Pouring out the Spirit… (4 things)

• 1^st – The army of the Lord… vs. 1-11
  • 1^st – Warn everyone the army is coming… vs. 1
    • The Day of the Lord is coming – it is at hand (or very close)…
      • Continuing with the day of the Lord – Joel 1:15 – Joel describes the arrival of an Army…
      • An army that God will unleash upon the Southern Kingdom as punishment for their sin!
      • There are 3 major views as to who / what this Army is:
    • The present view – that this ‘army’ is figurative – describing a plague of locusts…
    • The near future view – that this Army of judgment – represented the conquest of Israel…
      • The Assyrian Empire – that came in and wiped out the Northern Kingdom in 722 B.C.
      • And the Babylonian Empire – that came and took the Southern Kingdom in 586 B.C.
    • The far future view – perhaps describing the Magog invasion of Ezekiel 38-39…
      • Or speaking of the armies of the Antichrist – Daniel 11:36-45…
      • When the Man of Sin will gather all the armies of the world against Israel…
      • Climaxing in the battle of Armageddon – and the 2^nd coming of Jesus Christ!
  • 2^nd – The description of the army… vs. 2-10
    • They are an army unlike what anyone has ever seen – or will ever be seen again!
      • Like locusts – they will come like the clouds spreading over the mountains…
      • The land before them will be like the Garden of Eden – beautiful / green…
      • But behind them will be a desolate wilderness – nothing will escape them!
      • In 1864 Union General William T. Sherman led 60,000 soldiers on a 285-mile march…
      • They implemented what came to be known as scorched earth policy…
      • In front of them were the rich cotton fields of the south – after them was burnt devastation! 
    • The armies appearance is LIKE horses – with the noise of chariots…
      • They can run / climb – and they march in perfect formation…
      • They lunge between weapons – no one can touch them on the battlefield…
      • The earth shakes beneath them – the heavens tremble – because of their shear numbers…
      • The sun / moon / and stars grow dark – presumably because they blanket the sky!
    • This may be Joel attempting to describe the 21^st century…
      • Joel only knew battles with swords and spears / horses and chariots…
      • How would he describe a modern battle with helicopters / tanks / and planes…
      • This might very well be Joel seeking to describe modern warfare!
    • This may be Joel describing the spiritual powers behind the army…
      • Revelation 9:1-11 – “The fifth angel sounded… out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth… The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle… the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots.”
      • A VERY similar description to the one given by Joel – locusts have no king – Proverbs 30:27
      • But the army in Revelation 9 has a king – the angel of the bottomless pit – Abaddon…
      • Meaning this army could speak of the spiritual power behind the Antichrist!
      • It is easy for us to foget – we are in a spiritual battle – II Corinthians 10:4
      • So often in life we miss who the real enemy is – we look at the people…
      • But they are puppets – they are being told what to say and do by the God of this world…
      • The key is to go at the one who is in control – attack the root problem!
  • 3^rd – Who can survive the army… vs. 11
    • The Day of the Lord is Great and Terrible – because God ultimately will direct this army…
      • Not that they are godly – but God is ultimately in control – they will accomplish His will…
      • God often used pagan nations as a ‘tool’ to punish Israel for their sin…
      • Assyria – II Kings 18:9-12 / Babylon – Jeremiah 25:12 / Rome – Matthew 22:7
      • I doubt that Israel looked at any of these nations and saw them as ‘from God’…
      • Because we tend to look for something to be either category Good or Bad…
      • When the truth is – its category God – it is all about Him working in our lives!
      • We might think being punished is bad – but God is teaching us to hold onto Jesus!
    • If the Lord is the one leading – who can stand…
      • Not all of Israel will perish in the Day of the Lord – 1/3 will survive – Zechariah 13:8-9
      • Jews will be driven from the land and find refuge in the wilderness – Revelation 12:14
      • Presumably to the rock city of Petra for three and half years – Isaiah 63:1
      • Because despite the rebellion of Israel – God will never forsake Israel – Romans 11:1
      • Jeremiah 31:36 – As long as the sun rises – waves crash – Israel is God’s nation!
      • Since God cannot break His Word – forsake Israel – that means God also cannot reject us…
      • That should bring great comfort to our hearts – it means no matter how bad we get!

• 2^nd – A call to repentance… vs. 12-17
  • 1^st – Joel gives the solution – turn to the Lord with all your heart… vs. 12-13
    • Notice it is not just in lip service / or as a response to consequences…
    • But a true repentance shown in their actions – fasting / weeping / mourning…
    • Not tearing their clothes (outward show of grief) – instead tearing their hearts!
    • If they return to the Lord – they would find He is gracious and merciful…
    • Slow to anger – rich in kindness – because He does not want to punish!
    • It is easy to say sorry – easy to regret the consequences of our actions…
    • Being sorry for our consequences is not a change of heart – that worldly sorrow…
    • True repentance is seen in action – turning away from sin – and turning towards Jesus!
    • II Corinthians 7:10–“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
  • 2^nd – Who knows if God will relent… vs. 14-17
    • At this point judgment was a certainty – the Day of the Lord an ominous guarantee…
    • But who is to say – if the people repented – if God might not change His mind…
    • Call everyone – elders / kids / nursing babies / even the bride and groom (stop the wedding)…
    • SO they all can call on the Lord to spare His people – for His namesake!
    • When we see the state of our nation – abortion / open homosexuality…
    • I think sometimes it makes us assume there is little to no hope left for America…
    • If God does not judge America – He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah!
    • There is no question judgment is coming – but that does not mean there is not hope!
    • But it starts with the church – it begins when WE come together to call on the Lord!
    • Who is to say – perhaps the Lord will relent – pour out His Spirit on our nation once more!
    • II Chronicles 7:14 – “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

• 3^rd – The hope of restoraiton… vs. 18-27
  • As a result of their repentance God would do 5 things…
  • 1^st – The Lord will answer their prayer… vs. 18
    • The Lord will be zealous for His Land – have pity on His People!
    • Notice that moment the people seek Him – the Lord is there to answer…
    • Psalm 66:18 – “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear…”
    • Sin keeps the Lord from hearing us – leaves prayers unanswered…
    • Our prayers hit the ceiling of our sin – and we end up talking to ourselves!
    • But the moment we repent – turn back to Jesus – we will find He is eager to listen / act!
    • I Peter 3:12 – “The Lords… ears are open to the prayers of those who do right.”
  • 2^nd – The Lord will give victory… vs. 20
    • He would remove the Northern army – and drive them into a desolate land…
    • With his face towards the eastern sea (Gulf) and his back to the western (Mediterranean)…
    • Their foul odor will rise – perhaps referring to the stench of the dead…
    • If this army is the combined forces of Russia and the Islamic world…
    • Then this is speaking of God will rain fire down on them – Ezekiel 39:6
    • When it will take 7 months to clean up the death and destruction left in the aftermath!
    • If this army is the Antichrist – it refers to the aftermath of Armageddon – Revelation 14:20
    • In either case Israel does not have to do a thing – God will GIVE them the victory!
    • One of the hardest lessons we will ever have to learn – is to do nothing…
    • We think God needs our help – we think we have to do something!
    • But so often the answer we get from God is to be still – and watch what He will do!
    • Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God…”
  • 3^rd – The Lord will provide… vs. 19 / 22-24
    • He would stop the drought / famine that was in the Land…
    • He would send grain / new wine / and oil – and the people will be satisfied by them…
    • The pastures for the animals will flourish again / the trees will bare fruit!
    • God will cause the former (fall) and later (spring) rains to return!
    • When the Ottoman Empire controlled Palestine they ravaged the Land – cut down all trees…
    • Israel turned into either a desert or a swamp – and the rains stopped…
    • But after 1948 Israel began a focused effort to replant the Land – millions of trees…
    • It actually changed the climate – and the former and later rains have returned!
      
      
  • 4^th – The Lord will restore… vs. 25
    • God will restore the years the locusts have eaten – the judgment for their sin…
    • When we get caught up in sin – it destroys our lives – leaves us full of regret…
    • Many of us can reflect back on many years wasted – not living for the Lord…
    • We can often regret those ‘lost years’ wishing we could have them back…
    • God can restore the years the locusts ate – as though we never lost anything to foolish sin!
    • The Lord can take our poor choices – and turn them into blessings!
    • Only God can take a life that had nothing left but ashes – and make it beautiful!
    • Isaiah 63:1 – “Beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair.”
  • 5^th – They will know the Lord… vs. 26-27
    • Israel will eat plentifully – be satisfied – and praise the Name of the Lord…
    • They will know the Lord their God – and He will again dwell in the midst of His people!
    • The prophet Ezekiel saw the glory of the Lord depart the Temple – Ezekiel 10:18
    • The saddest part was – like Sampson in Judges 16:20 – they did not know the Lord was gone!
    • We can be so distracted by the world – we do not even realize Jesus is gone…
    • But He is on the outside – knocking on the door trying to get back in – Revelation 3:20
    • And the moment we open the door to Him – we are satisfied / and find peace!

• 4^th – The gift of the Spirit… vs. 28-32
  • 1^st – The day of Pentecost… vs. 28-29
    • It shall come to pass afterwards – I will pour out My Spirit…
      • On the day of Pentecost when God poured out His Spirit – tongues of fire…
      • Peter stood up before the multitudes and quoted this very passage in Acts 2:16
      • Saying that in the Last Days the Holy Spirit will be poured out on everyone – 3 categories…
      • Sons / daughters will prophesy – no more preaching to Millennials – they will preach to us!
      • Young men will see visions / old will dream dreams…
      • I woke up one day and told Jen I had a vision – the snoring confirmed with was a dream!
      • Even humble servants / slaves – will receive the power of the Spirit!
    • In the Last Days – the power of the Holy Spirit is available to all…
      • God gives us His Holy Spirit to give us the POWER be a light to the world!
      • When was the last time we shared Jesus with someone – told them the Good News…
      • We may NEVER have told anyone – because we have no power!
      • If you have a kerosene lamp – it has the potential to light up a dark room…
      • But unless you fill it up with gas – and strike the match – it does not give off light!
      • We are called to be a light in a dark world – Matthew 5:14
      • But we need the Holy Spirit to ‘gas us up’ – and ‘strike the match’ to light us on fire!
• 2^nd – The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord… vs. 30-32
  • The pouring out of the Spirit began with the day of Pentecost – but will end in the Tribulation…
    • A day is coming when God will perform wonders on earth and in heaven…
    • There will be blood / fire / and clouds of smoke – picture of death and destruction…
    • The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon will look like blood…
    • Revelation 6:12 – “The Lamb broke the sixth seal… The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood.”
    • The wrath of God poured out on a rejecting world – you do not want to be there!
  • Immediately after the Tribulation – the Great and Terrible day of the Lord…
    • Jesus coming through the clouds – riding out of heaven – Revelation 19:11…
    • For any and all who have chosen to reject Jesus Christ – it is the judgment day!
    • The Great and Terrible day of the Lord – it is the day the sins of men are judged!
  • But until then – whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved
    • In-between these two events – anyone can call Jesus and be saved!
    • No matter who you are / your background – anyone can be saved – Romans 10:13
    • There is limited window of opportunity – we do not know when the end will come…
    • It is easy to forget in life – all of us are always just a step away from death…
    • Which is why it is so important we know where we are going when we die…
    • The problem is God does not guarantee tomorrow – right now is the time to believe!
    • II Corinthians 6:2 – “Today is the day of salvation…”