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Joel End Times Series - Session #7: How to Respond to Global
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Session 7 How to Respond to Global Crisis (Joel 2:12-17)
I. CORPORATE INTERCESSORY WORSHIP
A. God has given the human race great dignity. We have free will,
which means we have been given the ability to make real choices
that make a real difference. We affect the quality of life by what
we do with our free will. Our choices for righteousness or for sin
will bring either blessing or evil to us and to those near us. If
we choose righteousness, then we open doors of blessings to others.
Our free will provides the legal entry point for both angels and
demons to be much more active in the natural realm. When we live
in righteousness, we open up legal access for angelic activity into
the natural realm. When people live in sin, they open up legal entry
points for demonic activity to be heightened.
God governs the universe in partnership with His people through
intercession. The majesty and mystery of intercession is seen foremost
in Jesus’ relationship with the Father. 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. (Heb. 7:25)
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)
The prayer room is the governmental center of the universe. God
has chosen to release His power through our prayers. Prayer transcends
time and distance. Paul could change the church in Ephesus through
his prayers while he was in prison in Rome. In the same way, we
can change the cities of the earth through our prayers in our local
prayer meetings.
God has determined the primary events in His eternal plan (Jesus’
second coming, Jesus reigning over the earth as King, Satan cast
into the lake of fire, establishing the new earth, etc.). Regardless
of what people do, God will accomplish the main events in His eternal
plan.
He gives His people a dynamic role in determining some of the measure
of the “quality of life” that we experience in the natural
and in the Spirit. We determine this based on our response to the
grace of God in our partnership with Him, particularly in prayer,
obedience, and meekness.
He opens doors of blessing and closes doors of oppression in response
to our prayers. There are blessings that God only gives as His people
ask for them.
2You do not have because you do not ask. (Jas.
4:2)
21“This kind does not go out except by prayer
and fasting.” (Mt. 17:21)
God is waiting for our persistence in prayer before Him. Isaiah
taught that God longs to release His grace and power, but actually
waits until He hears the cry of His people in intercession.
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. (Isa. 30:18-19; NASB)
God searched for an intercessor to stand in the gap between Himself
and Israel, to pray that judgment be withheld. God did not find
such a one; thus, He destroyed the land. Intercession changes the
course of nations.
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. God relented, or changed
His plan, and did not destroy Israel.
9The LORDsaid 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 LORDhis 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
Corporate intercessory worship is the primary means God has chosen
to release His government (power) in His relationship with Jesus
and His redeemed. It is the highest expression of government in
time and eternity, and the most powerful weapon that exists.
God’s primary call to a nation in crisis is to gather in solemn
assemblies (Joel 2:12-17).
1. Corporate: God requires that we gather for
corporate prayer. It requires humility to embrace all that is implied
in gathering corporately. The differences in worship and prayer
styles, doctrinal emphases, and various personalities make humility
a necessity for those who meet together regularly.
2. Intercessory: Intercessory prayer is standing
in the gap for others, and praying back to God the things He has
promised to do for His people.
3. Worship: God is looking for prayer that is
based on worship. Prophetic music and singing unifies God’s
people in a unique way. Through worship, thousands can remain in
unity for sustained periods of time as they feel the same truths.
Some “trust” the sovereignty of God in a non-biblical
way by “trusting” God to do the role that He has assigned
to us. This is not truly trusting God, but is presumption before
Him. We cannot do God’s part and He will not do our part.
4. Some misapply the truth that if God wants something, then He
will do it. This is true in some of the broad strokes of how He
leads history.
5. There are many things that God will not give us until we ask
Him with faith and obedience. For example, God wants all to be saved,
but it does not just happen, because God will not violate our free
will—not even for our salvation (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 LORDGod 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
LORDset 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 LORDyour 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)
In 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.
In a time of crisis, God requires that His people gather together
for solemn assemblies; that is, to return to Him in wholeheartedness
with prayer and fasting.
A solemn, or sacred, assembly involves the leaders and the people
joining together to repent and fast, and to pray for the intervention
of God’s power and mercy.
We are to cry out for God’s favor in solemn assemblies before
and during a crisis.
The response that God requires in a time of crisis is the same today
as it was in Joel’s generation. He does not leave us guessing
as to what He desires from us. We can act with confidence.
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 (Mt. 22:37). He requires that
we respond to His love by loving Him. Turning to God in wholeheartedness
involves repenting, fasting, and praying.
Mankind’s very existence is on account of God’s love
for us and His desire for a deep relationship with us.
The place of safety in the time of judgment is in the midst of
a company of people living in long-term, corporate wholeheartedness.
As we respond wholeheartedly to Jesus’ work on the cross,
we walk in God’s favor in a time of judgment.
I want to be in the midst of a people who are developing a corporate,
long-term history in wholeheartedness. I believe that corporate
wholeheartedness is the safest environment on earth.
V. REND YOUR HEART AND NOT YOUR GARMENTS
13Rend your heart and not your garments; return to
the LORDyour God… (Joel 2:13)
In Joel’s day, people tore their garments to show their grief
and desperation. However, what God desires is the tearing of our
heart, which speaks of dealing radically with the matters of our
heart.
To rend means to tear something violently or forcibly. We tear
our heart away from everything in our life that quenches the Spirit!
Jesus spoke symbolically of this tearing, or radical obedience.
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)
Tearing our heart is intensely personal and painful. Some want
the Spirit to free them from their sinful patterns and relationships,
without it requiring any personal choices that tear their heart.
We cannot pursue whole heartedness in a casual way. Some hope for
a wholeheartedness that is gentle, easy, and tame.
Jesus tore His heart when He went to the cross. The Father’s
heart was torn when Jesus went to the cross. It continues to be
torn in His patient longsuffering with His people, as they refuse
Him. He tears His own heart in His pursuit after us. He has proved
that He does not love us in a detached, distant way. To fully enter
into this love, our own hearts must be torn.
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)
Joel summons the people to return to the Lord, giving five reasons
why this is doable and wise. God is gracious, merciful, slow to
anger, and of great kindness, and He relents from doing harm. He
desires to make a way of deliverance. The knowledge of God’s
heart for us gives us courage to tear our hearts in repentance.
If we take one step toward Him, He will take ten steps toward us.
First, the Lord is gracious in that He evaluates us differently
from the way everyone else evaluates us. He is not a harsh leader,
like an angry coach or parent who despises weakness. God’s
style of relating is human-friendly. God’s grace puts His
requirements within reach, even in our weakness (1 Jn. 5:4). Some do not turn to the Lord because they do not understand
that He is gracious, and that He will make a way of deliverance
for us. He remembers our frailty and that we are but dust.
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. (Ps. 103:14)
Second, the Lord delights in mercy. He enjoys it when we discover
that He gives us a new start after each failure. Truly, there is
no one like God in showing mercy (Isa. 55:7-11)!
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 (Ezek. 33:11). God is not easily provoked by our weakness.
He longs to forgive all who ask for forgiveness.
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)
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. He
gave them time to repent of their immorality, and He does the same
for us.
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. When we believe in God’s
kindness, we have confidence to press into full repentance. Our
repentance will never be met with rejection. This gives us the courage
to tear our hearts, knowing that God desires to help and restore
our fellowship with Him.
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. He desires to cancel the
judgment that a nation deserves.
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.
There are two stages in God’s decrees: First, the decree is
decided on in God’s court. Second, the decree is issued as
God releases angels to execute the judgment. A decree can be canceled.
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 personal lives. A disaster that is decided on in God’s
court may be changed (Gen. 18:22-32; Ex. 32: 9-14; 2 Sam. 12:15-23;
24:10-14; 2 Chr. 34:22-28; Jer. 18:5-11; Ezek. 18:21, 22,
28; Amos 5:1-3,14-15; Zeph. 2:1-3; Hab.
3:17-19; Mal. 3:16-4:6).
One of the great examples of God’s willingness to relent
is found in the destruction of Sodom. Upon learning of God’s
intention to judge the city, Abraham asked the Lord if He would
relent and save it if there were only fifty righteous people in
it. The Lord told Abraham that He would. Abraham pressed the question
to forty-five people, then forty, then thirty, then twenty. Finally,
Abraham said, “If there were only ten righteous, would You
spare the city?” The Lord said that He would spare the city
if only ten righteous people were found Gen. 18.
There are three steps in our partnership with God. First, God initiates
what He wants by declaring it in His Word and stirring our hearts.
Second, we respond in obedience and prayer to God’s initiative.
Third, God answers our responses by releasing more blessing, which
He would otherwise have withheld if He had not heard our cry. Our
prayers really matter.
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 LORDyour 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)
There is what I refer to as “the perhaps of God” in
God’s plans. Perhaps God may respond to your prayers and hide
or protect you and your geographic area in a time of judgment.
God desires to turn from judgment and leave a blessing. He prefers
to transform a would-be disaster zone into a revival center. The
Lord relents from judgment in geographic areas according to the
response of His people.
In Joel’s day, in light of the Babylonian invasion that Israel
faced, God called them to cry out to Him that He might provide “pockets
of mercy” in the midst of the invasion.
Joel spoke of the blessing that the Lord might leave behind in
the grain and drink offerings. He was saying, in essence, that if
the Babylonian invasion happened, the crops would be utterly destroyed.
Then there would be no grain or wine for the offerings to the Lord.
David knew about this “perhaps” of God after he sinned
with Bathsheba. She bore a son. Nathan prophesied to David that
the baby would die because of his sin. David knew the baby might
die, but he also knew that God’s mercy was so great that “perhaps”
He would spare the child.
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 LORDand 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 LORDwill
be gracious to me, that the child may live?’” (2
Sam. 12:16-22)
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)
How should we respond to the danger that we see arising in the
earth? The Lord has given us a clear and effective plan through
the prophet Joel. It will take faith to carry it out.
We are to blow the trumpet in Zion, to call a solemn assembly. We
assemble the elders who will then gather the people to pray and
fast.
Blow the trumpet in Zion:Boldly proclaim the coming
judgment and the solemn assembly.
Consecrate a fast: Fasting positions our hearts
to experience the grace of God in a greater way.
Call a sacred assembly:Gatherings that are sacred—to
our heart and in our schedules.
Gather the people and children, and assemble the elders: The children
are to be part of this gathering (we urge children to not fast food).
No one was exempt from crying out to Him, because no one was exempt
from the coming Babylonian crisis that was to affect the whole nation.
A. Sanctify the congregation: Leaders sanctify
people in their congregation by laying aside ministry programs and
activities to make seeking God together the top priority during
that special season. The people were to see the meetings as sacred.
This refers both to having a sacred attitude in the prayer meetings
and to treating the assembly as sacred in terms of prioritizing
our time in order to attend. In other words, they were to approach
the assembly with a serious attitude—an attitude of it being
important to their schedule.
B. Joel used three words to emphasize the sanctity of their gathering.
He urged them to consecrate times of fasting, to see the gathering
(assemblies) as sacred, and to sanctify the congregation.
C. One dictionary defines sacred as something dedicated to God
for religious purposes or dedicatedreverently and exclusively to
a single use because it is worthy of great respect; or as something
a person holds to be important, and thus, has a transformative effect
on their life and destiny. To be sacred is in contrast to being
secular (such as sacred music); it is to reverently dedicate.
D. Seeing an activity as sacred can be applied in two ways. First,
it can be seen as holy, or directly connected to God in a unique
way, such as the sacred Scriptures. Second, it can be seenas very
important to us, not something we take casually or see as optional.
We follow through on our commitments to God when we see them as
being important to God. Thus, they are sacred or important to us.
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)
The response God requires involves offering earnest prayer for
mercy, that we might be spared.
Joel called the priests to lead the people in offering two prayer
requests.
1. First, “Spare Your people!” This is a prayer that
God would stop the judgment altogether.
2. Second, “Do not give Your heritage to reproach that the
nations should rule over them.” They were to pray that God
would stop the Babylonian military invasion so that a wicked nation
would not rule over Israel. “Why should they say among the
unbelieving peoples and nations, ‘Where is your God?’”
In other words, they were to pray that unbelieving Gentile nations
would not mock Israel because God was no longer in their midst to
bless and protect them.
3. Some commentaries see the military invasion of Joel 2:1-9 as
merely a reiteration of the locust invasion of Joel 1. However,
in this prayer, Joel points to a crisis involving a military invasion
rather than a natural disaster brought on by locusts. This prayer
was not asking God to stop locusts from devouring their crops.
B. We may use a secondary application of this prayer by asking
the Lord to spare the Church from spiritual barrenness and powerless
that unbelievers would not mock God’s people, as if God were
not real. We beseech God to vindicate His people forthesake of His
name! He delights in bringing glory to Jesus’ name by answering
the prayers of the saints for Him to show His power.
Unbelievers reason that if there is no power in the Church, then
God is not listening to our prayers. It logically follows that if
God does not listen to us, why should they? We cry out that God
would take away our reproach by empowering us.
XI. THE RESPONSE GOD REQUIRES
The central idea of Joel 2:12-17 is that God wants to deliver His
people. He desires to show compassion and to release His power.
Therefore, He has given us clear instruction. Joel 2 offers us the
clearest direction in the Scripture as to how we receive God’s
mercy when facing a crisis. God wants us to have faith and confidence
in time of crisis.
God is looking for a specific response from His people in time
of trouble. Joel 2:12-17 tells us exactly what we are to do to receive
His mercy and deliverance.
XII. EXAMPLES OF RESPONDING TO GOD IN HUMILITY AND AVOIDING
JUDGMENT
In Deut. 28 King Josiah sent word to Huldah the prophetess, asking her to inquire
of the Lord for him. She pointed out that God promised through Moses
to destroy Israel if they rejected God. Josiah
humbled himself and received Huldah’s word.
23Thus says the LORDGod…“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 allthe 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 Chr. 34:29-32)
1. The primary prophet in Josiah’s day was Jeremiah, who
prophesied the Babylonian invasion of Israel. Josiah received his
ministry. The Lord had been warning Israel about the coming Babylonian
military invasion for several decades through prophets like Joel,
Habakkuk, and Zephaniah, and even as far back as Isaiah (over
100 years earlier).
2. Josiah responded to these prophecies. He led a spiritual reform
before the Babylonian captivity. God saw his wholeheartedness (2
Chr. 34:26-27) and responded by delaying the judgment of the Babylonian
invasion until after Josiah’s lifetime. Josiah died in 609
BC, possibly around the time of Joel’s ministry. The invasion
began in 606 BC.
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 attack by Moabites and Ammonites.
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. (2 Chr. 20:3-4, 18-22)
B. Ahab was one of the most evil kings in Israel’s history.
He humbled himself in a time of judgment and received mercy. This
is an amazing example of how far God’s mercy will reach.
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 LORDcame 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 (2 Chr. 33:9-13). Earlier in Manasseh’s life,
the Scripture describes him as being under God’s judgment
(2 Kgs. 23:26).
12When he was in affliction, he implored the LORDhis
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 LORDwas God. (2 Chr. 33:12-13)
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