Monday, July 28, 2014

Fear-what are you afraid of? #13




The passage below is talking to Israel, God's chosen people. BUT I believe it talks also to all believers. Especially our nation which was founded on the Word of God. While I have been telling you we should not fear most things we should fear the judgement of God on a nation that is turning their back on Him! The good news is what we see below...return to Him and He shows mercy, forgives, and blesses once again. Read this slowly and soak up the Word of God:



Joel 2:12-27

Return to the Lord



12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,

“return to me with all your heart,

with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;

13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.”

Return to the Lord your God,

for he is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;

and he relents over disaster.

14 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,

and leave a blessing behind him,

a grain offering and a drink offering

for the Lord your God?



15 Blow the trumpet in Zion;

consecrate a fast;

call a solemn assembly;

16 gather the people.

Consecrate the congregation;

assemble the elders;

gather the children,

even nursing infants.

Let the bridegroom leave his room,

and the bride her chamber.



17 Between the vestibule and the altar

let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep

and say, “Spare your people, O Lord,

and make not your heritage a reproach,

a byword among the nations.

Why should they say among the peoples,

‘Where is their God?’”



18 Then the Lord became jealous for his land

and had pity on his people.

19 The Lord answered and said to his people,

“Behold, I am sending to you

grain, wine, and oil,

and you will be satisfied;

and I will no more make you

a reproach among the nations.



20 “I will remove the northerner far from you,

and drive him into a parched and desolate land,

his vanguard into the eastern sea,

and his rear guard into the western sea;

the stench and foul smell of him will rise,

for he has done great things.



21 “Fear not, O land;

be glad and rejoice,

for the Lord has done great things!

22 Fear not, you beasts of the field,

for the pastures of the wilderness are green;

the tree bears its fruit;

the fig tree and vine give their full yield.



23 “Be glad, O children of Zion,

and rejoice in the Lord your God,

for he has given the early rain for your vindication;

he has poured down for you abundant rain,

the early and the latter rain, as before.



24 “The threshing floors shall be full of grain;

the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.

25 I will restore to you the years

that the swarming locust has eaten,

the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter,

my great army, which I sent among you.



26 “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,

and praise the name of the Lord your God,

who has dealt wondrously with you.

And my people shall never again be put to shame.

27 You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,

and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else.

And my people shall never again be put to shame.



Did you catch the key parts? In verses 12-13...a true repentance is needed. Asking forgiveness for our evil ways and turning from them to do them no more! God who promises us forgiveness is faithful:



1 John 1:9

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.



Verse 16...gather all ages of people to get right before God! Oh brothers and sisters how we need a revival in this nation of ours!



Verse 17...may our spiritual leaders be in prayer for the people of this nation! Oh my can other nations look at us and say where is their God? Sadly probably so! We have turned our backs on God and He will not stay where He is not welcome!



Verse 19-26 But God will show us His love and mercy if we will return to Him!!! What are we waiting on?



Verse 27...when the children of God are faithful to Him, He will protect them and no one will cause them harm.



Oh how God wants our devotion and he wants to bless us, but again He will not go where He is not wanted! So we have nothing to fear when we are right with God but if we are not we have much to fear.....God's judgement!



Tom

No comments:

Post a Comment