"The Wake-Up Call"

The Wake-Up Call

Joel 1:1-7

U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris, Jr.

CP Walker Multicultural Gospel Service

Taegu, Korea

BIG IDEA:

I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Joel 1:1-7

OTHER REFERENCES: Isaiah 24 (God’s purpose in Judgments: The destruction of earth); verse 1: See, the Lord is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it; he will ruin its face and scatter its inhabitants. Jeremiah 1:1-45.5 (God’s Judgment on Judah); Chapter 1:14-15: The Lord said to me, “From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms,” declares the Lord. Acts 2:20-21: The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Hosea 6:1: “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.

IV. READ THE PERICOPE: Joel 1:1-7

V. READ THE TEXT: Joel 1:5-6 (…Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.

6 For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.

Now look at your neighbor and say, “neighbor…we will never forget the wake up call.”

VI. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to end their complacency and turn to God before He gives a wake up call.

VII. SERMONIC THEME: “The Wake-Up Call”

*******************TAKE 5 BEATS****************

MOVE 1: Has God ever shaken you up? You know… when you were in the mist of complacency. Perhaps you were having one of those “have it your way moments”. When all of a sudden, out of nowhere, something happens that got your attention? It alarmed you. It shook you. You were shaken. Has God ever shaken you? Has He ever gotten your attention in a profound way?

a. I can attest to the fact that God has unique ways of getting our attention. In fact, He will do it when you least expect it.

b. Turn to someone and say, “Neighbor…God has the ability to get your attention.”

c. He can make you aware of things that you seemingly you just allowed to pass right by. But it sometimes comes when you least expect it “in the midst of complacency”. When everything is flowing smoothly and looks good. You are living in the midst of complacency. Then, all of a sudden, something happens that caught your attention. What do you do?

d. It was September 11th, 2001 and I was about ready to start the Interfaith Healing Service in Winn Army Community Hospital which is located in Fort Stewart Georgia. I stood in one of the Pastor’s assistance office to watch the terrorist attacks on our country. Before this, it seemed like life was good. Loving my job and what the Lord had me to do. Everything was good at home. Contemplating on the Lord having His way in a sermon on this particular day. Awkward enough, the sermon title had something to do with how you handle bad news and it was published 3 months in advanced. So I was shocked at what was happening.

e. Turn to someone and say, “we will never forget, the wake up call”

f. Right when you think that everything is alright. Seemingly, God has a profound way of getting our attention (NOTE: I did say God because nothing happens unless God allows it: The devil has to ask permission before he does anything. If God thinks that we can handle it and grow from it, He will say yes to the trials for us.

**********************TAKE 5 BEATS*****************

MOVE 2: People have awakened that morning to go to work. Not knowing that when they left that morning and gave their wives a kiss and embraced their children that it would be their last. You see my brother and my sisters, we don’t know when death comes.

a. Some times death is just around the corner. The key is to be ready. So whenever it happens, we can give God the glory.

b. I have good news for you. When you die, …the Lord has come for you. For you don’t get another opportunity so you’ve better get it right now.

c. Turn to someone and say, “neighbor…let’s get it right now”

*********************TAKE 5 BEATS******************

MOVE 3: What comes to my mind is that this isn’t the first time a catastrophe has occurred.

a. If you would allow your sanctified imaginations to walk with me for a few moments, we will walk back to Genesis Chapter 6 verse 3.