For the past six weeks we studied a Stewardship Series. This was about pursuing (1) a trustworthy life that God owns and prepares for us in advance and (2) a responsible life because we are ultimately masters of our destiny. For this Great Lakes Region Summer Bible Conference (July 16-18, 2010), the theme is “The vision of God.” God plants his vision in the last days. In the last days the world experiences dreadful days that will make people anxious, fearful, and terrified. At the same time, the Spirit of God moves, empowers, and fills his people. This Spirit of God affects all people--sons and daughters, young men and women, old men and women, lowly, ordinary, and unimpressive men and women. Today’s passage is about what God does to all these people just like us.

First, “Your sons and daughters will prophesy…” (2:14-2:17a)
After the coming of the Holy Spirit, the disciples spoke in different languages. Since it was so odd, many people misunderstood and even thought that they were drunk with new imported wines. Then Peter stood up. The other eleven key leaders stood by him. Peter raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning!” Peter was not afraid to talk in front of thousands of people. He told them that at nine o’clock in the morning these men and women were obviously not drunk at all. He then directed people’s attention to the prophetic words of Joel.

In the time of Joel, the nation experienced terrible plague of locusts. People were dying of famine. The situation was hopeless. People felt the heavy sense of God’s judgment. Yet, such is the time when God reveals his visions, dreams, and hope for his people.

“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy… ”(17a) In the last days God pours our his Spirit. Then, something wonderful happens. Sons and daughters may be teenage boys and girls. How can these youngsters speak for God? Amazingly, these boys and girls grow up in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and with men. (Lk 2: 40, 52) Their sins are forgiven. (1Jn 2;12) In Toledo UBF, is it possible to train our HBF students on the world class level? Yes, if we have such a clear vision. In Yunhee UBF, young high school students come and receive two simple trainings. They are to study the Bible twice a week and write six pages of thoughtful testimonies. This simply training to be immersed in the word of God changes some of the teenagers to speak for themselves. They identify their gifts and talents. They understand their Christian identity. They learn to appreciate their parents’ prayers. Here in Toledo UBF our sons and daughters will prophesy. Our youngsters not only speak for themselves but also speak for God.

Second, “young men see visions and old men dream dreams.” (2:17b)
Who are these young men? They refer to young men and woman in their 30s and 40s.  Even those who are in their 50s are regarded as young men in the Bible. Why do I say this?  Just a quick review of the book of Acts shows that young men see God’s vision in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. Just look at the following three tables when God showed his visions to the people.   

Young men and women see visions. Biblically, young men are those who are in 20s-50s. This is the time when people become very active and work hard. When Peter first preached at Pentecost, he was at least 30 years old. About 11 years later, in his early 40s he saw God’s vision of preaching the good news of Jesus to the Gentiles in a vision of “Kill and eat” all kinds of unclean animals. (Acts 10, 11) Paul saw the vision of a Macedonian man when he and his co-workers (actually the Christian movement) went to Europe. Paul saw the vision for Macedonia in his early 50s. Then, his co-workers accepted this as God’s vision for them as well. In this way, the Christian church moved toward Europe rather than toward Asia. Timothy was probably at least in his early 40s when he was given the task to set an example for believers in speech, life, and purity. These young men saw God’s visions. God’s vision is primarily about God’s direction for his people. This is not about a personal path. It is about God’s direction where people should go. Vision is primarily not about personal direction but the direction of God’s people together. It is about God’s direction in regard to world salvation.

Last year we started praying for world class young leaders among us. What are world class young leaders? They are those who have God’s heart for the world? How can any young people feel God’s heart for the world? It is possible as they learn to know God, love God, and enjoy God. A few weeks ago I asked Kati Kaywood to consider doing daily devotion each morning. A life of vision is possible through a life of disciplined prayer. For five weeks Kirk Kayser went to Korea for two simple trainings. It was to do daily devotion in the morning and learn to teach the Bible every day. That’s what he did. Based on this training he now has a vision to grow as a spiritual man for God. He has reason to study the word of God and present Christ to people.

Today, we will hear from Dr. Paul Koh about North Korea. This is in line with the vision that God gave to us through Sarah Barry to pray for North Korea, China, and the Moslem world. We accept this vision as our own. It is important to pray for vision that is related to world mission. This is true throughout Christian history. From the beginning Jesus gave his disciples this vision for the world. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go into all the world and make disciples of all nations.” (Mt 28:18-20) Any Christian community that accepts this vision as their own grows and prospers. Otherwise, it dies. The Christian Church in North America will survive only if it accepts God’s vision for the world. On the other hand, if we become preoccupied with our own needs and neglect God’s vision for the world, such churches will slowly fade away. Let’s pray that we may accept the vision for world salvation given to us in the form of prayer topics among us.

Old men and women dream dreams. Old men dream dreams. Dreams are related to hope. When people become old, they often become irrelevant. Simeon and Anna were happy to observe the work of God. In their later years both Paul and Peter were happy to serve God’s church until they died. People like St. Paul and Peter served the Lord all the way—continuously finding new pioneering─a new field of work. Here, some of us are in our 50s and even 60s. Such people are no longer young people. They are becoming old. What do these old people do? They dream dreams. Their dreams are to participate in the work of God until they complete their journey. My friend in his 60s has a dream to serve the Lord for the next twenty more years. That’s why he and his wife exercise, study the Bible, and willingly serve his people.

God also gives his Spirit to his servants—both men and women. (11:20-21; 18:24-26) “Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. (Acts 2:18) Here, servants refers to ordinary people. They were from a lowly status. Even so, these servants also received the Sprit of God. With the Spirit of God they could work for the Lord. They spoke for the Lord. Those who pioneered many early churches were not necessarily prominent people. They were ordinary people who loved the Lord. They were willing to speak for the Lord. Priscilla and Aquila were prominent on the local level; but in the bigger circle of the Christian community they were quite ordinary people. They were able to serve prominent people like Apollo. In almost all of the noteworthy Christian movements, including UBF ministries, ordinary people serve the Lord with distinction and honor.

Third, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (2:19-21)
Peter speaks about dreadful times. “I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.” (Acts: 19-20) The situation in the world becomes quite hopeless.

Look at verse 21: “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” God’s promise is that those who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. This is about a sound relationship with God.  This is about living by faith. When Cain, Adam’s first son, moved away from God, he built a godless civilization. In contrast, Seth, Adam’s another son, called on the name of the Lord. Rather, this means that he built his life and his descendant’s lives based on God’s blessings. “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builds labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early—and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves.” (Ps 127:1-3) A wonderful life is the life that God blesses.

The Solid Rock is one of my favorite hymns. It goes like this:
“My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.”

Ultimately, a wonderful life is the life that depends on God and seeks his blessings. Live in ways to know God, love God, and enjoy him—now and forever. All of our vision, dreams, and hope come from this loving God and seeking his face.

July 4, 2010; Dr. Paul Hong; Toledo, UBF.