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 --> 00:00:18,860 together right here. Welcome to Healing Scars with Pastor Burton. Hey everybody 4 00:00:18,860 --> 00:00:22,480 welcome back to the sanctuary. It is so good to have you here and if this is 5 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:28,320 your first time joining us, welcome! So right now we are working our way through 6 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:37,080 the book of Joel as we finish off the 10 least preached books in the Bible which 7 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:46,720 I absolutely love because there's so much here that just gets forgotten about. 8 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:50,520 It's skimmed over. You know a lot of people they go through and I've talked 9 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:55,520 about this in the past they'll pick certain things and unfortunately quite 10 00:00:55,520 --> 00:01:00,500 often a lot of those things get taken out of context which is why we 11 00:01:00,500 --> 00:01:05,200 go through the Bible the way we do here so that the context is there. You get the 12 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:12,080 whole piece of it not just a sentence or two that can be twisted or misunderstood 13 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:21,840 or misinterpreted. We see the entire piece of it here. Now with that said have 14 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:28,440 you ever noticed how people love to post the memes that talk about how Noah had 15 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:34,000 warned people about the impending flood and nobody listened to him then just 16 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,840 like nobody's listening again to the warnings today? It's pretty regular isn't 17 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:41,600 it and if it's not that meme then it's something very similar to it you know 18 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:48,680 and while it gets pitched like a slogan it does hold a certain amount of weight. 19 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:53,800 Throughout the Bible and especially as we've seen as we've explored these ten 20 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:59,520 books it is a theme that is ongoing. People start to enjoy themselves and 21 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:05,840 they get caught up in the world. They get complacent and what happens is they 22 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:11,400 start taking things for granted. They start taking God for granted and all of 23 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:18,320 his blessings but as the Bible's told us as we've learned from his word the 24 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:30,080 day is coming and we are closer now than ever before when God's about to say I've 25 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:35,400 had it and it's time for a reckoning. Enough is enough and it is time for a 26 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:47,520 change. God has given us warning after warning. As we saw last week he even said 27 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:55,600 to make sure that it's passed on from one generation to the next. See we're 28 00:02:55,600 --> 00:03:00,080 coming up the line into that excuse me we're coming up to that line that's been 29 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:07,400 drawn in the sand and once we cross that there's no turning back and that's 30 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:13,580 exactly what we're looking at here. However for those who believe the 31 00:03:13,580 --> 00:03:19,240 faithful the followers of Christ Christians you know we're we're also 32 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:26,560 looking at the hope that we have and God's promise to take care of us and to 33 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:34,760 forgive us. So with that said let's pick back up where we left off last week for 34 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:38,680 those who follow with their Bible and for those taking notes we're diving into 35 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:44,920 Joel chapter 2. This week I'm gonna read from a slightly different translation 36 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:51,960 mix it up a little bit. This week I'll be reading from the NASB of course you know 37 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:55,520 stick with what you're comfortable with that is part of the beauty of having so 38 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:58,320 many translations out there and if you have a question about a certain 39 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:04,760 translation let me know. Alright so diving in here Joel chapter 2 verses 1 40 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:10,440 through 3 the Bible says 41 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:20,160 blow a trumpet in Zion and sound an alarm on my holy mountain let all the 42 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:27,560 inhabitants of the land tremble for the day of the Lord is coming indeed it is 43 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:37,120 near a day of darkness and gloom a day of clouds and thick darkness as dawn is 44 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:45,080 spread over the mountains so there is a great and mighty people there has never 45 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:53,720 been anything like it nor will there be again after it to the years of many 46 00:04:53,720 --> 00:05:04,440 generations a fire consumes before them and behind them a flame devours the land 47 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:10,320 is like the Garden of Eden before them but a desolate wilderness behind them 48 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:20,240 and nothing at all escapes them the imagery here is changing the scenery 49 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:26,720 really quick and it is it means very literally what's gonna happen all right 50 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:32,440 the word is telling us of a darkness that's going to be covering the land 51 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:40,820 covering the world and it's going all the way back to Genesis to show the 52 00:05:40,820 --> 00:05:47,800 contrast see and if you look at it here in verse 3 it mentions Eden Eden of 53 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:52,720 course we know as the glorious garden where everything began for mankind that 54 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:58,360 was a start for us right here on this earth you know a place of absolute 55 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:09,480 beauty however what we're headed for is a complete 180 degree opposite it is the 56 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:15,560 opposite and we you know we need to be prepared darkness and fire consuming 57 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:21,960 everything so we've gone from that beauty to something just absolutely just 58 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:27,320 dark and bleak right and if you get the fires that we just saw in Hawaii and the 59 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:34,120 devastation there and that's just a scratch of the surface of what's to come 60 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:37,480 now I'm not comparing what happened there to what's going to come I just I 61 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:40,640 mean the fires in general and the devastation that it left in its wake 62 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:52,880 right see we we've already started to see the beauty of this world being 63 00:06:52,880 --> 00:07:01,920 stripped away in many places however the problem is people have become numb to it 64 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:05,800 people you know people just kind of got like that's just the way it is that's 65 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:14,600 life yet to people like you and to me we're looking at it as hey we're one day 66 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:23,200 closer to the end but for them it's Tuesday and time people time is running 67 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:29,520 out it's running out fleeting isn't the word if you haven't made a choice about 68 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:34,520 whether or not you want to follow Jesus you need to now is the time you can't 69 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:40,240 wait it out to see where things are going to go to make that choice because 70 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:44,840 in doing so whether you realize or not you've already made that choice and that 71 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:49,820 choice is one that's going to lead you to ruin and damnation revelations 72 00:07:49,820 --> 00:07:56,060 chapter 3 verses 15 and 16 the Bible says I know your deeds that you are 73 00:07:56,060 --> 00:08:02,520 neither cold nor hot I wish you were either one or the other so because you 74 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:09,720 are Luke lukewarm neither hot nor cold I am about to spit you out of my mouth you 75 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:18,140 see by not taking the side you don't know Jesus and because you don't know 76 00:08:18,140 --> 00:08:23,440 him you don't have a relationship with him so in doing that you're leaving him 77 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:30,880 with no choice but to send you away you're making the decision for him the 78 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:38,560 Bible tells us in Luke 13 verse 27 but he will reply I don't know you or where 79 00:08:38,560 --> 00:08:46,220 you come from away from me all you evildoers the word is saying that we 80 00:08:46,220 --> 00:08:55,540 have to make a choice to follow now or it's going to be too late that if we 81 00:08:55,540 --> 00:09:01,320 don't get to know Jesus now then he won't know us when we stand before the 82 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:09,360 father and let me tell you it's getting real dark out there people real dark 83 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:19,000 continuing on in Joel chapter 2 verse 4 through verse 11 the Bible says their 84 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:25,920 appearance is like the appearance of horses and like war horses so they run 85 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:31,960 with a noise of as of chariots they leap about on the tops of the mountains like 86 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:37,040 the crackling of a flame of fire consuming the stubble like a mighty 87 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:45,600 people drawn up for battle before them the people are in anguish all faces 88 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:51,520 turn pale they run like warriors they climb the wall like soldiers and each of 89 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:57,560 them marches in line nor do they lose their way they do not crowd each other 90 00:09:57,560 --> 00:10:04,240 every warrior I'm sorry yeah every warrior of them marches in his path when 91 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:09,880 they burst through the defenses they do not break ranks they storm this city 92 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:16,600 they run on the wall they climb into the houses they enter through the windows 93 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:23,200 like a thief before them the earthquakes that heavens tremble the Sun and the 94 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:29,400 moon become dark and the stars lose their brightness the Lord utters his 95 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:38,040 voice before his army his camp is indeed very great for mighty is one who carries 96 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:44,400 out his word the day of the Lord is indeed great and very awesome and who 97 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:51,040 can endure it you know I love the imagery here I don't know about you if 98 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:56,360 you've ever read it but just the way the way it talks about you know it this army 99 00:10:56,360 --> 00:10:59,440 coming through the mountains and everything it reminds me of those old 100 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:04,080 you know literature a Beowulf you ever had to read that in school you know just 101 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:09,480 that that fire army just kind of sneak and its way through to the fort now if 102 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:16,840 you recall back in chapter one I said that the invading army is more likely to 103 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:22,000 be an army as opposed to locust and we're seeing more of why that makes more 104 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:28,000 sense now you know war horses this is not your typical horse the braids that 105 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:34,920 have been chosen over the centuries have been very specific you know much like 106 00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:39,640 troops in the field they have certain traits that are needed in order to 107 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:43,360 fulfill their missions you know speed and agility you know those are the 108 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:51,600 traits you think you'd find however you'd be wrong unlike the movies these horses 109 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:57,120 need to have strength in size you know they're they're they're very they're 110 00:11:57,120 --> 00:12:02,800 huge there you know they're truly work horses you know pardon the pun but I 111 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:07,200 mean they are they're massive and you know the ability to act properly under 112 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:12,680 stress the desire to work hard for the writer or you know master you know to 113 00:12:12,680 --> 00:12:17,880 to learn things quickly on the fly because typically they're not trained you 114 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:21,480 know for very long because it takes a long time to train a horse in addition 115 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:25,920 that you know that to carry other essential duties even if their rider ends 116 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:32,240 up being hurt or even killed you know and on top of that loyalty loyalty you 117 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:35,360 know these are just some of the most important things that are sought after 118 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:42,440 in the horses that are chosen to be war horses so they have a certain appearance 119 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:48,600 to be sure you know just the sight of them coming let alone you know an army 120 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:53,360 so you know there's there's a sound that comes with that you know you would see 121 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:59,880 them and you would hear them before you could even make out their riders you 122 00:12:59,880 --> 00:13:04,840 know that in itself is enough to just strike fear into those who see them in 123 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:08,720 the distance or hear them and recognize the sound you know because there's 124 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:12,640 certain things you know you you come accustomed to in life especially in the 125 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:18,440 military where you can hear something you just you know the sound you know 126 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:24,760 that things have very distinct sounds all right now the army that's coming with 127 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:30,240 them this isn't one that's going to be stopped either you know this is Lord's 128 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:36,920 army he sent them and they're coming straight at you I mean you can close the 129 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:45,680 door and you can try to hide this army doesn't care about that they're out to 130 00:13:45,680 --> 00:13:53,520 win at all cost there is no win lose or draw it is just win and they're going 131 00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:59,400 through you know even if that means sneaking through the window like a thief 132 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:06,560 as it says here one way or another everyone will face the onslaught of this 133 00:14:06,560 --> 00:14:12,360 army when God says something's gonna happen you can bet your bottom dollar 134 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:20,280 that that is exactly what is going to happen and there is nothing nothing 135 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:27,760 anyone can do about that there is nothing anyone can do to change that 136 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:36,240 because God's Word doesn't change for those who stand in the Lord's crosshairs 137 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:48,240 destruction utter destruction yet for those who know him and follow him will 138 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:54,520 be witness to his victory and his glory however as Joel is starting to tell us 139 00:14:54,520 --> 00:15:02,880 and will continue on to tell us the land drying up was just the start this 140 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:09,360 invasion will be even you know it's gonna be a bigger shock than anyone will 141 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:17,360 ever realize we're talking shock and awe like never before you know people 142 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:25,880 people are gonna be starving thirsty you know their fortunes dwindling away 143 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:31,040 trying to figure out how to feed their families or kids and then this is gonna 144 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:41,280 come at him and that's just wow continuing on in Joel chapter 2 verses 145 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:48,360 12 through 14 the Bible says yet even now declares the Lord return to me with 146 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:58,040 all your heart and with fasting weeping and mourning and tear your heart and not 147 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:06,360 merely your garments now return to the Lord your God for he is gracious and 148 00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:14,080 compassionate slow to anger abounding in mercy and relenting of catastrophe who 149 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:23,280 knows he might turn and relent and leave a blessing behind him resulting in a 150 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:32,840 grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God see God tells us right 151 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:42,440 here that people need to turn back to him before it's too late repent of your 152 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:48,160 sin before it's too late see we're told to fast remember a fast this is about 153 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:54,600 self-sacrifice and to truly you know not you know it shows that you truly mean 154 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:58,940 and that you're showing that you're sorry for your sin it's not about the 155 00:16:58,940 --> 00:17:06,080 lip service it is an inward and outward demonstration that you need God in your 156 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:12,320 life and you need God to help you you know even look here it says the tearing 157 00:17:12,320 --> 00:17:15,920 of clothing you know that is right you know the tearing of clothing is 158 00:17:15,920 --> 00:17:22,840 mentioned right here and we see this a lot in the Bible and it is literally 159 00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:28,880 talking about tearing the very clothes you have on you know we see we see this 160 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:31,880 in like an old movies and stuff they're just like oh my lord and they're just 161 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:36,320 you know hulking out right tearing that stuff off you know it's that moment when 162 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:42,560 you're so distraught you feel that you're not even worthy of that very 163 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:46,400 clothes on your back and like I said you just start tearing at them you know like 164 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:53,160 Hulk Hogan just ripping that shirt off just right God doesn't want us to be 165 00:17:53,160 --> 00:18:00,320 condemned to hell but we need to be the ones who make the choice he's given that 166 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:06,400 to us that is our power that is our decision to make not his we need we have 167 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:12,280 to choose him or we have to choose the pit those are our two choices there's 168 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:19,080 nothing in between there's nothing else God or hell at times ticking time is 169 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:24,640 ticking all right going back into our reading here Joel chapter 2 verses 15 170 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:32,720 through 17 the Bible says blow a trumpet in Zion consecrate a fast proclaim a 171 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:39,080 solemn assembly gather the people sanctify the congregation assemble the 172 00:18:39,080 --> 00:18:45,640 elders gather the children and the nursing infants have the groom come out 173 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:50,560 of his room and the bride out of her bridal chamber let the priest the Lord's 174 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:58,800 ministers weep between the porch and the altar and let them say spare your people 175 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:04,560 Lord and do not make your inheritance a disgrace with the nations jeering at 176 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:14,160 them why should those among the people say where is their God this right here 177 00:19:14,160 --> 00:19:22,280 this is one of the many great places in the Bible where we're being told to come 178 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:28,320 together as the church you know there's those out there who say oh I you know I 179 00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:32,480 don't need the church God knows my heart you know things like that they're 180 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:39,640 missing the point God is telling us right here in his word to come together 181 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:47,600 as the church I'm not talking about just going to some building in Matthew 18 182 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:53,960 verse 20 the Bible says for where two or three have gathered in my name I am 183 00:19:53,960 --> 00:20:04,120 there in their midst not alone not where one is together as the church now again 184 00:20:04,120 --> 00:20:08,040 I'm not talking about just cruising down the road to a building that they call 185 00:20:08,040 --> 00:20:16,600 the church that's not a church it's a place of worship right I'm talking about 186 00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:24,920 gathering with other believers that that's where the church is that's what 187 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:32,160 churches not some religious place of worship not someplace that is out there 188 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:37,600 trying to sell Jesus actually coming together this is talking about coming 189 00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:44,000 together any place where believers gather and fellowship together all God's 190 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:51,560 people together a family gathering if you would God's family worshiping it 191 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:56,040 together repenting praying for help praying for forgiveness praying for 192 00:20:56,040 --> 00:21:03,000 mercy and being a light to the rest of the world showing that Jesus is our Lord 193 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:08,760 and our Savior being that beacon to those without hope and those who don't 194 00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:14,120 know him so that we can make that introduction 195 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:29,880 continuing on God provides an answer to these prayers and verses 18 through 20 196 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:36,080 Bible says then the Lord will be zealous for his land and will have compassion 197 00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:43,160 for his people sorry we're back in Joel so Joel 2 verses 18 through 20 then the 198 00:21:43,160 --> 00:21:47,320 Lord will be zealous for his land and will have compassion for his people the 199 00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:55,920 Lord will answer and say to his people behold I am going to send you grain new 200 00:21:55,920 --> 00:22:05,160 wine and oil and you will be satisfied in full with them and I will never again 201 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:13,240 make you a disgrace among the nations but I will remove the northern army far 202 00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:20,480 from you and I will drive it into a dry and desolate land its advanced guard 203 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:27,300 into the eastern sea and its rear guard into the Western Sea and its stench will 204 00:22:27,300 --> 00:22:35,320 ascend and its odor of decay will come up because it has done great things see 205 00:22:35,320 --> 00:22:43,400 God loves his people his children right here Joel he's changing gears he's going 206 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:49,160 from the damnation of those who turn their backs on God to the outpouring of 207 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:57,160 love on those who turn towards God when people turn from their sin and lean into 208 00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:04,280 him this is why having a relationship with him is so important think about it 209 00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:14,880 some people they make you angry frustrated and while you may forgive her 210 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:26,240 you know forgive forgive whatever it is that upset you you still don't want 211 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:33,080 anything to do with them right however when it comes to family we are all a lot 212 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:39,980 quicker to forgive and move forward together and that's not only what God 213 00:23:39,980 --> 00:23:48,960 has asked us to do but what he's doing for us as well he'll take care of us and 214 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:55,680 he'll see to our needs the promise that God will forgive us if we turn to him 215 00:23:55,680 --> 00:24:01,120 this shouldn't just bring hope but it should encourage us as well and this in 216 00:24:01,120 --> 00:24:04,960 itself is an example of how we what truth I should say what this is an 217 00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:09,560 example of what true forgiveness really is you know you know we forgive you 218 00:24:09,560 --> 00:24:13,920 stay away from me right a lot of divorced people like that you know what 219 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:18,240 I forgive you you know spent some times gone by but just stay away you know what 220 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:25,960 you're still holding on to that grudge right and it's an easy one to hold on to 221 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:31,960 forgive them wish them well pray for them 222 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:38,960 doesn't mean you have to interact with them or anything any further right but 223 00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:43,920 true forgiveness it's like you know what let me pray for them pray for their best 224 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:48,360 and then move on in life on the path that God has for you that's true 225 00:24:48,360 --> 00:24:55,760 forgiveness you can't keep harboring that hate I know easier said than done 226 00:24:55,760 --> 00:25:01,360 but it is the truth alright so let's look at this a little bit more Joel 227 00:25:01,360 --> 00:25:09,760 chapter 2 verses 21 through 27 the Bible says do not fear land shout for joy and 228 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:18,680 rejoice for the Lord has done great things do not fear animals of the field 229 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:24,160 for the pastures of the wilderness have turned green for the tree has produced 230 00:25:24,160 --> 00:25:29,640 its fruit the fig tree and the vine have yielded in full so shout for joy you 231 00:25:29,640 --> 00:25:38,920 sons of Zion and rejoice in the Lord your God for he has given you the early 232 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:46,920 rain for your vindication and he has brought down for you the rain the early 233 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:52,560 and latter rain as before the threshing floors will be full of grain and the 234 00:25:52,560 --> 00:26:00,820 vats will overflow with the new wine and oil then I will compensate you for the 235 00:26:00,820 --> 00:26:07,400 years that this warming locust is eaten the creeping locust the stripping locust 236 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:14,080 and a nine locust my great army which I sent among you you will have plenty 237 00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:23,960 to eat and be satisfied you will praise the name of the Lord your God who has 238 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:30,160 dealt with you excuse me who has dealt wondrously with you then my people will 239 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:37,480 never be put to shame so you will know that I am in the midst of Israel and 240 00:26:37,480 --> 00:26:48,440 that I am the Lord your God and there is no other and my people will never be put 241 00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:57,080 to shame well the day of the Lord you know it's this is something for 242 00:26:57,080 --> 00:27:05,760 unbelievers to fear to be scared of and they absolutely should be however for 243 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:12,760 believers this is something to look forward to while those who don't follow 244 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:18,320 Christ will face judgment and justice those of the faith will find the 245 00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:27,160 Father's forgiveness love mercy and grace now what God forgives those who 246 00:27:27,160 --> 00:27:35,400 follow him I'd be remiss if I didn't remind you that this does not give you 247 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:42,560 me or any of us the free rein to just do as we please the whole if it feels good 248 00:27:42,560 --> 00:27:51,200 do it nope can't do it see that is what leads to complacency and of course 249 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:59,680 complacency leads us into sins rather we need to draw closer to God and continue 250 00:27:59,680 --> 00:28:08,120 to do as he has asked us to do see God pardoning our sins God pardoning my 251 00:28:08,120 --> 00:28:14,280 sins God pardoning your sins it is a sign that our relationship with him has 252 00:28:14,280 --> 00:28:20,880 been restored what it does not do is give us a hall pass to just do whatever 253 00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:27,480 we please it does not mean that our lives will be without struggle it does 254 00:28:27,480 --> 00:28:37,600 not mean we will be financially wealthy anyone who says otherwise really needs 255 00:28:37,600 --> 00:28:42,400 to go back and read the Bible again because the Bible actually tells us that 256 00:28:42,400 --> 00:28:51,680 there will be hardships in life like it or not that is a fact that is biblical 257 00:28:51,680 --> 00:29:03,440 fact we are promised that God will love us provide for us give us direction and 258 00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:15,720 purpose and forgive us that's what his word promises us see God's promises that 259 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:24,000 even after this judgment comes his people will be restored this section 260 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:31,400 holds another message of hope for us that no sin is so great that he can't 261 00:29:31,400 --> 00:29:40,000 restore you whatever your sin is whatever your circumstance is if you 262 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:48,880 come to the Lord repent and truly open yourself to him not only can he but he 263 00:29:48,880 --> 00:29:55,080 will restore you when you become a true believer and a true follower of Christ 264 00:29:55,080 --> 00:30:02,880 your past is forgiven right then and there you're not bound as a slave to 265 00:30:02,880 --> 00:30:12,680 that sin or sins or your history anymore you are free and the Bible tells us that 266 00:30:12,680 --> 00:30:18,400 when the Sun sets you free you are free indeed see whatever's kept you bound 267 00:30:18,400 --> 00:30:26,560 wherever's kept you chained it's been removed from you completely it's on you 268 00:30:26,560 --> 00:30:32,480 to walk away from it at that point and that's often the problem isn't it we get 269 00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:41,320 set free from stuff we know we're set free it's kind of scary though doesn't 270 00:30:41,320 --> 00:30:46,520 it and what happens well when it comes to sin it's the same thing that you see 271 00:30:46,520 --> 00:30:54,920 in with jails you know with the beliefs called recidivism people get out it can 272 00:30:54,920 --> 00:31:00,280 be overwhelming so what happens they go right back and get themselves locked back 273 00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:05,480 up and sin is no different we're we're set free we know we're free of that sin 274 00:31:05,480 --> 00:31:12,640 and then what happens things get tough and we go right back and try to get 275 00:31:12,640 --> 00:31:20,520 reattached because we know what that sin is and and we get confused for it being 276 00:31:20,520 --> 00:31:28,240 the lesser evil instead what we should be doing is going to the Father for 277 00:31:28,240 --> 00:31:33,640 guidance and listening to what he tells us following the path that he has set 278 00:31:33,640 --> 00:31:40,320 for us because that for all of its obstacles all of its bumps all of its 279 00:31:40,320 --> 00:31:47,120 potholes and everything else that path you stay loyal and you forge through it 280 00:31:47,120 --> 00:31:53,760 and it will lead each and every one of us you me all of us to a bright and new 281 00:31:53,760 --> 00:32:00,940 future with him all that loss all that loneliness that you feel it can be 282 00:32:00,940 --> 00:32:09,000 filled but only with Jesus nothing else is gonna fill it nothing else is gonna 283 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:15,040 satisfy you other things might satisfy you for a very short time but only for a 284 00:32:15,040 --> 00:32:18,920 short time and then you're gonna find yourself wanting again see without Jesus 285 00:32:18,920 --> 00:32:24,320 you'll never find the fulfillment that you're looking for so now we're gonna 286 00:32:24,320 --> 00:32:31,520 move into the promise of the Holy Spirit join me now in Joel 2 verses 28 through 287 00:32:31,520 --> 00:32:39,760 32 and the Bible says it will come about after this that I will pour my spirit on 288 00:32:39,760 --> 00:32:45,360 all mankind and your sons and your daughters will prophesy your old men 289 00:32:45,360 --> 00:32:50,440 will have dreams your young men will see visions and even on the male and female 290 00:32:50,440 --> 00:32:56,480 servants I will pour out my spirit in those days I will display wonders in the 291 00:32:56,480 --> 00:33:04,640 sky and on the earth blood fire and columns of smoke the Sun will be turned 292 00:33:04,640 --> 00:33:10,040 into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and awesome day of the 293 00:33:10,040 --> 00:33:15,240 Lord comes and it will come about that everyone who calls on the name of the 294 00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:25,040 Lord will be saved for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who 295 00:33:25,040 --> 00:33:33,200 escape just as the Lord has said even among the survivors whom the Lord calls 296 00:33:33,200 --> 00:33:39,480 for those keeping the score this is talking about the Holy Spirit Old 297 00:33:39,480 --> 00:33:44,440 Testament knew you know we're told about the Holy Spirit you know some people get 298 00:33:44,440 --> 00:33:48,520 caught up with the term Holy Spirit's not used here right here is saying my 299 00:33:48,520 --> 00:33:52,680 spirit there's a lot of things you know if people got caught up as a what show 300 00:33:52,680 --> 00:33:56,680 me where that's at you know what even in the Bible it doesn't call it the Bible 301 00:33:56,680 --> 00:34:00,160 there's a lot of stuff in here that people get hung up on that they 302 00:34:00,160 --> 00:34:10,520 shouldn't it's petty and it shows how they lack in faith see this passage in 303 00:34:10,520 --> 00:34:15,120 particular it's important to note because it's what Peter referenced in 304 00:34:15,120 --> 00:34:22,400 his sermon at Pentecost and and we can we can see that in Acts chapter 2 verses 305 00:34:22,400 --> 00:34:30,240 16 through 21 at a time when the spirit becomes available to everyone which he 306 00:34:30,240 --> 00:34:34,640 now is sent by Jesus after he died was resurrected and then went to be with the 307 00:34:34,640 --> 00:34:40,920 Father the Holy Spirit is with us at all times you don't have to wait to talk to 308 00:34:40,920 --> 00:34:44,680 him you don't have to go to a specific person you don't have to do certain 309 00:34:44,680 --> 00:34:52,000 rituals none of that stuff has to be done it doesn't matter what your status 310 00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:56,880 is it doesn't matter what your class is in life God has poured his spirit out on 311 00:34:56,880 --> 00:35:05,160 each and every single one of us and we can all call on the Spirit at any moment 312 00:35:05,160 --> 00:35:16,120 we can call on him any time anytime how glorious is that that God loves us so 313 00:35:16,120 --> 00:35:21,820 much that he removed the middleman from the equation he took the door off the 314 00:35:21,820 --> 00:35:28,000 hinges and said hey let's chat and you think about it goes all the way back you 315 00:35:28,000 --> 00:35:33,700 know when when Jesus was crucified and the curtain was torn or the veil was 316 00:35:33,700 --> 00:35:39,920 torn all that having to go to a certain priest or anything all that ritual and 317 00:35:39,920 --> 00:35:43,040 all that where only a certain person could go in and they had to tie a rope 318 00:35:43,040 --> 00:35:54,280 around all that stuff done we have direct access now and that's not all as 319 00:35:54,280 --> 00:36:02,160 we see in verse 30 the Holy Spirit also blesses us with gifts gifts meaning 320 00:36:02,160 --> 00:36:10,480 talents not everyone is going to have the same talents and that's good that is 321 00:36:10,480 --> 00:36:16,040 a good thing we don't all need to have the same stuff there's a reason for 322 00:36:16,040 --> 00:36:20,680 these gifts they aren't just menial things nor are they intended to be just 323 00:36:20,680 --> 00:36:28,680 for us these gifts they're tools and these are tools that we we are supposed 324 00:36:28,680 --> 00:36:36,440 to use in response and in answering the Great Commission one to share the good 325 00:36:36,440 --> 00:36:45,200 news of the gospel with others two to introduce others to Christ and three to 326 00:36:45,200 --> 00:36:52,200 praise and worship the Father everything is to his glory and we should always 327 00:36:52,200 --> 00:37:02,800 have that at the front and center for everyone to see everyone now if what 328 00:37:02,800 --> 00:37:12,000 we've covered here scares you good because if you're not a believer this is 329 00:37:12,000 --> 00:37:15,960 this is a wake-up call this is calling you to check your own heart that's the 330 00:37:15,960 --> 00:37:22,000 intention there's no better time than now to profess Jesus as Lord and begin 331 00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:28,560 following him and if you are a believer this should not only bring peace to you 332 00:37:28,560 --> 00:37:34,800 in any struggle that you're dealing with but it should also serve as a reminder 333 00:37:34,800 --> 00:37:43,320 of our calling as Christians God loves you and he wants to have a relationship 334 00:37:43,320 --> 00:37:53,120 with you why because you matter to him you are somebody you are somebody we're 335 00:37:53,120 --> 00:38:02,440 dying for which is what Jesus did that's why Jesus accepted the cross because you 336 00:38:02,440 --> 00:38:11,520 are worthy and you are somebody you are loved and you are blessed now go and be 337 00:38:11,520 --> 00:38:18,240 the church thank you all for joining us here today at healing scars with pastor 338 00:38:18,240 --> 00:38:24,440 Burton please like subscribe and share our podcast on any platform it is that 339 00:38:24,440 --> 00:38:30,680 you tune in to us on if you do have any questions any prayer requests or would 340 00:38:30,680 --> 00:38:37,460 like to know more about our ministry you can find us on our website at be the 341 00:38:37,460 --> 00:38:44,560 light sanctuary org or on Facebook at be the light sanctuary you can also find 342 00:38:44,560 --> 00:38:49,560 how to contact us there whether it's direct message or email we look forward 343 00:38:49,560 --> 00:39:08,040 to hearing from you all God bless