Joel called the people he was addressing, drunkards in chapter 1, verse 5. A few verses down in verse 13-14, he says that the meat offering and the drink offering has been cut off from the house of the Lord and calls for a solemn assembly with the elders to sanctify themselves and declare a fast. He tells them to cry, lament, howl and lie all night in sackcloth.
Did you know that giving in churches is down during this recession. Why is that? Aren't we supposed to live by a heavenly economy where moth and rust does not destroy and thieves cannot break in and steal? I wonder if the people were even taught that the greatest return on money comes from investing with tithes, offerings and alms. Were there any voices crying from the pulpit warning God's people about storing up treasures on this earth? The prophets seemed to have been silent and now many churches are hurting financially. Maybe now, the ministers of the land will begin to cry out and once again depend on heaven and not the things of this world.
I find it interesting that the priests, ministers and elders were called on to reverse the curse upon their nation by fasting, weeping and praying. The same people that have the power to bless and to curse; the heirs of Abraham have been given the possession of the gates (places of power); the followers of Jesus who were given the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven in order to bind (restrict) and to loose (permit); the saints who have been given authority to be the head and not the tail, above ONLY and not beneath. We are the believers that fell asleep at the wheel. We partook of the delicacies of Babylon and here we are today. The power to prosper a nation lies in the bosom of the Church. That's right, we are the salt and the light. It only takes a little bit of salt and a little light bulb to affect the whole.
In Joel, chapter 2, verse 12-14, God elaborates on the fast that he requires. He said, "Turn to me with all you heart and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning. And rend your heart and not your garments , and turn unto the Lord you God." The call is one of repentance from the heart. In other words, God is saying, "Take responsibility."
Joel 2:17 Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar...
Read the rest of the chapter and you will see that God promised to restore everything that the locust, cankerworm, palmerworm and caterpillar had eaten. He promised to restore joy and security. He promised to replenish the storehouses abundantly with wheat, wine and oil so that they would have plenty and be satisfied.
I for one, have decided to repent with a heart of true brokenness. I am going to start this New Year by consecrating myself before a just and merciful God who is moved by the sacrifices of his beloved. I call on Christians all over the world to join forces and let us rend our hearts before our King. Let us howl and weep and stand in the gap; between the porch and the altar. We have the power so let's use it and intercede for the people of the earth.
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