Repentance - Joel

The Book of Joel starts with the verse “The word of the Lord that came to Joel son of Pethuel” – Joel 1:1. His name means “Jehovah is my God”. His ministry was to Judah. He has been called the prophet of “religious revival”. He knew that revival must follow repentance. He tried to bring his people to repentance. We will find access to grace and know the presence of the Holy Spirit when we truly repent.

The land of Israel had just suffered a terrible plague of locusts that had devoured every green thing, leaving only destruction. Joel believed that this had been a judgement send by God because of the sin of his people. He was the first to prophesy the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh (Joel 2:28). Joel appears just a little before Hosea, only he speaks to the southern kingdom of Judah. Hosea spoke to the northern tribes.

Joel called the people to consider the cause of the calamity. They must mourn with true repentance if they wished to be spared further judgement (Joel 2:1217). Desperate, they were ready to listen to anyone who could explain their plight. It was a great hour for the preacher, for now, in their extremity, people would turn to God.

In Joel chapter 2 we see the blast of the ram’s horn calling an assembly for a great fast. Everyone is there, even brides and bridegrooms on their wedding day (Joel 2:16). The priests came in black sackcloth, and bow to the ground and cry to God within the sanctuary. “Rent your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God for he is gracious and compassionate” (Joel 2:13). It was an event to bring the people back to God. He also assures the people that God will indeed send both temporal mercies (Joel 2:18-27) and spiritual blessings (Joel 2:28-32).

Spiritual deliverance is the great central promise of the book of Joel. Other prophets have foretold details concerning the Lord’s life on earth, and even his future reign. To Joel was committed the privilege of telling that God would pour out his Spirit upon all flesh. He tells us that the blessing will flow forth from Jerusalem (Joel 2:32; 3:18). This prophecy we are definitely told was fulfilled at the day of Pentecost. Peter said, “this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel” (Acts 2:16)

In the third chapter he tells about the judgement of the nations after the battle of Armageddon (Joel 3:2-7). Same is being said on Mathew 3:2-7 and Revelation 19:17-21.

The book of Joel is a lesson for us today. The church is in a desolate condition. It has been laid waste by many spiritual foes, well described in Joel 1:4. There are famine and drought on all sides. The call goes to Christians today to go into the dust before the Lord in the true repentance of heart. This repentance must begin with ministers and elders. It we will return unto the Lord, he will fulfil his promise to us by his outpouring of the Holy Spirit. May God enable you to walk close with him at this hour and get filled with the anointing of the Spirit to lead a life which glorifies him.

The BOOK – Witnessing

Luke, in his Gospel, shows what Christ began to do on earth. Acts shows what he continued to do by the Holy Spirit. In the Gospels we hear Christ’s teachings. In Acts we see the effect of his teachings on the Acts of the Apostles. The book tells of the extension of the gospel to the Gentiles. All through the Old Testament we find God dealing with the Jewish people. In the New Testament, we find him working among all nations.

When you go through Acts 1 and 2 we see the disciples hear the last words of instruction from Jesus. He spoke about the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). It was then that Jesus gave this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about” (Acts 1:4). They waited. The church was born on that day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-3). It was 50 days after the crucifixion. From this time Pentecost was not to be a Jewish feast, but the dawn of a new day, the birthday of the Church of Christ.

At that day of Pentecost, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and thus endowed for special service. They not only were enabled to preach in power but also could speak in the different tongues represented that day at Jerusalem (Acts 2:2-4). The wonderful thing about Pentecost was not the blowing of a violent wind or the tongues in fire, but the disciples being filled with the Holy Spirit that they might be witnesses to all people. If we do not have the desire to tell others of Christ, it is evident that we do not know the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Some mocked, they have had too much wine (Acts 2:13). People always try to explain away the miracles of God on natural grounds. But rationalism can never give a reasonable explanation of anything that is divine.

The theme of first sermon by peter was that Jesus is the Messiah. The real power of the Holy Spirit was shown when Peter, rose to speak and 3000 souls were saved. In Acts 2:47 we see, “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved”. This is the real objective of the church.

In chapter 3 we see a great crowd gathered around a lame man who had been miraculously healed. Peter took advantage of the circumstances to preach his 2^nd sermon. Again he told them that Christ, whom they had crucified, was the promised Messiah. So powerful were the words of Peter and John that a total of 5000 men now turned to Christ. The leaders commanded the apostles not to preach. The work of the Spirit is always a signal for Satan to work. Whenever the Spirit comes to bless, the adversary comes to curse.

When the church became unselfish and sold all they had and gave it to the apostles, we see deception from Ananias and Sapphira. But the Holy Spirit revealed the truth and they were punished with instant death, for claiming to give all to God, they had kept back (Acts 5:4-5).

In chapter 6 we see a meeting of the church was called and seven members were elected as deacons (Acts 6:1-7). The first two deacon’s names were Stephen and Philip (Acts 6:5). The opposition was centred around Stephen. He was just a layman, but he did great wonders because he was full of faith and power. Stephen became the first martyr of the Christian church. The second deacon, Philip preached Christ. But God called him to leave and go south, which leads to Gaza (Acts 8:26). On the way he met an Ethiopian. When you are in the will of god, things do not just happen. No joy or sorrow comes into your life except by God’s permission.

Saul made havoc of the church. The more moral and intelligent a person is, the more harm that person can do when controlled by Satan. The story of Saul’s conversion is one of the most thrilling accounts in history. He was a man breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples (Acts 9:1). Then we find him preaching in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 9:20). He was the apostle to the Gentiles, as Peter had been to the Jews.

From Acts 13 through 28, we see Paul and the Church at Antioch. It was here that a new name was given to Christ’s disciples. They were called “Christians” at Antioch (Acts 11:26).

While Paul and Barnabas were preaching the gospel and suffering all kinds of persecution and hardship, many at home in Jerusalem were stirring up the most troublesome question – “Must a Gentile become a Jew, accepting Jewish law and ceremonies, in order to be saved?” (Acts 15:1). Paul and Barnabas stated, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). The law doesn’t save anyone.

In Paul’s third missionary journey, the last one, he told farewell at every place. He knew it was a final farewell (Acts 20:37-38). Paul tried to break down the barriers between Jew and Gentile and between slave and free.

The book tells about being witness. “You will be my witness” (Acts 1:8). Salvation comes to this world through Christ alone (Acts 4:12), hence people must know him. Christ’s plan includes us. Persecution almost always has spread the gospel like wind spreads fire. This has been true all down through the centuries since our Lord lived on the earth. I pray that this point of time, when persecution is at high, the Spirit of God will strengthen you to carry his word to others so that they can receive the greatest miracle, Salvation.