Joel 3 - 03.05.26

SCRIPTURE

““Then you will know that I, the Lord your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her.

“In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water.

A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house and will water the valley of acacias.”

‭‭Joel‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

OBSERVATION

When you’re in a Crisis you will hear all kinds of voices with many opinions telling you what is going on and what you should do about it.

The short 3-Chapter Book of Joel speaks of “The Day of The Lord” applying the term to a past event a Future event AND The Return Of Jesus.

A devastating Locust plague had invaded the nation of Israel causing an immediate economic catastrophe. Joel’s words regarding this plague were meant to alert everyone that God allowed this occurrence as a warning.

“When the ram’s horn blows a warning, shouldn’t the people be alarmed? Does disaster come to a city unless the Lord has planned it?”

‭‭(Amos‬ ‭3‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

Joel Warns:

To all who live in the Land: “Hear this”

To the Drunkards: “Wake Up”

To the Farmers: “Despair and Wail”

To the Priests: “CALL a Fast”

Now that Joel had their attention in prayer and Fasting…there was an additional concern. Stop looking behind and start looking ahead to what the Locust plague represented. While not everyone agrees with the symbology in Joel, It is believed that God was issuing a warning for the time the Assyrians would ravage Judah and take them into captivity as punishment for their sins.

Joel also speaks of another great and terrible “Day of the Lord” —

A Day—Yet to Come.

The Final Day of The Lord—when a Final battle will be fought in Zion.

There will be Great Victory for those who Know Jesus and Great sorrow for those who do not.

“There I, the Lord, will sit to pronounce judgment on them all.

Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.

Come, tread the grapes, for the winepress is full.

The storage vats are overflowing with the wickedness of these people.” Thousands upon thousands are waiting in the valley of decision.

There the Day of the Lord will soon arrive.

The Lord’s voice will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem,

and the heavens and the earth will shake.

But the Lord will be a refuge for his people,

a strong fortress for the people of Israel.”

‭‭(Joel‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭14‬, ‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

APPLICATION

Tear Your Hearts for God

“That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me NOW—while there is time.

Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.”

Return to the Lord your God, for HE is merciful and compassionate,

slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

HE is eager to relent and not punish.”

‭‭(Joel‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬-‭13 NLT‬‬)

Joel’s response to God’s warning—was to CALL a Fast.

Joel CALLED  for a Solemn assembly to COME-NOW.

“Don’t tear your clothing in your grief”

Joel called for a Solemn assembly to Mourn and genuinely grieve over the sins of the land. During the mourning period it is customary for Jews to rip a piece of their clothing to demonstrate their grief. They will wear this same piece of clothing throughout the seven day Shiva period. Today, in lieu of ripping clothing, very often you will see Jewish families simply safety pin a piece of torn cloth to their new clothing lapels.

Coming to God in Prayer and Intercession is serious.

Coming to God in His WORD is to be taken seriously with a prepared heart.

God doesn’t want me to “safety pin” a piece of torn cloth on my lapel so I can give an appearance of doing the “right thing”.

God wants and deserves my heart—my whole heart.

If I can’t rend my heart before God-then what does my time Before God mean?

The question is always asked…If you knew Jesus was coming back Tomorrow how would you live your life Today?

Make that Call.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus,

Forgive me for times I am skimming through Your Word and checking off a box. I ask YOU to set my heart on Fire..but I haven’t fully given YOU my deepest attention as in a fasting season. I want more of YOU and YOU tell us we CAN Have as Much Of YOU as we Desire. We must Come…seeking You…and YOU Promise we will Not be disappointed. YOU say COME. With undistracted hearts. COME. Ready to Receive. COME. To Your Feet. COME.

Here I am. Break me. Mold me. Fill me. Use me.

In Jesus Name. Amen.

Tina L Kudelka

Colossians 1 - 3.4.26

Scripture

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Col 1:15-20)

Observation

Some Bible scholars say that Colossians talk about the “Christ of the Church” just as Ephesians talk about the “Church of the Christ”. In the previous verses Paul reminds the readers that God rescued us from the dark power of Satan and brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son, who forgives our sins and sets us free (Col 1:13,14).

Paraphrasing the same verses from the CEV translation - Jesus is the image of God. He is the first-born Son, superior to all creation (v 15). Everything was created by him, everything in heaven and on earth, everything seen and unseen, including all forces and powers, and all rulers and authorities. All things were created by Him, and everything was made for Him (v16). And  by Him, everything is held together. (v17)

He is the head of his body, which is the church. He is the very beginning, and the first to be raised from death, so that He would be above all others (v18).  God himself was pleased to live fully in Him. (v 19) And God was pleased for Him to make peace by sacrificing His blood on the cross so that all beings in heaven and on earth would be brought back to God (v20)

Application

We have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus to live for Him. Our lives are not our own. It cost God everything to redeem us. It cost every drop of the blood of Jesus. As the Bible says in 1Cor 6:19-20, Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in us, we are not your own; we were bought at a price. Therefore we need to honor God with your bodies. We are redeemed to fulfil His purpose and to glorify Him.

“What kind of people do we ought to be?” asks Peter in 2 Peter 3:11, after talking about the end-time judgement. He continues to say that we ought to live holy and Godly lives.

Let us examine our lives. We were created for Him. Are we living for Him? Are we seeking His kingdom and His righteousness above all (Matt 6:33)? Are we denying ourselves and taking up our cross and following Him everyday (Matt 16:24)? If not, let us repent and correct our lives.

Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for redeeming me. Thank you for buying me with the price of the blood of Jesus. I understand that you created everything seen and unseen for your Son. Jesus, you are above all things, and all things are created for you and you hold everything together. All things were created through you and for you. Lord, I bring my life to you one more time and I pray that you will show me anything in my life that does not glorify you. If there is any part of my life that I have not surrendered to you, please show me. I repent of anything that I have valued more than you. I am yours. You are my Lord. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Ps 139:23-24). In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

- Asha Chacko George

Joel 1 - 3.3.26

SCRIPTURE:  Joel 1:14

“Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly.  Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.”

OBSERVATION:  In the year 835 B.C, Joel became a prophet.  God used him to prophesy to the nation of Judah, which was the Southern kingdom that consisted of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. They were 2 out of the 12 tribes who stayed loyal to David’s line after King Solomon’s death. In time, after becoming prosperous, the tribe of Judah grew complacent towards God, which led to them turning to idol worship and sinful lifestyles.  Joel called them to awaken from their complacency. He prophesied that a plague of devastating locusts, like an invading army, would be coming to devour everything in their path if they didn’t acknowledge their sins, and turn from them. 

APPLICATION:  God has been known to send plagues, famines, and enemy armies for the purpose of calling people back to Him.  He is much more interested in the redeemed lives of those who will live in eternity with Him than the temporary events that it often takes to bring about redemption. 

The plague of locusts He sent was used to discipline them, call them to repentance and turn them back to Him. 

God, in His love, has been known to cause the wayward to hunger in order to show them that He is the Bread of Life, Who nourishes and sustains them. 

God, in His love, has been known to bring warning signals and red flags to His people in order to protect them from impending danger.

God, in His love, has promised that if we repent and turn from our sins, and follow after Him that abundant blessings will follow. 

PRAYER:  We have been called by God to be a house of prayer.  We have been promised by God that when His people, who are called by His name, humble ourselves and pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, THEN He will hear from heaven, forgive our sin and heal our land.  I pray I will examine my heart and have true repentance that is revealed by my changed attitude and actions. Thank You God for loving me, forgiving me, guiding me and for saving me!  No one is too far gone or too evil to repent, and there is such joy in heaven over each repentant sinner! I pray I will be faithful in praying for the lost, and leading them to You.  Amen

- Robin Orefice