JOEL
-Israel was away from the Lord and the Lord sent a prophet to tell Israel to get back to Him.
-Joel told Judah – the Southern Kingdom – to CRY OUT TO THE LORD…Joel 1:14,19
***Definition of Crying Out – to shout…to make a loud humming noise…to roar like a lion…a ringing or shrill sound…to call outloud…an actual shriek
***Crying out in prayer is lifting our voices up to the Lord…
1. Crying out to the Lord is scriptural – Psalm 61:1-2 & Jeremiah 33:1-3
-this is why we practice this spiritual principle and believe in it
-it is a Word from the Lord – Jeremiah 33:1-3
-it is for everyone
2. Crying out to the Lord is continual – Acts 12:1-5
-not just in times of desperation, but all of the time
3. Crying out to the Lord is being Bold – Mark 10:46-52
-we can be bold because we serve Jesus who can do anything
Bold – means to have confidence/be strong and not timid/being courageous/knowing
***So go for it when you pray…..Believe for the max
4. Crying out to the Lord is a supernatural weapon – 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
-just crying out alone will accomplish much
5.Crying out to the Lord is a way to give more to God – Psalm 28:1-2
-give more of your voice – you will grow
-as we give more to God, we grow more and then receive more
Verses 15-20 – THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DAY OF THE LORD
v15 – Alas for the Day – this is the second coming of Jesus Christ
a. v15b – the Day of the Lord Will Come
-a promise from the lord
b. the Day of the Lord is at hand –
@ hand – means to be next door
-it will come suddenly
c. the Day of the Lord is the Lord’s Day
-It is all about Jesus Christ
d. the Day of the lord is a day of judgment
-upon the unbelievers and not the believers
v16 – famines come along with judgment
-joy is gone because of the bad conditions
v17 – the storehouses and barns are empty – there is no food
v18 – RIPPLE EFFECT
-sin has a ripple effect
-animals are dieing. No water and no food…
v19 – TWO POINTS
1. THERE ARE A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO SEE – 1 Chronicles 12:32
-there will be a remnant who understand the times and take action
2. DON’T WAIT FOR SOMETHING BAD TO HAPPEN TO FINALLY CRY OUT TO THE LORD
CHAPTER 2
-used twice in Joel 2:1, 15
trumpet – the trumpet was used in 5 main ways in the scriptures
1. A CALL TO WAR
-realize who the enemy is
2. A CALL TO WORSHIP
-Jesus and not celebrity driven
3. A CALL TO WARN PEOPLE OF DANGER
-tough times are coming
4. A CALL TO ASSEMBLE TOGETHER
-Hebrews 10:25
-there is strength in numbers
5. A CALL TO ANNOUNCE SOMETHING
-the trumpet got people’s attention and then something was stated
verse 1 – sound an alarm – means to split the ears with sound
on my Holy Mountain – it is from the Lord and Jerusalem and the temple
v2 – a day of gloominess and thick darkness
-darkness will cover the earth – Matthew 24:29-30
the Day of the Lord will happen – v2
-nothing can stop it
-clouds and the mountains – this speaks of the sunrise in the morning that comes and nothing can stop it
v2 – a great and strong people – this refers to a mighty army of people coming against Israel
-this has never been seen and will never be seen again
Who comes against Israel?
1. China – Rev 16:12-16
2. European nations – Rev 13:1-2
3. Russia and its allies – Ezekiel 38
v3 – a fire devours before them
-this is the picture of weapons that are firing and destroying everything in front of them
-the land like a garden of Eden
-this is the nation of Israel and describes how fruitful it is
-this is an all out attack to destroy Israel……
vs4 – 5 – Joel sees all of this……………..
-missiles flying through the air
-stubble – is society and the people
v6 – in much pain – the nation of Israel will be shaken and wounded, but its not over yet…