Great Blessings Waiting 09.21.08

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Today we are studying the book of Joel, please read Chapters 1-3 in your Bible or Click Here to read it online. You can also cut & paste this to your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joel%201-3&version=9

Today we will read and learn about the plague of insects; Joel's call to repent; the day of the Lord, the Holy Spirit, the restoration of Israel, and the judgement upon the nations. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that the greatest blessings for the future can only be made by surrendering our lives over to God's Will.

The book of Joel is the 29th book of the Old Testament and has 3 chapters. The author of the book is Joel and he orginally wrote it to the people of Judah. The purpose of the book was to warn Judah of their sin and need for repentance and to inform them of God's future plans for the nation. What we are to learn from the book is that even during chastisment, God plans future blessings for His people.

Once again God sent a prophet to the nation of Judah to warn them of the destruction that lies ahead of them. Through Joel God warned them of a plague of insects that would devour the land. "The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel. Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers? Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten." (Joel 1:1-4).

A trumpet was used to warn the Israelites of solemen days, feasts, and danger approaching, God warned them of the danger, but due to their sins and unwillingness to return to only Him, He could not bless them or protect them. This caused the Israelites to suffer the destruction alone. "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations." (2:1-2).

The one condition the God asks to be forgiven of sins is genuine repentance. Genuine repentance works in several ways; First, it shows God that one is sorrowful over their sins. Second, it is turning only to God and asking Him to forgive you for all of your sins, and third, it is being forgiven and saved through the Lord, Jesus Christ. "Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?" (2:12-14).

Through Joel God also foretold of the coming Gospel era and restoration of the nation, "And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:" (2:25-28).

Joel reminds us, "that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered", (2:32). On the Day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter, quoted word by Joel, "(Acts 2:16-21), preached the prophetic meaning of his words, "Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it." (Acts 2:22-24). Today we are all saved by the blood of Christ and all who call on Him shall be saved.

In today's reading Jesus Christ is revealed through the One who will pour out His Spirit upon all flesh, (Joel 2:28). This prophecy was fulfilled in part on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:16-18).

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
It is not by mistake, but by Your design that we suffer trials in our lives, but it is through those trials that we learn to trust You. Help us to seek You through all times and to find joy in the midst of all trials. May we see gratefulness and thankfulness through our trials and the blessings that are ion our future as we endure them. In Jesus name.....Amen.

Have a wonderful and blessed day!
God Bless You,
Christina

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