WHAT LIFE IS LIKE WITHOUT AND WITH GOD.
"What Life Is Like Without and With God" is
based on the book written by Joel about 900 BC.
Our comments are in brackets and quotes are
from the N.I.V. Bible.
(When you realise your way of life cost God His
life on the cross and therefore turn from it to
follow Jesus Christ instead, you become a
member of God's family, one of His people. But
His people, in general, are not living how He
wants them to. So Joel's message needs to be
urgently heeded.)
Here is a message for you, your children and
their children.
Until you allow God to have His rightful place
in your life it will be like a land invaded,
destroyed and drought stricken.
Your condition should cause you to cry out to
the Lord for help because the day you face Him
to account for your life (the day of the Lord
on Judgment Day) is near.
(Chapter 1)
A clear warning of this ought to be heard
through all the land. It will be a day of
darkness, gloom, clouds and blackness. The
earth will shake, the sky tremble, sun and moon
will be darkened and the stars no longer shine.
It will be a great and dreadful day.
So "return to God with all your heart, with
fasting and weeping and mourning... for He is
gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and
abounding in love!" He will turn to you, have
pity and bless you.
Christian ministers ought to weep over the
spiritual condition of our land and say, "Spare
your people O Lord" - Don't make us
a joke in the eyes of unbelievers
whose attitude is "Where is their God?"
Then the Lord will "be jealous for His land,
... take pity on His people" and bless them.
Fear will be replaced with gladness, rejoicing
and praise for the wonders He has worked for
you. Then the people "will know that I am (with
you)... the Lord your God and that there is no
other".
Then God says "I will pour out my spirit on all
people" (this happened on the day of Pentecost
after Christ's Resurrection) finally, wonders
in the Heavens and on earth will precede the
"coming of the great and dreadful day of the
Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the
Lord will be saved... There will be deliverance
... among the survivors whom the Lord calls."
(Chapter 2)
It will be a day when nations will be called
before the Lord for Judgment. Their persecution
of God's people and use of His silver, gold and
treasures will lead God to "return on your own
heads what you have done".
It will be a day when there will be "multitudes
in the valley of decision... The Lord will
roar... the earth and sky will tremble... But
the Lord will be a refuge and stronghold for"
His people.
"Then you will know that I, The Lord your God
dwell in...my holy hill." It will be a time of
plenty... "A fountain will flow out of the
Lord's house." The guilt of God's people will
be pardoned and God will have His rightful
place at the centre of their lives.
(Chapter 3)
HERE ARE SOME MAIN POINTS FROM JOEL:
1. Christians in Australia, in general, are a
"half-baked" lot. They need to return to God
with 100% commitment.
2. Absolutely everyone will finally have to
account to God for their lives. On that
Judgement Day, genuine believers, being saved,
will know heaven and non believers, hell.
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