WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:10.099 Let me add my welcome to Grahams. My name is Alistair. I have the privilege of being on staff here at Brunsfield and it is great to have you with us, whether you've been here for years or if this is your first time. 00:00:10.859 --> 00:00:18.120 And I have the privilege this morning of starting our, or doing our first sermon in the short series on the book of Joel. 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:26.679 Now, Joel is in the Old Testament, in probably one of the least read or least understood parts of the Bible. 00:00:27.019 --> 00:00:28.920 So why bother studying it together? 00:00:30.239 --> 00:00:37.439 Well, as a church, we believe the Bible is the Word of God and therefore everything that is in it is important. 00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:46.280 Even though some of the Old Testament might be difficult and seem quite strange at points, all of it is profitable for our learning. 00:00:47.620 --> 00:00:50.140 And so where does the book of Joel come in the Old Testament? 00:00:50.820 --> 00:00:55.460 It's one of the 12 minor prophets, so the last 12 books of the Old Testament. 00:00:55.460 --> 00:01:04.099 And some of the big themes that we're going to be thinking about over the next few Sunday mornings together are themes like God's justice and God's love. 00:01:04.659 --> 00:01:08.960 God's faithfulness and God's grace and the day of the Lord. 00:01:08.959 --> 00:01:12.599 So what's happened so far in the Old Testament? 00:01:13.439 --> 00:01:17.319 Well, the most important thing in the Old Testament is God's covenant. 00:01:17.780 --> 00:01:25.539 The covenant that he made with his people, meaning that God chose the nation of Israel and entered into a relationship with them. 00:01:25.540 --> 00:01:29.620 He promised to love and protect and provide for them. 00:01:30.340 --> 00:01:40.320 And they were to be his representatives on earth, his witnesses of his glory and majesty, pointing all other people to God so that they would worship him. 00:01:40.319 --> 00:01:48.699 And as part of God's covenant, he gave them laws that they were to follow so that they could see their sinfulness and their need to be made right with God. 00:01:49.619 --> 00:01:56.439 And time and time again, as you'll know, if you've read the Old Testament, Israel rebel, they fail. 00:01:57.359 --> 00:02:00.459 But God is always, always faithful. 00:02:00.639 --> 00:02:02.699 He does not go back on his promises. 00:02:02.700 --> 00:02:12.800 God sends people time and time again to the people of Israel to warn them of their sin and call them back into a relationship with him. 00:02:13.360 --> 00:02:14.759 These people are called prophets. 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:22.480 And Joel, as we'll see this morning, is one of those prophets sent by God to call Israel back to himself. 00:02:23.900 --> 00:02:29.340 In the book of Joel, God is saying to the nation of Israel, return to me. 00:02:29.980 --> 00:02:31.159 That's what God is saying. 00:02:31.159 --> 00:02:37.240 And you'll notice in a moment when we read the book of Joel, we aren't actually told when the book was written. 00:02:40.539 --> 00:02:43.699 But we do know that the book was written to the people of Israel. 00:02:43.859 --> 00:02:51.659 And there's a likelihood based on some of the details in the book that it was written before Israel were exiled to Babylon. 00:02:52.300 --> 00:02:56.879 And in a sense, the timing and date of the writing of the book doesn't actually matter. 00:02:56.879 --> 00:03:01.299 Because the principles that Joel teaches are timeless. 00:03:02.199 --> 00:03:09.599 The book of Joel is just as relevant today for Edinburgh, for Brunsfield in 2018 as it was for Israel back then. 00:03:09.599 --> 00:03:15.019 So that's just a little bit about the book as a whole to help us see the context. 00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:17.299 But what about Joel chapter one? 00:03:19.879 --> 00:03:24.359 Over the years, I'm sure there have been many dates and times that have stuck in your mind. 00:03:24.780 --> 00:03:33.620 You have the good kind like birthdays or maybe a wedding anniversary or the birth of a child or family holidays. 00:03:33.620 --> 00:03:38.460 But these dates only affect us as people, only us personally. 00:03:39.719 --> 00:03:43.180 But then you have the big days that affect the whole world, don't you? 00:03:44.319 --> 00:03:48.219 And some of these events, you might actually remember where you were when you heard the news. 00:03:49.520 --> 00:03:56.599 So for some people, times and places of gun violence are etched in their memories because they lost loved ones. 00:03:56.599 --> 00:04:03.759 For others, maybe it was that car that went into a crowd of people which changed their lives forever. 00:04:05.180 --> 00:04:09.219 Or for the UK last year, when a bomb went off in a packed out arena. 00:04:10.419 --> 00:04:12.939 That is not a date we'll be forgetting anytime soon. 00:04:14.539 --> 00:04:21.699 Or maybe on September the 11th in 2001, when the news was full of videos of the World Trade Center of Fire. 00:04:23.980 --> 00:04:25.899 That was a day that changed the world. 00:04:27.320 --> 00:04:31.320 Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives on 9-11. 00:04:32.280 --> 00:04:39.540 And as we look back on that event some 17 years ago, most of us will probably still remember where we were when we heard the news. 00:04:41.340 --> 00:04:47.879 Tim Keller, who was a pastor in a church in New York at the time of the bombing, said that he could remember the scenes vividly. 00:04:48.620 --> 00:04:53.360 He could almost feel the needs of the people as they were looking for answers, 00:04:53.360 --> 00:04:57.420 looking for guidance of how to live in this new, changed world. 00:04:59.280 --> 00:05:01.540 9-11 happened on a Tuesday morning. 00:05:01.540 --> 00:05:13.040 And on the Sunday morning, Tim Keller's church ballooned from having roughly 2,800 people on a Sunday to having 5,400 people that day. 00:05:13.040 --> 00:05:14.960 Why did that happen? 00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:20.980 Well, because when something bad happens, everybody runs somewhere. 00:05:20.980 --> 00:05:23.660 Some people run to God. 00:05:24.200 --> 00:05:25.660 Some people to family. 00:05:26.780 --> 00:05:27.860 To routines. 00:05:28.040 --> 00:05:29.900 To small pleasures and comforts. 00:05:29.899 --> 00:05:32.639 But the truth is, we all run somewhere. 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:35.599 Where do you run? 00:05:35.600 --> 00:05:43.480 Today in Joel chapter 1, we're going to see a life-changing event that happens for the people of Israel. 00:05:44.320 --> 00:05:45.660 Where are they going to run? 00:05:46.400 --> 00:05:52.900 And where do you run when something happens which shakes your world and you feel that everything is crumbling around you? 00:05:54.480 --> 00:05:55.500 Where do you run? 00:05:55.500 --> 00:06:00.699 I'm going to invite Lynn to come and read Joel chapter 1 to us. 00:06:01.339 --> 00:06:06.040 And keep that question in the back of your mind and think, where did Israel run? 00:06:10.860 --> 00:06:12.600 Thank you very much, Lynn. 00:06:14.980 --> 00:06:17.779 Let's pray before we think about this passage. 00:06:17.779 --> 00:06:25.559 Heavenly Father, when we read such a difficult passage, we come before you and acknowledge our weakness. 00:06:26.619 --> 00:06:35.639 And Lord, we ask that you would convict us, you challenge us, and you comfort us as we come to your word. 00:06:36.119 --> 00:06:37.779 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:06:39.619 --> 00:06:44.619 So the people of Israel have just suffered an invasion of locusts. 00:06:44.619 --> 00:06:47.679 This army of insects has destroyed their land. 00:06:47.680 --> 00:06:49.840 This is a life-changing event for everybody. 00:06:50.220 --> 00:06:51.280 And where do they run? 00:06:52.699 --> 00:06:53.660 Where do they run? 00:06:54.900 --> 00:06:59.319 And the first thing this chapter says to the people of Israel is, 00:07:00.139 --> 00:07:03.379 wake up and weep in verses 1 to 12. 00:07:03.519 --> 00:07:04.800 Wake up and weep. 00:07:06.540 --> 00:07:11.639 In verses 2 to 4, we're told of this terrible disaster that came upon the people of Israel. 00:07:11.960 --> 00:07:16.319 And in verse 4, you'll see a mention of different locusts. 00:07:16.319 --> 00:07:23.459 The land was covered, had been taken over by a devastating plague that is on a path of destruction. 00:07:24.420 --> 00:07:29.600 The language used draws our attention to the sheer volume of these locusts, doesn't it? 00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:33.500 The idea that there are so many that they cover the ground. 00:07:34.500 --> 00:07:37.379 Here's a picture taken in Libya in 2012. 00:07:37.780 --> 00:07:40.400 And this was a locust swarm, not yet a plague. 00:07:40.900 --> 00:07:43.560 So a locust plague is where multiple swarms come together. 00:07:43.560 --> 00:07:48.040 Imagine, when you see that picture, how the people of Israel felt. 00:07:49.439 --> 00:07:56.620 They open the door and see this huge fog of flying insects devouring every single thing in their path. 00:07:57.439 --> 00:07:59.600 Not a centimetre of grass is left. 00:08:00.439 --> 00:08:01.600 Not an inch of crop. 00:08:02.300 --> 00:08:03.899 Everything is devoured. 00:08:03.899 --> 00:08:10.219 In verse 6, this plague is described as a nation or as a mighty army. 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:13.259 And you see the devastation in verse 7. 00:08:14.199 --> 00:08:17.379 They laid waste to the vines, ruined the fig trees. 00:08:17.579 --> 00:08:19.859 They even stripped the trees of their bark. 00:08:21.839 --> 00:08:26.259 Everything was devoured and they left branches white. 00:08:26.259 --> 00:08:29.939 So this is not just a few insects that we're talking about. 00:08:30.699 --> 00:08:32.519 But this is a life-changing event. 00:08:32.860 --> 00:08:35.100 And the people of Israel are not to forget it. 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:40.179 God is telling them to consider why this locust plague has come. 00:08:40.500 --> 00:08:41.980 And why it is all happening. 00:08:43.299 --> 00:08:45.360 Everybody's being called to attention. 00:08:46.480 --> 00:08:50.939 Everybody's being told to wake up to the devastation that is affecting their land. 00:08:50.940 --> 00:08:58.400 And they have to tell this story of destruction to their children, their grandchildren and their great-great-great-grandchildren. 00:08:59.340 --> 00:09:04.660 God says that every person born into the nation of Israel needs to hear of this destruction. 00:09:05.380 --> 00:09:05.660 Why? 00:09:06.460 --> 00:09:08.360 Why tell such a terrible story? 00:09:10.780 --> 00:09:14.000 Because it is their own sin that is causing this calamity. 00:09:15.420 --> 00:09:19.800 The people of Israel need to remember this situation and the seriousness of it. 00:09:19.799 --> 00:09:22.779 Because it is their own sin that has caused this. 00:09:23.679 --> 00:09:29.799 Their disobedience to God has resulted in His judgment being sent upon them in the form of a plague of locusts. 00:09:31.679 --> 00:09:35.479 And you see that because later on in chapter 1 they're told that they need to repent. 00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:37.759 And if they do, God will take them back. 00:09:39.079 --> 00:09:42.279 And later on in chapter 2 verse 25, you can look that up later. 00:09:42.679 --> 00:09:44.699 God says that He sent the locust plague. 00:09:46.299 --> 00:09:48.159 So the call is wake up. 00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:50.600 Look at the situation. 00:09:50.819 --> 00:09:51.679 Look at your sin. 00:09:52.039 --> 00:09:53.759 Look at how far you have gone. 00:09:54.219 --> 00:09:55.079 And weep. 00:09:57.179 --> 00:10:03.240 The words wake up and weep in verse 5 are directed at people who are trying to escape their situation. 00:10:03.559 --> 00:10:06.339 By running not to God, but to alcohol. 00:10:06.340 --> 00:10:14.780 And God is saying and calling them to wake up from their slumber and realize their depravity. 00:10:16.280 --> 00:10:19.879 I'm sure you've all been in a building when the fire alarm goes off. 00:10:20.180 --> 00:10:22.519 You hear that loud noise and you stop. 00:10:22.519 --> 00:10:27.559 You don't care whether it's a real fire or whether it's a drill. 00:10:27.740 --> 00:10:30.259 You head straight for the fire exit and wait for the all clear. 00:10:31.439 --> 00:10:33.199 Joel is like a fire alarm. 00:10:33.939 --> 00:10:35.759 He's getting everybody's attention. 00:10:36.379 --> 00:10:37.059 You see that? 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:38.919 He's calling the elders in verse 2. 00:10:39.000 --> 00:10:40.559 The drunkards in verse 5. 00:10:41.179 --> 00:10:43.279 Farmers and vine growers in verse 11. 00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:45.620 And all who live in the land in verse 2. 00:10:45.620 --> 00:10:47.259 Wake up, people. 00:10:48.299 --> 00:10:53.200 Look around and consider the spiritual significance of this locust invasion. 00:10:55.779 --> 00:10:59.120 The people need to wake up because their disobedience to God. 00:10:59.460 --> 00:11:00.740 The God who chose them. 00:11:01.399 --> 00:11:02.600 The God who saved them. 00:11:02.679 --> 00:11:04.340 The God who has brought them this far. 00:11:05.340 --> 00:11:07.120 The God who has loved them unconditionally. 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:09.879 Their disobedience to this God has caused this plague. 00:11:10.820 --> 00:11:15.580 And because of this locust invasion, they cannot fulfill their own covenant promises. 00:11:15.620 --> 00:11:21.360 In the Old Testament covenant, the Israelites were to give sacrifices to God. 00:11:22.440 --> 00:11:24.620 To show that they need to be made right with him. 00:11:24.659 --> 00:11:26.480 And two of them are mentioned in verse 9. 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:32.200 So not only were the Israelites in this terrible situation because they'd sinned. 00:11:32.360 --> 00:11:35.139 But they couldn't be made right with God because of their sin. 00:11:36.299 --> 00:11:41.620 Their sinfulness is causing the divide between them and God to get bigger and bigger and bigger. 00:11:41.620 --> 00:11:46.100 Surely this isn't the way the people of God should be acting. 00:11:47.500 --> 00:11:50.720 They're supposed to be rejoicing in their God. 00:11:50.940 --> 00:11:53.740 But verse 12 says their joy has withered away. 00:11:55.440 --> 00:11:58.379 Now the language in this passage is very emotional. 00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:03.399 You can't read it without feeling the sting for the people of Israel. 00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:06.340 Language of weeping and wailing. 00:12:07.480 --> 00:12:08.620 Mourning and crying. 00:12:08.779 --> 00:12:11.279 Despair and a complete lack of joy. 00:12:11.679 --> 00:12:12.860 Why did all this happen? 00:12:14.799 --> 00:12:17.500 It happened because the people of Israel had become comfortable. 00:12:19.860 --> 00:12:22.579 They didn't keep an eye on their spiritual well-being. 00:12:23.059 --> 00:12:25.179 They'd become comfortable with their sin. 00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:28.159 And their hearts are being pulled away from God. 00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:30.759 They had the Lord. 00:12:30.839 --> 00:12:33.699 They had God's revelation of who he was. 00:12:34.279 --> 00:12:36.439 It should never have come this far, Israel. 00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:42.539 And God is sending the plague to wake them up and call them back to himself. 00:12:42.779 --> 00:12:45.419 To realize their sin and to weep. 00:12:49.019 --> 00:12:53.919 Don't we find it all too comfortable or all too easy to become comfortable with our sin? 00:12:55.339 --> 00:12:56.299 I know I do. 00:12:56.299 --> 00:13:01.879 That small slip up here and there suddenly becomes more and more frequent. 00:13:02.059 --> 00:13:05.939 And then after a while we are crushed under the weight of our sin. 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:10.699 Where do you run to? 00:13:12.740 --> 00:13:14.359 When life becomes difficult. 00:13:14.539 --> 00:13:18.519 When something happens that shakes your world and reveals your sinful heart. 00:13:18.740 --> 00:13:19.699 Where do you run? 00:13:21.399 --> 00:13:24.779 Do you run to God or do you run away from God? 00:13:26.299 --> 00:13:29.419 As Christians our desire should always be to run to God. 00:13:29.500 --> 00:13:32.000 To seek refuge in the God who loves us. 00:13:32.039 --> 00:13:33.079 Who cares for us. 00:13:33.359 --> 00:13:36.500 The God who calls us back to himself regardless of what we've done. 00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:40.740 And he doesn't just offer us a grunt of acknowledgement as we come through the door. 00:13:40.939 --> 00:13:43.259 But he opens us with welcome arms. 00:13:46.059 --> 00:13:49.759 Israel is coming under the judgment of God for their disobedience to the covenant. 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:52.639 But we live under the new covenant. 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:54.460 So there are some differences. 00:13:56.139 --> 00:13:59.179 Today in the new covenant we are not judged by God. 00:14:00.120 --> 00:14:08.620 But God clearly shows his anger and his discontent with our sin by leaving us to suffer the consequences. 00:14:08.620 --> 00:14:15.799 So we can't look at every single problem in our lives and say that God is sending judgment to wake us up. 00:14:16.740 --> 00:14:23.019 But we also shouldn't look at all our problems and not think that maybe we've done something to anger God. 00:14:25.159 --> 00:14:28.580 God allows the consequences of our sins to play out. 00:14:28.779 --> 00:14:30.460 We are not shielded from our sin. 00:14:30.460 --> 00:14:36.700 But neither are we given over to the full just punishment that our sins deserve. 00:14:38.060 --> 00:14:43.019 The people of Israel are suffering the consequences because they broke their covenant with God. 00:14:43.680 --> 00:14:47.200 And for Christians today, for people who have put their trust in Jesus, 00:14:47.320 --> 00:14:52.280 we trust in the one who took our covenant curses on himself on the cross. 00:14:54.220 --> 00:14:57.180 As Christians we're called to look at our spiritual state. 00:14:57.179 --> 00:15:00.699 To do a spiritual health check if you will. 00:15:00.819 --> 00:15:04.699 Make sure that we are living according to God's will and God's word. 00:15:05.699 --> 00:15:09.279 And we should be honest about the seriousness of sin. 00:15:10.899 --> 00:15:13.379 But we do not do this as a defeated people. 00:15:14.459 --> 00:15:17.519 But we do this as people who cling to Jesus. 00:15:17.979 --> 00:15:20.000 The one who took our covenant curses. 00:15:20.139 --> 00:15:23.959 The one who on the cross suffered the wrath and just judgment of God. 00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:28.400 So that we can stand here this morning declared free and forgiven. 00:15:31.100 --> 00:15:32.960 But don't switch off to the message. 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:36.460 Don't become comfortable with sin. 00:15:36.800 --> 00:15:40.139 Don't let a wedge be driven between you and God. 00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:45.040 But constantly run to and cling to the cross of Jesus. 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:58.539 John Owen, a preacher and theologian from the 1600s, captured the seriousness of sin by saying that people should be killing sin or it will be killing you. 00:15:59.879 --> 00:16:03.259 Be killing sin or it will be killing you. 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:05.419 Sin is dangerous. 00:16:05.419 --> 00:16:16.000 This passage should be a wake up call for each and every one of us to think about our lives and consider if and where we are out of touch with God. 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:20.519 This passage should disturb the comfortable. 00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:23.319 But it should also comfort the disturbed. 00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:30.019 It should disturb the comfortable because it calls each and every one of us to look at the seriousness of sin. 00:16:30.019 --> 00:16:34.139 And drive it out of our lives with the help of the Holy Spirit. 00:16:36.819 --> 00:16:42.139 We cannot walk away from this passage without searching our souls and that is painful. 00:16:45.240 --> 00:16:47.299 But it should also comfort the disturbed. 00:16:47.939 --> 00:16:50.720 Because once we see the seriousness of our sin. 00:16:51.079 --> 00:16:56.639 We should also look up and see the magnificence of God who sent Jesus Christ to pay the price. 00:16:56.639 --> 00:17:04.440 This chapter challenged me this week as I was preparing on how comfortable I can become with sin. 00:17:06.339 --> 00:17:08.940 Do I flirt with sin or do I cut it off? 00:17:10.900 --> 00:17:13.519 When was the last time I wept over my sin? 00:17:15.139 --> 00:17:17.139 When was the last time you wept over your sin? 00:17:17.140 --> 00:17:25.860 But please don't look at every bad thing in your life and think that it is judgment sent by God. 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:31.700 But also don't swing to the other extreme and think that God only sends pleasant things to his people. 00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:37.900 Are you in need of comfort this morning or are you in need of disturbance? 00:17:40.980 --> 00:17:42.560 Maybe you've never heard this before. 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:44.740 Maybe you're not a Christian. 00:17:45.220 --> 00:17:48.079 Then let the warning of Joel ring in your ears. 00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:50.919 Wake up and weep. 00:17:52.980 --> 00:17:55.379 Because we're all deserving of God's just judgment. 00:17:55.539 --> 00:18:00.139 But also know that there is hope and refuge to be found in Jesus. 00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:05.099 This is a message that I need to hear every single day. 00:18:05.700 --> 00:18:06.799 I think we all do. 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:15.240 And once the people of Israel have seen this locust plague and have pondered the spiritual significance of it 00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:18.500 and the role that their disobedience played in it all, 00:18:19.139 --> 00:18:22.339 God calls them to return and repent. 00:18:23.159 --> 00:18:25.759 In verses 13 to 20, return and repent. 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:34.119 In verse 13, you'll see that the priests are mentioned as the ones who need to lead the way for the people in the morning. 00:18:34.119 --> 00:18:37.039 They are to put on sackcloth and wail. 00:18:38.399 --> 00:18:40.259 Why is God singling out the priests? 00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:44.579 Because the priests should have been leading the way. 00:18:45.139 --> 00:18:47.239 Calling the people of Israel back to God. 00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:50.619 Challenging them to consider their spiritual state before God. 00:18:51.459 --> 00:18:55.379 But they obviously haven't been doing their job because it should never have gotten to this point. 00:18:57.500 --> 00:19:01.539 And they are to mourn because their priestly duties cannot be fulfilled. 00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:08.359 A disobedience of the people of Israel has caused a breakdown in their relationship with God. 00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:13.299 And their mourning is not to be in the kind of attitude of, 00:19:13.399 --> 00:19:15.379 Oh, sorry, God, forgive me, I've messed up again. 00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:16.339 No. 00:19:17.079 --> 00:19:21.819 They are to come and spend the night in sackcloth and wail. 00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:29.379 They are to spend the night on their knees wrestling and pleading with God that he would forgive his people for their sins. 00:19:30.059 --> 00:19:35.099 They are to repent from their heart and be disturbed by their disobedience. 00:19:35.099 --> 00:19:41.259 When was the last time we spent the night on our knees repenting? 00:19:45.539 --> 00:19:51.759 I know a man who's a minister here in the UK and he was converted whilst in prison on charges of attempted murder. 00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:57.099 And as he sat in his cell and read the only book that was available to him, the Bible, 00:19:57.099 --> 00:20:01.039 he realized that he was a sinner and he needed to be forgiven by Jesus. 00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:07.059 That man spent so much time in prayer asking God to forgive him. 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:13.539 And he spent the rest of his prison sentence learning about Jesus and sharing Jesus with his fellow inmates. 00:20:14.700 --> 00:20:20.819 And wrestling with the amazing grace that God had sent him because he'd been forgiven by Jesus. 00:20:23.119 --> 00:20:26.139 He didn't just say, God, I'm sorry, I messed up. 00:20:26.140 --> 00:20:33.180 But he wrestled and lamented over his terrible actions and he turned his life around. 00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:41.520 And now he uses his story to tell people the grace of God because he stands as a man declared free and forgiven. 00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:49.500 God is calling the priests to lead the way for the people of God to return to him and repent. 00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:57.160 And the call to repentance is both for the individual and for the whole assembly of people. 00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:58.740 You can see that in verse 14. 00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:07.759 The priests are to declare a holy fast, meaning that they're to call a time where the people hear the word of God, 00:21:08.420 --> 00:21:15.180 where they reflect on their sinfulness and they gather together to call on the Lord and confess their sins as one body. 00:21:15.180 --> 00:21:19.660 A time where they return to the Lord and repent. 00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:24.920 And all of this repenting should be done in light of the day of the Lord. 00:21:25.840 --> 00:21:27.180 Do you see that in verse 15? 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:31.580 And now the day of the Lord is a big theme in the book of Joel. 00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:35.360 And everything that happens in this book is pointing forward to that day. 00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:41.940 In the Jewish mind, the day of the Lord was a day of blessing, a day of good fortune. 00:21:41.940 --> 00:21:49.320 But it's Joel's way of pointing to future judgment of God and to the ultimate day of the Lord. 00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:54.120 When God will send his chosen king into the world and everything will be made right. 00:21:55.360 --> 00:22:00.519 As Christians, we look on that final day of the Lord and we call it the second coming of Jesus. 00:22:02.360 --> 00:22:06.360 We look forward to that day with anticipation and quite rightly so. 00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:09.019 Because God will dwell with his people. 00:22:09.019 --> 00:22:12.539 Justice will be served. 00:22:14.200 --> 00:22:18.559 But Joel describes that day as great and dreadful. 00:22:19.700 --> 00:22:23.819 Great because God will return and gather his people and they'll dwell with him forever. 00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:26.599 And there will be no more sin but dreadful. 00:22:27.799 --> 00:22:29.779 Because God will come to judge the world. 00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:36.139 And that means that all those who have not put their trust in Jesus will be cast out of his presence. 00:22:37.299 --> 00:22:40.259 That is a great but a dreadful day. 00:22:42.420 --> 00:22:51.500 And the day of the Lord that Joel is speaking about here in verse 15 is referring to another judgment that God will send if Israel do not return to him and repent. 00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:55.180 God is warning the people of Israel. 00:22:55.180 --> 00:23:02.700 But still he's saying if you come back to me I will forgive you even now you have time to come back. 00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:10.480 Israel's disobedience has caused devastation for themselves and for their land. 00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:13.380 Sin is dangerous. 00:23:13.380 --> 00:23:16.940 Don't let anybody tell you otherwise. 00:23:18.860 --> 00:23:22.080 But notice that Joel isn't standing on a platform. 00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:27.740 Shouting this out across the people in a proud and innocent way. 00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:31.760 But he includes himself in the call in verse 19. 00:23:32.300 --> 00:23:34.220 To you Lord I call. 00:23:36.840 --> 00:23:42.760 Joel's relationship with and knowledge of God helped him evaluate the situation playing out in front of him. 00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:45.420 And he didn't see himself as being innocent. 00:23:45.740 --> 00:23:49.000 But he called to the Lord including himself as a guilty party. 00:23:52.619 --> 00:23:53.700 Where do you run? 00:23:56.779 --> 00:23:59.940 Joel says return and repent and run to God. 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:05.440 Is this not a message that we need to hear every single day? 00:24:05.539 --> 00:24:07.940 Every single minute of every single hour? 00:24:07.940 --> 00:24:14.880 I know I need this message ringing in my ears day and night because I know my own sinful heart. 00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:16.960 Prone to wonder. 00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:18.320 Lord I feel it. 00:24:19.160 --> 00:24:21.000 Prone to leave the God I love. 00:24:21.100 --> 00:24:23.120 And so what is my prayer in that situation? 00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:26.799 Lord take my heart and seal it for your courts above. 00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:33.220 Joel has a healthy view of the seriousness of sin. 00:24:33.220 --> 00:24:36.960 Because he has a healthy view of the greatness of God. 00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:45.120 If we see the glory, the magnificence, the holiness, the purity, the love and justice of God. 00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:49.559 If we have this big view and broad view of how great our God is. 00:24:49.860 --> 00:24:52.420 Then anything that is against him is amplified. 00:24:52.420 --> 00:24:59.300 If we see God as only being relevant on a Sunday. 00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:03.420 Or if we view God as a dispenser of good things. 00:25:03.420 --> 00:25:06.580 Then we will think little of sin and that is a dangerous path to be on. 00:25:08.700 --> 00:25:12.580 Robert Murray McShane, a minister from many years ago said this. 00:25:12.580 --> 00:25:14.160 Remember my beloved friends. 00:25:14.360 --> 00:25:16.759 That if you are ever relaxing in holiness. 00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:20.440 The reason is you are relaxing your hold on Christ. 00:25:20.440 --> 00:25:23.940 If you are ever relaxing in holiness. 00:25:24.360 --> 00:25:27.420 The reason is you are relaxing your hold on Christ. 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:34.140 The Bible and the book of Joel encourages us to lift up our eyes. 00:25:34.259 --> 00:25:37.039 And see the splendor and majesty of God. 00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:41.539 The strength and faithfulness of the God who flung the stars into space. 00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:43.880 Who created this world with his words. 00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:45.660 Who created mankind from dust. 00:25:46.600 --> 00:25:49.559 And the God who is faithful to his promises. 00:25:50.440 --> 00:25:53.700 If we have this big view of God. 00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:55.920 Then our view of sin will be serious. 00:25:58.059 --> 00:26:01.080 We will see the sheer destruction that sin can bring. 00:26:01.840 --> 00:26:06.140 But the great news is that this God is not only big and mighty. 00:26:06.820 --> 00:26:09.140 But he is close and personal. 00:26:09.140 --> 00:26:14.340 For God to be a just judge then sin must be punished. 00:26:14.660 --> 00:26:16.520 But instead of punishing humanity. 00:26:16.520 --> 00:26:17.960 Even though we deserve it. 00:26:18.020 --> 00:26:21.600 He sent his son Jesus to take the punishment that we deserve. 00:26:21.740 --> 00:26:23.660 So that all who call on his name. 00:26:24.120 --> 00:26:25.340 And believe in him. 00:26:25.460 --> 00:26:27.820 Are declared free from the punishment of sin. 00:26:27.819 --> 00:26:34.639 God isn't saying return and repent and I'll make all your problems go away. 00:26:36.359 --> 00:26:38.419 But God is saying return and repent. 00:26:38.419 --> 00:26:42.939 Because I am the only one who can take away your sin and the punishment that it deserves. 00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:48.480 This is the loving God that we gather before this morning. 00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:52.860 This is the God that we serve and worship together. 00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:58.039 This is the God who is calling us even now to return to him and repent. 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:02.059 Take sin seriously. 00:27:02.820 --> 00:27:04.759 See the devastation that it causes. 00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:07.980 See the path of destruction that it leaves in its wake. 00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:14.640 Let's look at our lives and challenge ourselves to see if we have become comfortable with sin. 00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:16.799 And fall on our knees and repent. 00:27:17.259 --> 00:27:19.680 And cry out to God in repentance. 00:27:21.380 --> 00:27:26.819 But also remember that if you are a Christian you depend on the one who has already paid the price. 00:27:27.059 --> 00:27:28.720 You depend on Jesus Christ. 00:27:31.620 --> 00:27:35.940 If you are not a Christian then maybe you have never come to Jesus before. 00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:40.500 Take this time this morning to hear the message of Joel. 00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:44.840 Hear the call that still resounds from God's word. 00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:46.700 Return and repent. 00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:50.620 God is waiting to gather his people. 00:27:51.360 --> 00:27:53.860 God is willing to forgive the greatest of sinners. 00:27:56.100 --> 00:27:58.820 Will you return and will you repent? 00:28:00.120 --> 00:28:01.420 That's what Joel is saying. 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:03.940 Let's pray together. 00:28:05.940 --> 00:28:12.600 In the silence just over these next minute or so. 00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:15.100 If there's anything that's been said this morning. 00:28:15.259 --> 00:28:18.580 If you have any questions or you want to speak to somebody. 00:28:19.380 --> 00:28:24.299 Then anyone you've seen up front grab them afterwards and let someone pray with you. 00:28:25.580 --> 00:28:28.259 I'll be standing at the door if you want to talk about anything. 00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:30.539 But just in a moment of silence. 00:28:31.559 --> 00:28:34.700 Think about your spiritual state before the Lord this morning. 00:28:34.700 --> 00:28:51.019 Lord we come before you as a people who know our sinful hearts. 00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:57.720 And Lord we want to wake up and we want to weep at our sin. 00:28:57.720 --> 00:29:02.519 Lord we thank you that we can come back to you. 00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:03.779 We can return. 00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:09.420 We can repent of our sins and know that you will take us back because you are a loving faithful God. 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:15.019 Father we thank you so much for your son Jesus who paid the price for our sins. 00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:21.420 And Lord we thank you that it is only through him that we can be saved. 00:29:21.420 --> 00:29:28.980 Lord we bless you this morning and we give you all the glory in Jesus name. 00:29:29.880 --> 00:29:30.240 Amen.