Joel - "The Prophet Of Pentecost" - Frank Brancato - 9/24/06

I'd bite your attention to the Book of Joel the second chapter

and we want to begin reading there in verse number 28.

Joel chapter 2, beginning in verse 28, and it shall come to

Joel 2 · chapter mention

pass afterward that I will pour out my spirit upon All Flesh,

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men

shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions and also

upon the servants and upon my handmaids in those days, Will I

pour out my spirit? And I will show wonders in

heaven and in the earth blood and fire and pillars of smoke.

The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood

before the great day, the great and terrible day of the Lord

come, and it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the

name of the Lord. Shall be delivered for in Mount,

Zion. And in Jerusalem, shall be

Deliverance as the Lord has said and in the remnant whom the Lord

shall Call that will suffice for our reading.

But what we're going to do is finish the Book of Joel.

As one of the Minor Prophets. We've been studying, and we will

entitle our remarks. The prophet of Pentecost.

The question is, there are many things that are described here

in the second chapter of the Book of Joel and beginning there

in verse 28. But the question is, when was it

fulfilled? It hasn't been fulfilled

already. Or is it as some would suppose

to be? Build in a future time.

We'll discuss this in great detail in just a few moments.

But at this time we have a wonderful privilege.

Now, of going before, the god of heaven and prayer in our

previous study, a couple Sundays ago.

You remember that? We covered Joe chapter 1,

beginning there, in verse 1 and went all the way down through

verse 27 of the second chapter of this prophecy and we find

that in this prophecy that Joel speaks of it was accustomed by a

Plague of locusts. And the book begins with the

word of the Lord coming to Joel and said, here this, you elders

and all the inhabitants of the land.

He said nothing like this has happened.

Certainly not in your lifetime, but not only that.

Nothing like this has ever happened.

Even in the lifetime of your father's.

The devastation would be so great.

That Joel says that you're going to tell your children about it

and it doesn't stop there. The devastation is so great.

And so thorough that your children will tell their

children and finally their children will tell another

generation. Besides and Joe you remember

describe the devastation by saying this.

And as I read from the new King James version, I'll do so now on

that one verse of scripture because I didn't know, as I

mentioned a couple of weeks ago, what a cankerworm were Apollo

worm is so this is how its rendered in the new King James,

he says, what the chewing Locust left Warming Locust has eaten

and what the swarming Locust left.

The crawling Locust has eaten and what the crawling Locust

left. The consuming Locust has eaten

and Joe Begins by naming the things that are going to be

destroyed. Beginning from the luxuries of

life and proceeding down through the essentials of life.

Let me just say this. I thought about this the other

day, you know, you and I we have luxuries that we enjoy from day

to day. I have them and so do you You in

fact maybe you and I that live in the country we live in

perhaps have greater luxuries and more luxuries than maybe any

other place in the world. I don't know that for certain

but I would venture to say and looking around and also seeing

all the news and reading about other places where people don't

have the luxuries of life like you and I have one day all the

sudden, if the luxuries of my life would be taken away, I

would just imagine that. I would be saddened by that they

would be it would be Completely inconvenient to lose the things

that I would deem what consider to be the luxuries in my life.

But it's even greater when the essentials of Life are taken

away and Joel pictures that great Devastation includes both

the luxuries of Life are taken away and also the Necessities or

the essentials of Life. They also are removed and taken

away. He begins with those that would

enjoy luxuries and he speaks of the drunkard.

He said the drunkard must wake out Of their stupor for the

source of their drink is cut off.

He says, that not only is the new wine, which is fermented

strong drink, which the drunkards would enjoy is cut

off, but he even says by way of the, an essential, the sweet

wine, which is the fresh grape juice that comes from the vine

that's desired by all and all enjoy, that is going to be taken

away also because the source of the drink has been destroyed and

that being the Vine And the Bible says that the destruction

was so great that the bark is gone from the fig tree and it's

clean bear. And the branches are made white

and he then calls upon the priest to mourn and lament

because even the offerings of worship were cut off.

Now, picture that he tells them. And just a moment, I'll mention

it again, but he pictures in great graphic detail what he

expects coming from God. By the way, what he expects the

priest to lead the people in this horrible repentant and

sorrowful heart that they are to have.

And the reason for that is the ideas or the things of worship

have been destroyed to and there's nothing to bring before

God. And then I got to thinking

today, I just wonder how I would feel if worship was taken away.

What is worship was taken away today and you could not get up

out of your beds and get dressed.

During your minds and your hearts to worship God, and come

down here, like we've done. What if it was taken away?

Would we mourn and lament? Would we be sorrowful as he

pictures that they need to be? Especially when it was because

of our own doing. Would we repent?

Would we weep would? We mourn, would we wrap

ourselves in sack cloth, and laid before the altar all night?

I just wonder just some food for thought about how worship is so

important and of all the things that were taken away the

luxuries and even the essentials of life.

Now that's what you need. That's what a person needs to

have to sustain themselves in this life.

It's taken Away. But when he pictures it, he

pictures. There's greater sorrow.

There's greater remorse. All is taken away, but it's

greater because worship has now been removed because there's

nothing to bring before. God, what a picture of how

important worship is to the great God of heaven and how it

was pictured by Joel In AD and baad in beast in 830 BC.

Got that out. 830 BC thereabouts.

When this letter was written, when this prophetic account came

to Joel, how important was worship.

He tells them to mourn Like a Virgin insect law to his lost.

Her husband in battle that she was betrothed to from her very

Youth. And as we studied the language

of Joe, and as we've done thus far, we can surely understand

the full import, or impact of This calamity.

But the grief is Later, because of their worship, the fields are

left bare. There is no grain, The Vineyards

are stripped, and therefore, there's no new wine.

The olive trees are barked and therefore, there's no olive oil,

which is essential for food. The husband went along with the

vinedressers are called upon to join the priest in mourning for

all share in the overwhelming desolation.

All a helplessness abounds everywhere because all strata of

society Society has been affected.

But then with this very graphic description of the invasion of

locust, and the devastation of the land, it is followed by a

call to repentance and fasting before the Lord, and rightfully,

so, you know, which to be led by the priest, those Servants of

God, the priest who now become a prophetic type of the priests

today, which is the Christian and there to lead the people in

this charge and repent in. That way, there were taggard

themself with sect, Loft and lie.

All night before the altar they were to lament and mourn the

nation's condition and to do it in such a way as to set a good

example of genuine repentance. And he tells them this, the

awful Calamity that that has been is present that he speaking

of, as awful as it is and with all that's been taken away, it

will only pale in comparison to the one that's coming for.

He says, the day of the Lord is near, let me speak.

Just a moment about this phrase. The day of the Lord, in

prophetic terms written before 830 BC, even though, even though

there are many interpretations about When the dates of some of

the Minor Prophets were written Joel and Jonah.

And Obadiah, there's some discrepancy of When It Was

Written, but I have followed suit with the succession of

Minor Prophets that I believe were written in.

There was Obadiah. And then there is Joe.

And then there was Jonah that we took Jonah and Joel out of

position there but really in succession.

So prior to this time, Obadiah was the first one to use the

phrase, the day of the Lord. You know, that phrase is

something that is misunderstood and misinterpreted in the

religious world today. You see, sometimes what folks do

and we need to be very, very careful about this.

When we read a prophetic account in the Old Testament and it

speaks of impending judgment that's to come, that is in the

future. We need to be very very careful

that we do not bind that prophecy on future time.

Times than they occurred. We also need to be careful as

some would do, you know, I've seen folks and I'm sure they do

it with all the best intentions, but they take a passage of

scripture in the Old Testament, they take it out of context,

they preach on it. Like, it's going to happen right

now or that it's going to happen in future times.

Not understanding that the Fulfillment of those prophecies

have already come. What was he speaking of then?

When he says the day of the Lord, That phrase is used in the

Bible on a number of occasions and it's used by way of when,

the Judgment of God would come upon the people.

And also, we can picture the day of the Lord.

There will be a day of the Lord on that last and final day being

the Judgment day. But that's not what he was

speaking of here. He's talking about the impending

judgment. That would come and even though

the destruction of locusts was so great, it's going to be

worse, it's going to come if they did not.

Not repent. Then in chapter 2, In Chapter 2,

we find the first warning and such and summons to look to God

is followed by a more urgent warning and call to repentance

because of this day of the Lord being at hand.

He pictures it as a day of darkness and gloominess, he

pictures it as a day of clouds and thick darkness and then Joe

goes into vivid language, describing the army of locusts.

The ones that were considered to be the northern Army of God.

He says they Home with elongated heads like horses and a forward,

March. Nothing can deter their own word

marks. All these Invaders are coming.

They're going to climb the walls and invade the courts.

In the houses, they will not break their ranks.

And I think this is fascinating because he pictures that the

locusts are coming in this great art as a great Army and the

sound of their na young and chewing and moving sounds like

chariots that were going into battle.

Now picture that picture a chariot wheel going along on

hard uneven ground and picture them all lined up within ranks

and we can hear them from a far distance away as those Wheels

would grind against that ground. And that's how he pictures the

sound of these locusts. But you know, in spite of the

terrible judgment and destruction caused by these

Locust, it's not too late. You remember, we talked about

that if the people will turn to God with a heart of genuine

penitents with unfeigned fasting and with weeping and mourning,

they were told to do what though here's the greatest picture of

repentance. They were told to Rend the heart

and not the garments. You know, that's a picture of

this. If you're going to make changes,

if you're going to be sorrowful, if Godly sorrow is going to

change you in your life, it must begin in the heart.

You have to render the heart and you have to repent inwardly and

not just outwardly. Now, outward manifestations of

the things that we do are very important because outward

manifestations show where our heart truly is.

But it begins. In the heart and he tells them

that if if they would Rend the heart and not the garments, if

they would weep, if they would mourn if they would lament.

And if they would purpose to change that, God would change

his mind to that, God would be merciful and he truly wants

first, he sends food, they so sorely needed.

And once more, they have their hunger.

Now, satisfied and secondly, he would remove the regulatory.

Proulx it's brought on them among the nation's by driving

out the Locust from their site and fullness gladness rejoicing

and freedom from the Locust. Scourge would come after the

people repented and turned back to their God and God gave them a

wonderful outpouring of material plenty and thus, our study ended

the last time. But the five things that we took

from that, That though are these number one calamities often

cause people to draw nigh to God.

Now I'm not talking about specifically natural calamities,

let me just say this. Let me just picture it.

Like this isn't it true that trouble causes people to turn to

God even in the world? You remember 9/11, when those

planes went flying into those twin towers and into the

Pentagon and down in that Pennsylvania field.

People that weren't even considering God in their life.

We're at least looking toward God.

They were going into church houses and standing next to

other people. They have never seen before and

holding hands. They desperately with yearning

Hearts. Wanted some sort of semblance of

feeling that all would be okay and all would be right.

That's what troubles and problems do in life, folks, they

cause us to draw nigh to God. That's not the problem because I

can look even in my life and sure you can look in your life

and you can say that in the greatest troubles or Sorrows or

challenges in your life if you're a child of God and if

you're Christian the first thing you did is you got by yourself

and you got on your knees and you wore your knees out, praying

to the great God Of Heaven because what you were going

through we understand that The question is, do we do that?

When all is, well, that's really the greater challenge because

calamities, trials problems, all of that, they cause men to draw

nigh to God to we learned the nature of repentance as I

mentioned. Just a moment ago, it must be

with our whole heart, it must be Inward and not just outward.

Three, we learned the nature of God, we learned that God is

gracious and God is merciful that he is slow.

Go to anger and of great kindness for, we learn that God

relates from doing harm. When we repent, you, remember we

mentioned Jonah and we preached on Jonah a while back in July,

but you remember about Jonah. These people were going to be

overthrown by God and God sends a sins, a little Hebrew preacher

and enemy of these people, and he goes up and down the streets.

And I understand, as I mentioned before, I'm mixing it again,

there's eight words in the English language that picture.

His sermon but only five in the Hebrew language.

So picture this way, sometimes we preach with all of our being

and we tried so very hard to have results.

We try so very hard to move the heart of The Sinner and so on

and so forth. And we preach for 30 45 minutes,

we go through a gospel meeting and preach ten sermons over an

eight-day period. And sometimes no results.

This man walked the streets of Nineveh that great City.

And remember, it was like the London of the day.

It was not some little Podunk town somewhere.

No, this was a great City and here's the sermon translated in

English language, original five word sermon from Hebrew yet,

forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

And the Bible says the people repented and God changed his

mind. That's what we learned from.

Last time, also, and finally, we learned this and let's not,

let's not forget this, we learn that, God means business.

He means business. He is going to be served the way

that he has described, that he will be served. and if we don't

do that and if we turn back and don't do that, Then the

punishments of God are, awaiting us.

All that being said, let's begin quickly.

Now, in verse 28, the word after word, speaking of now times

future from what he is already spoken of and verse 28, this

indicates a spiritual fullness would follow the material.

Fullness that's already been described.

And the specific fulfillment is declared by Peter on the day of

Pentecost following the resurrection and Ascension.

Of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

And here, Joe says, he says, this now, material, plenty has

already been restored to the people.

In fact, an outpouring interesting word, an outpouring

of material, plenty would come before the outpouring of

spiritual planning or simply put the spirit.

And here we find that Joel says that this outpouring of the

spirit would come upon All Flesh.

Shhhh Now, All Flesh signifies this.

It signifies both Jew and Gentile for one thing because

anyone that was not a Jew was a gentile.

Now, I don't know how much I have in me.

But there's some Italian in me and there's some other things in

me. And from my mother there's a

whole lot of West Virginia in me.

Whatever that is. There are people that are Irish

Hispanic, folks. There are people with all manner

of things and nationalities and so on.

But when we say Gentile, that is all-inclusive, that's inclusive

of anybody. That is not a Jew.

And Joel says that this outpouring of this spiritual of,

the spirit would be poured out, among all flesh, meaning Jews

and Gentiles. And also, meaning this meaning,

without distinction of race age or sex, very briefly.

Now look and look the 24th chapter about these things will

go right through here about how it was full.

Filled first at Pentecost, with regards to the Jews and Luke

Luke 24 · chapter mention

chapter 24 beginning there in verse 44.

And he said unto them, these are the words, which I spake unto

you while. I was yet with you, that all

things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses

and in the prophets, and in the Psalms concerning me, then

opened he their understanding that they might understand the

scriptures and said unto them, thus it is written and thus, it

be who Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead.

The third day, and that repentance and remission of sins

Ends should be preached in his name, among all nations,

beginning at Jerusalem and you are witnesses of these things.

And behold I send the promise of my father upon you, but Terry

you in the city of Jerusalem until you be endued with power

from on high, hear the words of Jesus.

And you remember very briefly Jesus had already gone to Gaga,

Thurs brow. He hung on the cross, he shed

his blood and he died there on that cross.

Also, he was taken down from the cross.

He was buried. And on the third day, he rose

again and he spent about 40 days with his disciples which he's

presently doing now and he talks about this fulfillment of the

spirit, that's to be poured out that Joel spoke of so long ago.

He said that repentance and remission of sins would be

preached in his name, beginning at Jerusalem, and it was going

to be done on that day. Now, notice Joel speaks of an An

outpouring of the spirit, Jesus says it's the promise of my

father so that's what's going to be poured out from them and the

promise of the father was going to give them power from on high.

Jesus, here is speaking to his disciples.

He speaking to the apostles, the promise was to be given to them

and they were of Jewish blood. Now then going in X.

Number one now, Beginning in verse 4, this is before Jesus

ascended to his father, in Heaven and in verse 4 says and

being assembled together with them commanded them that they

should not depart from Jerusalem.

But wait for the promise of the father.

Which saith he you have heard of me for John truly baptized with

water but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, not many

days. Hence, who is Jesus speaking to

here before Jesus ascended to his father?

He speaking to the same man that he spoke to in Luke chapter 24.

Luke 24 · chapter mention

He's not speaking to you, he's not speaking to me.

He's not speaking to anyone in this context after or separate

and apart from these apostles. Yes.

And here he says when they asked him the question and Acts

Acts 1 · chapter mention

chapter 1, they said Lord will you at this time restore?

Again, the kingdom to Israel and Jesus responded and said it is

not for you to know the times or the seasons that the Lord hath

placed in his own power. But tells them again to stay in

Jerusalem. What for the promise of his

father? What's the promise of the father

that we just read? You shall be baptized with the

Holy Ghost. Not many days.

Hence, and in verse number 8, he says this but you shall receive

power after that. The Holy Ghost is come upon you.

The apostles and ye shall be Witnesses unto me both in

Jerusalem and in Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost

part of the earth. And when he had spoken these

things while they beheld, he was taken up and a cloud received

him out of their sight. So reviewing thus far, they were

to stay in Jerusalem, they're going to get what the promise of

my father. Jesus said it's going to come

who or to whom or upon whom it's coming to the apostles and only

the apostles. What did Jesus specifically say

in Acts 1 was the promise of his father.

He said it was the baptism of the Holy Spirit and here we go

next to beginning in verse 1 and when the day of Pentecost was

fully come, they were all with one Accord in one.

Thanks and suddenly, there came a sound from Heaven as of a

rushing, Mighty Wind. And it filled all the house,

where they were sitting, and there appeared unto them, cloven

tongues, like as of fire and it sat upon each of them and they

were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with

other tongues, as the spirit, gave them utterance and there

were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation

under heaven. Now, when this was noised

abroad, the multitudes came together.

And they were confounded because that on every man, they heard

him speak in his own language and they were all amazed and

marveled saying, one to another behold, aren't all these men

that speak galilaeans and how we hear every man in our own

tongue, wherein we were born parthians medes elamites and

dwellers of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia and pontus and

Asia. Phrygia pamphylia in Egypt.

And in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, Eenie and strangers of

Rome Jews and proselytes Crete's and Arabians.

We do hear them speak in our own tongues, the wonderful works of

God. And they were all amazed.

And with in doubt, saying one to another.

What meaneth? This other said, mockingly,

these men are drunken, these men are full of new wine.

But the response was this. The response was Peter standing

up with the eleven lifted up his voice and said unto them.

Ye men of Judea, and all that dwell at Jerusalem, be this

known unto you and hearken to my words for these are not drunken

as you suppose seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel and

it shall come to pass in the last days.

Saith God, I will pour out my spirit upon All Flesh, and your

sons and daughters shall prophesy and your young.

Young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams,

and on my servants. And on my handmaidens, I will

pour out in those days of my spirit and they shall prophesy

hence beginning at Jerusalem, then the apostles, the Jews

receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, fulfilling the

first part of what Joe meant when he said all flesh.

But then secondly, about a decade later, I'm told this

happened. Be fulfilled with regards to the

Gentiles and it was with regards to Cornelius and his household.

You remember that? Cornelius was a soldier.

The King James version, says he was a centurion.

He was a soldier of the Italian cohort or or Italian regiment.

He was a man that was devout, a man that feared God with all his

house. He was a man that gave much alms

to the people and he prayed to God, always and he sees in a

vision, the angel of God coming into him and saying his name

Cornelius and I can't imagine what that would do to me.

But I know he was afraid. The Bible says, when the angel

of the Lord came in and appeared to him and said, Cornelius, he

was startled and he was afraid. But then all of a sudden some

very reassuring and comforting words came from this Angel and

the angel says thy prayers and by alms are come up for a

memorial before God he tells Cornelius he says you send men

to Joppa and you find a man named Peter he's staying there.

He's lodging with a man named Simon the Tanner and he's there

you go find him. Well this man being a military

man this Cornelius I would imagine what have people that

would be under his Direct. And and when he would say to go

and do something, I would just imagine that people would just

snap right to it. Get up and be about what exactly

he said to do. What he tells them.

Is you go to Joppa. You go to Simon the Tanners

house and you find a man named Peter and you bring him back to

me. Interesting.

The angel recognized. That this was a man trying to be

religious. But it wasn't good enough.

He was a praying man. He was a giving man.

He was a good man. He was a man that I would

imagine would be held in high esteem among his peers in

society. He was a man that that meant

well. And yet the angel says no, you

send men to Joppa, you get Peter and he will tell you what you

have to do here. Tell you what, you're lacking

because right now, it's not good enough.

Well, you remember that as they left and as they were on their

way, Peter goes up to the house to pray and became very hungry.

And he fell into a trance and he saw heaven opened, and a certain

vessel descending unto him like a great white sheet at the Four

Corners let down to the Earth and on it were all Enter a

four-footed Beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping

things and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him.

It says Rise Peter kill and eat. But Peter said not so Lord for I

have never eaten anything common or unclean.

Well the voice came to him the second time and said what God

has cleansed that call, not thou common showing a picture of

God's acceptance of the Gentiles to You know what's neat about

this? We just can't go right past this

without making a comment. Here's the point when they bring

Peter to Cornelius And Cornelius sees this man.

I think this is so interesting. Because the angel said that

Peter was going to come with some Authority and come with

some knowledge that you need to have.

This is a Godly Man on the way. When Peter walks in Cornelius,

had been waiting for him. And he and his household were

patiently waiting to hear what Peter would have to say.

You know, what Cornelius does, he goes up to Peter, and he

falls down at his feet and he starts to worship Him.

You know, incidentally there's a certain affiliation that

worships men in this life too. They say that Peter was the

first one of those fellas. I guess.

They forgot to read this passage here because you know what?

Peter said Peter said oh no. No and he helps him up and says,

you will not worship me in essence because I am only a man.

I too am. Just a man and words would be

spoken by this man, but it is only God that's to be revered

and God to be served and worshipped.

Will Peter priest says this to, before he preaches that sermon

to him. He says, I have a truth, God is

no respecter of persons, but in every nation, he that feareth

him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him and he

preaches to them. And then in verse 44, Or of Acts

10 here it is. While Peter yet spake these

words, the Holy Ghost fell on them, which had heard the word

and they of the circumcision or those Jews that believe.

Those were converted Christians that were Jews were astonished

as many as came with Peter because that on the Gentiles

also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost, for they hunted,

them speak with tongues and magnify God, then answered

Peter. Can any forbid water that these

should be baptized? Just that have received the Holy

Ghost, as well as we and he commanded them to be baptized in

the name of the Lord, which is by the authority of the Lord,

which is water baptism, which is the one baptism that's pictured

in the New Testament. It's the only one that will take

away your sins. And this was a one-time thing to

show that the, the Holy Spirit would come unto the Gentiles to

prove to the Jews that they're accepted of God.

And we know that they did that because they said well how Can

we forbid water? If they have received the Holy

Ghost, like we, and they were baptized by the authority of

Jesus Christ, on that day. But also, Joel says that your

sons and your daughter's shall prophesy, your old men shall

dream dreams your young men shall see Visions.

This also has already been fulfilled and does not apply

today, but we find that this is fulfilled in the New Testament.

For example, well, for Philip had four virgin daughters who

prophesied first Corinthians, 21, and verse 9, the Apostle,

Paul tells of women who prophesied first Corinthians 11,

and verse number 5, But what do the Tom's prophesying visions

and dreams? What do they all mean?

First of all, they seem not to be completely distinct from one

another, but they are complementary with each other,

prophesying by definition stands for one of the for the whole of

teaching. By inspiration of the spirit

visions and dreams indicate. Two forms of Revelation by which

God would make himself known to the profit for example in

numbers. 12 and verse 6, it says, and he said here, now my

words, if there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make

myself known unto him in a vision and will speak unto him

in a dream. And so, it is concluded.

Therefore that what took place on Pentecost.

Mark the beginning of the complete fulfillment of Joel's

word, and then Joel pictures. God is showing wonders and blood

and fire and pillars of smoke. Smoke in heaven and on Earth

blood here, suggests Bloodshed fired upon the Earth, suggest

the burning of cities during which the pillars of smoke,

billow heavenward, this figure as used by Joel became a

description of approaching judgment.

We're going to get to what exactly that was in just a

moment. But let me just say this, it is

true that Jesus did not come to condemn the world or judge the

world. He came to save the world.

That's a fact. Let me just say this, it became

an inevitable part of his work. because if people would reject

the spirit, And if people reject the spirit today which is

through the word of God, if people reject that then judgment

is coming when he pictures this, I believe he's referring to the

destruction of Jerusalem. I believe he's talking about

things when you see those things, pictured, it often times

in the Bible pictures, the destruction of a nation and I

believe that that's already happened.

But let me just say this, it does become a prophetic type of

judgment to come for all those who reject the spirit rejoices

Reject, this word are going to find themselves in the same

category as has been mentioned. You know, when I think about how

When I think about how the great pains that God has gone about to

save our soul. We might look at these things as

harsh, but look at the price that's been paid.

We understand the importance by what God was willing to give in

exchange for it and Jesus too. The blessings of Heaven are so

great. Seeing in the eyes of God is so

bad. There can only be one way and if

we reject the teachings of his son that's revealed to me by the

Holy Spirit In This Book, I'm going to find myself in that

last and final day standing before the judgement of God when

God will pass down his judgment on me for my Disobedience, very

quickly, Joel pictured it like this, too.

And then Peter says it in verse 21 of Acts 2 and that is, but

whosoever, shall call on the name of the Lord shall be

delivered. Now, the question is, what's

calling on the name of the Lord? That's exactly what Joel said.

Joel said this, that this destruction is going.

About this destruction of Jerusalem is going to be

devastating and so on. But the remnant, you remember,

according to the election of Grace, Romans 11, and 5, those

that would call on the name of the Lord.

In other words, obey What the Lord Has commanded, they'll be

delivered such destruction. and that's the way it was then, and

that's the way it is now calling on the name of the Lord is, as

Peter said in First Peter 3:21 / to First Peter Acts 2:38.

1 Peter 3:21 Acts 2:38

Then Peter said unto them, repent and be baptized every one

of you. In the name of Jesus Christ for

the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the

Holy Ghost. You remember?

There was another time when this came out and this came up about

calling on the name of the Lord. When Saul of Tarsus was on the

Damascus Road, to go bind those that would call on the name of

the Lord and would obey the Lord, and would be a Christian.

You remember that, as he's on that road, a great light shine

round about him and it was Jesus and Jesus stopped him dead in

his tracks and says Saul Saul. Why persecutest thou me?

And he responded by saying who art?

Thou Lord. He said I am Jesus.

Whom thou persecutest it's hard for thee to kick against the

Pricks. He said, what will you have me

to do? With those blind that blind man

had to be led into the end of the city.

And he was going to be told what he must do and he goes in and

prays for three days. And let me just say this, Would

you imagine in a three-day prayer?

If there's anything at all, you could have missed in a prayer.

I imagine not. I would imagine you know we get

kind of kind of ruffled when somebody preaches 15 minutes or

praise 15 minutes three days. And I would just imagine that he

got everything said that needed to be said Wasn't enough though

was it, he accepted Jesus for whom he was absolutely.

He was willing to obey Jesus and what do you want me to do?

He was sorrowful. He went in and prayed

repentantly for three days. But ananias, here comes the

preacher and he comes on the scene and he says, and now why

tarriest thou arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins

calling on the name of the Lord. That's how you call on the name

of the Lord is to obey with the The Lord said and that's done

and fulfilled at baptism. but finally, and lastly Once again,

though, with regards to the picture that Joe says about the

nation's that are going to find themself in judgment and the

nation's that are going to be punished for persecuting and

punishing God's people and so on and so forth.

That's pictured in the third chapter.

Again, as it was with the Locust, here's a ray of Hope.

The real hope is it doesn't have to be like that.

The Ray of Hope is. That there's a bright light

shining. And that is that God will be a

refuge in a stronghold to all those who seek shelter beneath

the shadow of his infinite wing. This is to be done in Zion Joel

says or spiritual Jerusalem and that is the church.

You know, no strangers will pass through her today.

You ever think of that. Strangers could pass through

Jerusalem. Of old.

But there'll be no strangers passing through the church. and

in order to have the blessings of Zion where God says, I would

well in order to have the blessings of spiritual Jerusalem

which is the church, you can't have those blessings without

being a citizen of that. Place.

A citizen of that Kingdom. And that's the church.

There is no blessings outside of the church spiritual.

Zion is impregnable and will never be destroyed.

Me ask you a question. I think this is really

important. I really do.

What is your view? Of the church.

How do you view the church today?

Because let me just say this, it is true.

It is true that throughout time, man.

Has digressed from that, which is right.

That's a fact. Man is done, that man will

continue to do that. I'm afraid people will make bad

choices, and there are people in the world that are not living as

they should. That is all true.

There are Christians who have turned their back.

Also, that is true. But how do you view the church?

This is important fellas. I'm speaking to you now, leaders

and teachers. Listen, Very important.

How do you view the church? Because attitude reflects

leadership. I know there are things that

aren't right in the world, maybe even among God's people, but

don't ever forget this, the church is perfect.

The institution of the church is perfect, and that is the only

thing that will be delivered back over to God.

I am confident, I am confident beyond a shadow of a doubt that

there's not one man in this world.

There's not one innovation in this world that can come in and

destroy the body of Christ as a whole.

Now, some may have lost their Candlestick, some may have lost

their identity and digress from that which Right?

That may be true but ladies and gentlemen, they cannot touch the

church as a whole. The church is the body of

Christ. It is the kingdom of Christ is

spiritual Zion, and that's what Jesus is going to handle his

father one day. One more should verse and I'm

through 1st Corinthians, 15 beginning in verse 24.

Then cometh the end when he shall have delivered up the

kingdom to God. Even the father, when he shall

have, put down all Rule and all authority and power for, he must

Reign till he hath. Put all enemies under his feet

and The Last Enemy that shall be.

Destroyed is death for he hath put all things under his feet

but when he saith all things are put under him, it is Manifest

that he is excepted, which did put all things under him and

went All things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the son,

also himself be subject unto him, that put all things under

him that God may be all in all. That's a promise.

I believe it. And no man can get in the way of

just that. I think that's important too.

Because folks, we got to convert people to that church.

We have something to sell. we sure do if you'll pardon the

common term, We do. Their salvation found in the

gospel. And you can't have salvation

outside of the church. Let's take that to the world.

Let's convert folks with the good news to all.

We always stand against things that are wrong, don't get me

wrong, don't misinterpret misunderstand.

What I'm saying. But never view the church in

anything, but it is, and that is the greatest institution in all

the world. Because that's the way I get to

heaven. We thank you for listening to

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