Joel 2:28-29 “And afterward,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your old men will dream dreams,
    your young men will see visions.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
    I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

This is of course what Peter quoted in his famous sermon on Pentecost. (Acts 1) There are many places the Bible records the fulfillment of earlier prophecies, sometimes in shocking detail. Moses’ statements in Deuteronomy about how the Israelites would go into captivity because of their idolatry and then be returned to the land are astounding when read from this perspective. This particular prophecy is a good illustration of the difficulties in interpreting prophecy. God here says “all people (flesh),” but not even everyone in Jerusalem on that Pentecost received the Holy Spirit. To me, the safest interpretation is that He is poured out for everyone, but we have to be available to receive Him. I like that the Japanese doesn’t tiptoe around with the last part of this but says outright, “male slaves and female slaves.” Slavery was a fact of life for most of human history, having nothing to do with genotype but rather with conquerors and conquered. The point here is that social status has nothing to do with the baptism in the Holy Spirit. After all, compared to God, the most powerful humans are no more than ants, if that. God in His grace pours His Spirit, His blessings, on all who recognize that they are His servants, and make themselves available to Him. However, it’s more than a master/slave relationship, because the whole Bible tells us that we are God’s children, both by creation and adoption, (Romans 8:15, Ephesians 1:5) through faith in His Son, whom He sent to redeem us. (John 1:12-13) The more we take in the Bible, the more we recognize the magnificence of what God has done for us, and the more complete our love and obedience will be.

I like very much that Japanese Christians use a specific character when writing about Biblical prophecy. There is a slightly simpler one that is equivalent to prediction or fortune telling, but the one used for Biblical prophecy is “forthtelling,” rather than “foretelling.” Biblical prophecy is speaking out what God is saying, whether it indicates future events or not. In this sense, I strive to be prophetic every time I open my mouth, particularly in the pulpit. I want to be an accurate and available megaphone for God to use any time He likes. Volume isn’t the issue, but accuracy is. I have had people express great appreciation for my prayers for them, so I am aware that God speaks through me in that way as well. One lady, whom I have never met, from another part of Japan, calls me not infrequently, mostly to have me pray for her over the phone. Another lady, whom my wife and I visit regularly, has said that my prayers for her lift and encourage her, and are a highlight of her life. My words, when they are just my words, don’t have that power, but God can and does speak through me, and I am deeply grateful.

Father, thank You for this reminder of Your incredible grace. Help me flow with Your Spirit at all times, being obedient myself to what You say and communicating it accurately and lovingly to those to whom You want me to express it, so that in all things Your will may be done, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!