800that and there’s all the different options52300:17:57,800 –> 00:17:59,800and52400:17:59,800 –> 00:18:01,800you go around in circles and52500:18:01,800 –> 00:18:03,800long discussion52600:18:03,800 –> 00:18:05,800and then somewhere an hour and a half into the meeting52700:18:05,800 –> 00:18:07,800someone has been sitting quite quietly52800:18:07,800 –> 00:18:09,800and absorbing this says52900:18:09,800 –> 00:18:11,800you know, I think53000:18:11,800 –> 00:18:13,800that the nub of this is53100:18:13,800 –> 00:18:15,800this and I think that what we53200:18:15,800 –> 00:18:17,800should be looking at is doing53300:18:17,800 –> 00:18:19,800that and when that53400:18:19,800 –> 00:18:21,800person says that53500:18:21,800 –> 00:18:23,800there’s a sense right throughout53600:18:23,800 –> 00:18:25,800the room of, that’s exactly53700:18:25,800 –> 00:18:27,800right, that’s what we need to do53800:18:27,800 –> 00:18:29,800and53900:18:29,800 –> 00:18:31,800everyone has the sense of that, then the next thing54000:18:31,800 –> 00:18:33,800you think is why54100:18:33,800 –> 00:18:35,800did you not say that an hour ago54200:18:35,800 –> 00:18:37,800we’ve been going round and54300:18:37,800 –> 00:18:39,800round and round in circles54400:18:39,800 –> 00:18:41,800but what you54500:18:41,800 –> 00:18:43,800said, is like a gift of the lord to the whole group54600:18:43,800 –> 00:18:45,800where, we know what we’re doing54700:18:45,800 –> 00:18:47,800now, we got it, we got it54800:18:47,800 –> 00:18:49,800and only God could’ve prompted that, and you’re54900:18:49,800 –> 00:18:51,800just so thankful, and it’s not the same person who does55000:18:51,800 –> 00:18:53,800it every time, because it’s not like this is55100:18:53,800 –> 00:18:55,800a possession, it’s simply that55200:18:55,800 –> 00:18:57,800as people are walking with God55300:18:57,800 –> 00:18:59,800God uses His people in wonderful55400:18:59,800 –> 00:19:01,800ways to prompt55500:19:01,800 –> 00:19:03,800the things that need to be said in the right way55600:19:03,800 –> 00:19:05,800at the right time for advancing55700:19:05,800 –> 00:19:07,800God’s wonderful purpose55800:19:07,800 –> 00:19:09,800let me quote to you Lloyd Ogilvy55900:19:09,800 –> 00:19:11,800many of you will recall that he was56000:19:11,800 –> 00:19:13,800for some time the chaplain at the Senate56100:19:13,800 –> 00:19:15,800and56200:19:15,800 –> 00:19:17,800for many years was a very distinguished56300:19:17,800 –> 00:19:19,800pastor, and writing during56400:19:19,800 –> 00:19:21,800his years as a pastor of a congregation56500:19:21,800 –> 00:19:23,800he says this56600:19:23,800 –> 00:19:25,800the most dynamic one to56700:19:25,800 –> 00:19:27,800one evangelist in56800:19:27,800 –> 00:19:29,800my congregation56900:19:29,800 –> 00:19:31,800are those who ask for and receive57000:19:31,800 –> 00:19:33,800the gift of prophecy57100:19:33,800 –> 00:19:35,800they do not have57200:19:35,800 –> 00:19:37,800canned monologues to57300:19:37,800 –> 00:19:39,800for people, in other words they don’t have57400:19:39,800 –> 00:19:41,800a rehearsed script of here’s what57500:19:41,800 –> 00:19:43,800I have to say and I’m going to give it to you57600:19:43,800 –> 00:19:45,800rather they know how to57700:19:45,800 –> 00:19:47,800listen, to care57800:19:47,800 –> 00:19:49,800to emphasize57900:19:49,800 –> 00:19:51,800with love,58000:19:51,800 –> 00:19:53,800The spirit gives them insight about58100:19:53,800 –> 00:19:55,800what to say, the timing of58200:19:55,800 –> 00:19:57,800when to say it, and boldness58300:19:57,800 –> 00:19:59,800to be honest, personal, and incisive58400:19:59,800 –> 00:20:01,800in helping people to respond58500:20:01,800 –> 00:20:03,800that’s a gift that’s58600:20:03,800 –> 00:20:05,800that’s God who does that and58700:20:05,800 –> 00:20:07,800most useful in advancing the58800:20:07,800 –> 00:20:09,800gospel in personal evangelism58900:20:09,800 –> 00:20:11,800they pray for this, and God gives it59000:20:11,800 –> 00:20:13,800to them, and it’s wonderful59100:20:14,800 –> 00:20:16,800now when the spirit is poured out59200:20:16,800 –> 00:20:18,800this is what Joel is saying, this is what happens59300:20:18,800 –> 00:20:20,800this is what it looks like59400:20:20,800 –> 00:20:22,800in the life a congregation59500:20:23,800 –> 00:20:25,800and not only that, that’s the first thing59600:20:25,800 –> 00:20:27,800here’s the second, your old59700:20:27,800 –> 00:20:29,800men shall dream59800:20:29,800 –> 00:20:31,800dreams59900:20:31,800 –> 00:20:33,800so here are hope60000:20:33,800 –> 00:20:35,800filled seniors60100:20:35,800 –> 00:20:37,800marvelous60200:20:37,800 –> 00:20:39,800and this has to be a60300:20:39,800 –> 00:20:41,800work of God’s holy spirit because we all know60400:20:41,800 –> 00:20:43,800that as60500:20:43,800 –> 00:20:45,800we get older60600:20:45,800 –> 00:20:47,800it is easy to become more negative60700:20:47,800 –> 00:20:49,800life seems60800:20:49,800 –> 00:20:51,800to move away from us60900:20:51,800 –> 00:20:53,800as we get older, and it’s61000:20:53,800 –> 00:20:55,800easy to kind of slide61100:20:55,800 –> 00:20:57,800into a self pity61200:20:57,800 –> 00:20:59,800and a sort of feeling that nothing61300:20:59,800 –> 00:21:01,800will ever be as good as it was61400:21:01,800 –> 00:21:03,800if we were the ones who were doing it61500:21:03,800 –> 00:21:05,800but here you have61600:21:05,800 –> 00:21:07,800hope filled seniors61700:21:07,800 –> 00:21:09,800older Saints61800:21:09,800 –> 00:21:11,800who are dreaming dreams61900:21:11,800 –> 00:21:13,800what does that mean?62000:21:13,800 –> 00:21:15,800It means older Saints62100:21:15,800 –> 00:21:17,800who are filled with62200:21:17,800 –> 00:21:19,800confidence with regards to what God62300:21:19,800 –> 00:21:21,800can do on earth62400:21:21,800 –> 00:21:23,800and filled with growing anticipation62500:21:23,800 –> 00:21:25,800of what God has62600:21:25,800 –> 00:21:27,800prepared in heaven62700:21:27,800 –> 00:21:29,800and along with that when the spirit62800:21:29,800 –> 00:21:31,800poured not only do you have hope filled62900:21:31,800 –> 00:21:33,800seniors but young63000:21:33,800 –> 00:21:35,800men shall see visions63100:21:35,800 –> 00:21:37,800so here63200:21:37,800 –> 00:21:39,800we have mission focused63300:21:39,800 –> 00:21:41,800youngsters the new generation63400:21:41,800 –> 00:21:43,800rising up and again63500:21:43,800 –> 00:21:45,800this is God’s, the work of God’s63600:21:45,800 –> 00:21:47,800spirit that young people63700:21:47,800 –> 00:21:49,800have a passion63800:21:49,800 –> 00:21:51,800and a sense of mission and vision63900:21:51,800 –> 00:21:53,800they see visions64000:21:53,800 –> 00:21:55,800and you put these 2 things64100:21:55,800 –> 00:21:57,800together and there is a spirit filled64200:21:57,800 –> 00:21:59,800church64300:21:59,800 –> 00:22:01,800and Joel says this is what it is going to be64400:22:01,800 –> 00:22:03,800like the spirit being poured out, not64500:22:03,800 –> 00:22:05,800in a few not just on the staff or the64600:22:05,800 –> 00:22:07,800pastors or the elders but64700:22:07,800 –> 00:22:09,800of the congregation64800:22:09,800 –> 00:22:11,800and when it happens this is what it looks64900:22:11,800 –> 00:22:13,800like, you get hope filled65000:22:13,800 –> 00:22:15,800seniors65100:22:15,800 –> 00:22:17,800and you get65200:22:17,800 –> 00:22:19,800young men seeing visions65300:22:19,800 –> 00:22:21,800the younger generation that65400:22:21,800 –> 00:22:23,800is being moved beyond the trivia65500:22:23,800 –> 00:22:25,800and65600:22:25,800 –> 00:22:27,800going for life65700:22:27,800 –> 00:22:29,800that is sold out65800:22:29,800 –> 00:22:31,800for Jesus65900:22:31,800 –> 00:22:33,800Christ66000:22:33,800 –> 00:22:35,800you are listening to66100:22:35,800 –> 00:22:37,800open the bible in a message called66200:22:37,800 –> 00:22:39,800faith that is more than believing66300:22:39,800 –> 00:22:41,800looking at how the spirit is66400:22:41,800 –> 00:22:43,800anticipated in the prayer of Moses66500:22:43,800 –> 00:22:45,800and how the spirit is promised in66600:22:45,800 –> 00:22:47,800the book of Joel, next time we will66700:22:47,800 –> 00:22:49,800hear how the spirit is given through66800:22:49,800 –> 00:22:51,800the Lord Jesus Christ and how66900:22:51,800 –> 00:22:53,800we can more of the spirit67000:22:53,800 –> 00:22:55,800in our lives. I hope you will join us for that67100:22:55,800 –> 00:22:57,800If you ever missed one67200:22:57,800 –> 00:22:59,800of our messages you can always catch up67300:22:59,800 –> 00:23:01,800or go back and listend again online at our67400:23:01,800 –> 00:23:04,800website www.openthebible.org.uk67500:23:04,800 –> 00:23:06,800Also find us as a podcast67600:23:06,800 –> 00:23:08,800and those are on all the main podcast sites67700:23:08,800 –> 00:23:10,800You can find them by following a link67800:23:10,800 –> 00:23:12,800from our website or by searching67900:23:12,800 –> 00:23:14,800in the podcast for Open the Bible UK68000:23:14,800 –> 00:23:16,800Open the Bible68100:23:16,800 –> 00:23:18,800is supported by our listeners68200:23:18,800 –> 00:23:20,800and if you already give68300:23:20,800 –> 00:23:22,800to support the work, we want to say a big68400:23:22,800 –> 00:23:24,800thank you! If you have been considering68500:23:24,800 –> 00:23:26,800beginning to support Open the Bible68600:23:26,800 –> 00:23:28,800financially, this month if you are68700:23:28,800 –> 00:23:30,800able to setup a new Direct Debit68800:23:30,800 –> 00:23:32,800to the work of Open the Bible68900:23:32,800 –> 00:23:34,800in the amount of £5 per month69000:23:34,800 –> 00:23:36,800or more, or a one-off gift of £5069100:23:36,800 –> 00:23:38,800or more, we would love to say thank you69200:23:38,800 –> 00:23:40,800by sending you a copy of69300:23:40,800 –> 00:23:42,800Pastor Colin’s book Fly Through the Bible69400:23:42,800 –> 00:23:44,800Colin what do you hope that69500:23:44,800 –> 00:23:46,800readers of this book will take away69600:23:46,800 –> 00:23:48,800from it? Well the people will69700:23:48,800 –> 00:23:50,800see that the whole Bible is one69800:23:50,800 –> 00:23:52,800story and that it all points69900:23:52,800 –> 00:23:54,800to the Lord Jesus Christ70000:23:54,800 –> 00:23:56,800You know I think many folks know some70100:23:56,800 –> 00:23:58,800stories from the Bible, you know David70200:23:58,800 –> 00:24:00,800and Goliath, Jonah and the whale and so forth70300:24:00,800 –> 00:24:02,800and so on, but I find that often70400:24:02,800 –> 00:24:04,800people don’t realise that there really is70500:24:04,800 –> 00:24:06,800an overall story line70600:24:06,800 –> 00:24:08,800to the Bible. It begins in a garden70700:24:08,800 –> 00:24:10,800it ends in a city all70800:24:10,800 –> 00:24:12,800the way through its about the Lord Jesus70900:24:12,800 –> 00:24:14,800Christ. So when a person gets71000:24:14,800 –> 00:24:16,800an overview of the Bible71100:24:16,800 –> 00:24:18,800that’s the best way to be71200:24:18,800 –> 00:24:20,800introduced to the Lord Jesus Christ71300:24:20,800 –> 00:24:22,800himself. This is going to show you71400:24:22,800 –> 00:24:24,800who he is, why we71500:24:24,800 –> 00:24:26,800need him, what he’s accomplished71600:24:26,800 –> 00:24:28,800what he offers, what he’s able71700:24:28,800 –> 00:24:30,800to do in the life of any person71800:24:30,800 –> 00:24:32,800who turns to him in repentance and71900:24:32,800 –> 00:24:34,800faith. It’s cookies on the bottom shelf72000:24:34,800 –> 00:24:36,800and it’s going to be an introduction to the72100:24:36,800 –> 00:24:38,800Lord Jesus Christ72200:24:49,800 –> 00:24:51,800a gift of 50 pounds or more this month72300:24:52,880 –> 00:24:54,880You can find full terms and conditions72400:24:54,880 –> 00:24:56,880and you can give online at our website72500:25:12,359 –> 00:25:14,359Imagine going to a church where people are72600:25:14,359 –> 00:25:16,359ungrateful and self-absorbed72700:25:16,359 –> 00:25:18,359but then imagine you go to72800:25:18,760 –> 00:25:20,760another church where people are thankful72900:25:20,760 –> 00:25:22,760and praising god73000:25:22,760 –> 00:25:24,760Discover what makes the difference73100:25:24,760 –> 00:25:26,760That’s next time on Open The Bible