1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,600 We've all been hurt. We all carry scars. We can all overcome these things and be 2 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:11,440 healed through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Let's build that relationship 3 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:18,920 together right here. Welcome to Healing Scars with Pastor Burton. Hey everybody 4 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:23,920 today's episode of Healing Scars with Pastor Burton is sponsored by Waking 5 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:30,800 Bear Coffee. Waking Bear Coffee offers an assortment of coffee and teas and part 6 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:37,120 of every purchase goes towards veteran services and ministries. Shipping is 7 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:44,200 free anywhere in the United States. Get yours today at wakingbearcoffee.com 8 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:51,640 Again that's wakingbearcoffee.com. Hey everybody welcome to the sanctuary. It is 9 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:56,200 so good to have you with us today and for those of you who are new let me just 10 00:00:56,200 --> 00:01:04,240 take a moment to say welcome. Welcome one and all. For some time now we've been 11 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:08,120 going through and working our way through the least preached books of the 12 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:13,960 Bible. Now of course in the process we've explored many of the shortest books in 13 00:01:13,960 --> 00:01:19,560 the Bible and we've had other sermons and series kind of intermixed in there 14 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:30,640 as well. To date we have completed nine of the ten least preached books. Today 15 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:38,200 we're going to round this out and begin the tenth book. Surprise, surprise right? 16 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:44,600 Now it is a short book and being three chapters long you would think it's one 17 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:50,920 of the shortest books. However you would be wrong. You know it falls in roughly at 18 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:59,200 the top one-third of the Bible. There are 23 shorter books before it. So suffice to 19 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:03,680 say we're going to spend a little bit of time going through it at least a couple 20 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:09,040 of weeks. Alright now of course we're going to start with a little bit of 21 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:13,760 backgrounds on this book and set things up. You know talk a little bit about the 22 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:17,920 author and so we can frame the picture here. 23 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:28,400 So we're looking at the book of Joel and frankly there's just not a lot that's 24 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:37,320 known about him. We know he's the son of Pethul and we also know that this book 25 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:42,760 was probably written during the time he was a prophet which was during the reign 26 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:53,920 of King Joash around 855 to approximately 796 BC. With that said 27 00:02:53,920 --> 00:03:00,760 however I do want to point out that the date of when this was written really 28 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:10,040 isn't nearly as important as the message it contains which is simply this. Sin 29 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:19,920 will bring the judgment of God upon us all. However God will be merciful to 30 00:03:19,920 --> 00:03:28,320 anyone who repents and turns back to him. And such is the message of 31 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:32,040 hope that he's given us. This is why Jesus went to the cross for us to 32 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:37,200 give us this hope and to remind us we need to turn to God. And you 33 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:43,760 know for those of us who turn to God and you know but you know believe in him as 34 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:49,800 our our our King and you know Jesus our Savior and all you know we have that 35 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:54,800 hope we we know that he will save us and we will be joined with him in heaven. 36 00:03:54,800 --> 00:04:03,240 Right? That is the promise that the gospel gives us. Now as we've seen in so 37 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:09,320 many places throughout the Bible this book was written as a warning to the 38 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:14,640 people of Judah who in their prosperity had become very complacent, arrogant, 39 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:21,320 idolatrous, and really they took God for granted. And it's so easy to 40 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:27,800 do when things are going well. You know Joel was warning them that you know the 41 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:31,480 same thing that we all need to be warned about today. That God's judgment is 42 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:37,680 coming because of our society and our culture's sins and that we you know as a 43 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:45,280 society need to turn back to God. All right? It really is that simple. You know 44 00:04:45,280 --> 00:04:49,640 we've seen this a lot. This is you know kind of a common theme throughout the 45 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:54,120 Bible that you know hey you know guys you need to shape up or ship out 46 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:58,880 because you know things are coming and if you're not ready it's gonna be rough. 47 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:03,760 It's gonna be bad. You're not gonna like the outcome. Right? Plain and simple. 48 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:10,560 You know going through this book we're going to see that it is split into two 49 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:16,800 parts. The first being the day of locust and the second part being the day of the 50 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:22,840 Lord. And throughout you know these two parts we are also going to see that 51 00:05:22,840 --> 00:05:32,800 there are three specific themes. One of punishment, one of forgiveness, and the 52 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:38,880 one of the promise of the Holy Spirit. Okay? There let's look at you know there 53 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:45,080 are things in this world in this life that we're witness to that just leave us 54 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:50,680 an absolute awe. Right? I mean there's not really a better word for it. Just awe. 55 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:55,200 Just like wow. You know we're talking about those things that are man-made and 56 00:05:55,200 --> 00:06:02,000 those things you know those there's it's what we look at and we term as natural 57 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:07,640 events you know you know nature that sort of thing. Right? You know sometimes 58 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:15,280 that awe is something absolutely amazing and other times something absolutely 59 00:06:15,280 --> 00:06:21,920 horrific. And you think about you know a sunset you know that's something here 60 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:26,680 even just in you know where where I live here in New Mexico that that we're big 61 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:32,440 on you know the sunsets. You know a meteor shower. The birth of a child. 62 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:38,720 Right? Absolutely the beautiful things. And then there's things like Pearl Harbor 63 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:43,880 and the events that led up to you know the dropping of the atomic bomb and the 64 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:47,040 wake of devastation left in the wake of you know all these things you know 65 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:50,800 various conflicts and wars. You know here's a big one that's that we're 66 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:54,720 seeing all around the world in various areas right now. You know hurricanes, 67 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:59,920 tornadoes, earthquakes. Think about tsunamis. You know we've been seeing these 68 00:06:59,920 --> 00:07:05,480 things hit and a lot of people have suffered because of it you know just in 69 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:10,760 the last you know couple couple weeks really cut last couple days we've been 70 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:18,280 seeing these things in the news. Yet you know we've been seeing things unfold and 71 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:23,240 leaves us in awe and it goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. And you think 72 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:25,640 about it you think of all these things that I just talked about all the other 73 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:36,520 things that you can imagine and they all pale in comparison to the the full power 74 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:41,400 of our God. And that's something we haven't even seen yet you know we just 75 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:47,440 seen an offering you know that the one who created it all created us. You see 76 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:53,480 God's judgment it's coming for us all. It really is. However he's knocking at the 77 00:07:53,480 --> 00:08:02,720 door and he's ready to forgive anyone and everyone who will open that door 78 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:10,400 repent from their sin and turn back to him. And it really is that simple. It 79 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:15,640 really is. Now for those of you with your Bibles and those of you who are taking 80 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:21,620 notes turn with me to Joel chapter 1 and we're gonna start with the first four 81 00:08:21,620 --> 00:08:29,080 verses here. So Joel 1 verses 1 through 4 the Bible says this, the word of the 82 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:38,280 Lord that came to Joel son of Pethul, hear this you elders listen all who live 83 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:44,200 in the land has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of 84 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:49,840 your ancestors? Tell it to your children and let your children tell it to their 85 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:55,760 children and their children to the next generation. What the locust swarm has 86 00:08:55,760 --> 00:09:00,880 left the great locust to eat. What the great locust have left the young locust 87 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:05,840 to be eaten. What the young locust have left other locust to be eaten. God's 88 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:12,200 saying this he's saying listen up and listen good because what he has to say 89 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:17,680 not it doesn't just need to be heard it needs to be learned from and it doesn't 90 00:09:17,680 --> 00:09:22,600 need to just be learned from one group of people it needs to get passed on for 91 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:28,440 future generations that we need to learn and teach our children so that they can 92 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:33,880 learn from the past as well. One of the greatest things that we have to pass on 93 00:09:33,880 --> 00:09:42,520 in our own life's journey is where we've been what we've done how God has been 94 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:48,680 there for us through it all guiding us correcting us convicting us of our sins 95 00:09:48,680 --> 00:09:56,680 helping us with our mistakes showing us mercy grace and love sharing all this is 96 00:09:56,680 --> 00:10:02,000 easily one of the best ways that we can also encourage others in their faith and 97 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:05,840 their walks with God and their relationships with Jesus and and not 98 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:11,480 only that but to introduce others to Jesus who don't even know him yet see 99 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:15,200 and that's part of the problem out there that we're seeing today with this whole 100 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:20,200 cancel culture isn't it you know people don't like things you know that it was 101 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:24,520 ugly and it was brutal and you know the people were hurt so we're gonna just 102 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:28,100 erase it from the history books and tear down statues and monuments and 103 00:10:28,100 --> 00:10:32,640 buildings and this and that we're gonna pretend like it never happened we're 104 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:35,880 gonna sugarcoat everything and just put like the good stuff out there that we 105 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:40,160 agree with in the hopes that it's gonna make a better future and you know what 106 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:48,280 that is 100% wrong 100% wrong even here in the Bible it's saying you know what 107 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:53,120 things have happened things are happening we need to learn from it and we 108 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:57,200 need to pass on what we've learned so that it doesn't happen again and it 109 00:10:57,200 --> 00:11:01,920 doesn't happen worse so that people don't keep straying from God and doing 110 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:09,760 the wrong things it's a hard lesson and unfortunately a lot of people are gonna 111 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:15,640 learn this the hard way plain and simple now the next part of this passage it 112 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:24,040 literally says locust which in and of themselves can be absolutely devastating 113 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:31,080 in their own right just as bad as a literal army right and they could come 114 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:38,480 through and they can just utterly destroy an entire ecosystem that's how 115 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:45,520 brutal they are now because the detail that is given here some people believe 116 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:53,320 that Joel's meaning is that an actual plague of locust is coming okay maybe 117 00:11:53,320 --> 00:12:00,260 however as we'll see in later descriptions given in the book here the 118 00:12:00,260 --> 00:12:10,600 reference could also be to an invading army 119 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:18,680 regardless of which one it is or if it's something else entirely the locusts are a 120 00:12:18,680 --> 00:12:25,040 symbol of impending devastation plain and simple of God's punishment for people 121 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:36,160 sin now what Joel will be referring to as the day of the Lord later on in this 122 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:40,600 book that's that's what this is this this impending doom this devastation 123 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:46,760 this army that's kind of going to be coming it's it's a God's punishment for 124 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:53,840 the sins of culture and society all right continuing on verses 5 through 10 125 00:12:53,840 --> 00:13:02,000 here the Bible says wake up you drunkards and weep whale all you drinkers 126 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:08,620 of wine whale because of the new wine for it has been snatched from your lips 127 00:13:08,620 --> 00:13:15,160 and nation has invaded my land a mighty army without number it has the teeth of 128 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:24,220 a lion the fangs of a lioness it has laid waste my vines and ruined my fig 129 00:13:24,220 --> 00:13:31,620 trees it has stripped off their bark and thrown it away leaving their branches 130 00:13:31,620 --> 00:13:40,960 white mourn like a virgin in sackcloth grieving for the betrothed of her youth 131 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:47,360 grain offerings and drink offerings are cut from the house of the Lord the 132 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:53,800 priest are in mourning those who minister before the Lord the fields are 133 00:13:53,800 --> 00:14:02,000 ruined the ground is dried up the grain is destroyed the new wine is dried up 134 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:11,000 the olive oil bails a lot there isn't it you know in this this really you know 135 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:18,920 this kicks off in verse 5 as something that we should all be able to relate to 136 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:25,640 you know God's calling people out he's calling people out hey wake up hey you 137 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:34,120 right and we're no different today than they were back then you know in this 138 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:39,160 respect you know people people using things to the point of excess right 139 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:46,720 abusing substances and themselves to the point that their senses are dulled you 140 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:52,460 know and we're talking both physically and spiritually really I should be 141 00:14:52,460 --> 00:15:00,560 saying physically mentally and spiritually because people are doing 142 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:05,080 this to the point that they have become oblivious to their own sins haven't they 143 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:10,360 you know they can see everyone else's but their own you know or they just 144 00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:18,080 ignore their own their people become very narcissistic right very narcissistic 145 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:23,120 oh I'm so great oh yeah oh yeah I'm next to perfect you know yeah I make a couple 146 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:28,240 mistakes but I'm okay I'm good right that's how people look at themselves but 147 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:32,480 they're quick to point out other people's mistakes aren't they you know or 148 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:36,240 you know even if they do you know nod you know hey you know they've got they 149 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:40,640 have some missteps in their life they're quick to find excuses too you know they 150 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:46,000 have those those petty little excuses to try to justify things but I'll remind 151 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:53,440 you sin is sin and those little excuses that people come up with they don't hold 152 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:59,160 with God they don't hold it all there is no excuse for it not one we've had the 153 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:03,000 warnings we have the commandments we have the Bible the Word of God saying 154 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:10,760 hey don't do it and just as Joel warned them we are being warned today here and 155 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:17,040 now that we need to make some serious changes in our lives and our societies 156 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:23,600 and our culture you know from one end to the next that you know that we need to 157 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:32,040 repent from our sins and turn back to God before it is too late you know being 158 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:38,640 productive and being prosperous as a society living in peace these are all 159 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:45,840 blessings from God and they're taken for granted regularly every single day 160 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:53,760 they're taken for granted people regularly love to spend their fruits of 161 00:16:53,760 --> 00:17:01,280 their blessings getting drunk you know or getting high or both and it doesn't 162 00:17:01,280 --> 00:17:10,600 matter if it's at a bar at a park or at home it does not matter 1st Peter 163 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:17,640 chapter 5 verse 8 the Bible says be sober minded be watchful your adversary 164 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:26,120 the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour but people 165 00:17:26,120 --> 00:17:32,280 they rather be muddy minded wouldn't they they don't want to deal with the 166 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:36,800 hardships in their lives the tough things that they're facing on a day-to-day 167 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:42,280 basis you know they go out they get high they get drunk and let's face it it 168 00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:45,680 doesn't always have to be booze it doesn't always have to be drugs people 169 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:52,040 will use an assortment of other things to escape their realities won't they TV 170 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:56,720 movies video games you know your adrenaline junkies going out and you 171 00:17:56,720 --> 00:18:00,800 know finding that next big rush you know and then living it up with their their 172 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:05,080 friends we can't recanting you know those those glory days and those glorious 173 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:12,240 things that they did and yeah people you know I hate to to say you know like that 174 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:15,960 they're like Al Bundy but I mean we all know those people that are you know 175 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:20,480 midlife or even later and they're still recalling their glory days from when 176 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:24,760 they were in school playing sports whether it was an elementary or you know 177 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:29,160 middle school or junior high depending on where you lived or high school or even 178 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:34,000 college for that matter but for the most part you know much earlier than college 179 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:38,600 for the most part it was in grade school right somewhere between first grade and 180 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:44,060 graduation you know people they get hung up on these things those become their 181 00:18:44,060 --> 00:18:48,760 drugs you know and it's at these times you know when people become very you 182 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:55,280 know muddy-minded that this is when the devil has the greatest influence over us 183 00:18:55,280 --> 00:19:03,040 manipulating us from turning to God you know and going down that path to hell 184 00:19:03,040 --> 00:19:07,600 you know he pulls us away from him why because we're not thinking clearly we 185 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:10,760 don't have our heads on straight we're not thinking the way we should we're 186 00:19:10,760 --> 00:19:16,280 living in the bottom of a bottle you know or you know and that needle or that 187 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:21,200 joint you know you know cutting something up and snorting it or you know 188 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:25,720 or running headlong into something or you know jumping out of planes or off 189 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:28,600 the side of mountains or whatever what have you it doesn't matter you know 190 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:32,600 getting lost in some sort of entertainment you know and what's more 191 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:42,000 is that in in the times of destruction to come the destruction is going to be 192 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:51,400 so thorough the people won't even have anything to sacrifice you know or to 193 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:58,800 make an offering with to God now think about even today we still make offerings 194 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:02,760 to God don't we you know we're not ripping apart animals or any kind of 195 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:07,840 sacrifices like that anymore you know however for many you know the form of 196 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:12,280 you know their money or using different gifts and talents and stuff you know to 197 00:20:12,280 --> 00:20:17,960 put up mildly in today's terms you know all those instruments those tools would 198 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:24,880 be gone you know money gone food gone you know the the struggle for food and 199 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:30,760 drink is going to be so bad let alone a way to prepare it when you have it you 200 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:35,760 know it's going to be a struggle at best even the various forms of 201 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:40,080 entertainment in which we pass the time today are going to be taken from us 202 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:48,240 hardship and ruin are going to become the words of the day you know these are 203 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:54,200 things that we cannot and will not escape without turning to God before 204 00:20:54,200 --> 00:21:04,080 time runs out you know think about food and drink alone you know those 205 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:10,000 necessities of life the necessities not even just the once but the needs are 206 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:17,760 going to be a struggle to come by think about that you know you're if it 207 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:21,120 happened you know today you know how many how many of you would be able to 208 00:21:21,120 --> 00:21:26,400 get along without your cell phones without TVs you know people are 209 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:30,840 sacrificing cherished you know items just to try to come up with a way to pay 210 00:21:30,840 --> 00:21:35,680 for food or drink during those times you know when they when they come you know 211 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:39,800 why because we figure if they're already scarce guess what the price is going to 212 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:43,000 go up as well 213 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:49,040 plain and simple there's a lot of things that we don't think about and that we 214 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:53,160 take for granted you know we like to complain about politics and the 215 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:56,760 politicians oh they're driving up the price of gas again because of this party 216 00:21:56,760 --> 00:22:00,520 or that party or whatever and they take for granted that they can even afford it 217 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:08,000 let alone have it meanwhile there's parts of the world where people don't 218 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:16,800 people are starving right and it's gonna get worse I digress let's turn back to 219 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:24,320 Joel chapter 1 here we're gonna look at verses 11 and 12 the Bible says despair 220 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:32,160 you farmers whale you vine growers grave for the wheat and the barley because the 221 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:39,280 harvest of the field is destroyed the vine is dried up and the fig tree is 222 00:22:39,280 --> 00:22:44,200 withered the pomegranate the palm and the apple or depending on your 223 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:51,760 translation or apricot tree all the trees in the field are dried up surely 224 00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:59,640 that people's joy is withered away see the warnings here you know keep pushing 225 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:04,040 it people keep trying to bury yourself keep trying to dull your senses in a 226 00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:09,760 futile effort to make the struggles of the world go away keep trying to wait 227 00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:14,400 out something that's not going to go away keep trying to act like you're in 228 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:22,440 control when clearly you're not not a single one of us are see it says right 229 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:27,080 here the people's joy was going to dry up and go away let me ask you what is 230 00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:37,400 your joy what is it wealth relationships health finances you know different 231 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:42,480 trinkets you know the little resources that you have time there's a big one 232 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:48,720 right there that we forget about you know whatever it is whatever it comes 233 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:53,560 from there's a solution right here in the Bible to regain the joy that you're 234 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:57,880 missing in life and we're going to see it in the following verses it's going to 235 00:23:57,880 --> 00:24:02,640 come from reflecting on what God's about to tell you what God expects from each 236 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:09,760 and every one of us simple acts of obedience that show our love for him and 237 00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:16,360 our faith in him right now there's certain things I'm not saying hey you're 238 00:24:16,360 --> 00:24:20,040 gonna get rich no I'm not gonna say that certain ailments are gonna leave your 239 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:24,980 body no no I'm not a prosperity Patriot not gonna happen there are certain 240 00:24:24,980 --> 00:24:30,520 things the Bible clearly tells us that if you know we are obedient and faithful 241 00:24:30,520 --> 00:24:34,560 that our treasures will be stored up for us in heaven and that's truly where our 242 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:37,960 greatest treasures are you know where our heart is is where our treasure is 243 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:43,560 and if our heart is set on heaven guess what that's the best treasure that is 244 00:24:43,560 --> 00:24:50,000 promised by the Bible the day that we go to be with the Lord and fellowship with 245 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:58,160 him in perfect harmony however like I said right here it does tell us what we 246 00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:09,560 need to do in order to find joy in our lives not stuff but joy happiness 247 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:18,960 something we would all benefit to meditate on okay the section right here 248 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:25,960 that we're gonna go into it's called a call to lamentation now that's one of 249 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:29,580 those words that gets put out there a lot in it a little jargon lamentation 250 00:25:29,580 --> 00:25:34,560 what is that what is lamentation a lot of preachers like to put that out there 251 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:40,640 Oh lament you know and lamenting all that kind of stuff lamented you know 252 00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:45,760 lamentation matter of fact there's a whole book written on it in there well 253 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:55,160 but what is it well lamentation it is a it's it means you know to to be in sorrow 254 00:25:55,160 --> 00:26:01,880 you know it's a call of sorrow that comes from loss and regret you know it's 255 00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:07,120 it could best be compared to you know that feeling you have when you lose a 256 00:26:07,120 --> 00:26:11,520 loved one you know I'm not talking you know breaking up with a boyfriend or a 257 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:16,600 girlfriend or anything I mean like like losing a loved one you know like with 258 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:20,320 that relative that you should be close to you know passes away and gets called 259 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:25,160 home you know you know by God that sort of thing you know that that just that 260 00:26:25,160 --> 00:26:29,120 that hole the emptiness that's left in you that that's what it what it is to 261 00:26:29,120 --> 00:26:38,040 lament that's what that feeling is all right so go going in here Joel 1 verses 262 00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:45,560 13 and 14 the Bible says put on sackcloth you priest and more whale you 263 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:51,960 who minister before the altar come spend the night in sackcloth you who minister 264 00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:57,000 before my God for the grain offerings and drink offerings are withheld from 265 00:26:57,000 --> 00:27:05,920 the house of your God declare a holy fast call a sacred assembly summon the 266 00:27:05,920 --> 00:27:11,160 elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God and cry 267 00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:17,480 out to the Lord I love that even you're right here you know and it called call 268 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:22,760 the sacred coming it's in come together as the church it's one of our greatest 269 00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:25,720 tools right there isn't it one of our greatest assets coming together as a 270 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:34,160 church the Bible tells us we're two or more gathered God is with us all right 271 00:27:34,160 --> 00:27:38,280 now let's break down what this is talking about here a couple parts let's 272 00:27:38,280 --> 00:27:42,480 start with the sackcloth all right we talked about this in the past but you 273 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:45,240 know this is a good time to remind everybody what this is if especially 274 00:27:45,240 --> 00:27:50,040 those of you who are new and don't know what it is so sackcloth another one of 275 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:56,760 those terms sackcloth is simply a clothing made from like it's like a it's 276 00:27:56,760 --> 00:28:01,720 a type of burlap basically you think of like a burlap sack right or like a sand 277 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:06,440 bag or burlap cloth but it's been turned into a garment of sorts you know type of 278 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:10,760 clothing you know there it's it's really uncomfortable itchy you know to the 279 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:15,880 point that it becomes painful and this clothing that it was worn during 280 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:24,120 specific times it was worn when people were in mourning and also you know 281 00:28:24,120 --> 00:28:28,080 because it mourning because it served as a reminder you know to come close to God 282 00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:34,680 and then also during a time of repentance you know is that our 283 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:39,720 demonstration of a person's repentance and it showed their shame and their 284 00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:45,960 humility coming before God we don't really see signs of people repenting 285 00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:49,680 anymore do we though not like you know these outward signs like this let alone 286 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:56,240 intentionally deciding to wear something like this right and just a description 287 00:28:56,240 --> 00:28:59,840 doesn't sound comfortable does it you know and you know sleeping you know 288 00:28:59,840 --> 00:29:07,040 those those who have slept with like a true a true wool blanket you know if you 289 00:29:07,040 --> 00:29:10,600 never done it sometimes it could be really hard depending on how much wool 290 00:29:10,600 --> 00:29:14,120 if it's mixed with certain things the more that's in there the itchier it gets 291 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:19,000 you know some of them are really uncomfortable this is a type of blanket 292 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:22,240 they were it works really good it's great for protecting you from certain 293 00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:25,800 elements however typically you know when you have something like a wool blanket 294 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:30,080 you want to have some kind of garment some kind of clothing if you were like 295 00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:34,520 like a certain time like you know pajamas if you would between you and 296 00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:37,880 that blanket you know to kind of protect you from it you know the blanket serving 297 00:29:37,880 --> 00:29:40,480 a purpose it's keeping you warm it's protecting you from certain things 298 00:29:40,480 --> 00:29:45,600 however you need a little bit of protection from the blanket too right so 299 00:29:45,600 --> 00:29:50,840 to decide hey I want to take something that's really uncomfortable and painful 300 00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:56,840 to show myself you know before God as being sorrowful you know being 301 00:29:56,840 --> 00:30:00,960 apologetic you know repenting you know say hey I recognize you know I've sinned 302 00:30:00,960 --> 00:30:06,440 I've messed up you know and to wear this you know it doesn't even this isn't 303 00:30:06,440 --> 00:30:10,840 something that even comes up on our radar anymore for most people it's a 304 00:30:10,840 --> 00:30:17,880 quick prayer and moving along it's like God forgive me I screwed up again right 305 00:30:17,880 --> 00:30:24,680 now do we need to wear stuff like this these you know today I should say you 306 00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:28,960 know these days modern days no I think there's some people out there probably 307 00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:35,560 would benefit from it but you know no be you know because it's a visual you know 308 00:30:35,560 --> 00:30:44,720 true repentance itself true regret you know of one sins you know so to be truly 309 00:30:44,720 --> 00:30:52,040 repentant before you know the Lord is to make life change you know and life 310 00:30:52,040 --> 00:30:55,520 change these are these those things that you do in life those that you know 311 00:30:55,520 --> 00:31:00,160 those changes those steps that you take that turn you away from you know the 312 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:04,760 sins that you've been committing and back to God these steps that you take 313 00:31:04,760 --> 00:31:09,760 to make sure that you don't do it again that you don't have that misstep again 314 00:31:09,760 --> 00:31:17,200 right the the next part of this however is something that we should absolutely 315 00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:23,440 all still do and because there's something to be learned from it fasting 316 00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:29,320 another piece of jargon you know that that lingo preachers love to throw out 317 00:31:29,320 --> 00:31:35,480 there oh you need to fast I fasted last Sunday and it was great right oh we got 318 00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:40,640 we have a sign up list we want everybody here to sign up to to fast at least you 319 00:31:40,640 --> 00:31:45,620 know what one day out of the week for this period of time and you know it's 320 00:31:45,620 --> 00:31:49,960 gonna be great and we're just gonna fast or we're gonna you know pray and that's 321 00:31:49,960 --> 00:31:56,840 that's all there is to it they don't actually explain what it is you know 322 00:31:56,840 --> 00:32:02,760 what is fasting let me let me break it down for you okay you know much like 323 00:32:02,760 --> 00:32:10,400 like the burlap cloth it's another outward demonstration in this one though 324 00:32:10,400 --> 00:32:17,800 it's a little bit more than that because not only is it a show of humility it's a 325 00:32:17,800 --> 00:32:22,800 sacrifice see a fast that's why I says you know right there in the scripture I 326 00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:29,220 have a holy fast you know if fast is a period of time when people sacrifice 327 00:32:29,220 --> 00:32:33,240 something typically especially you know in those times it meant that you gave up 328 00:32:33,240 --> 00:32:39,160 a meal that you didn't eat maybe you didn't eat for you know days on end and 329 00:32:39,160 --> 00:32:46,160 not only that during this time instead of eating you know people go to God in 330 00:32:46,160 --> 00:32:50,280 humility sorrowful you know for their sins and in prayer you know a reminder 331 00:32:50,280 --> 00:32:54,440 prayer you know that's that's a person's conversation with God that's how we talk 332 00:32:54,440 --> 00:32:59,960 to God and you know it's a fast you know it's a demonstration of a person 333 00:32:59,960 --> 00:33:05,320 repenting of their sin turning to God and saying hey man I need you I need help 334 00:33:05,320 --> 00:33:10,520 you know and you know please forgive me you know asking for his mercy and 335 00:33:10,520 --> 00:33:13,880 rededicating themselves basically you know kind of you know devoting themselves 336 00:33:13,880 --> 00:33:20,120 to him as a child would you know they're showing their loyalty you know we don't 337 00:33:20,120 --> 00:33:25,440 we don't make animal sacrifices anymore for this instead we make sacrifices of 338 00:33:25,440 --> 00:33:32,320 ourselves of our wants of our desires you know our various needs you know you 339 00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:39,520 know we sacrifice these things to God because we know that he has our best 340 00:33:39,520 --> 00:33:47,640 interest at heart now here's a caveat giving up a meal and praying during that 341 00:33:47,640 --> 00:33:52,440 time instead it's a small sacrifice however it does not necessarily have to 342 00:33:52,440 --> 00:33:58,120 be food right those of you who are familiar with Lent that's basically what 343 00:33:58,120 --> 00:34:04,080 what Lent is it's a type of fast right but it doesn't have to be food you know 344 00:34:04,080 --> 00:34:07,040 after all there are some people out there that have certain medical issues 345 00:34:07,040 --> 00:34:10,800 where they need to be able to eat in order to to take certain medications or 346 00:34:10,800 --> 00:34:15,040 to regulate their blood sugars or whatever you know there are other things 347 00:34:15,040 --> 00:34:21,560 that we can give up in order to make that sacrifice you know one that comes 348 00:34:21,560 --> 00:34:26,120 to mind really quickly for me I mean for those of you who are many of you don't 349 00:34:26,120 --> 00:34:31,800 know last couple weeks I've been without a car it's been this shop had a you know 350 00:34:31,800 --> 00:34:37,440 some big serious parts went out that they had to order and take some time to 351 00:34:37,440 --> 00:34:44,040 come in so they can fix it and you know because of that I you know luckily you 352 00:34:44,040 --> 00:34:49,120 know I have my bike but as you know if you live here in the metro area you know 353 00:34:49,120 --> 00:34:53,320 we've had a quite a bit of rain lately so I've had to depend on others for 354 00:34:53,320 --> 00:34:58,040 transportation and you know look for alternate means to you know get to work 355 00:34:58,040 --> 00:35:03,560 for my day job and everything else let alone home or you know canceling other 356 00:35:03,560 --> 00:35:07,240 appointments and all that kind of stuff so you know transportation that's a big 357 00:35:07,240 --> 00:35:12,640 one you know for a lot of you you know I'd say hey you know as much as like we 358 00:35:12,640 --> 00:35:18,160 like to say hey we need our cell phones how many people truly need their cell 359 00:35:18,160 --> 00:35:22,360 phones you know maybe that'd be something good to give up for a period of 360 00:35:22,360 --> 00:35:26,520 time you know not just a couple hours but you know maybe a couple days a week 361 00:35:26,520 --> 00:35:30,160 you know go back to the the days of old where somebody needed to get a hold of 362 00:35:30,160 --> 00:35:34,600 you you know they they called the house or they they called work now you know if 363 00:35:34,600 --> 00:35:38,400 you don't have a landline okay cool limit your hours that you could answer 364 00:35:38,400 --> 00:35:44,280 the phone or make calls to like the day of yesteryear where we had landline 365 00:35:44,280 --> 00:35:48,200 strictly and don't do any of the other stuff on there you know stay out the 366 00:35:48,200 --> 00:35:50,360 internet and all that stuff you know break away from your phone for a while 367 00:35:50,360 --> 00:35:56,320 there's so many things out there so many things that we can sacrifice you know I 368 00:35:56,320 --> 00:36:03,200 digress I'm kind of going down a rabbit trail here either way you know like I 369 00:36:03,200 --> 00:36:07,800 said there's so many things that we give up and in the end it is just an app it's 370 00:36:07,800 --> 00:36:13,200 simply this it is an outward demonstration that we acknowledge and 371 00:36:13,200 --> 00:36:19,640 that we are truly sorry and repentant of our sins and that we recognize that we 372 00:36:19,640 --> 00:36:25,560 need God to intervene and to help us to break free of these things after all you 373 00:36:25,560 --> 00:36:31,360 know he is our chain breaker moving into the final part of this chapter here as 374 00:36:31,360 --> 00:36:35,920 we're getting closer to the end for today Joel chapter 1 verses 15 through 20 375 00:36:35,920 --> 00:36:42,520 the Bible says this alas for that day for the day of the Lord is near it will 376 00:36:42,520 --> 00:36:48,880 come like destruction from the Almighty has not the food been cut off before 377 00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:57,040 our very eyes joy and gladness from the house of our God the seeds are shriveled 378 00:36:57,040 --> 00:37:03,040 beneath the clods the storehouses are in ruins the granaries have been broken 379 00:37:03,040 --> 00:37:10,720 down for the grain has dried up how the cattle moan their herds mill about 380 00:37:10,720 --> 00:37:17,000 because they have no pasture even the flocks of sheep are suffering to you 381 00:37:17,000 --> 00:37:24,080 Lord I call for fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness and flames 382 00:37:24,080 --> 00:37:31,960 have burned up all the trees of the field even the wild animals pant for 383 00:37:31,960 --> 00:37:36,000 you the streams of water have dried up and 384 00:37:36,000 --> 00:37:45,880 fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness look without turning to the 385 00:37:45,880 --> 00:37:51,960 Lord and without getting his help and his mercy in our lives our destruction 386 00:37:51,960 --> 00:37:58,400 is a guarantee plain and simple it is guaranteed it's written in the Bible his 387 00:37:58,400 --> 00:38:06,560 word tells us we know biblical warnings you just that term right biblical 388 00:38:06,560 --> 00:38:11,440 warnings aren't something we hear a lot about you know these days matter of 389 00:38:11,440 --> 00:38:15,680 fact when somebody says biblical you're usually watching something and it's kind 390 00:38:15,680 --> 00:38:18,760 of like a punch line or like oh you know we're gonna get biblical up in here and 391 00:38:18,760 --> 00:38:25,200 they kind of they treat it as a joke right sometimes it's serious depending on 392 00:38:25,200 --> 00:38:30,360 what you're watching but still I mean it's it's not used properly and it's not 393 00:38:30,360 --> 00:38:34,640 something we talk about our daily lives that really we should you know people 394 00:38:34,640 --> 00:38:41,100 would just as soon right off the Old Testament especially however even Jesus 395 00:38:41,100 --> 00:38:46,160 warned us of the day that judgment is coming so it's not just Old Testament 396 00:38:46,160 --> 00:38:51,560 it's New Testament as well Jesus warned us that you know we need to be ready we 397 00:38:51,560 --> 00:38:56,760 need to be watching for it you know those who doubt it those who refuse to 398 00:38:56,760 --> 00:39:02,400 accept Jesus in their lives or that God's even real they truly have a 399 00:39:02,400 --> 00:39:09,280 terrifying wake-up call coming while the rest of us who believe and are working 400 00:39:09,280 --> 00:39:13,960 to build that relationship with him we'll find his love and we'll find his 401 00:39:13,960 --> 00:39:20,120 mercy that's guaranteed it's biblical it's right here it's in this book it's 402 00:39:20,120 --> 00:39:27,400 in the Bible see the expression the day of the Lord this is something that is 403 00:39:27,400 --> 00:39:32,400 seen in the writings of multiple prophets as well right here in the Bible 404 00:39:32,400 --> 00:39:39,380 you know and every time that it has been used it's been used to point to 405 00:39:39,380 --> 00:39:46,400 something serious happening happening something major some tipping point where 406 00:39:46,400 --> 00:39:55,400 things are gonna get drastic all right something big is coming and whether it's 407 00:39:55,400 --> 00:39:59,800 something that's going to happen presently or if it's something that is 408 00:39:59,800 --> 00:40:05,560 still to come way off in the distance it doesn't matter because it's still a very 409 00:40:05,560 --> 00:40:13,160 ominous warning for the world see when it comes to the day the Lord there's a 410 00:40:13,160 --> 00:40:19,680 couple of things that never change you know and we saw it right here right 411 00:40:19,680 --> 00:40:30,880 first since going to be judged all of it and secondly you know those of us you 412 00:40:30,880 --> 00:40:37,160 know Christians those of us who are here the you know the believers believers are 413 00:40:37,160 --> 00:40:44,240 going to see and go through a lot of suffering Jesus already told us we are 414 00:40:44,240 --> 00:40:49,500 going to suffer that is part of life no matter how much we believe in God no 415 00:40:49,500 --> 00:40:54,840 matter how much we love them things are going to happen you know I talked about 416 00:40:54,840 --> 00:41:03,400 this recently however for those of us who continue to cling to God and are 417 00:41:03,400 --> 00:41:09,040 faithful and are loyal and do our best to do that do what he has set forth in 418 00:41:09,040 --> 00:41:18,360 front of us well it's gonna pay off we're going to be rewarded for it because 419 00:41:18,360 --> 00:41:28,420 in the end we are going to be with God forever in his heavenly kingdom that is 420 00:41:28,420 --> 00:41:37,360 something that should give each and every one of us joy in our lives and 421 00:41:37,360 --> 00:41:42,840 that is hope right there that is the light at the end of the tunnel that we 422 00:41:42,840 --> 00:41:49,480 simply need to be obedient and cling to him and we can find refuge in the fact 423 00:41:49,480 --> 00:41:56,840 that he will take care of everything in the end and he will take care of us all 424 00:41:56,840 --> 00:42:03,440 right so that's that's all the time that we have for today you are blessed so go 425 00:42:03,440 --> 00:42:12,400 and be a blessing go and be the church thank you all for joining us here today 426 00:42:12,400 --> 00:42:17,740 at healing scars with pastor Burton please like subscribe and share our 427 00:42:17,740 --> 00:42:23,140 podcast on any platform it is that you tune in to us on if you do have any 428 00:42:23,140 --> 00:42:29,740 questions any prayer requests or would like to know more about our ministry you 429 00:42:29,740 --> 00:42:37,960 can find us on our website at be the light sanctuary org or on Facebook at be 430 00:42:37,960 --> 00:42:42,680 the light sanctuary you can also find how to contact us there whether it's 431 00:42:42,680 --> 00:42:54,040 direct message or email we look forward to hearing from you all God bless