THE DAY OF THE LORD

Twelve Voices #3, The Book of Joel

Pastor Dennis Clanton

Woodland Church

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

(Joel 1:2-3) “In all your history, has anything like this happened before? Tell your children about it in the years to come, and let your children tell their children. Pass the story down from generation to generation.”

God uses a natural occurrence to warn of a coming judgment and final judgment

God uses judgment to warn His people not to stray, devastation to stop their rebellion, draw them to Himself, and renew their relationship

God remains faithful to His covenant even His people are not

God calls His people to repent

The Day of the Lord is a process through which God intervenes supernaturally in the end time history of the world through His judgment

The Day of Christ is when Jesus first takes His Church to himself and then return with His people for the Millennial Reign of Christ

Judgment will shatter Judah for its sin

(Joel 2:1-2) “Sound the trumpet in Jerusalem! Raise the alarm on my holy mountain! Let everyone tremble in fear because the day of the LORD is upon us. It is a day of darkness and gloom, a day of thick clouds and deep blackness. Suddenly, like dawn spreading across the mountains, a great and mighty army appears. Nothing like it has been seen before or will ever be seen again.”

A profile of genuine repentance

(Joel 2:12-13) “That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. 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. Repentance is first internal

B. External repentance flows from the heart

C.   The urgency of repentance interrupts all of life

(Joel 2:16) “Gather all the people- the elders, the children, and even the babies. Call the bridegroom from his quarters and the bride from her private room.”

God relents because of His compassion, mercy and love

(Joel 2:18) “Then the LORD will pity his people and jealously guard the honor of his land.”

(Joel 2:13) “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.”

The Spirit of God poured out

(Joel 2:28-29) “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. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants-men and women alike.”

God gathers the nation to vindicate His people

(Joel 3:1-3) “At the time of those events,” says the LORD, “when I restore the prosperity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather the armies of the world into the valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will judge them for harming my people, my special possession, for scattering my people among the nations, and for dividing up my land. They threw dice to decide which of my people would be their slaves. They traded boys to obtain prostitutes and sold girls for enough wine to get drunk.”

Growthwork

1. Disasters should always be a time of reflection and trust in our merciful God

(Joel 1:19-20) “LORD, help us! The fire has consumed the wilderness pastures, and flames have burned up all the trees.  Even the wild animals cry out to you because the streams have dried up, and fire has consumed the wilderness pastures.”

2. Repentance is radically interior

(Joel 2:13) “Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.”

3. Weeping is appropriate when my heart is broken over my sin

(Joel 2:12 NLT) “That is why the LORD says, ‘Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.’”

4. Fasting together as the body of Christ is appropriate at times

(Joel 2:15) “Announce a time of fasting; call the people together for a solemn meeting.”

5. Because God loves and cares, He does not leave loose ends

(Joel 3:3) “They threw dice to decide which of my people would be their slaves. They traded boys to obtain prostitutes and sold girls for enough wine to get drunk.”