2. The Prophet Joel
Joel 2:13
So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.

3. Introduction
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4
Man has always been a sinful creature.
Joel gives us hope for our salvation.
We can and must learn from the old testament
these lessons are invaluable for us
They give us an insight into the mind of God
there are lessons to learn and we can receive comfort from them
Israel has always had a sin problem
We know the nature of man
his desires are for sin John 3:19-20
"And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
"For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light,
lest his deeds should be exposed.
Man has always had the desire to follow his own will rather than God’s will
3. Here is the comfort Paul was speaking of
all is not lost there is another way God’s way
A way prepared before time began
2Tim 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling,
not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace,
which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

4. The Prophet Joel
The Sins of Judah

5. The Sins of Judah Judah had a problem with sin.
The people were drunkards Joel 1:5
They sold their own children to satisfy their sinful habits. Joel 3:3
The locusts were a punishment from the LORD
they were told of the destruction from the locusts
they were told to repent
They withheld the offerings to God and He punished them
The land looked as if a fire had destroyed it
Even the animals were suffering
2. This is a soapbox issue for me
so many people have been ruined from the effects of alcohol in their lives
And the majority continue to drink
They have been warned and they continue to do it and defend it
Noah even was caught up in the wine
Ge 9:20 And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard.
21 Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent.
Pr 23:31 Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup,
When it swirls around smoothly;

6. The Sins of Judah True Repentance
The Prophet Joel
The Sins of Judah True Repentance

7. True Repentance God pleads with the people to return to Him. Joel 2:12
We must have a right heart to belong to God. Ephesians 6:5-6
A true pennant heart God will always accept
God would punish Israel until they repented
He would always accept true penitence
God always judges the heart
Ps 34:18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
Isa 57:15 For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity,
whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place,
With him who has a contrite and humble spirit,
To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
2. Ps 119:11 ¶ Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!
Jas 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners;
and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Ps 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

8. The Sins of Judah True Repentance The Promise of Salvation
The Prophet Joel
The Sins of Judah True Repentance The Promise of Salvation

9. The Promise of Salvation
The promise of salvation Joel 2:28-32
God will punish His enemies and save His own Thessalonians 1:3-10
This is the most famous part of Joel
It is associated with Isaiah 2, Daniel 2 and Acts 2
Peter said what the people were seeing in the temple was what Joel prophesied
this is the promise of salvation
No matter how far away God’s people were from Him
He always has a plan to get them back
2. Mt 25:41 "Then He will also say to those on the left hand,
'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire
prepared for the devil and his angels:
1Th 1:9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you,
and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead,
even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

10. Application
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4
Have you truly repented of the sins of your life?
Joel speaks of the failure of mankind
that sin abounds in humanity
That all need to repent
to rend our hearts and not our clothes
We need a change of heart
every one of us has needed it at one time or another
Joel’s message is pertinent now as it was then

11. Invitation
Joel 2:13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.