This is That
“But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.” (Acts 2:16 KJV.)
When the Spirit of God came on the day of Pentecost, onlookers began mocking as they saw these people who were acting like drunks. Peter stood up and said, “This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.” The Jews looking at them knew the prophecy of Joel 2:28 and were seeing its fulfillment before their very eyes, but they thought it was an outburst of binge drinking in Jerusalem that morning!
Failing to recognize God is a serious problem in our lives. There are people who think God does not speak to them, yet it is only a problem of recognition. Others, like the Jews above, have their prayers answered—and they do not know it!
Is it difficult to recognize God? No. Where, then, is the problem? The issue is that the spirit realm does not manifest on the earth as “spirit.” It manifests on the earth as the natural. When God shows up, He typically comes in the ordinary things we are familiar with. It is not that we do not see Him. It is that we fail to recognize Him. We fail to recognize the movement of the Spirit.
The Jews in that day did not like the way God showed up, and so they immediately rejected it. Discernment is not only about recognizing evil spirits. It is first and foremost about recognizing God and being able to say, like Peter, “this is that” which God told me would happen! Failing to recognize God is the first step to failing to cooperate with Him.
MEDITATE
What is the difference between knowing and recognizing? Peter knew Joel 2:28 and recognized it when it was fulfilled!
APPLY THE WORD
I want you to pay attention today to the presence of the Spirit inside of you. Start stretching your eyes to see God in the things around you today!
PRAY
Ask the Spirit to teach you discernment in your day-to-day life.
Recommended Read: Recognize your season
Must Read!: What is a Daily Devotional?
Free Mini E-book: From Spiritual Dryness to Flourishing
