We are examining the role young people can and should have in the kingdom of God in this series "Never Too Young for Purpose." This week, let's go back to see a promise God made to a prophet as to what would happen when He poured out His Spirit on the earth:
“Afterward I will pour out my Spirit on everyone; your sons and daughters will proclaim my message; your old people will have dreams, and your young people will see visions. At that time I will pour out my Spirit even on servants, both men and women" (Joel 2:28-29).
When the Spirit was poured out at Pentecost, Peter explained that this promise was being fulfilled:
"These people are not drunk, as you suppose; it is only nine o'clock in the morning. Instead, this is what the prophet Joel spoke about: 'This is what I will do in the last days,' God says: 'I will pour out my Spirit on everyone. Your sons and daughters will proclaim my message; your young men will see visions, and your old men will have dreams. Yes, even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will proclaim my message'" (Acts 2:15-18).
In the Old Testament, God's Spirit would randomly come on a few people like David, Deborah, Samson, Daniel, and Joseph. But God promised when His Spirit came, everyone would have His Spirit and would then be activated and equipped for God's purpose and use—including the old and young, both male and female.
Notice that God specifically said that "sons and daughters" along with "young people" will speak His message and be visionaries concerning His purpose and intended future for His servants. This means that the Spirit would impart spiritual gifts to young people and would expect them to use those gifts in the service of His kingdom, just like He would do for adults. He would then guide and oversee their purpose to direct how and where they would use those gifts.
If you're an adult, what are you doing to help young people nurture and express their spiritual gifts? If you're a young person, what gifts do you think you have? Don't be limited in your thinking to just things done in church, but also consider that your artistic abilities, your academic success, your athletic skill, or your ability to make friends are all God-given gifts.
How can you use those gifts right now to serve the Lord and bless others? What's more, what visions do you have of what God is doing or what your future will look like? Do you have a message from God for others that you can share on social media or in person?
Young people have the same Spirit in them as adults, the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. That is the greatest power there is and young people have access to it now. It seems that God's intent was for old and young to work together, all empowered by His Spirit. It's time for the Church to equip the young and old alike for fruitful service, both now and in their future. The good of the Church and the advancement of His kingdom are depending on that happening, and it was God's intent from days of the Old Testament prophets. Have a blessed week!
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