The Effect of Pouring Out the Spirit in the NT

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The Effect of Pouring Out the Spirit in the NT

Introduction: We have carefully examined the OT pictures of the coming of the Spirit. Now it is time to see how NT writers transitioned to showing the fulfillment of these prophecies. What we all want to know is, how the pouring out of the Spirit affects us today. The OT prophecies are exciting as we learn the purposes of God for his new Kingdom and what that Kingdom does for us. But the many NT texts that refer to the Spirit can become confusing. 

  • Are these texts referring to us in the 21st century? Or were they only referring to the 1st century and the period of miracles?
  • Further, how am I to think of the work of the Holy Spirit in my life? How should I understand the affect the Spirit has on me in my daily life?
  • These questions are important due to the over-reaction some in the church have had to the work of the Spirit by relegating everything scripture says about the Spirit to either his work in miracles or his work through the revealed word of God. To be clear, we must not minimize the revealed word, because it is the Spirit’s word. Jesus said, “My words are spirit and they are life” (Jn. 6:63). The word of God is the primary way the Spirit changes us to be in the image of God: “…assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus…to be renewed in the spirit of your minds and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:21-24). However, references to the Holy Spirit are not always limited to miracles or the revelation of the word.

Therefore, these will be questions we will answer in the next few lessons.

  1. Seeing the Transition from Old to New
    1. Titus 3:5-7
      1. Our salvation is described as according to his mercy through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, “whom he poured out on his richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.” If there were any question whether the Spirit has been poured out on us, this passage should remove all doubt.
      2. Further, notice the words “regeneration” and “renewal.” The “washing” regenerates, or brings to life, and the “renewal” restores us to usefulness to the Lord as we are transformed to be in his image. The work of the Spirit, as we have seen in the prophecies, changes us and causes us to be productive, to bear fruit (Isaiah 32:15; Gal. 5:22-23).
      3. Finally, notice that Jesus is the one who pours the Spirit out on us richly/abundantly.
    2. Joel 2:28—3:1
      1. What is unusual about the Joel prophecy is the insertion of the miraculous accompanying pouring out the Spirit. That is the first time we have seen that connection. Of first importance is to understand that the miraculous is not a result of the Spirit poured out, but a sign the Spirit was being poured out. That is evident in Paul’s statement in Titus 3. The Spirit was poured out on all Christians, but not all Christians worked miracles – not even in the 1st century. Thousands were baptized in Acts 2-5, but no one other than the apostles performed miracles.
      2. The miraculous primarily had to do with bringing a new revelation. And, this new revelation would not come from a few chosen prophets, but from the common people whether men or women. We see this fulfilled throughout Acts and vividly portrayed in the 1 Corinthian letter (ch. 11-14). This confirms another purpose of the coming of the Spirit – to bring a new covenant and law through the new Lawgiver, Jesus.
      3. Next, notice that judgment is mixed in with salvation. As usual, when God brings deliverance, judgment must take place on the enemies in order for his people to be delivered and salvation attained.
      4. Also, deliverance is based on a response. To be saved one must “call on the name of the Lord.” It will only be by God’s power that salvation will happen.
      5. Note that the saved are called “survivors,” and therefore it is not a majority, but a remnant that will be saved.
      6. Finally, note 3:1. When the Spirit is poured out the Lord will begin a restoration of his people, a restoration of the nation. Even the nations will be brought into “the valley decision,” thus given a chance to be a part of the “survivors.”
    3. To illustrate the purpose of the miraculous, in Numbers 11, Moses explained to the Lord that the burden of leading the people of Israel was too great. To alleviate the burden, the Lord had the seventy elders of Israel come before Him. “Then I will come down and speak with you there. I will take some of the Spirit who is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you bear the burden of the people, so that you do not have to bear it by yourself” (Numbers 11:17). “Then the LORD descended in the cloud and spoke to him. He took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and placed the Spirit on the 70 elders. As the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they never did it again” (Numbers 11:25).
      1. This is an important event to consider in our study. When the Lord placed the Holy Spirit on the seventy elders, the elders prophesied, but only for one day. Why would they prophesy for only one day? What would be the point of this miracle? The reason for the miracle was to reveal to the congregation of Israel that the seventy elders carried the authority of God. The miracle proved to the people that the seventy elders were being designated as God’s leaders and representatives. The miracle of prophecy only served the purpose of proving that God’s authority rested upon these men.
      2. Throughout the Old Testament we also see the Spirit of the Lord resting upon the judges, King Saul, and King David. The purpose of the Spirit of the Lord resting upon these men was to show Israel that these men were God’s designated leaders and indicate the military victory the Lord would give.
  2. John’s Announcement of the Coming of the Spirit
    1. John 1:29-34 John makes an announcement that the one on whom the Spirit came and remained, he would be the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. We should recall Isaiah 32:15, “until the Spirit is poured out from on high.” And Titus 3:7, Jesus was the one from whom the Spirit was poured out: “whom he poured out on his richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.”
    2. Matthew 3:1-12 While we will not look at Mark and Luke’s account of John announcing Jesus, be aware that all four gospel accounts begin with John’s announcement of the coming of the Spirit who will be given by Jesus.
      1. Verses 1-3 announce the imminent coming of the Kingdom and the need for repentance and preparation for the arrival of the Lord. This is the fulfillment of Isaiah 40 where the Lord’s return was prophesied so that God would again reign among his people. Remember also that the pouring out of the Spirit is connected with the renewal of the Kingdom and the preaching of the gospel, that is, the reign of God as King (Isaiah 52:7).
      2. Verses 3-10 announce the coming judgment on the nation and a veiled reference to the acceptance of the Gentiles, just as we saw in Joel’s prophecy.
      3. Verses 11-12 complete the picture of Joel’s prophecy with some being immersed in the Spirit (representing deliverance and salvation, 12) and others being immersed in fire (representing condemnation, 12).
      4. When I was young, this text was typically taught as a prophecy of the apostles receiving the Holy Spirit. But as you can see, the apostles are not the audience. In fact, the apostles had not yet been chosen.
      5. Further, do not let “baptized by the Spirit” confuse you. It is just the word immerse and is parallel to the Spirit poured out. All the same results of Joel are listed here with the exception of the miraculous, which we will see in our next text.
    3. Luke 24:44-49 Jesus announced to the apostles that he was designating them as his witnesses. As such, they were to stay in the city of Jerusalem until they were “clothed with power from on high.” The miraculous of which Joel spoke would now begin. This is also parallel to the 70 elders. The Spirit on the apostles designated them as God’s representatives, or in this case, witnesses.
    4. Acts 1:1-8 We have looked at this text before, but as a brief reminder…
      1. The coming Kingdom, immersion in the Spirit, and the restoration of the Kingdom are all blended together, just as we have seen the prophecies of the Spirit being poured out.
      2. Notice that the apostles would receive power when they were immersed in the Spirit. This power refers to the miraculous gift of tongues in chapter 2. This miracle was a sign that the Spirit was now being poured out.
    5. Acts 1:26—2:4,16
      1. Note that is only the apostles who were “filled with the Holy Spirit” (vs. 14).
      2. Verse 16 “But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel…” Therefore, referring to the miraculous events they are seeing, Joel’s prophecy is now beginning its fulfillment. The primary message is both judgment and deliverance. Judgment Day is coming soon (on Israel in Joel’s context, but also on the world), and the only ones who will be saved are those who call on the name of the Lord. The rest of the sermon is proving Jesus is the Lord.
      3. Verses 38-39 announce the means by which one can call on the name of the Lord and then receive the “gift of the Holy Spirit.” The gift of the Spirit is identified as the “promise” that was given to all mankind. In Peter’s second sermon, he identifies the promise as the promise to Abraham (3:25-26).

Conclusion: In our next lesson we will look more carefully at how the “promise” is connected to the gift of the Holy Spirit and is the same as the pouring out of the Spirit.

Berry Kercheville

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