August 9

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE

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: Acts 2:17

​Memorize this Verse:
Cover the verse text and using just the first letters of each word try to recite the entire passage.
17. A I S C T P I T L D S G I W P O O M S U A F A Y S A Y D S P A Y Y M S S V A Y O M S D D

Notes on verse:

“Last days”: This phrase refers to the present era of redemptive history from the first coming of Christ (Heb. 1:2; 1 Pet. 1:20; 1 John 2:18), to His return.

“My Spirit” (see notes on 1:2, 5, and 8).

“All flesh”: This indicates all people will receive the Holy Spirit, because everyone who enters the millennial kingdom will be redeemed (Matt. 24:29-25:46; Rev. 20:4-6).

“Visions … dreams”: Dreams (Gen. 20:3; Dan. 7:1), and visions (Gen. 15:1; Rev. 9:17), were some of God’s most memorable means of revelation since they were pictorial in nature. While they were not limited to believers (e.g. Abimelech, Gen. 20:3 and Pharaoh, Gen. 41:1-8), they were primarily reserved for prophets and apostles (Num. 12:6).

While frequent in the Old Testament, they were rare in the New Testament. In Acts, most of God’s visions were associated with either Peter’s (chapters 10 and 11), or Paul’s (chapters 9, 18; 2 Cor. 12:1). Most frequently they were used to reveal apocalyptic imagery (Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, and Revelation).

They were not considered normal in biblical times; nor should they be so now. The time will come however, when God will use visions and dreams during the Tribulation period (as predicted by Joel 2:28-32).

One of the characteristics of the future reign of Christ is the abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit. On the Day of Pentecost, Peter recognized that the outpouring anticipated an even greater outpouring yet to come (verse 17).

The frequent outpourings of the Holy Spirit in this age are the source of the great spiritual revivals and spiritual awakenings. Because of the great blessings received in times of revival, Christians have often used descriptions from the future kingdom age to describe their experiences (3:19).

While the believer looks forward to the coming kingdom of Christ, he may also pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in revival today (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17; Gal. 5:22).

We are certainly living in the last days, so we know this is for now, as well as the day of Pentecost. This word prophesy can be translated so many ways, one of which means to preach. In the Spirit, there is no difference between a male and female. The flesh is the only difference. God is not the one who makes a difference between men and women. God is not interested in the flesh.

Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”

If the old men won’t do it, then He will send a young man. God also sends women, old and young, to bring in the harvest.

TODAY'S BIBLE READING

August 9
Today's Bible Reading Plan selections can be found below. If you don't have a Bible with you, just click the references to read each passage online:

Old Testament
Nehemiah 1-2  —  8.0 minutes
Proverbs 9  —  3.0 minutes

New Testament
Luke 16:1-9  —  2.5 minutes
1 Timothy 6:1-10  —  2.5 minutes

Total Average Read Time — 16.0 minutes