[Joel 2:12 – 16]

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;

2:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and repent, and turn unto the Lord your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and he will turn away the evil from you.

2:14 Therefore repent, and who knoweth but he will return and leave a blessing behind him; that you may offer a meat offering, and a drink offering, unto the Lord your God?

2:15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly;

2:16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts; let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

 

Repentance is not just an individual requirement. It is a corporate requirement as well. The church throughout the scriptures is called often to repentance.

The Prophet Joel through the Holy Spirit called Israel to repentance through prayer and fasting. The Lord had not responded to Israel because of her failings to turn completely to God, but still, His desire was for a full relationship with His people But God is a merciful God. He desires to bless his children, and He desires to be their Father.

We need from time to time take stock of our relationship with God as a Church – as His bride  and see that we have not always been in tune with His Spirit and that we have done things our way instead of His way.

We need to rend our hearts, realizing that each of us within the body of Christ have been responsible for the condition in which we find ourselves. It was not God that has
put us in the place in which we find the bride of Christ, but our own pride, our own choices and no matter how pious we may be, we all have had a part in the scattered condition we find ourselves.

We all have had a part in those who have found their way into the world and away from the body of Christ. We all have had a part in the division within the body of Christ.

Just as Joel called Israel to rend their hearts, we need to likewise rend our hearts recognizing our own responsibility in the current condition of the Church.

We need to declare a fast from the worldly things that beset us, call a solemn assembly, sanctify our congregations, let the priesthood cry for God’s mercy upon the Church and pity his people. Let the church cry for a healing upon the land and the division among God’s people be put down and His Holy Spirit give unto the church once again the might of His power.

Let the Church complete her task of establishing the very cause of Zion; that our sons and daughters shall prophesy, our old men shall dream dreams and our young men shall see visions. That the day will speedily come that God will pour out of His Spirit upon all flesh that the wonders of heaven will be discerned by the whole body of Christ.