Sargent's Prophets Meet Acts 2:16-18

Sargent's Prophets Meet Acts 2:16-18 by , Oil, 16 x 20

Sargent's Prophets Meet Acts 2:16-18

Oil on Panel
16 x 20
Private Collection

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I had wanted to do a master copy of a John Singer Sargent painting and was drawn to his Frieze of Prophets - West Wall (https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:sq87dv76m). As I was praying and preparing for this painting, Acts 2:16-18 (which is also found in Joel 2:28-29) kept coming to mind: "This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy."

 

So I though to myself, "What would it look like if Sargent's prophets met Acts 2:16-18? It would be the ancient meeting the modern. It would be the prophets of the old Testament meeting my daughter. The times we live in maybe different, but God's Spirit is still the same.

 

In the days of the Old Testament prophets only a chosen few were given the gift of the Holy Spirit, but when Jesus came He promised us, "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever— the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you." - John 14:16-17

 

That day came when all believers could be filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Now in the last days how much more do we need the fire of the Spirit resting on us setting our hearts on fire with a white-hot flame of passion in our hearts burning up everthing that is opposed to true Love and the ways of God. We need the Holy Spirit living in us to spread God's Kingdom of light, love, salvation, purity, kindness, holiness, grace and forgiveness which is so counter-culture, but is what deep down the whole world is searching for.