Joel’s Prophecy

Joel’s Prophecy

“But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh . . . .” Acts 2:16-17.

We can ask ourselves: “Why could’nt Joel’s prophecy not be fulfilled before Pentecost?” The answer is that the Spirit could not be poured out over the flesh before it was offered up. In the old covenant God did not let the fire fall on the offering as long as the goat was alive; but after it was slaughtered (sacrificed) and laid on the altar, God answered with fire.

Jesus is the One who has brought the sacrifice. The flesh was slaughtered by Him so that the Spirit could be poured out—because you and I—even all flesh—were represented in Him, for it was all the same flesh. Rom. 1:3; Heb. 2:14. Paul put it like this: “We judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died.” 2 Cor. 5:14. “Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” Rom. 6:6. Here we can see that all mankind was offered up in and by Jesus. Therefore the Spirit could be poured out over all flesh—on both the menservants and the maidservants.

“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of division between us, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. . . . For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” Eph. 2:14-18.

These two are the Jew and the Gentile. According to the flesh the Jew had the advantage over the Gentile which resulted in enmity between them. This enmity is in the flesh, but Jesus broke down the wall of division—the enmity—by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments contained in ordinances to create in Himself one new man from the two. He reconciled them both in one body to God through the cross. The flesh of the Jew as well as the Gentile was represented in this body. They were reconciled through death on the cross. Col. 1:22. Formerly, when it was a question of approaching God, the Jew had an advantage according to the flesh because of the circumcision and the law. But it became evident that the flesh of the Jew could not be obedient to the law either; therefore it was cursed together with the flesh of the Gentiles in the body of Christ. It was offered up, and all resistance was put to death. Therefore the Spirit could now be poured out so that both of them had access to the Father in one Spirit. Now they had the same rights.

We take note of the fact that even today many people want to boast of what they are according to the flesh. They think they have an advantage (better conditions) for understanding the Scriptures, either because they have a theological education and are acquainted with the original text, or perhaps they have some worldly wisdom. If they occupy a managerial position or have some money, they right away have more boldness to assert themselves. “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength . . . .” You do not gain access to the Father because of your worldly wisdom—whether you know Greek, Hebrew, have money or occupy a high position, because then the Pharisees and the scribes should have had it. However, they were the ones who crucified the Lord of glory! “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.” Read 1 Corinthians 3:18-21. “Therefore let no one glory in men” . . . for we only gain access to the Father through one Spirit. “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.” “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” 1 Cor. 2:10-12. This is where the ditch digger and the theologian have the same possibilities. Both of them have access to the Father in one Spirit. Yet the question is, would agree that they are cursed according to the flesh? It is usually more difficult for the theologian, which is why he does not have the Spirit. God hides these things from the wise and prudent and reveals them to babes.

The law was made for the lawless (1 Tim. 1:9)—for the flesh. “For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sins which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.” Rom. 7:5. Therefore Jesus abolished the law of commandments contained in ordinances. The law was powerless against the transgressor—the flesh—but Jesus put the flesh to death on the cross. He did not train the flesh to keep the law, but He put it to death, thus making the law superfluous. “But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.” V. 6.

The mystery is that Jesus had the same flesh as you and I. Therefore, when He died, you and I also died. When He was crucified, you and I were also crucified, which is why Paul says, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2:20.

This mystery is hidden from the believers in our days; therefore they speak only about kneeling at the foot of the cross. Nothing is written in the Bible about that, but rather about having the flesh with its passions and desires crucified and about being surrendered into the death of Christ.

If we are to receive the Spirit that has been promised, then we must also acknowledge the sacrifice—death to the flesh—with which Jesus came. Therefore Jesus says that no one can be His disciple unless he hates even his own life. This hatred embraces an acknowledgment of Jesus’ sacrifice, and then the Spirit can be poured out over us. Even though we have acquiesced in the judgment, we cannot execute it. This is done by the Spirit, for He has overcome all flesh in Christ, and He will also manage to overcome our flesh. Paul puts it this way: “I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Gal. 5:16.

This is where many in the old covenant felt powerless. They strove and labored and desired to keep the law, but the flesh ran away with them. So they continued, sorrowing and yearning, and waited for the blessing of Abraham—the Spirit, who had been promised. Gal. 3:14. The one hundred and twenty in the upper room were such a flock when the Spirit was poured out. Now they had received help—power from on high. No wonder they praised God and appeared to be drunk.

Praying for the baptism of the Spirit without being in the same Spirit is meaningless. What do you want with the Spirit if you don’t hate your own life? Many people have prayed for the Spirit, and the Spirit was poured out over them; but when He wanted to begin His work of executing Christ’s sacrifice—the death of the flesh—they began to justify themselves, defending the flesh, and the Spirit left them. When they realized that they had lost the blessing they had experienced through the outpouring of the Spirit, they tried again to surrender to the Spirit but without giving up the sacrifice which the Spirit had pointed out. In such a case you should know that there are many other spirits that are ready to fill you—the spirits of Satan who transform themselves into angels of light. They cover up the sacrifice and let it live. You become happy again, but you are happy in a deception, in a spirit of lying. Many believers have been deceived on this point. This agrees with what Paul says: “Because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie.” 2 Thess. 2:10-11.

Therefore the Scriptures do not speak about us not having to die—except the eternal death, perdition—but they speak of being baptized into the death of Christ and of being surrendered into Christ’s death. “For if we have died with Him we shall also live with Him.” No one who wants to have the Spirit over his life can avoid having the testimony of the blood, for there are three who bear witness: the Spirit, the water, and the blood. 1 John 5:6-8. “He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself . . . .” V. 10.

From this we understand that the Spirit is a great gift which is not given so we can revel in the flesh, but He enables us to become partakers of divine nature. 2 Pet. 1:4. However, the person who does not love the truth is filled with the spirit of lying.