Joel 2:28
After this, I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions.
Dear Heavenly Father,
You promised to pour out your Spirit upon us, and you have done this—all part of your salvational plan to restore us to you. It is by the Holy Spirit that faith is delivered to each person. It is not something we do but what we believe and is instilled in us. Jesus said, “Go into all the world;” faith is for old or young; no matter our race, social class, male or female, or where we live, it is intended for all.
You sent Jesus to carry out the plan of salvation for us. The Old Testament prophets pointed to his coming, his holy life, and his innocent suffering and death so that all who believed in him would not perish but have everlasting life. Faith is the open hand that receives your gift of love and mercy.
When the Holy Spirit begins faith in us to believe, we receive your gifts of salvation, love, and mercy. He doesn’t just zap someone to believe but works through his tools of the Word and sacraments. Faith begins by hearing the Gospel of what Jesus has done and through baptism—water connected with Your Word. We ask that you work in us today.
Through faith, our reaction is sharing this good news with others—the prophecy Joel wrote. We share with others the love you have for them, how you sent your Son to suffer on the cross in our place to remove all our sin, guilt, and shame and restore us to you.
So when your Holy Spirit comes to us, let us not reject Him but receive Him so our faith will be strengthened. We will know and trust what Jesus has done for us, reuniting us with you. Let our response to salvation be to testify to those around us who do not know you; let us share our peace with them, and please spark faith in their hearts so they also believe and enjoy the promise of your salvation. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
Know all that God has done: He has set you free from your sins, saved you, and given you eternal life through Jesus; he also sent you His Spirit so that you believe.