8 February 2009

Text: Joel 1

“AND CRY OUT TO THE LORD”

(I) AN ANTICIPATION OF POSSIBLE DISASTERS

(The prayer of King Solomon: 2 Chronicles 6:28-29)

1. Dire circumstances (2 Chronicles 6:28)

a) Famine

b) Pestilence

c) Blight/mildew

d) Locusts/grasshoppers

2. Manner of prayer (2 Chronicles 6:29)

a) When each one knows his own burden

b) And his own grief

(II) AN URGENT ADMONITION TO CRY OUT TO THE LORD

1. To the priests

“Gird yourselves and lament, you priests;
Wail, you who minister before the altar;
Come, lie all night in sackcloth,
You who minister to my God…” Joel 1:13

a) Girding (Preparation)

b) Lamenting/Wailing (Expression)

c) Sackcloth (Addition)

2. To the Elders/ Inhabitants of the land

“Consecrate a fast,
Call a sacred assembly;
Gather the elders
And all the inhabitants of the land…” Joel 1:14

a) Calling for a sacred assembly

b) Consecration of a special fast

(III) AN IMPORTANT UNDERLYING UNDERSTANDING

1. Praying with acute consciousness of severe suffering

a) Food cut off (Joel 1:16)

b) Joy and gladness absent (Joel 1:16)

c) Economic meltdown (Joel 1:17-18)

2. Praying as if “The Day of the LORD” has dawned

a) A day of Judgment

b) A day to be feared

(IV) AN EXAMPLE OF PERSONAL RESPONSE (Joel)

“O LORD, to You I cry out…” Joel 1:19

1. Personal response of the prophet

2. Personal “crying out” to the Lord in the spirit of his writing

(V) AN HONEST ASESSMENT OF OUR CRYING OUT TO THE LORD TODAY

1. This seems to be sadly missing

2. The spirit of complacency still prevails

3. We have not been able to enter into the spirit of prayer as enjoined by the prophet Joel