You can get the impression in some Christian circles that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given only to some believers.

But the whole sweep of Scripture points in the other direction.

One of the great fulfilled promises of the Old Testament is that one day all of God's people would receive the Holy Spirit in all his fullness.

It wasn't always like that. Before the time of Christ, the Holy Spirit regenerated God's people and even dwelt in and among them.

However, the Spirit was not present in all his fullness in the believers who lived before Christ.

When it came to spiritual gifts, only select people enjoyed the Spirit's empowerment for ministry,

usually particular leaders, and usually for a limited period of time.

But the prophecy came that at some point in the future, all Israel would share in the fullness

of all that the spirit has for God's people.

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. Even on the male and female

servants, in those days I will pour out my spirit. Joel chapter 2 verses 28 and 29. The references there to male and female, old and young,

slave and free, not to mention the explicit all flesh, draw attention to the sweeping extent

of this anointing. It would be quite unlike anything Israel had seen in its history.

Well, with the birth of Christ, that prophecy begins to be fulfilled.

John the Baptist heralds Christ's arrival by announcing that Jesus will baptize

with the Holy Spirit and with fire, Luke 316.

And then, sure enough, on the day of Pentecost, after Jesus's ascension, the Spirit is given in all his fullness to all the disciples.

Peter, in the sermon he gives on that very day,

quotes Joel Chapter 2 and confirms that they are now living in the age,

promised by Joel, in which God would pour out his spirit in his fullness on all believers,

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