#91 “Great Intercessors of the Bible”

(Joel – Yahweh is God)

"Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.

Let the priests, who minister before the Lord weep

between the temple porch and the altar."

(Joel 2:12,17)

New King James Version (NKJV)

In this lesson we’ll be looking at the life of the Prophet Joel, whose best known for the prophecy or the release of the Holy Spirit. The thing we want to look at in the lesson is how his life of intercession so closely mirrored the call God made for an intercessor. "And He (God) saw that there was no man and wondered that there was no intercessor [no one to intervene on behalf of truth and right." (Isaiah 59:16 amplified) We’ve learned that being an intercessor is a person who intervenes for truth and righteousness for others.

The prophet of Joel admonished the people that they should fast, pray and morn in Chapter 2: 10-12, 16-20. Joel had a double vision, which would revealed the “day of the Lord” being ushered in by dreadful suffering if there was not true repentance. “Change your life, not just your clothes. Come back to GOD, your God. And here’s why: God is kind and merciful. He takes a deep breath, puts up with a lot, this most patient God, extravagant in love, always ready to cancel catastrophe. Who knows? Maybe he’ll do it now; maybe he’ll turn around and show pity. Maybe, when all’s said and done, there’ll be blessings full and robust for your GOD!” (Joel 2:13-14)

"I looked for a man among them who would build up a wall and stand before Me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none." (Ezekiel 22:30) Israel was being invaded but this was a result of their rebellion and punishment by God. There the prophet Joel God was calling the people to repent, “Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning...Let the priests, who minister before the Lord weep between the temple porch and the altar." (Joel 2:12, 17)
This call to repentance also came with a promise, “I will drive the northern army far from you...and those in the rear into the western sea...I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten...You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed....I will pour out my Spirit on all people. You sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men wills see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” Isn’t it amazing that even when God has to discipline His children He has still built-in a provision for their repentance once it’s completed.

The truth is that God hates to punish His children, but finds it is necessary for time to time in order to get their attention and get them back on the right track. “Return, O backsliding children,' says the Lord; 'for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion, I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from him.” (Jeremiah 3:14) It would seem nothing has change in all these years, many times we get off track and find ourselves feeling the heat of discipline, but like Israel we quickly run back to God and get right back on track. Well at least most of us do...for some gentle discipline for the Lord is sufficient; however, for others it may require something much harsher base on our temperaments. This passage in Jeremiah is not a licence to continuing in our backsliding, but rather a reminder that no matter where you go or what you do the Spirit of God is constantly reminding us that, we belong to Him, we need to return to Him and that the Father Loves us.

So what was God’s response to the children of Israel’s return to His Commandments with prayer and intercession? It was a promise of restoration of those things which they had lost during their rebellion. In answer to their obedience and intercessions, the Lord promised He would restore everything that had been taken away. He also promised He would pour out His Spirit on all people. But not just restoration to their old lives but to a new one, “...never again will my people be shamed....I will pour out my Spirit on all people. You sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men wills see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.”(Joel 2:27-28) Remember what Jesus said to his disciples just before leave to return to heaven? “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” (Luke 24:49) The day of Pentecost was the fulfillment of that promise God made in Joel.

Every since the fall in the garden of Eden God has been working to fulfill His plan of redemption for His children, to bring us back to right standing with Himself. The final stage of that is yet to come but in the meantime we continue to pray and intercede that the Father’s will be done in this earth…no matter what it looks like or how bad it may seem, continue to pray, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, in Earth even as it is in Heaven.”(Matthews 6:10) That day too will come just as all others promises have been fulfilled.

My Prayer: Father God, thank You for pouring out your promise of the Holy Spirit upon all human flesh. We continue to ask that Thy will be done in this earth realm, let Your Kingdom now come in our nations and in our government and in our lives and families. Father forgive us of our sins for our trespasses, thank You for the promise that one day this mortal will take on the immortal likeness of Jesus Christ and we will be able to once and for all put an end to the deeds of this sinful flesh. Father we give you praise and glory for You are worthy of all honor!. We thank You for Your many blessings in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!!!

Have A Bless Day…Go in God’s Peace!

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