Joel 2:28-32 His Spirit
God promises that He will pour out His Spirit on ALL flesh. This is after He draws them to Him through repentance. And Jesus’ work on the cross.
This section of Joel goes FAR beyond the locust events. It is not for one day but for an eternity. Portions have already been completed and other portions are still to come. Great hardship and even GREATER joy are to come.
The promise in Joel for EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD is SALVATION. This promise goes beyond the people of Israel and Judah. It extends to “everyone who calls on the nave of the Lord” (verse 32a). I know, I just said that, but it bears repeating. EVERYONE who turns to the Lord “shall be saved” (verse 32b). This doesn’t mean only in Joel’s time, or in the time of Jesus, or even before the time of great tribulation. EVERYONE who has breath can call on Him and be saved. Once you are dead, your chance to call on Him has passed. You either have already been saved because You turned to Him, or you have rejected Him and are lost for eternity.
God has given man SO MANY chances. He sent them His laws AND His Son. He has sent them signs and wonders using every available thing on earth. Water, wind, rain, insects, animals, the sky, and even the ground itself. Those who refuse to listen CANNOT say He hasn’t tried to reach them. Even if they never see a “miracle” in their entire lives, the fact that they are ALIVE is a miracle in itself. Even the blind can see evidence of God. I believe it is easier to choose to believe than it is to reject ALL the evidence He has provided.
God LONGS to pour out His love and His Spirit on EVERY man, woman and child. He pushes NO ONE away. He is holding His arms open wide to receive us ALL. He wants to carry each of us to safety. But there are conditions to this safety.
- You have to acknowledge that you are LOST without Him. We have NO WAY of saving ourselves.
- You have to accept that He has already done ALL the work required to make a way for you to come to Him. Jesus did it ALL on the cross and in the grave. NO amount of works you do will get God’s attention or convince Him that you are “a good person” without Jesus’ work on your behalf.
- You have to willingly lay down the sins that are separating you from Him and ask Him to forgive you for those sins.
- You have to grow in your relationship with Him. Put feet to your faith and learn of Him. Experience the personal relationship He wants to share with you. Talk to Him. Pray. Read His word. And let His Spirit guide your steps from that moment on.
Yes. There will be times when you stumble in this journey. Yet, He will NEVER leave your side. He will be there to pick you back up. He has lessons prepared for your journey; some directive and some corrective. His Spirit will guide you through all of them, when you surrender to Him.
There are difficult times ahead in this world. Sometimes they are already upon us before we realize it. But He has PROMISED that you are safe in these times. Even if the circumstances take your mortal body, you ARE SAFE IN HIS ARMS!!! When you are a child of the King, you are safe for ETERNITY.
Fathe God, THANK YOU for making a way for me to be with You! Thank You that I don’t have to rely on my own works to be worthy of Your love. THANK YOU FOR JESUS!!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR HOLY SPIRIT! Thank You that I don’t walk alone but Your Spirit is with me at ALL times. Lead me where I should go that I may continue to grow in our relationship and in knowledge and understanding.
