The Book of Joel - Part 5
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| In loving memory of my father Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023 |
10/14/20
In our last 4 messages we have been looking at the Book of Joel, which gives a panoramic and prophetic view of the events of the history of God's chosen people through the end of time. In this message we will look at Joel, Chapter 2, Verses 1-17, which will conclude man's part in history prior to the second coming of the Lord Jesus to earth. Those who will fulfill Joel 2:17 will be a company of men that I call "the Last Joel." If you have your Bible, please turn to Joel, Chapter 2 and Verse 1. Verses 1 through 16 speak about the coming of the day of the Lord.
As we stated last time, the reason why the command is given to "blow ye the trumpet in Zion" is because only those in spiritual Zion have ears to hear. The trumpet call and the alarm signify approaching judgment. The sound of the trumpet will bring trembling from fear to His people. We sense that the fear of the Lord is much lacking in the church community today. This alarm trumpets the growing apostasy within the Church.
Verse 1 says, "Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble." Am I an inhabitant of the land? Are you an inhabitant of the land? We should never tremble because of men (Deuteronomy 20:3-4); but tremble before the Lord is a different matter. We cannot take our next breath but by the grace of God.
Even the heaven and earth tremble when the Lord is angry (2 Samuel 22:8, Job 26:11)
Verse 5 says "Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at His word." Does that imply that we cannot hear the word of the Lord unless we tremble at His word? Verse 5 also has a startling statement. "Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake." Your brethren! Scripture speaks of at least three men who were cast out by the Pharisees ... the man born blind who was healed by Jesus (John 9), Stephen, and Jesus.
I have known at least four men of God who were put on trial by charismatic Sanhedrins. The more that you move on with the Lord, the more you will be misunderstood by other Christians. The more you move on with the Lord the fewer will be those who will receive you. The more that you move on with the Lord, the more believers you will leave behind because far too many Christians want to build three tabernacles and just be comfortable. Therefore, we need to count the cost. Do we want to please men or please the Lord? David said, in
Continuing in Joel, Chapter 2 and Verse 2.
Joel Chapter 1, Verse 4 speaks of the 4 stages of destruction due to locusts. Locusts look like miniature horses and they have teeth. About the only way to kill locusts is by using pesticides, which are harmful to man.
Back in the 1970's in our New Testament house church, almost every Sunday one of the elders, the same man, would quote Joel 2:7-8 as if it pertains to Christians. From Verses 7 and 8, "they shall not break their ranks: Neither shall one thrust another;" What is called "Joel's army" does not consist of believers; it consists first of all of the four stages of locusts, as stated in Joel, Chapter 1. Why? in order to help us to repent of our disobedience, our dead works (works of the flesh), and our apathy. That is confirmed in Joel 2:25. The reason why some believers claim that "Joel's army" consists of Christians is because those Verses describe characteristics that should pertain to us as believers. Unfortunately, the Christian community does not at all exhibit those characteristics.
After that the destruction consists of a world-wide coalition of political and religious leaders, Jews and Gentiles of the world (Acts 4:27-28) ... a repetition of what happened with Jesus.
"They shall run to and fro in the city." Note that Isaiah 33:4 says the same thing. So in addition to the locusts destroying farmlands, they will also swarm the cities.
Jesus said, in Matthew 24:7 that there would be earthquakes in various places. In Matthew 24:29 Jesus said that the sun and moon would be darkened.
Note in Verse 11 that the Lord will utter His voice before His army. His voice is all powerful. When the Lord utters His voice, something MUST happen!
Finally, in Joel 2:11, the question is asked, "Who can abide in the day of the Lord?" Malachi asks the same question.
Verse 3 says that He shall purify the sons of Levi. Who or what group of folks do the sons of Levi represent? I believe that refers to those overcomers who will fulfill Joel 2:17. And what happens to the other 11 tribes? I believe that speaks of the rest of the church that must go through much tribulation in order to be purified. Jesus said, in
The "hill of the Lord" is spiritual Zion, the dwelling place of the Lord. From Verse 6, the generation of them that seek Him consists of all the believers over all of time who have qualified by allowing the Holy Spirit to work within them the spiritual characteristics contained in Verse 4.
Back to Joel 2:12, which is the third call to repentance, and is addressed to every member of the Body of Christ.
I think in the previous message I said that the word "repent" does not occur in the Book of Joel. What I should have said was that word "repent" as it applies to man does not occur in the Book of Joel. However, as we stated in our last message, there are really four different calls to repentance in the Book of Joel. The first is in Joel 1:13-14; the second is Joel 2:1; the third is in Joel 2:12-13; and the fourth in Joel 2:15-16.
The only two specific occurrences of the word "repent" or "repentance" in the Book of Joel are found in Verses 13 and 14. In both of those two occurrences, it is the Lord Himself Who repents of the evil. What evil? The evil of the Lord sending His great army to oppress and lay waste to His own people, as described in Joel 1 through Joel 2:11. Our repentance must not be superficial. The Lord knows our heart; He knows when our repentance is from our heart.
Before proceeding further, we need to state very clearly what Scripture means by "repent." You can find the literal definition of "repent" in any Bible dictionary or concordance. However, we need to understand the highest level of repentance from Scripture. We should not use Webster's Dictionary to define Biblical terms; we must let the Bible define its own terms. The initial, and lowest, level of repentance is what we "do" prior to being born from above. It does not mean that I must repeat certain words, such as Romans 10:9-10 or the so-called "Sinner's Prayer." What did the Apostle Paul "pray" or repeat before the Lord sovereignly and dramatically apprehended him? Nothing!
After we have been born from above, if we sin, we must run to the cross, repent, confess our sin, and ask for His grace and mercy. That is another type or level of repentance.
But the higher repentance the Lord is looking for is that we repent simply because we are a human being. That is what the great prophet Isaiah "did" as recorded in Isaiah 6; that is what Job "did" as recorded in Job 42:2-6. That is the depth of humility (we are but dust) to become a minister of the Lord, as distinct from the priests who minister to the house.
The meal offering and a drink offering does not speak of natural food. It speaks of the very elect, the overcomers. It speaks of the remnant in Revelation 12:14-17, who will feed the rest of the church in the wilderness.
This is the second time in the Book of Joel that we find the exhortation to blow the trumpet in Zion. The first time is in Joel 2:1.
In the natural realm, that commandment is totally impossible! Where do we gather the people?
Verses 15 and 16 represent the 4th call to repentance in the Book of Joel. Isn't it a tragedy that we Christians have not and will not repent until our circumstances become almost unbearable? How much suffering could we forego if we just respond to the Lord after His first admonition to repent? I wonder how many Christians have prayed and asked the Lord to remove this coronavirus because we want to get back to our natural routine.
And now we come to the most critical exhortation for the Lord's chosen people today.
Verse 17 is perhaps the most important Verse in Joel in terms of what the Lord is waiting for His people to "do." It is true that every Christian believer who has been born from above is called to be a minister. That is sometimes called the priesthood of all believers. We are all called to be priests after the order of Melchisedec (Hebrews 7:17). However, many are called but few are chosen. To put that another way, many are called but few choose. Few true believers choose to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. Too many are content just to make it to heaven one day. Why? because of human nature and because of ignorance. It is rare today to hear the pure Gospel preached.
It is significant that Joel 2:17 is precisely halfway through the book of Joel ... 36 verses before and 36 verses after Joel 2:17. We are called to be co-laborers with the Lord. The number, 36, is six times six. Six is the scriptural number of man. The first 36 verses in the book of Joel represent what the first man or the first Adam, in other words, Christian man, is called to do. The last 36 verses in the book of Joel speak of what the second Man or the last Adam, in other words, The Godhead, will do after Joel 2:17 is fulfilled.
Ezekiel 44 describes two types of priests: the priests who minister to the house (Christians) and the priests (Christians) who minister to the Lord. Ezekiel 44 says that the priests who minister to the house have committed abominations, but the priests who minister to the Lord are those who are charged (in Joel 2:17) to "weep between the porch and the altar." "Minister to the Lord" does not equate to singing praises to the Lord in an assembly of believers. Everything that we "do" must be "as unto the Lord." So the priests, the ministers of the Lord, are exhorted (or commanded) to weep between the porch and the altar. The porch speaks of the people of God; the altar speaks of the Lord Himself. That is called intercession, at the highest level. That is what the Lord Jesus Christ continues to do on our behalf. "He ever liveth to make intercession for us" (Hebrews 7:25).
In the past we have perhaps done a credible job of teaching the Lord's people the difference between the holy and the profane. But how can any man CAUSE the Lord's people to discern between the unclean and the clean? That is not possible. However, the Spirit of the Lord within the priests, the ministers of the Lord, can perform that.
Evidently Zion has not yet travailed!
There is no substitute for the presence of the Holy Spirit and hearing that which the Spirit is saying to the Church. Apart from the Holy Ghost, the Church cannot grow or stay alive. The presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church is vital to the work of the Church. There is nothing mechanical or static about Christianity. When we settle for the mechanics, even the mechanics of the Bible, instead of striving for the dynamics of Jesus, we come under the category of being "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked" (Revelation 2:17). I cannot convey in words the utmost urgency that I sense in my spirit about this word concerning "The Last Joel!" May the Lord bless you as you meditate on The Last Joel.
Lord we ask you for your great grace and mercy.
In our last 4 messages we have been looking at the Book of Joel, which gives a panoramic and prophetic view of the events of the history of God's chosen people through the end of time. In this message we will look at Joel, Chapter 2, Verses 1-17, which will conclude man's part in history prior to the second coming of the Lord Jesus to earth. Those who will fulfill Joel 2:17 will be a company of men that I call "the Last Joel." If you have your Bible, please turn to Joel, Chapter 2 and Verse 1. Verses 1 through 16 speak about the coming of the day of the Lord.
1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
As we stated last time, the reason why the command is given to "blow ye the trumpet in Zion" is because only those in spiritual Zion have ears to hear. The trumpet call and the alarm signify approaching judgment. The sound of the trumpet will bring trembling from fear to His people. We sense that the fear of the Lord is much lacking in the church community today. This alarm trumpets the growing apostasy within the Church.
Verse 1 says, "Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble." Am I an inhabitant of the land? Are you an inhabitant of the land? We should never tremble because of men (Deuteronomy 20:3-4); but tremble before the Lord is a different matter. We cannot take our next breath but by the grace of God.
Exodus 19:16, "And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled."
Even the heaven and earth tremble when the Lord is angry (2 Samuel 22:8, Job 26:11)
Psalm 99:1, "The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: He sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved."
We might remember that the cherubims overshadow the mercy seat of the ark.
Luke 1:50, "And His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation."
Except for the mercy of God, we all have no hope.
Isaiah 66:1-2, 5,
1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool: where is the house that ye build unto Me? and where is the place of My rest?2 For all those things hath Mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word.5 Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at His word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but He shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
Verse 5 says "Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at His word." Does that imply that we cannot hear the word of the Lord unless we tremble at His word? Verse 5 also has a startling statement. "Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake." Your brethren! Scripture speaks of at least three men who were cast out by the Pharisees ... the man born blind who was healed by Jesus (John 9), Stephen, and Jesus.
I have known at least four men of God who were put on trial by charismatic Sanhedrins. The more that you move on with the Lord, the more you will be misunderstood by other Christians. The more you move on with the Lord the fewer will be those who will receive you. The more that you move on with the Lord, the more believers you will leave behind because far too many Christians want to build three tabernacles and just be comfortable. Therefore, we need to count the cost. Do we want to please men or please the Lord? David said, in
Psalm 55:12-14, "For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company."
Continuing in Joel, Chapter 2 and Verse 2.
2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
Joel Chapter 1, Verse 4 speaks of the 4 stages of destruction due to locusts. Locusts look like miniature horses and they have teeth. About the only way to kill locusts is by using pesticides, which are harmful to man.
5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
Back in the 1970's in our New Testament house church, almost every Sunday one of the elders, the same man, would quote Joel 2:7-8 as if it pertains to Christians. From Verses 7 and 8, "they shall not break their ranks: Neither shall one thrust another;" What is called "Joel's army" does not consist of believers; it consists first of all of the four stages of locusts, as stated in Joel, Chapter 1. Why? in order to help us to repent of our disobedience, our dead works (works of the flesh), and our apathy. That is confirmed in Joel 2:25. The reason why some believers claim that "Joel's army" consists of Christians is because those Verses describe characteristics that should pertain to us as believers. Unfortunately, the Christian community does not at all exhibit those characteristics.
Isaiah 33:4, "And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them."
After that the destruction consists of a world-wide coalition of political and religious leaders, Jews and Gentiles of the world (Acts 4:27-28) ... a repetition of what happened with Jesus.
9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
"They shall run to and fro in the city." Note that Isaiah 33:4 says the same thing. So in addition to the locusts destroying farmlands, they will also swarm the cities.
10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
Jesus said, in Matthew 24:7 that there would be earthquakes in various places. In Matthew 24:29 Jesus said that the sun and moon would be darkened.
11 And the LORD shall utter His voice before His army: for His camp is very great: for He is strong that executeth His word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
Note in Verse 11 that the Lord will utter His voice before His army. His voice is all powerful. When the Lord utters His voice, something MUST happen!
And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither. Amos 1:2
Psalm 29:3-93 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.5 The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.6 He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.7 The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire.8 The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.9 The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in His temple doth every one speak of His glory.
Finally, in Joel 2:11, the question is asked, "Who can abide in the day of the Lord?" Malachi asks the same question.
2 But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? For He is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:3 And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. Malachi 3:2-3
Verse 3 says that He shall purify the sons of Levi. Who or what group of folks do the sons of Levi represent? I believe that refers to those overcomers who will fulfill Joel 2:17. And what happens to the other 11 tribes? I believe that speaks of the rest of the church that must go through much tribulation in order to be purified. Jesus said, in
Luke 20:18, "Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder."
Which alternative, as a Christian, do you or I prefer?
Those who desire the Lord's coming (His parousia, or literal second advent) must know that clean hands and a pure heart are required.
Those who desire the Lord's coming (His parousia, or literal second advent) must know that clean hands and a pure heart are required.
Psalm 24:3-6,3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in His holy place?4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.6 This is the generation of them that seek Him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
The "hill of the Lord" is spiritual Zion, the dwelling place of the Lord. From Verse 6, the generation of them that seek Him consists of all the believers over all of time who have qualified by allowing the Holy Spirit to work within them the spiritual characteristics contained in Verse 4.
Back to Joel 2:12, which is the third call to repentance, and is addressed to every member of the Body of Christ.
12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil.14 Who knoweth if He will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind Him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
I think in the previous message I said that the word "repent" does not occur in the Book of Joel. What I should have said was that word "repent" as it applies to man does not occur in the Book of Joel. However, as we stated in our last message, there are really four different calls to repentance in the Book of Joel. The first is in Joel 1:13-14; the second is Joel 2:1; the third is in Joel 2:12-13; and the fourth in Joel 2:15-16.
The only two specific occurrences of the word "repent" or "repentance" in the Book of Joel are found in Verses 13 and 14. In both of those two occurrences, it is the Lord Himself Who repents of the evil. What evil? The evil of the Lord sending His great army to oppress and lay waste to His own people, as described in Joel 1 through Joel 2:11. Our repentance must not be superficial. The Lord knows our heart; He knows when our repentance is from our heart.
Before proceeding further, we need to state very clearly what Scripture means by "repent." You can find the literal definition of "repent" in any Bible dictionary or concordance. However, we need to understand the highest level of repentance from Scripture. We should not use Webster's Dictionary to define Biblical terms; we must let the Bible define its own terms. The initial, and lowest, level of repentance is what we "do" prior to being born from above. It does not mean that I must repeat certain words, such as Romans 10:9-10 or the so-called "Sinner's Prayer." What did the Apostle Paul "pray" or repeat before the Lord sovereignly and dramatically apprehended him? Nothing!
After we have been born from above, if we sin, we must run to the cross, repent, confess our sin, and ask for His grace and mercy. That is another type or level of repentance.
But the higher repentance the Lord is looking for is that we repent simply because we are a human being. That is what the great prophet Isaiah "did" as recorded in Isaiah 6; that is what Job "did" as recorded in Job 42:2-6. That is the depth of humility (we are but dust) to become a minister of the Lord, as distinct from the priests who minister to the house.
The meal offering and a drink offering does not speak of natural food. It speaks of the very elect, the overcomers. It speaks of the remnant in Revelation 12:14-17, who will feed the rest of the church in the wilderness.
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
This is the second time in the Book of Joel that we find the exhortation to blow the trumpet in Zion. The first time is in Joel 2:1.
16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
In the natural realm, that commandment is totally impossible! Where do we gather the people?
Genesis 49:10, "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between His feet, until Shiloh come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be."
Verses 15 and 16 represent the 4th call to repentance in the Book of Joel. Isn't it a tragedy that we Christians have not and will not repent until our circumstances become almost unbearable? How much suffering could we forego if we just respond to the Lord after His first admonition to repent? I wonder how many Christians have prayed and asked the Lord to remove this coronavirus because we want to get back to our natural routine.
And now we come to the most critical exhortation for the Lord's chosen people today.
17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not Thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
Verse 17 is perhaps the most important Verse in Joel in terms of what the Lord is waiting for His people to "do." It is true that every Christian believer who has been born from above is called to be a minister. That is sometimes called the priesthood of all believers. We are all called to be priests after the order of Melchisedec (Hebrews 7:17). However, many are called but few are chosen. To put that another way, many are called but few choose. Few true believers choose to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. Too many are content just to make it to heaven one day. Why? because of human nature and because of ignorance. It is rare today to hear the pure Gospel preached.
It is significant that Joel 2:17 is precisely halfway through the book of Joel ... 36 verses before and 36 verses after Joel 2:17. We are called to be co-laborers with the Lord. The number, 36, is six times six. Six is the scriptural number of man. The first 36 verses in the book of Joel represent what the first man or the first Adam, in other words, Christian man, is called to do. The last 36 verses in the book of Joel speak of what the second Man or the last Adam, in other words, The Godhead, will do after Joel 2:17 is fulfilled.
Ezekiel 44 describes two types of priests: the priests who minister to the house (Christians) and the priests (Christians) who minister to the Lord. Ezekiel 44 says that the priests who minister to the house have committed abominations, but the priests who minister to the Lord are those who are charged (in Joel 2:17) to "weep between the porch and the altar." "Minister to the Lord" does not equate to singing praises to the Lord in an assembly of believers. Everything that we "do" must be "as unto the Lord." So the priests, the ministers of the Lord, are exhorted (or commanded) to weep between the porch and the altar. The porch speaks of the people of God; the altar speaks of the Lord Himself. That is called intercession, at the highest level. That is what the Lord Jesus Christ continues to do on our behalf. "He ever liveth to make intercession for us" (Hebrews 7:25).
Ezekiel 44:15-23, "But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD:16 They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.17 And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.18 They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their Loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat.
[Linen garments speaks of the righteousness of God. What causes sweat? Works of the flesh.]
19 And when they go forth into the utter court, even into the utter court to the people, they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered, and lay them in the holy chambers, and they shall put on other garments; and they shall not sanctify the people with their garments.20 Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long; they shall only poll their heads.21 Neither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.22 Neither shall they take for their wives a widow, nor her that is put away: but they shall take maidens of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow that had a priest before.23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.
In the past we have perhaps done a credible job of teaching the Lord's people the difference between the holy and the profane. But how can any man CAUSE the Lord's people to discern between the unclean and the clean? That is not possible. However, the Spirit of the Lord within the priests, the ministers of the Lord, can perform that.
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16.
Who is a righteous man? Not me and not you. Only Christ is the righteous man.
Some careful thought will bear witness that the greatest saints were often the greatest intercessors, for they were those who were closest to the heart of God. Some of these great intercessors were Abraham, Samuel, David, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Jeremiah, and Paul, to name a few.
But another striking example of an intercessor was Moses. And with the ministry of Moses, we see a very similar pattern of events as with the Last Joel. The apostasy of the Israelites who came out of Egypt during the Exodus was so great that only two of those over the age of twenty actually made it into the Promised Land. At one point the Lord determined to destroy all those who came out of Egypt except Moses. But Moses interceded.
Some careful thought will bear witness that the greatest saints were often the greatest intercessors, for they were those who were closest to the heart of God. Some of these great intercessors were Abraham, Samuel, David, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Jeremiah, and Paul, to name a few.
But another striking example of an intercessor was Moses. And with the ministry of Moses, we see a very similar pattern of events as with the Last Joel. The apostasy of the Israelites who came out of Egypt during the Exodus was so great that only two of those over the age of twenty actually made it into the Promised Land. At one point the Lord determined to destroy all those who came out of Egypt except Moses. But Moses interceded.
Exodus 32:30-32, "And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin. And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written."
That is intercession. Quite a number of years ago I became convinced that the only real solution for the church in our present state is prophetic intercession, by which I mean groaning in the spirit, weeping in travail for the maturity of the body of Christ, founded on spiritual wisdom and understanding. Of course, such intercession must be born of the Spirit. It is not something that we can teach, although we can set forth the need to other members of the body. Joel 2:17 is of utmost priority in the eyes of the Lord.
Unfortunately, I am not at all convinced that the Last Joel will fulfill their function in Joel 2:17 until the persecution, tribulation, afflictions and suffering increase. That somewhat corresponds to the 400 years that the Israelites were in bondage and captivity in Egypt. As I mentioned several messages ago, I do believe that whoever the Lord has decreed who the next president of U.S. will be ... will give us a clue as to when these events in Joel will take place.
Unfortunately, I am not at all convinced that the Last Joel will fulfill their function in Joel 2:17 until the persecution, tribulation, afflictions and suffering increase. That somewhat corresponds to the 400 years that the Israelites were in bondage and captivity in Egypt. As I mentioned several messages ago, I do believe that whoever the Lord has decreed who the next president of U.S. will be ... will give us a clue as to when these events in Joel will take place.
The similarity between the people of God in the times of Moses and the church today is strikingly similar. As I mentioned last week, the 8th plague in Egypt during the time of Moses was locusts. They are already swarming in Africa.
The action required of His priests, the ministers of the Lord, in this hour is very clear and very timely. However, to fulfill this commandment the Last Joel first must have learned to develop fruit - the fruit of the Spirit. Sadly, the greatest anointing is the one that has been the most neglected ... the anointing to become that which the Lord desires ... Christ in you, the hope of glory. That comes only by hearing His voice and obeying. I must emphasize that neither you nor I can ever fulfill Joel 2:17. It is only the Christ within us that can fulfill His will and purpose.
Finally, if we can heed the exhortation in Joel 1:1-Joel 2:17, then we will soon see the fulfillment of the following verse.
The action required of His priests, the ministers of the Lord, in this hour is very clear and very timely. However, to fulfill this commandment the Last Joel first must have learned to develop fruit - the fruit of the Spirit. Sadly, the greatest anointing is the one that has been the most neglected ... the anointing to become that which the Lord desires ... Christ in you, the hope of glory. That comes only by hearing His voice and obeying. I must emphasize that neither you nor I can ever fulfill Joel 2:17. It is only the Christ within us that can fulfill His will and purpose.
Finally, if we can heed the exhortation in Joel 1:1-Joel 2:17, then we will soon see the fulfillment of the following verse.
Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. Isaiah 66:8
Evidently Zion has not yet travailed!
There is no substitute for the presence of the Holy Spirit and hearing that which the Spirit is saying to the Church. Apart from the Holy Ghost, the Church cannot grow or stay alive. The presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church is vital to the work of the Church. There is nothing mechanical or static about Christianity. When we settle for the mechanics, even the mechanics of the Bible, instead of striving for the dynamics of Jesus, we come under the category of being "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked" (Revelation 2:17). I cannot convey in words the utmost urgency that I sense in my spirit about this word concerning "The Last Joel!" May the Lord bless you as you meditate on The Last Joel.
Lord we ask you for your great grace and mercy.
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