GODS PLAN OF REDEMPTION
Joel 2:12-13,18-19,
28-32
In studying Scripture, sometimes we need to do "a who,
what, when and why" question
and answer section to get a better understanding of the
text.
Who: The prophet Joel is speaking a word from God to Judah ,
the southern kingdom of Israel
What: The message to Judah
was to repent of their evil ways and turn back to God.
Why. God had use locust to destroy all their crops as a wake
up call to
impending
judgment.
When. The text was written to Judah
around 800 BC.
God gave Israel
the prophecy of the End Times when Christ will come again
to the
Judge the world for their sins.
A CALL TO REPENTANCE
V:12." That is why the Lord says, "Turn to me now,
while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and
mourning."
A. Time is not on our side.
1. We do not know
how long we have to live.
2. It is uncertain
everyday we get up if we will be alive at the end of the day.
B. John 9:4 tells us to work while it is day, because the
night comes when no man
can work.
1. Since we cannot
count on tomorrow, we should obey God's commands today.
2. God does not
want just an outward change. but inward change that begins in the
heart.
3. There is only
one way to escape the vengeance of the Lord and that is
repentance
and turning to the worship of the Lord.
4. The normal
outward sign of repentance at that time was fasting, weeping and
mourning.
a. This could
be done without any intention to change.
b. God wants
our hearts and souls.
c. We should
fear the Lord so our weeping mourning will be heart changing.
DON'T TRY TO FOOL GOD
V:13. " Don't tear your clothing in your grief, but
tear your hearts instead." Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful
and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is
eager to relent and not punish."
A. We cannot fake the Lord with our outward show of emotions
and pitiful
actions.
1. The Lord sees our hearts.
2. The nation of Israel
had a habit of making an outward appearance of change doing
times of
crisis but reverting back to their sinful ways, once God resolved their
problem.
B. God is full of
grace and mercy
1. He is
longsuffering.
2. He will tolerate
our sinful ways for a season.
3. Because of
God's love for us, He gives us time to turn to Him.
4. God's
longsuffering is not without consequences.
a. For
hundreds of years, Israel
ignored God's commands and
worshipped idol gods.
b. To get
their attention, God allowed locust to destroy all of their
crops.
c. He then
gave them a message encouraging them to
repent.
5. When we look at
our lives we can probably see similar ways God
has
used to get our attention.
a. I thank God
that He has been tolerate with me.
b. God uses
various ways to show us His Love in the mist of our
disobedience.
THE LORDS PROMISE OF
RESTORATION
V:18, " Then the Lord will pity his people and
jealously guard the honor of his land."
A. Thank God that His
plan of redemption is not dependant on our obedience.
1. Before the
foundation of the world, God planned our existence on earth.
2. He knew
beforehand that we would be disobedient and need a savior.
3. We were
elected to be part of the body of Christ.
B. Our choice of disobedience determines the trials and
tribulations we face.
1. God chastises
those that He loves.
2. Jesus said,
those that the Father gave Me, I lose none.
3. Since all of
us are disobedient from time to time, all of us will
be chastised
by the Father.
C. The Lord is jealous for those He loves.
1. We should
always be thankful for the chastisement of the Lord.
2. It is His
chastisement that keeps us on our knees and draws us closer to Him.
3. The Lord honors
us with His love.
BELIEVERS CAN DEPEND ON
GOD
V:19. " The Lord will reply, "Look! I am sending
you grain and new wine and olive oil, enough to satisfy your needs. You will no
longer be an object of mockery among the surrounding nations."
A. The Lord promises to restore what we have lost when we
repent and turn
to Him.
1. God promises to
restore the old things we lost with new things.
2. It is the Lord
who controls our prosperity.
3. He promises to
supply all of our needs.
B. When we turn back
to the Lord, He promises to protect us from our enemies.
1. When we abide
in the Lord, He will abide in us.
2. The Lord gets
the glory when we face our enemies with faith in Him.
THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT
V:28 "Then, after doing all those things, I will pour
out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old
men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions."
A. After the death and the resurrection of Jesus, the Spirit
of the Lord was made
available to
everyone who believe in Jesus.
1. The young and
the old alike who confess Jesus, receive
the Holy Spirit.
2. God has no
preference for gender.
3. The Spirit of
the Lord enable each believer to understand
the scripture.
4. The Lord loves
us so much that He pays close attention to our prayers.
B. Knowledge to the Word of God gives us insight into future
events
that God has
planned for us.
1. The Word of God
also gives us inspiration to proclaim the Gospel
to all people.
2. When the Word is
in our hearts, the Spirit of God is available to enlightens
the Word to
us.
V:29. " In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on
servants—men and women alike."
A. This is the prophecy of the birth, death and resurrection
of Jesus Christ.
1. The out pouring
of the Holy Spirit was first given to the Jews at Pentecost.
(Acts 1:8,
2:1, 2:39 ).
2. Christ was
rejected by the nation of Israel
and the Gospel was preached to
the Gentiles
(Rom 1:16 )
3. The Church was
formed after the resurrection of Jesus and empowered
with giving of the Holy Spirit. (Act 1:8)
B. God is no respecter
of person.
1. Everyone is
equal in God's eyes.
2. Apostle Paul was called to preach the Gospel to the
Gentiles. Acts 13:2
3. The downward
spiral of Israel
began with them rejecting God's rule
and requesting
a king to rule them. 1100 BC
4. The Downward
spiral was magnified when the Nation of Israel
rejected
Christ as their personal Savior 33 AD (See
my chart)
5. After the
formation of the Church, the Gospel has spread to all parts
of the World.
THE END TIMES
V:30-31. " And I will cause wonders in the heavens and
on the earth— blood and fire and columns of smoke.
31 The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood
red before that great and terrible day of the Lord arrives.".
A. The End times will began with the second coming of the
Lord Jesus. 1 Thess 4:14-17
1. There will be
a 7 year tribulation in which God will destroy most of the
earths
inhabitants doing battle with Satan and His demons. Daniel 9:24-27
2. The
destruction will be so bad that if God don't stop it , no flesh will
survive. Matt
24:21-22
B. Before the tribulation began, all believers will be taken
up to heaven to be
with Christ.
1. After
tribulation, Christ will reign on earth for a thousand years. Rev 20:4
2. A new Israel
will be born in Christ fulfilling God's promise that
all Israel
will be saved. Rom 11:26
SALVATION FOR ALL WHO
BELIEVE IN CHRIST
V:32. " But everyone who calls on the name of the
Lord will be saved, for some on Mount
Zion Jerusalem
will escape, just as the Lord has said. These will be among the survivors whom
the Lord has called."
A. During the tribulation period, some Jews will confess
Christ as Lord and Savior.
1. Those who
confess Christ will be saved.
2. Those reject
Christ will die during the tribulation
B. This is the same confession of faith as proclaimed in
John 3:16
1. Confession of
faith in Jesus will not prevent trials and tribulations in your life.
2. Faith in Jesus
will carry you through tribulations.
3. Tribulation are
designed to strengthen us in Christ. James 1:2-6
4. As James
chapter 1 states, we should have joy in the mist of our tribulations.
THANK GOD FOR HIS GRACE
AND MERCY
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia
Baptist Church
For more lessons follow me on facebook and
visit my blogs, www.revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com
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