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 in 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
5510 West Sam Houston Parkway
Houston. Texas 77040
For more lessons follow me on facebook and
visit my blogs, www.revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com
