“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.” (Joel 2:28-29 TNIV)
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as prophesied by Joel and declared to be upon us by the Apostle Peter (Acts 2:16-18) is certainly the divine equalizer. The Lord made it clear the he would pour out his Spirit on all flesh. All people everywhere can now experience the outpouring of power. The rich and the poor, the young and the old, women and men, and all ethnicities are able to receive the promise of the Father. God is showing himself to be consistent as he is no respecter of persons.
It is amazing how the Pentecostal movement has changed the church, impacted the world and actually redefined Christianity. What started in 1906 as a prayer group on Bonnie Brae St. in Los Angeles, California has now become the second largest expression of the Christian faith, numbering over 500 million people world-wide, all of this happening in just over one century.
As remarkable as this is, what is equally amazing is how the Pentecostal experience empowers minorities and promotes gender equality. When the Spirit of the Living God is poured out on one’s life, they are empowered for service; empowered to lead in his church and empowered to impact the world around them. These ideas of gender equality and multi-cultural Pentecostalism need to be explored in greater detail. I am hoping to touch on these themes in the weeks that lie ahead.
