BY JACK WARD
PASTOR, TOMAHAWK MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
When an alarm is sounded in a building you know there is a fire. You know to immediately prepare to get out of that building or face disaster. Studies have shown that most people die in fires because they ignore the alarm.
The alarm is already sounding in this world. Sadly most people are ignoring the disaster that is getting ready to come into their lives. Jesus is getting ready to intervene in this world. When He comes it will be too late to repent. Too late to turn back. Too late to change. Too late to make things right.
Church, the alarm is sounding already that many have departed from the faith, preaching the doctrines of demons. Yet many have not left those churches nor stood up to say, “Enough of this.” They are like the frog in the pot: They just sit there until they are cooked and it’s too late!
Joel 2:1: “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand.”
Joel Chapter 1 details all the things that God’s people are suffering as a result of their sins. This was their pre-warning, but they ignored it and continued to sin and soon the real alarm had sounded.
The time has come for people to face judgment from the Lord. The time is up. It’s upon them even at the door. Judgment is just over the horizon. God is not going to be ignored any longer.
Joel 2:12: “Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.”
Even though judgment is near for God‘s people, God is still pleading with His people to turn to Him. God is pleading with us today to turn to Him. We must be sorry for our sins and the things we have done that have disappointed God.
Most of us are sorry for what we have done to ourselves; we aren’t sorry that we have disappointed God. God is just a second thought. The way to be restored to God is don’t feel sorry for yourself; feel sorry for your sin!
Joel 2:23: “Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.”
He will give rain and the latter rain. Rain renews and invigorates the land. Latter rain is brief rain that comes in the evening to cleanse and refresh. God wants to cleanse and refresh you. You will be calm and contented if you come back to the Lord and trust in Him and His Holy word.
Joel 2:35-26: “And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.”
God will answer His people and restore them to their former glory.
Have your past sins devastated you? The devastation caused by past sins and false teaching can be undone. God will do great things among us if we will just turn to Him. God’s alarm is already sounding. For your sake don’t ignore it!
Hear pastor Jack’s sermons, read sermon text and more at tomahawkmbc.com.