Source Of Trouble Series

Joel Pt2 Source of Trouble

Introduction/Review

Joel- takes us beyond events that happened in ancient Israel- points to end time events.

Joel is about-

Day of the Lord and

how Christian’s should respond/live in that day.

Joel- written to prepare the end-time church for both-

an incredible outpouring of God’s glory, and

a world wide crisis beyond anything ever seen.

God is calling us into a relationship w/Him and one another that is essential in the days ahead.

Challenge: read Joel, write down key thought.

(mic- people in congregation to share- thoughts)

Overview of Joel’s Message

Joel 1: natural disaster (v1.4)

agricultural crisis leads to economic crisis

Joel 2:1-11: military crisis (v2.11)

Babylonian invasion of Israel in 586BC

prophetic picture- what to expect-Day of the Lord

Joel 2:12-17: man’s response-times of judgment(v2.12-13)

can alleviate God’s judgment on- nation (Nineveh)

Joel 2:18-31: the promise of God’s blessing (v2.19)

Joel 3: God’s punishment on His enemies (v3.12)

deliverance for Israel/destruction- enemies

foreshadows invasion- Israel by anti-Christ

Prophetic Fulfillment

Prophetic literature - often has- two fulfillments-

near-time fulfillment in the time of the prophet

greater fulfillment at the end of the age

Understanding Joel will help prepare us for-Day of Lord.

The Day of the Lord

The Day of the Lord is mentioned 5 times in Joel-

(search them out) Joel 1.15, 2.1, 2.11, 2.31, 3.14

What is the Day of the Lord?

The Day of the Lord is- His Day- a day when He demonstrates His power/sovereignty over creation.

Joel 2.31

Great Day- release of His supernatural- provision, power, protection- for His people (Col 3.3, Isa 61.2)

Terrible Day- time- judgment for-rebellious (Rev 6-20)

Time of judgment against- Antichrist- Rev 6.8-9, 16-19

God’s normal mode of operation-restrain His judgments-

2 Pet 3.8-9 (Eccl 8.11)

At- end of the age- exodus story will become our story- God will provide supernaturally for His people.

Exodus- Goshen principle- Ex 8.22-23, 9.4, 6, 26

God will protect His people from His judgments.

The miracles in Exodus/Acts- will be multiplied.

Zeph 2.3, Ezek 9.4-6, Rev 7.2-3, 9.4

In the Bible- Day of the Lord is used in the context of the ultimate Day of the Lord when Jesus returns.

You also find lessor Days of the Lord that happen on a more local or less cataclysmic level.

We will see this in Joel in the sense of the-

locust plague (Joel 1.4-20), the

Babylonian military invasion (Joel 2.1-9)

Lessor Days of the Lord point to ultimate Day of- Lord.

Joel- trying to convince Jews- locust/military invasion- were God’s judgment- not popular even today.

Could 911 have been a wake up call for us?

God’s warnings about judgment may come many years before they happen- we have had many warnings.

Sources of Trouble in the World

There are four sources of trouble in the world-

Satan’s rage

Man’s sin

Creations groaning (under man’s sin, Rom 3)

God’s zeal (His love for the oppressed)

Be careful of those who insist- everything bad is God’s judgment/those who say everything- Satan’s attack.

When bad things happen it is not always clear the source of the trouble- many times a mixture.

Satan’s rage-

God will allow Satan to vent his fury at the end times.

Rev 12:12 (NASB) “For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”

The more we walk in agreement with God the more Satan will be restrained.

We can constrain Satan’s boundaries individually, even more corporately through- repentance/prayer.

Man’s sin-

God gave man a free will- he can use this for good/evil.

Men have the ability to make real choices in this life.

Our choices- open the door for good/evil, angels/devils.

Decisions we make in this age not only-

affect our lives now,

they affect others around us, and

they affect our life in eternity.

Creation’s groaning-

Creation is groaning under the weight of man’s sin- earthquakes, volcanoes, violent weather patterns.

When Adam sinned- curse released on the land (Gen 3)

Rom 8.20-22

The earth’s groaning affects the righteous/unrighteous.

The more man sins, the worse the earth groans.

God’s Zeal-

Days of the Lord- are times of judgment sent by God.

You see this in Israel’s locust plague/military invasion.

In the Bible- many times God is the source of trouble-

God raised up Pharaoh- judge Israel Rom 9.17, Ex 9.16

God called Nebuchadnezzar-invade Israel- 586BC

Jer 22.7, 25. 9, 12, 27.6, 43.10, Hab 1.5-7

God raised up- Persians- judge the Babylonians

Isa 13.3-5, Psa 7.11-13

God will raise up- Antichrist- judge- entire earth

Rev 13.5,7, Dan 7.25, Zech 11.16-17

Jesus- breaks open the seals Rev 6.1-17

Why does God judge- God longs for relationship-

He disciplines/judges to remove all- hinders love.