And it shall come to pass afterward,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams,
and your young men shall see visions.Joel 2:28
I believe that God is going to pour out his Holy Spirit on his people in a profound and increased measure as we edge towards the coming of Jesus. The extreme growth of Pentecostalism in the last century is evidence of this phenomenon. Additionally, this passage in Joel said that the outpouring would be demonstrated by an increased witness of charismatic expressions such as prophesying, visions, and dreams.
It was at this promise that I began praying today for an increase of these very things in my own life. And while I was in the Spirit, the response I received from him was more than startling:
Do you know what you’re asking for?
As I was praying for an increase in prophetic giftings and spiritual power, it dawned upon me that I did not know the caveats for asking for such things. Jesus said that, “to whom much is given, much is required.” And if He is going to bless His people with an increased demonstration of the supernatural, he reminded me that he desires to do so through a people who have godly character.
It is no mystery that much of the stumblings of certain circles in charismatic movements have been due to a failure to see that there is required a huge amount of spiritual maturity before we can operate in His power. God delights that the vessels inside of us that will house his giftings and powers will be those of godly character. He needs to know that his stewards are stewarding those precious things with attitudes and hearts of humility, selflessness, integrity, and blamelessness.
And all that to say is, if you are interested in growing in spiritual power and authority as the scriptures have promised, be sure to commit yourself in growing in the things of our hearts. God is not interested in raising up spiritual juggernauts who are at the same time moral infants. For to much is given, much is required.
