I'd bite your attention to the Book of Joel the second chapter
and we want to begin reading there in verse number 28.
Joel chapter 2, beginning in verse 28, and it shall come to
pass afterward that I will pour out my spirit upon All Flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men
shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions and also
upon the servants and upon my handmaids in those days, Will I
pour out my spirit? And I will show wonders in
heaven and in the earth blood and fire and pillars of smoke.
The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood
before the great day, the great and terrible day of the Lord
come, and it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the
name of the Lord. Shall be delivered for in Mount,
Zion. And in Jerusalem, shall be
Deliverance as the Lord has said and in the remnant whom the Lord
shall Call that will suffice for our reading.
But what we're going to do is finish the Book of Joel.
As one of the Minor Prophets. We've been studying, and we will
entitle our remarks. The prophet of Pentecost.
The question is, there are many things that are described here
in the second chapter of the Book of Joel and beginning there
in verse 28. But the question is, when was it
fulfilled? It hasn't been fulfilled
already. Or is it as some would suppose
to be? Build in a future time.
We'll discuss this in great detail in just a few moments.
But at this time we have a wonderful privilege.
Now, of going before, the god of heaven and prayer in our
previous study, a couple Sundays ago.
You remember that? We covered Joe chapter 1,
beginning there, in verse 1 and went all the way down through
verse 27 of the second chapter of this prophecy and we find
that in this prophecy that Joel speaks of it was accustomed by a
Plague of locusts. And the book begins with the
word of the Lord coming to Joel and said, here this, you elders
and all the inhabitants of the land.
He said nothing like this has happened.
Certainly not in your lifetime, but not only that.
Nothing like this has ever happened.
Even in the lifetime of your father's.
The devastation would be so great.
That Joel says that you're going to tell your children about it
and it doesn't stop there. The devastation is so great.
And so thorough that your children will tell their
children and finally their children will tell another
generation. Besides and Joe you remember
describe the devastation by saying this.
And as I read from the new King James version, I'll do so now on
that one verse of scripture because I didn't know, as I
mentioned a couple of weeks ago, what a cankerworm were Apollo
worm is so this is how its rendered in the new King James,
he says, what the chewing Locust left Warming Locust has eaten
and what the swarming Locust left.
The crawling Locust has eaten and what the crawling Locust
left. The consuming Locust has eaten
and Joe Begins by naming the things that are going to be
destroyed. Beginning from the luxuries of
life and proceeding down through the essentials of life.
Let me just say this. I thought about this the other
day, you know, you and I we have luxuries that we enjoy from day
to day. I have them and so do you You in
fact maybe you and I that live in the country we live in
perhaps have greater luxuries and more luxuries than maybe any
other place in the world. I don't know that for certain
but I would venture to say and looking around and also seeing
all the news and reading about other places where people don't
have the luxuries of life like you and I have one day all the
sudden, if the luxuries of my life would be taken away, I
would just imagine that. I would be saddened by that they
would be it would be Completely inconvenient to lose the things
that I would deem what consider to be the luxuries in my life.
But it's even greater when the essentials of Life are taken
away and Joel pictures that great Devastation includes both
the luxuries of Life are taken away and also the Necessities or
the essentials of Life. They also are removed and taken
away. He begins with those that would
enjoy luxuries and he speaks of the drunkard.
He said the drunkard must wake out Of their stupor for the
source of their drink is cut off.
He says, that not only is the new wine, which is fermented
strong drink, which the drunkards would enjoy is cut
off, but he even says by way of the, an essential, the sweet
wine, which is the fresh grape juice that comes from the vine
that's desired by all and all enjoy, that is going to be taken
away also because the source of the drink has been destroyed and
that being the Vine And the Bible says that the destruction
was so great that the bark is gone from the fig tree and it's
clean bear. And the branches are made white
and he then calls upon the priest to mourn and lament
because even the offerings of worship were cut off.
Now, picture that he tells them. And just a moment, I'll mention
it again, but he pictures in great graphic detail what he
expects coming from God. By the way, what he expects the
priest to lead the people in this horrible repentant and
sorrowful heart that they are to have.
And the reason for that is the ideas or the things of worship
have been destroyed to and there's nothing to bring before
God. And then I got to thinking
today, I just wonder how I would feel if worship was taken away.
What is worship was taken away today and you could not get up
out of your beds and get dressed.
During your minds and your hearts to worship God, and come
down here, like we've done. What if it was taken away?
Would we mourn and lament? Would we be sorrowful as he
pictures that they need to be? Especially when it was because
of our own doing. Would we repent?
Would we weep would? We mourn, would we wrap
ourselves in sack cloth, and laid before the altar all night?
I just wonder just some food for thought about how worship is so
important and of all the things that were taken away the
luxuries and even the essentials of life.
Now that's what you need. That's what a person needs to
have to sustain themselves in this life.
It's taken Away. But when he pictures it, he
pictures. There's greater sorrow.
There's greater remorse. All is taken away, but it's
greater because worship has now been removed because there's
nothing to bring before. God, what a picture of how
important worship is to the great God of heaven and how it
was pictured by Joel In AD and baad in beast in 830 BC.
Got that out. 830 BC thereabouts.
When this letter was written, when this prophetic account came
to Joel, how important was worship.
He tells them to mourn Like a Virgin insect law to his lost.
Her husband in battle that she was betrothed to from her very
Youth. And as we studied the language
of Joe, and as we've done thus far, we can surely understand
the full import, or impact of This calamity.
But the grief is Later, because of their worship, the fields are
left bare. There is no grain, The Vineyards
are stripped, and therefore, there's no new wine.
The olive trees are barked and therefore, there's no olive oil,
which is essential for food. The husband went along with the
vinedressers are called upon to join the priest in mourning for
all share in the overwhelming desolation.
All a helplessness abounds everywhere because all strata of
society Society has been affected.
But then with this very graphic description of the invasion of
locust, and the devastation of the land, it is followed by a
call to repentance and fasting before the Lord, and rightfully,
so, you know, which to be led by the priest, those Servants of
God, the priest who now become a prophetic type of the priests
today, which is the Christian and there to lead the people in
this charge and repent in. That way, there were taggard
themself with sect, Loft and lie.
All night before the altar they were to lament and mourn the
nation's condition and to do it in such a way as to set a good
example of genuine repentance. And he tells them this, the
awful Calamity that that has been is present that he speaking
of, as awful as it is and with all that's been taken away, it
will only pale in comparison to the one that's coming for.
He says, the day of the Lord is near, let me speak.
Just a moment about this phrase. The day of the Lord, in
prophetic terms written before 830 BC, even though, even though
there are many interpretations about When the dates of some of
the Minor Prophets were written Joel and Jonah.
And Obadiah, there's some discrepancy of When It Was
Written, but I have followed suit with the succession of
Minor Prophets that I believe were written in.
There was Obadiah. And then there is Joe.
And then there was Jonah that we took Jonah and Joel out of
position there but really in succession.
So prior to this time, Obadiah was the first one to use the
phrase, the day of the Lord. You know, that phrase is
something that is misunderstood and misinterpreted in the
religious world today. You see, sometimes what folks do
and we need to be very, very careful about this.
When we read a prophetic account in the Old Testament and it
speaks of impending judgment that's to come, that is in the
future. We need to be very very careful
that we do not bind that prophecy on future time.
Times than they occurred. We also need to be careful as
some would do, you know, I've seen folks and I'm sure they do
it with all the best intentions, but they take a passage of
scripture in the Old Testament, they take it out of context,
they preach on it. Like, it's going to happen right
now or that it's going to happen in future times.
Not understanding that the Fulfillment of those prophecies
have already come. What was he speaking of then?
When he says the day of the Lord, That phrase is used in the
Bible on a number of occasions and it's used by way of when,
the Judgment of God would come upon the people.
And also, we can picture the day of the Lord.
There will be a day of the Lord on that last and final day being
the Judgment day. But that's not what he was
speaking of here. He's talking about the impending
judgment. That would come and even though
the destruction of locusts was so great, it's going to be
worse, it's going to come if they did not.
Not repent. Then in chapter 2, In Chapter 2,
we find the first warning and such and summons to look to God
is followed by a more urgent warning and call to repentance
because of this day of the Lord being at hand.
He pictures it as a day of darkness and gloominess, he
pictures it as a day of clouds and thick darkness and then Joe
goes into vivid language, describing the army of locusts.
The ones that were considered to be the northern Army of God.
He says they Home with elongated heads like horses and a forward,
March. Nothing can deter their own word
marks. All these Invaders are coming.
They're going to climb the walls and invade the courts.
In the houses, they will not break their ranks.
And I think this is fascinating because he pictures that the
locusts are coming in this great art as a great Army and the
sound of their na young and chewing and moving sounds like
chariots that were going into battle.
Now picture that picture a chariot wheel going along on
hard uneven ground and picture them all lined up within ranks
and we can hear them from a far distance away as those Wheels
would grind against that ground. And that's how he pictures the
sound of these locusts. But you know, in spite of the
terrible judgment and destruction caused by these
Locust, it's not too late. You remember, we talked about
that if the people will turn to God with a heart of genuine
penitents with unfeigned fasting and with weeping and mourning,
they were told to do what though here's the greatest picture of
repentance. They were told to Rend the heart
and not the garments. You know, that's a picture of
this. If you're going to make changes,
if you're going to be sorrowful, if Godly sorrow is going to
change you in your life, it must begin in the heart.
You have to render the heart and you have to repent inwardly and
not just outwardly. Now, outward manifestations of
the things that we do are very important because outward
manifestations show where our heart truly is.
But it begins. In the heart and he tells them
that if if they would Rend the heart and not the garments, if
they would weep, if they would mourn if they would lament.
And if they would purpose to change that, God would change
his mind to that, God would be merciful and he truly wants
first, he sends food, they so sorely needed.
And once more, they have their hunger.
Now, satisfied and secondly, he would remove the regulatory.
Proulx it's brought on them among the nation's by driving
out the Locust from their site and fullness gladness rejoicing
and freedom from the Locust. Scourge would come after the
people repented and turned back to their God and God gave them a
wonderful outpouring of material plenty and thus, our study ended
the last time. But the five things that we took
from that, That though are these number one calamities often
cause people to draw nigh to God.
Now I'm not talking about specifically natural calamities,
let me just say this. Let me just picture it.
Like this isn't it true that trouble causes people to turn to
God even in the world? You remember 9/11, when those
planes went flying into those twin towers and into the
Pentagon and down in that Pennsylvania field.
People that weren't even considering God in their life.
We're at least looking toward God.
They were going into church houses and standing next to
other people. They have never seen before and
holding hands. They desperately with yearning
Hearts. Wanted some sort of semblance of
feeling that all would be okay and all would be right.
That's what troubles and problems do in life, folks, they
cause us to draw nigh to God. That's not the problem because I
can look even in my life and sure you can look in your life
and you can say that in the greatest troubles or Sorrows or
challenges in your life if you're a child of God and if
you're Christian the first thing you did is you got by yourself
and you got on your knees and you wore your knees out, praying
to the great God Of Heaven because what you were going
through we understand that The question is, do we do that?
When all is, well, that's really the greater challenge because
calamities, trials problems, all of that, they cause men to draw
nigh to God to we learned the nature of repentance as I
mentioned. Just a moment ago, it must be
with our whole heart, it must be Inward and not just outward.
Three, we learned the nature of God, we learned that God is
gracious and God is merciful that he is slow.
Go to anger and of great kindness for, we learn that God
relates from doing harm. When we repent, you, remember we
mentioned Jonah and we preached on Jonah a while back in July,
but you remember about Jonah. These people were going to be
overthrown by God and God sends a sins, a little Hebrew preacher
and enemy of these people, and he goes up and down the streets.
And I understand, as I mentioned before, I'm mixing it again,
there's eight words in the English language that picture.
His sermon but only five in the Hebrew language.
So picture this way, sometimes we preach with all of our being
and we tried so very hard to have results.
We try so very hard to move the heart of The Sinner and so on
and so forth. And we preach for 30 45 minutes,
we go through a gospel meeting and preach ten sermons over an
eight-day period. And sometimes no results.
This man walked the streets of Nineveh that great City.
And remember, it was like the London of the day.
It was not some little Podunk town somewhere.
No, this was a great City and here's the sermon translated in
English language, original five word sermon from Hebrew yet,
forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown.
And the Bible says the people repented and God changed his
mind. That's what we learned from.
Last time, also, and finally, we learned this and let's not,
let's not forget this, we learn that, God means business.
He means business. He is going to be served the way
that he has described, that he will be served. and if we don't
do that and if we turn back and don't do that, Then the
punishments of God are, awaiting us.
All that being said, let's begin quickly.
Now, in verse 28, the word after word, speaking of now times
future from what he is already spoken of and verse 28, this
indicates a spiritual fullness would follow the material.
Fullness that's already been described.
And the specific fulfillment is declared by Peter on the day of
Pentecost following the resurrection and Ascension.
Of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
And here, Joe says, he says, this now, material, plenty has
already been restored to the people.
In fact, an outpouring interesting word, an outpouring
of material, plenty would come before the outpouring of
spiritual planning or simply put the spirit.
And here we find that Joel says that this outpouring of the
spirit would come upon All Flesh.
Shhhh Now, All Flesh signifies this.
It signifies both Jew and Gentile for one thing because
anyone that was not a Jew was a gentile.
Now, I don't know how much I have in me.
But there's some Italian in me and there's some other things in
me. And from my mother there's a
whole lot of West Virginia in me.
Whatever that is. There are people that are Irish
Hispanic, folks. There are people with all manner
of things and nationalities and so on.
But when we say Gentile, that is all-inclusive, that's inclusive
of anybody. That is not a Jew.
And Joel says that this outpouring of this spiritual of,
the spirit would be poured out, among all flesh, meaning Jews
and Gentiles. And also, meaning this meaning,
without distinction of race age or sex, very briefly.
Now look and look the 24th chapter about these things will
go right through here about how it was full.
Filled first at Pentecost, with regards to the Jews and Luke
chapter 24 beginning there in verse 44.
And he said unto them, these are the words, which I spake unto
you while. I was yet with you, that all
things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses
and in the prophets, and in the Psalms concerning me, then
opened he their understanding that they might understand the
scriptures and said unto them, thus it is written and thus, it
be who Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead.
The third day, and that repentance and remission of sins
Ends should be preached in his name, among all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem and you are witnesses of these things.
And behold I send the promise of my father upon you, but Terry
you in the city of Jerusalem until you be endued with power
from on high, hear the words of Jesus.
And you remember very briefly Jesus had already gone to Gaga,
Thurs brow. He hung on the cross, he shed
his blood and he died there on that cross.
Also, he was taken down from the cross.
He was buried. And on the third day, he rose
again and he spent about 40 days with his disciples which he's
presently doing now and he talks about this fulfillment of the
spirit, that's to be poured out that Joel spoke of so long ago.
He said that repentance and remission of sins would be
preached in his name, beginning at Jerusalem, and it was going
to be done on that day. Now, notice Joel speaks of an An
outpouring of the spirit, Jesus says it's the promise of my
father so that's what's going to be poured out from them and the
promise of the father was going to give them power from on high.
Jesus, here is speaking to his disciples.
He speaking to the apostles, the promise was to be given to them
and they were of Jewish blood. Now then going in X.
Number one now, Beginning in verse 4, this is before Jesus
ascended to his father, in Heaven and in verse 4 says and
being assembled together with them commanded them that they
should not depart from Jerusalem.
But wait for the promise of the father.
Which saith he you have heard of me for John truly baptized with
water but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, not many
days. Hence, who is Jesus speaking to
here before Jesus ascended to his father?
He speaking to the same man that he spoke to in Luke chapter 24.
He's not speaking to you, he's not speaking to me.
He's not speaking to anyone in this context after or separate
and apart from these apostles. Yes.
And here he says when they asked him the question and Acts
chapter 1, they said Lord will you at this time restore?
Again, the kingdom to Israel and Jesus responded and said it is
not for you to know the times or the seasons that the Lord hath
placed in his own power. But tells them again to stay in
Jerusalem. What for the promise of his
father? What's the promise of the father
that we just read? You shall be baptized with the
Holy Ghost. Not many days.
Hence, and in verse number 8, he says this but you shall receive
power after that. The Holy Ghost is come upon you.
The apostles and ye shall be Witnesses unto me both in
Jerusalem and in Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost
part of the earth. And when he had spoken these
things while they beheld, he was taken up and a cloud received
him out of their sight. So reviewing thus far, they were
to stay in Jerusalem, they're going to get what the promise of
my father. Jesus said it's going to come
who or to whom or upon whom it's coming to the apostles and only
the apostles. What did Jesus specifically say
in Acts 1 was the promise of his father.
He said it was the baptism of the Holy Spirit and here we go
next to beginning in verse 1 and when the day of Pentecost was
fully come, they were all with one Accord in one.
Thanks and suddenly, there came a sound from Heaven as of a
rushing, Mighty Wind. And it filled all the house,
where they were sitting, and there appeared unto them, cloven
tongues, like as of fire and it sat upon each of them and they
were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with
other tongues, as the spirit, gave them utterance and there
were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation
under heaven. Now, when this was noised
abroad, the multitudes came together.
And they were confounded because that on every man, they heard
him speak in his own language and they were all amazed and
marveled saying, one to another behold, aren't all these men
that speak galilaeans and how we hear every man in our own
tongue, wherein we were born parthians medes elamites and
dwellers of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia and pontus and
Asia. Phrygia pamphylia in Egypt.
And in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, Eenie and strangers of
Rome Jews and proselytes Crete's and Arabians.
We do hear them speak in our own tongues, the wonderful works of
God. And they were all amazed.
And with in doubt, saying one to another.
What meaneth? This other said, mockingly,
these men are drunken, these men are full of new wine.
But the response was this. The response was Peter standing
up with the eleven lifted up his voice and said unto them.
Ye men of Judea, and all that dwell at Jerusalem, be this
known unto you and hearken to my words for these are not drunken
as you suppose seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel and
it shall come to pass in the last days.
Saith God, I will pour out my spirit upon All Flesh, and your
sons and daughters shall prophesy and your young.
Young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams,
and on my servants. And on my handmaidens, I will
pour out in those days of my spirit and they shall prophesy
hence beginning at Jerusalem, then the apostles, the Jews
receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, fulfilling the
first part of what Joe meant when he said all flesh.
But then secondly, about a decade later, I'm told this
happened. Be fulfilled with regards to the
Gentiles and it was with regards to Cornelius and his household.
You remember that? Cornelius was a soldier.
The King James version, says he was a centurion.
He was a soldier of the Italian cohort or or Italian regiment.
He was a man that was devout, a man that feared God with all his
house. He was a man that gave much alms
to the people and he prayed to God, always and he sees in a
vision, the angel of God coming into him and saying his name
Cornelius and I can't imagine what that would do to me.
But I know he was afraid. The Bible says, when the angel
of the Lord came in and appeared to him and said, Cornelius, he
was startled and he was afraid. But then all of a sudden some
very reassuring and comforting words came from this Angel and
the angel says thy prayers and by alms are come up for a
memorial before God he tells Cornelius he says you send men
to Joppa and you find a man named Peter he's staying there.
He's lodging with a man named Simon the Tanner and he's there
you go find him. Well this man being a military
man this Cornelius I would imagine what have people that
would be under his Direct. And and when he would say to go
and do something, I would just imagine that people would just
snap right to it. Get up and be about what exactly
he said to do. What he tells them.
Is you go to Joppa. You go to Simon the Tanners
house and you find a man named Peter and you bring him back to
me. Interesting.
The angel recognized. That this was a man trying to be
religious. But it wasn't good enough.
He was a praying man. He was a giving man.
He was a good man. He was a man that I would
imagine would be held in high esteem among his peers in
society. He was a man that that meant
well. And yet the angel says no, you
send men to Joppa, you get Peter and he will tell you what you
have to do here. Tell you what, you're lacking
because right now, it's not good enough.
Well, you remember that as they left and as they were on their
way, Peter goes up to the house to pray and became very hungry.
And he fell into a trance and he saw heaven opened, and a certain
vessel descending unto him like a great white sheet at the Four
Corners let down to the Earth and on it were all Enter a
four-footed Beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping
things and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him.
It says Rise Peter kill and eat. But Peter said not so Lord for I
have never eaten anything common or unclean.
Well the voice came to him the second time and said what God
has cleansed that call, not thou common showing a picture of
God's acceptance of the Gentiles to You know what's neat about
this? We just can't go right past this
without making a comment. Here's the point when they bring
Peter to Cornelius And Cornelius sees this man.
I think this is so interesting. Because the angel said that
Peter was going to come with some Authority and come with
some knowledge that you need to have.
This is a Godly Man on the way. When Peter walks in Cornelius,
had been waiting for him. And he and his household were
patiently waiting to hear what Peter would have to say.
You know, what Cornelius does, he goes up to Peter, and he
falls down at his feet and he starts to worship Him.
You know, incidentally there's a certain affiliation that
worships men in this life too. They say that Peter was the
first one of those fellas. I guess.
They forgot to read this passage here because you know what?
Peter said Peter said oh no. No and he helps him up and says,
you will not worship me in essence because I am only a man.
I too am. Just a man and words would be
spoken by this man, but it is only God that's to be revered
and God to be served and worshipped.
Will Peter priest says this to, before he preaches that sermon
to him. He says, I have a truth, God is
no respecter of persons, but in every nation, he that feareth
him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him and he
preaches to them. And then in verse 44, Or of Acts
10 here it is. While Peter yet spake these
words, the Holy Ghost fell on them, which had heard the word
and they of the circumcision or those Jews that believe.
Those were converted Christians that were Jews were astonished
as many as came with Peter because that on the Gentiles
also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost, for they hunted,
them speak with tongues and magnify God, then answered
Peter. Can any forbid water that these
should be baptized? Just that have received the Holy
Ghost, as well as we and he commanded them to be baptized in
the name of the Lord, which is by the authority of the Lord,
which is water baptism, which is the one baptism that's pictured
in the New Testament. It's the only one that will take
away your sins. And this was a one-time thing to
show that the, the Holy Spirit would come unto the Gentiles to
prove to the Jews that they're accepted of God.
And we know that they did that because they said well how Can
we forbid water? If they have received the Holy
Ghost, like we, and they were baptized by the authority of
Jesus Christ, on that day. But also, Joel says that your
sons and your daughter's shall prophesy, your old men shall
dream dreams your young men shall see Visions.
This also has already been fulfilled and does not apply
today, but we find that this is fulfilled in the New Testament.
For example, well, for Philip had four virgin daughters who
prophesied first Corinthians, 21, and verse 9, the Apostle,
Paul tells of women who prophesied first Corinthians 11,
and verse number 5, But what do the Tom's prophesying visions
and dreams? What do they all mean?
First of all, they seem not to be completely distinct from one
another, but they are complementary with each other,
prophesying by definition stands for one of the for the whole of
teaching. By inspiration of the spirit
visions and dreams indicate. Two forms of Revelation by which
God would make himself known to the profit for example in
numbers. 12 and verse 6, it says, and he said here, now my
words, if there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make
myself known unto him in a vision and will speak unto him
in a dream. And so, it is concluded.
Therefore that what took place on Pentecost.
Mark the beginning of the complete fulfillment of Joel's
word, and then Joel pictures. God is showing wonders and blood
and fire and pillars of smoke. Smoke in heaven and on Earth
blood here, suggests Bloodshed fired upon the Earth, suggest
the burning of cities during which the pillars of smoke,
billow heavenward, this figure as used by Joel became a
description of approaching judgment.
We're going to get to what exactly that was in just a
moment. But let me just say this, it is
true that Jesus did not come to condemn the world or judge the
world. He came to save the world.
That's a fact. Let me just say this, it became
an inevitable part of his work. because if people would reject
the spirit, And if people reject the spirit today which is
through the word of God, if people reject that then judgment
is coming when he pictures this, I believe he's referring to the
destruction of Jerusalem. I believe he's talking about
things when you see those things, pictured, it often times
in the Bible pictures, the destruction of a nation and I
believe that that's already happened.
But let me just say this, it does become a prophetic type of
judgment to come for all those who reject the spirit rejoices
Reject, this word are going to find themselves in the same
category as has been mentioned. You know, when I think about how
When I think about how the great pains that God has gone about to
save our soul. We might look at these things as
harsh, but look at the price that's been paid.
We understand the importance by what God was willing to give in
exchange for it and Jesus too. The blessings of Heaven are so
great. Seeing in the eyes of God is so
bad. There can only be one way and if
we reject the teachings of his son that's revealed to me by the
Holy Spirit In This Book, I'm going to find myself in that
last and final day standing before the judgement of God when
God will pass down his judgment on me for my Disobedience, very
quickly, Joel pictured it like this, too.
And then Peter says it in verse 21 of Acts 2 and that is, but
whosoever, shall call on the name of the Lord shall be
delivered. Now, the question is, what's
calling on the name of the Lord? That's exactly what Joel said.
Joel said this, that this destruction is going.
About this destruction of Jerusalem is going to be
devastating and so on. But the remnant, you remember,
according to the election of Grace, Romans 11, and 5, those
that would call on the name of the Lord.
In other words, obey What the Lord Has commanded, they'll be
delivered such destruction. and that's the way it was then, and
that's the way it is now calling on the name of the Lord is, as
Peter said in First Peter 3:21 / to First Peter Acts 2:38.
Then Peter said unto them, repent and be baptized every one
of you. In the name of Jesus Christ for
the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the
Holy Ghost. You remember?
There was another time when this came out and this came up about
calling on the name of the Lord. When Saul of Tarsus was on the
Damascus Road, to go bind those that would call on the name of
the Lord and would obey the Lord, and would be a Christian.
You remember that, as he's on that road, a great light shine
round about him and it was Jesus and Jesus stopped him dead in
his tracks and says Saul Saul. Why persecutest thou me?
And he responded by saying who art?
Thou Lord. He said I am Jesus.
Whom thou persecutest it's hard for thee to kick against the
Pricks. He said, what will you have me
to do? With those blind that blind man
had to be led into the end of the city.
And he was going to be told what he must do and he goes in and
prays for three days. And let me just say this, Would
you imagine in a three-day prayer?
If there's anything at all, you could have missed in a prayer.
I imagine not. I would imagine you know we get
kind of kind of ruffled when somebody preaches 15 minutes or
praise 15 minutes three days. And I would just imagine that he
got everything said that needed to be said Wasn't enough though
was it, he accepted Jesus for whom he was absolutely.
He was willing to obey Jesus and what do you want me to do?
He was sorrowful. He went in and prayed
repentantly for three days. But ananias, here comes the
preacher and he comes on the scene and he says, and now why
tarriest thou arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins
calling on the name of the Lord. That's how you call on the name
of the Lord is to obey with the The Lord said and that's done
and fulfilled at baptism. but finally, and lastly Once again,
though, with regards to the picture that Joe says about the
nation's that are going to find themself in judgment and the
nation's that are going to be punished for persecuting and
punishing God's people and so on and so forth.
That's pictured in the third chapter.
Again, as it was with the Locust, here's a ray of Hope.
The real hope is it doesn't have to be like that.
The Ray of Hope is. That there's a bright light
shining. And that is that God will be a
refuge in a stronghold to all those who seek shelter beneath
the shadow of his infinite wing. This is to be done in Zion Joel
says or spiritual Jerusalem and that is the church.
You know, no strangers will pass through her today.
You ever think of that. Strangers could pass through
Jerusalem. Of old.
But there'll be no strangers passing through the church. and
in order to have the blessings of Zion where God says, I would
well in order to have the blessings of spiritual Jerusalem
which is the church, you can't have those blessings without
being a citizen of that. Place.
A citizen of that Kingdom. And that's the church.
There is no blessings outside of the church spiritual.
Zion is impregnable and will never be destroyed.
Me ask you a question. I think this is really
important. I really do.
What is your view? Of the church.
How do you view the church today?
Because let me just say this, it is true.
It is true that throughout time, man.
Has digressed from that, which is right.
That's a fact. Man is done, that man will
continue to do that. I'm afraid people will make bad
choices, and there are people in the world that are not living as
they should. That is all true.
There are Christians who have turned their back.
Also, that is true. But how do you view the church?
This is important fellas. I'm speaking to you now, leaders
and teachers. Listen, Very important.
How do you view the church? Because attitude reflects
leadership. I know there are things that
aren't right in the world, maybe even among God's people, but
don't ever forget this, the church is perfect.
The institution of the church is perfect, and that is the only
thing that will be delivered back over to God.
I am confident, I am confident beyond a shadow of a doubt that
there's not one man in this world.
There's not one innovation in this world that can come in and
destroy the body of Christ as a whole.
Now, some may have lost their Candlestick, some may have lost
their identity and digress from that which Right?
That may be true but ladies and gentlemen, they cannot touch the
church as a whole. The church is the body of
Christ. It is the kingdom of Christ is
spiritual Zion, and that's what Jesus is going to handle his
father one day. One more should verse and I'm
through 1st Corinthians, 15 beginning in verse 24.
Then cometh the end when he shall have delivered up the
kingdom to God. Even the father, when he shall
have, put down all Rule and all authority and power for, he must
Reign till he hath. Put all enemies under his feet
and The Last Enemy that shall be.
Destroyed is death for he hath put all things under his feet
but when he saith all things are put under him, it is Manifest
that he is excepted, which did put all things under him and
went All things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the son,
also himself be subject unto him, that put all things under
him that God may be all in all. That's a promise.
I believe it. And no man can get in the way of
just that. I think that's important too.
Because folks, we got to convert people to that church.
We have something to sell. we sure do if you'll pardon the
common term, We do. Their salvation found in the
gospel. And you can't have salvation
outside of the church. Let's take that to the world.
Let's convert folks with the good news to all.
We always stand against things that are wrong, don't get me
wrong, don't misinterpret misunderstand.
What I'm saying. But never view the church in
anything, but it is, and that is the greatest institution in all
the world. Because that's the way I get to
heaven. We thank you for listening to
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