The Lord’s Promise of His Spirit, Joel Chapter 2

“Then after doing all those things, I will pour out My Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream wild dreams, and your young men will see visions. In those days, I will pour out My Spirit even on servants – men and women alike. And I will cause wonders in the heavens and on earth – blood and fire and columns of smoke.

The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that terrible day of the Lord arrives. But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved., for some on Mount Zion in Jerusalem will escape, just as the Lord said. These will be among the survivors whom the Lord has called.” (vv. 28-32, NLT)

The Lord’s Promise of Restoration, Joel Chapter 2

“Then the Lord will pity His people and jealously guard the honor of His land. The Lord will reply,’Look! I am sending you grain and new wine and olive oil, enough to satisfy your needs. You will no longer be a mockery among the surrounding nations. I will drive away these armies from the north. I will send them into parched wastelands. Those in front will be driven into the Dead Sea, and those at the rear into the Mediterranean. The stench of he rotting bodies will rise over the land.’

Surely the Lord has done great things. Don’t be afraid, my people. Be glad now and rejoice, for the Lord has doe great things. Don’t be afraid, you animals of the field, for the wilderness pastures will soon b e green. The trees will again be filed with fruit; fig trees and grapevines will be loaded down once more.

Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem! Rejoice in the Lord your God! For the rain He sends demonstrates His faithfulness. Once more the autumn rains will come as well as the rains of spring.” (vv. 18-23, NLT)

A Call for Repentance, Joel, Chapter 2

“This is why the Lord says, ‘Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.’ Return to the Lord you God, for He is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.” (vv. 12-13, NLT)

Scriptures about Evil

“Keep you servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.” (Psalm 19:13, NLT)

“Sine you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from Him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy.” (Ephesians 4:21-24 NLT)

Christ’s Sacrifice for All, Excerpts from Hebrews Chapter 10

“Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God so a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then He sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. There He waits until His enemies are humbled and made a footstool under His feet. For by that one offering He forever made perfecct those who are being made holy.

And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For He says, ‘This is the new covenant I will make with My people on that day,’ says the Lord: ‘I will put My laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.’. Then He says,’I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.’

And when sins have been forgiven, their is no more need to offer any more sacrifices.” (vv. 15-18, NLT)

Scripture on Decisions

“Look at the obvious facts. Those who say they belong to Christ must recognize that we belong to Christ as much as they do.” (2 Corinthians 10:7, NLT)

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask Him, be sure that faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.” (James 1:5-8, NLT)

Scriptures on Church

“For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and other will approve of you, too. So, then let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.” (Romans 14:7-9, NLT)

“Before they are appointed as deacons, let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, let them serve as deacons.” (1 Timothy 3:10, NLT)

Scriptures on Excelence

“Then God looked over all that He had made, and He saw it was good! And evening passed and morning cam, marking the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:31, NLT)

“Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will face away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-26, NLT)

A Call to Persevere, Hebrews Chapter 10

And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By His death, Jesus opened a new life-giving way through the curtain of the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting in Him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.: (vv. 19-25, NLT)