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How to Respond to Global Crisis - Bible Verse Handbook
Session 7 How to Respond to Global Crisis (Joel 2:12-17) I. CORPORATE INTERCESSORY WORSHIP A. The Father's power is released to the nations as Jesus makes intercession for them throughout all eternity. 25He [Jesus] always lives to make intercession for them. 8 [The Father said to Jesus]“… Ask of Me [intercession], and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession.” (Ps. 2:8) He opens doors of blessing and closes doors of oppression in response to our prayers. 2You do not have because you do not ask. (Jas. 4:2) 21“This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” God is waiting for our persistence in prayer before Him. 18The LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you…19He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you. God searched for an intercessor to stand in the gap between Himself and Israel, to pray that judgment be withheld. 30“So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.” (Ezek. 22:30) When God was angry with Israel because of her sin, Moses stood in the gap between Israel and God in prayer. 9The LORD said to Moses, “…Indeed it is a stiff-necked people! 10Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them…” 11Then Moses pleaded with the LORD his God, and said: “…Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people…” 14So the LORD relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people. (Ex. 32:9-14) II. CORPORATE INTERCESSORY WORSHIP God's primary call to a nation in crisis is to gather in solemn assemblies (Joel 2:12-17 See Session #1 Bible Verse Handbook ) 5. There are many things that God will not give us until we ask Him with faith and obedience. 8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward [ c ] us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Pet. 3:8-9) Corporate intercessory worship releases blessing on the redeemed and judgment on the enemy. 6Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, 7to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; 8to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9to execute on them the written judgment—this honor have all His saints. Praise the LORD! (Ps. 149:6-9) Corporate intercessory worship stops the work of the enemy. King Jehoshaphat employed corporate intercessory worship when resisting the attack from the nations of Moab and Ammon. God responded by setting ambushes against Israel's enemies. 3Jehoshaphat…set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4So Judah gathered together to ask help from the LORD; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD…18All Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. 19Then the Levites…stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with voices loud and high…21He [Jehoshaphat] appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the LORD, For His mercy endures forever.” 22Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. (2 Chr. 20:3-4, 18-22) III. THE RESPONSE THAT GOD REQUIRES: SOLEMN ASSEMBLIES 12“Now, therefore,” says the LORD, “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” 13So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm. 14Who knows if He will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him…?15Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; 16gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and nursing babes…17Let the priests…weep between the porch and the altar; let them say, “Spare Your people, O LORD…” (Joel 2:12-17) God tells us what we are to do to receive His mercy and deliverance—we are to turn to Him in wholeheartedness. IV. TURN TO GOD WITH WHOLEHEARTEDNESS 12Now therefore, says the LORD, “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping and with mourning.”13Rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the LORD… (Joel 2:12-13) God wants our hearts and our love 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' (Mt. 22:37) V. REND YOUR HEART AND NOT YOUR GARMENTS 13Rend your heart and not your garments; return to the LORD your God… (Joel 2:13) To rend means to tear something violently or forcibly. 29“If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out…for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” (Mt. 5:29) VI. REPENTING WITH CONFIDENCE IN GOD'S TENDER HEART: A 5-FOLD REVELATION 13Return to the LORD…14for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; He relents from doing harm. Who knows if He will turn and relent…? (Joel 2:13-14) First, the Lord is gracious in that He evaluates us differently from the way everyone else evaluates us. God's grace puts His requirements within reach, even in our weakness 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. (1 Jn. 5:4) 10He has not dealt with…nor punished us according to our iniquities. (Ps. 103:10) 14For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. Second, the Lord delights in mercy. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, a nd the unrighteous man his thoughts; 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, n or are your ways My ways,” says the Lord . 10 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, a nd do not return there, 18Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity…because He delights in mercy. (Mic. 7:18) Third, the Lord is slow to anger and takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked 11Say to them: “As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” (Ezek. 33:11) God is not easily provoked by our weakness. He longs to forgive all who ask for forgiveness. 14God…devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him. (2 Sam. 14:14) Jesus spoke of His great patience to the church in Thyatira. 20“Because you allow…Jezebel…to teach…My servants to commit sexual immorality…21I gave her time to repent of her immorality…22Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent.” (Rev. 2:20-22) Fourth, the Lord has great kindness. 4Do you despise the riches of His goodness [kindness], forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness [kindness] of God leads you to repentance? (Rom. 2:4) 35Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great. (Ps. 18:35) Fifth, the Lord relents from doing harm. VII. THE LORD RELENTS FROM SENDING JUDGMENT 13Return to the LORD…for He is gracious…He relents from doing harm. (Joel 2:13) 30“I sought for a man…who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.” (Ezek. 22:30) God desires to relent, or to cancel the decree of judgment, instead of issuing it. 1Gather yourselves…2before the decree is issued…before the LORD's fierce anger comes upon you…3Seek the LORD…it may be that you will be hidden in the day of…anger. (Zeph. 2:1-3) In response to our prayer, God changes what He releases in a nation or in our lives Sodom 22 Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord . 23 And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? 25 Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” 26 So the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.” 27 Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: 28 Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?” So He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it. ” 29 And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there should be forty found there?” So He said, “I will not do it for the sake of forty.” 30 Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?” So He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” 31 And he said, “Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?” So He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.” 32 Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.” 33 So the Lord went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place. (Gen. 18:22-32) The Israelites 9 And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people! 10 Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation.” 11 Then Moses pleaded with the Lord his God, and said: “ Lord , why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians speak, and say, ‘He brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth'? Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven; and all this land that I have spoken of I give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.' ” 14 So the Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people. (Ex. 32: 9-14) The Death of David's Son And the Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it became ill. 16 David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. 17 So the elders of his house arose and went to him, to raise him up from the ground. But he would not, nor did he eat food with them. 18 Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, “Indeed, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not heed our voice. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He may do some harm!” 19 When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead. Therefore David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” And they said, “He is dead.” 20 So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate. 21 Then his servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” 22 And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether [ b ] the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?' 23 But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” 10 And David's heart condemned him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the Lord , “I have sinned greatly in what I have done; but now, I pray, O Lord , take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.” 11 Now when David arose in the morning, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, 12 “Go and tell David, ‘Thus says the Lord : “I offer you three things; choose one of them for yourself, that I may do it to you.” ' ” 13 So Gad came to David and told him; and he said to him, “Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or shall you flee three months before your enemies, while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days' plague in your land? Now consider and see what answer I should take back to Him who sent me.” 14 And David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the Lord , for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.” (2 Sam. 24:10-14) The king of Judah 22 So Hilkiah and those the king had appointed went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) And they spoke to her to that effect. 23 Then she answered them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me, 24 “Thus says the Lord : ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants, all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah, 25 because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath will be poured out on this place, and not be quenched.' ” 26 But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord , in this manner you shall speak to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “ Concerning the words which you have heard— 27 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you, ” says the Lord . 28 “Surely I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place and its inhabitants.” ' ” So they brought back word to the king. (2 Chr. 34:22-28) House of Israel 5 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 6 “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord . “Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! 7 The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, 8 if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. 9 And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, 10 if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it. 11 “Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord : “Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.” ' ” (Jer. 18:5-11) Turn and live 21 “But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22 None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. 28 Because he considers and turns away from all the transgressions which he committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 1 Hear this word which I take up against you, a lamentation, O house of Israel: 2 The virgin of Israel has fallen; s he will rise no more. 3 For thus says the Lord God : “The city that goes out by a thousand 14 Seek good and not evil, 1 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, 17 Though the fig tree may not blossom, 19 The Lord God is my strength; 16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, 17 “They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, 4 “For behold, the day is coming, 4 “Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, VIII. WHO KNOWS? —THE “PERHAPS OF GOD” 13So rend your heart…for He is gracious…and He relents from doing harm. 14Who knows if He will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him—a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God? (Joel 2:13-14) 3Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth…seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be [perhaps] that you will be hidden [protected] in the day of the LORD's anger. (Zeph. 2:3) David knew about this “perhaps” of God after he sinned with Bathsheba. 16David pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground…18On the seventh day…the child died…20David…anointed himself…and he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. 21His servants said, “What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” 22And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?'” IX. GATHER THE PEOPLE AND SANCTIFY THE CONGREGATION 15Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; 16gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and nursing babes… (Joel 2:15-16) X. GIVE YOURSELF TO EARNEST PRAYER 17Let the priests who minister to the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar. Let them say, “Spare Your people, O LORD, and do not give Your heritage to reproach, that the nations[Babylon] should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?'” (Joel 2:17) XI. THE RESPONSE GOD REQUIRES XII. EXAMPLES OF RESPONDING TO GOD IN HUMILITY AND AVOIDING JUDGMENT King Josiah sent word to Huldah the prophetess, asking her to inquire of the Lord for him. (Deut. 28:47-64) Josiah humbled himself and received Huldah's word. 23Thus says the LORD God…“Tell the man [King Josiah]…24‘Behold, I will bring calamity on this place…all the curses that are written in the book [Deut. 28:47-52 ]…25because they have forsaken Me…Therefore My wrath will be poured out on this place…'”26But as for the king…speak to him, “Thus says the LORD…27‘Because your heart was tender…and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I have heard you…28Surely…you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place [Jerusalem] and its inhabitants.'” (2 Chr. 34:23-28) 29Then the king sent and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30And the king went up to the house of the LORD, with all the men of Judah…31Then the king stood in his place and made a covenant…to follow the LORD…with all his heart…32He made all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin take a stand… 2. Josiah responded to these prophecies. 26 But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord , in this manner you shall speak to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “ Concerning the words which you have heard— 27 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you, ” says the Lord . (2 Chr. 34:26-27) King Jehoshaphat called the people to cry out to God in a corporate solemn assembly with fasting and prayer. God delivered Israel from the military attacks. 3Jehoshaphat…set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4So Judah gathered together to ask help from the LORD; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD…21…He [Jehoshaphat] appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the LORD, For His mercy endures forever.” 22Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORDset ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. B. Ahab was one of the most evil kings in Israel's history. He humbled himself in a time of judgment and received mercy. 25There was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness…26He behaved very abominably in following idols…27So it was, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his body, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about mourning. 28The word of the LORD came to Elijah saying, 29“See how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days. In the days of his son I will bring the calamity on his house.” (1 Kgs. 21:25-29) C. Manasseh was also one of the evil kings in Israel's history. He humbled himself and received God's mercy during a time of judgment 12When he was in affliction, he implored the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, 13and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God. (2 Chr. 33:12-13) Earlier in Manasseh's life, the Scripture describes him as being under God's judgment 26 Nevertheless the Lord did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath, with which His anger was aroused against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked Him. 27 And the Lord said, “I will also remove Judah from My sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, ‘My name shall be there.' ” (2 Kgs. 23:26-27)
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