"In the Last Days..."
Wednesday, June 2, 2004
In the Last Days Bible Study Calendar
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, I thank You that we are living in the last days! I thank You that the first Christian Pentecost ushered in the last days 2,000 years ago, and that by Your great love and patience You have extended the last days for a period that has made it possible for me to know and experience the salvation Jesus offers, along with millions of others. I know that You will send Jesus back at the right time, and I pray that You will empower me by the Holy Spirit that I may share the Good News effectively and boldly each and every day until You do, or until You call me to be with You. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God's Word For Me Today
Acts 2:16-21
16No, what you see this morning was predicted centuries ago by the prophet Joel:
17 ‘In the last days, God said,
I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
18In those days I will pour out my Spirit
upon all my servants, men and women alike,
and they will prophesy.
19 And I will cause wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below—
blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned into darkness,
and the moon will turn bloodred,
before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.
21And anyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved.’
Reflecting on God’s Word
Have you ever heard anyone appeal to the Scriptures to explain an even that took place around you?
A Deeper Exploration of God’s Word
What does Peter say is the reasonable explanation for what had taken place on the first Christian Pentecost? (2:16)
What did Joel say would happen in the last days? (2:16-21)
To whom would the pouring out of the Spirit come? (2:16-21)
Understanding God’s Purpose
What do we find out about God’s purpose for humanity through today’s Scripture?
Why do you suppose Peter appealed to Scripture with the crowd to whom He was speaking?
Applying God’s Word to Our Lives
What one thing will you do as a result of having read today’s Scripture?
Thoughts...In the Last Days...
One of the hardest realities for some of us to understand is this: how can the “last” days last for so long? Peter said that the first Christian Pentecost was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel that said “in the last days..” God would pour out His Spirit on all people. How could the last days have begun nearly 2,000 years ago and not yet be over? The key to answering that question is to ask ourselves from whose perspective are we looking? For human beings 2,000 years is an incredibly long time. It is twenty-eight average lifetimes for a human being. Therefore, to say that the “last” days started twenty-eight lifetimes ago doesn’t make a lot of sense from our perspective. But the “last” days aren’t measured from our perspective. They are measured from God’s perspective. As the psalmist told us for God a 1,000 years are as a day! God is an eternal being, for Him 2,000 years is nothing. It is only from our perspective that 2,000 years seems a very long time. The key is that we are IN the last days. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is available to us! Let’s live in the power of the Spirit NOW in the last days!