Changing The Spiritual Climate Of Indifference Series

8. Israel had grown lukewarm, they were indifference to the things of God and here God judges them by sending a swarm of locusts against them (Joel 1:3-6). Here in chapter 2, God tells them that the day of the Lord is coming. For those who will not seek after the Lord, judgment is coming. While certainly God is a God of love, He is also a God of judgment, and He will not tolerate indifference, He will judge us and chasten us. God can not tolerate indifference among His people. We are often guilty of thinking that God will not judge His church but listen to what His Word says.

1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

II. THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT COMMANDS GIVEN.

1. It is interesting to note that in chapters one and two, an unusual pattern developes. There is an alternating pattern of God either describing what He is doing or going to do, and then a command is given. In chapter two, in verses 1-11 God describes the coming of the day of the Lord, and then, in verse 12, He gives a command. He says, “turn ye even to Me with all your heart”.

2. This is written in the imperative tense, in other words, it is a command. The Hebrew word is the word shuwb {shoob} and it means “come back to”.

3. God is telling His people that if you want to get out from under judgment, you must come back to Me. Today our society is under the judgment of God. Abortion is widely practiced in our society, even to the extent that it is also within the church. Pornography has addicted Christian men via the internet, some are saying that up to 40% of evangelical men have viewed porn over the internet. 4. Yet as bad as all this is, I believe the worst thing that grips our churches today is the lack of love for the lost, the lack of concern for the lost. People will fight over the color of the walls of the church, yet can’t get excited about multitudes dying everyday and spending eternity without God.

5. People come to receive their blessing, to get from God, and they have the audacity to complain if they are asked to serve in ministry. I received an email this week from a lady that attends one of our churches where the attendance was just over 1400, yet they can’t find anyone to teach Sunday School. Everybody wants their blessing yet is unconcerned about those without Christ. We can not think for a moment that type of attitude will escape the judgment of God.

6. Here God gives significant commands to His people. God is concerned about their lack of unconcern.

7. First is the command to “blow the trumpet and sound the alarm”. Again, this is written in the imperative tense. This is a command. Now I realize that we don’t blow trumpets in church that much today. What I believe the prophet was saying is be concerned about your lack of unconcern. To blow the trumpet was to announce to the people that something important was occurring. The Lord said the reason you are to do this is that the “Day of the Lord” is coming. God will judge unconcerned lifestyles. We have the responsibility to let people know that God still judges indifference.