"BLOW THE TRUMPET IN ZION"

Scripture Reading: Joel 2
Scripture Text: "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 2:1 (KJV)

God's WORD tells us that we are to BLOW THE TRUMPET IN ZION and warn people that the Day of the LORD is at hand. The Prophet Joel goes on to explain that great and terrible day of the Lord known as the GREAT TRIBULATION and it coincides with the Book of Revelation recorded on the Isle of Patmos by the Apostle John. Listen to the Voice of the Lord as He calls us to:

"...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; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the  mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations." Joel 2:1-3(KJV)

There are many who do not want to hear - many who WILL not hear - yet the call is clear to all of those who name the Name of Christ - that they must GO forth in Jesus' Name.

Yet out of the woodwork like never before... come the assassins of the faith. Men and women who spit in the face of God and will stop at nothing to erase His Name from the face of the Earth.

The task we have now as "The Church" is to not hide in a church pew singing:

Tho’ the hull may be battered,
Inside it’s safe & dry...
or...

Let the Church be the Church, Let the People rejoice.
Oh, we’ve settled the question,
We’ve made our choice.
Let the anthems ring out, Songs of victory swell
For the Church triumphant is alive and well.

 

At this point we don't have a "CHURCH TRIUMPHANT"; if we did the Lord would have come back already. What we have is a church "DESPONDENT". A Church filled with profound hopelessness; dejection; abysmal discouragement and
insurmountable gloom. A church that will not sound the ALARM IN THAT HOLY MOUNTAIN because it's not the politically correct thing to do - "...and even if we did", they say, "No one would listen; no one would make a decision for Christ!" So they just give up, sit on their couch and wait for the sand-man to carry them away to never-never land... because that's the only place they feel safe and unchallenged and can absolve themselves for not having done their part.

Can I remind you of the words found in Mark 4: 26-28 that will perhaps set your part in the grand scheme of things into some perspective for you?

"And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." Mark 4: 26-28 (KJV)

What does that tell us? It says that just as the Earth once receives the seed - it is in her design to bring forth fruit. Are you getting this? You who feel that your labor is in vain and that no one is hearing or reaping a harvest, Listen... if you "are" actively laboring in the field of ministry to WARN the Lost and to bring in the sheaves for Harvest, you must not become weary in well-doing: "for in due season you SHALL reap, if you faint not". (ref., Gal 6:9) You who are faithfully calling out His Name over your loved ones and they seemingly ignore or even spurn your attempts to share the Gospel message, do not be dismayed but remember, "GOD" is LORD OF THE HARVEST, and He is in charge!

Our task is to sow the Word of God, especially in these last days, and then to learn to trust in Him for the increase. As laborers together in the WORK of the Lord, we can not know how those seeds we’ve sown will grow. only God can give the increase (1 Corinthians 3:7). The important message here today is that

“He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Psalms 126:6).

 

Let's pray,
Father God - I need not tell you how many times over the years I have felt like throwing in the towel and calling it quits. It seems as though no one is listening and even fewer and fewer are even opening their emails. Yet, at you commission and your call on my life - I go forth - sending for that WORD that Jesus Save... Jesus Heals... and that Jesus is coming again. I have those who do not like it and would rather not listen because it doesn't tickle their ears and make them feel good inside. There often comes a rebuke and a challenge from you that you ask me to deliver and I do so even though I know those that read it or hear it on the radio may not like it; yet I must follow your Lead. Help all of those men and women everywhere - in every walk of life who know that they know that they know that you have placed within them that burning desire to BLOW THAT TRUMPET and to WARN THE PEOPLE in their sphere of influence that you are coming again - to be strong... courageous... and to never give in. Help us to be able to plant the seed and leave the increase up to you. In Jesus' Name I Pray, Amen.