“It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                       Joel 2:28-29 

Today’s passage is a foreshadowing of things that were to come under the new covenant. Today, we live between the first and second comings of Christ thus we are under the new covenant until His return. Just as His second coming will change everything, so too, His first coming did the same. The cross made a way for God to welcome us into His family and for all who would believe, offer salvation and eternal life.

One of the landmarks of knowing that we are under a new and better covenant than the old is the giving of the Holy Spirit. Consider the scene as the Spirit was given after Jesus’ ascension back into heaven:

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. 

                                                                                                                        Acts 2:1-4 

This was the beginning of the new covenant church, still in existence today. When we come to know God in an intimate, personal way through Jesus Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit of God. We then live in the power and presence of God in our lives, guiding, restoring, and revitalizing us to live our lives out for Him. We are given a spiritual gift or gifts that we are to use to equip and build up fellow believers around us. Consider Paul’s words:

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

                                                                                                       1 Corinthians 12:4-7 

Not everyone has the same gifts but they all come from the same source. Each believer is given a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good of all those around. In addition to these spiritual gifts, we are also given the instruction to evangelize the world with the good news that Jesus has come! Consider Jesus’ mandate:

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. 

                                                                                                            Mark 16:15-16 

So we know that we are living under the new covenant when we are enjoying the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, using our spiritual gifts, and preaching the gospel to the world. But there is still another landmark of knowing that we are living under the new covenant.

In the new covenant church many will have the ability to prophesy, dream dreams, and see visions. This is because under the new covenant God says, “I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind.” Modern day prophecy usually takes the form of preaching the Word. Consider Paul’s message regarding prophecy:

Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church. Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying. 

                                                                                                           1 Corinthians 14:1-5 

All of the gifts are useful but the preaching the Word allows the truth to be heard by those inside and outside of the church. Spiritual food comes from the presence of God speaking to us through His Word. Therefore, hearing the Word spoken and declared is vital for spiritual growth.

Finally, another landmark for the new covenant church is that believers will always proclaim the name of Jesus and will have the ability to love like Jesus did. Consider the words regarding Christian authenticity:

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.                                                                                   

                                                                                                         1 Corinthians 12:1-3 

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.  

                                                                                                                       1 John 4:15

When we confess (sincerely) the name of Jesus and publicly declare Him Lord, we know that we are living under the new covenant and the power of the Holy Spirit. This same Spirit also gives us the power to love like Jesus. Consider John’s words regarding love:

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 

                                                                                                                 1 John 4:7-8, 16 

The trademark of Christian authenticity is the ability to love and not just those we choose rather through the power of the Spirit, we can even love the unlovable.

We need to live in the here and now, under the new covenant and by the power of the Spirit within us. This is for what Christ died and we should live in the freedom that comes from knowing Him personally and intimately!

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

                                                                                                            Galatians 5:1