“Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand” Joel 2:1 NIV
Dear Heavenly Father – You are the One True God. Beside you there is no other. I praise and thank you for all you have done! Please help me as I search myself to see if there is any ways within me to repent of. Please open our eyes and ears and understanding to know what you are saying to us. In the name of Jesus – Amen
This week we looked at world events and the fact that right now is literally the days between The Feast of Trumpets (the 18th – 20th) and the Day of Atonement (on the 28th) and taking this time frame and events and keeping them in the forefront of our minds as we had read through Joel chapter 2. The parallel is quite literal between today’s world news and this passage, let me encourage you to go back and read the past few days posts if you haven’t. We should sound an alarm to heed to the warning and instructions of this prophet!!!
Today has been declared a national day of prayer and repentance in the United States of America with many church leaders in Washington DC leading a rally – to repent, the Kingdom of God is at hand! I am hoping to make it to one of the many churches I know of who are also holding prayer services – declaring a day of prayer, fasting and repentance. I will also be participating in the Day of Atonement (sunset on Sunday to sunset on Monday) as the Lord himself has declared it a day of prayer, fasting and repentance – because as we read in Joel: the Day of the Lord is at Hand!
This “Day of the Lord” – Usually when you see it in the Bible, it is when God says enough and begins to pour out His wrath.
“11 The Lord thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty is the army that obeys his command. The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?” Joel 2:11 NIV
My God reigns and with His righteous reign he must be just. However..
“He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” Joel 2:13 NIV
…but he is also righteous and just. He has and will lay out His wrath when needed. How many time in the Old Testament have we seen the wrath of God? It is fearful.
“Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken out of its place, at the wrath of the Lord of hosts in the day of his fierce anger.” Isaiah 13:13 ESV (not just anger but fierce anger!)
“Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight. None was left but the tribe of Judah only.” 2 Kings 17:18 ESV (wait, NONE was left?!?! God wiped out His own people except Judah?!?!)
In the New Testament we are under a covenant of Grace – “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!” Romans 6:1-2a NIV
And why not – because God is still a just God who is so longsuffering that when he finally releases judgment it is a mighty act of wrath! We are under grace but not without judgement!
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” Romans 1:18 ESV
Yes – our tender and loving New Testament God is the same as the Old Testament God – He is the same: yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). And if you do not repent or continue in sin (disobedience)….
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” John 3:36 ESV
Obedience is a beautiful act of faith – but is that where our world is at? Are we all dutifully obeying the Lord?
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28 ESV
Back in Joel 2 – where he described the wrath of God and we could see the exact same thing in our world today – God sent the army of fire. Verse 11 says God is the leader. When we read it through I said – look, God is still in control. But I should have said more clearly – He is in control, because it is His wrath! Yes, I said it. Because the Bible said it. Let’s not squish God into a sweet box of nice-y-nice. He is well balanced. He is saying enough is enough! He is saying:
“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Joel 2:12 NIV
Repent, fast and pray so that…
“Then the Lord was jealous for his land and took pity on his people.” Joel 2:18 NIV
Forgive me for skimming through the end here, but I want to get to the point. Which is that the world is poised on the edge of a great revival and awakening. Many people shall be saved and come to the Lord. We are about to see the signs and wonders the Lord has promised His followers. We are about to see the acts of the early church of the Book of Acts.
“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” Joel 2:28-29 NIV
The Lord is great and greatly to be praised!
“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.” Joel 2:32 NIV
Everyone – Jew and gentile. Everyone. You and me. Saved from the wrath here on earth and from the eternal hell fires. Everyone who turns to Him in this season. Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
If you don’t already, and today you would like to have a relationship with a God who can communicate with you and be part of your life (and protect you) – one who is full of mighty power and tender love, then please know that I have put the “A, B, C’s of Salvation” in my introduction. Please click here to follow the link.**
Thank you for reading ~ Grace be with you
Be healthy and blessed ~ I love you and love one another
Watch and Pray ~ Seek God & keep your eyes on Jesus!
Maranatha ~ Come Lord Jesus!
If Not For Grace 