One Year Bible
Old Testament passage for Monday, December 9, 2013: Joel 1:1-3:21
25 “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. 26 You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; and My people shall never be put to shame. 27 Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the Lord your God and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame.28 “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.
29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. Joel 2:25-29 (NKJV)
The prophet Joel looked into the future and saw a day in which God would do two remarkable things. He would RESTORE and He would POUR.
RESTORATION
Israel had undergone severe judgment by God. They had brought it on themselves by their rebellion.
A swarm of locusts had devoured the countryside. The land was devastated. Israel had responded with profound repentance. Then we read these words: "I WILL RESTORE."
Restoration is "the returning of that which was lost." Jesus tells us, "The thief does not come except to steal, to kill, and to destroy" (John10:10). Satan is a thief, and many of us have personally been robbed of our inheritance. There is a level of living that God promises and many of have yet to enter that level of living.
Even more important is the Church. God promises to restore His Church. In so many ways, we have been robbed. We have been robbed of power and effectiveness. We have been robbed of the presence of God so evident in the early church (just read the Book of Acts).
If we will agree with God, He promises that He will RESTORE.
OUTPOURING
Joel saw a day coming in which the Holy Spirit would be POURED out like a tidal wave. Even though many of us have enjoyed great days of Spirit-filled blessing, I believe greater days lie ahead.
There is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that is yet unfolding in our day. It will be harder and harder to straddle the fence. Joel said, "your sons and daughters shall prophecy." That means our kids will be filled with God's power. They will be in tune God's plan.
While the world is getting drunk on foolishness, God's people will be getting filled with His power!
I believe we are living in the greatest period of history. God calls us to shine like lights. The Apostle Peter saw it clearly. He stood up in Acts 2 and said, "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel..." (Acts 2:16).
This has been called the era of the Holy Spirit. God is restoring. God is pouring.
May we all walk fully with the Lord in what He does in our day!
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