A dire message of despair…an appeal for repentance “…give ear, all you inhabitants of the land! Has anything like this happened in the days of your fathers? Tell your children about it. Let your children tell their children, and their children another generation” A dire message of despair…an appeal for repentance Joel 1:2b-3 “What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten…” (Joel 1:4)

THERE WILL BE NO ESCAPE RETURN TO GOD BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE “Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord is coming, For it is at hand.” (Joel 2:1) THERE WILL BE NO ESCAPE Joel 2:11 RETURN TO GOD BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE Joel 2:12-13 A Message That All Can Understand

“REND YOUR HEART, NOT YOUR GARMENTS…” (Joel 2:13) “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart-These O God, You will not despise.” Psalms 51:17 God’s Grace & Compassion Is Ever Present, However To Benefit From Such There Must Be A Change… (The best apology is changed behavior; Don’t ruin an apology with an excuse) Romans 11:22 Isaiah 55:6ff “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon him while He is near”

GODLY SORROW WILL PRODUCE ESSENCE OF TRUE REPENTANCE (Joel 2:12-13) In Repentance There Is Hope… Repentance Involves: Godly Sorrow, Change of Attitude, Turning Away From Restitution: Making It As Right As Possible Luke 19:2-8; 2Samuel 12:6 Proverbs 6:30-31 Ezekiel 33:15 Ephesians 4:28 See Self As We Really Are; Make Changes Where Changes Need To Be Made. Repentance Demands Open Honesty

A MESSAGE OF HOPE… Joel 2:28-32 God reaffirms His promise of the forth coming Messiah and His kingdom; even though the nation has been less than faithful… “but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel” Acts 2:16 “and it shall be, that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Acts 2:21 “And now why do you delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.” Acts 22:16 While the book of Joel opens up with a dire message, it turns into a message of hope; with the key being a willingness to turn to God