Solemn Assembly Day #1

Deep Creek Jamin Java

  (Serving Over ? Cups)

"God's Truth.......

Always Fresh,

Always Aromatic"

A Jolt of Spiritual Caffeine to keep you going!

March 21, 2013

"Solemn Assembly Day #1"

Scripture Reading:
Joel 1:1-3 (HCSB) Tell your children about it, and let your children tell their children, and their children the next generation.  What the devouring locust has left,
the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust has left, the young locust has eaten; and what the young locust has left, the destroying locust has eaten.

Devotional Reading:

During the days of the prophet Joel,a great swarm of locusts brought devastation on the nation. This was a time to weep, mourn, wail, grieve,

and despair. Joel asked, “Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your ancestors?” (Joel 1:2, HCSB). This was such

a great catastrophe, future generations would talk about it with their children and grandchildren (see Joel1:3). This time of great national

disaster caused the prophet Joel to shout out.  Desperate times called for desperate measures. In their distress the people were ready to cry out to the Lord for help. The prophet knew a sacred assembly was the appropriate time and way to turn to the Lord.  Many sense our nation is at a desperate time that calls for desperate measures. How many disasters have we experienced lately that have been some of the worst in history—the kind we will describe to our children and grandchildren? At times like this, God’s call to us is “Return to Me.” On the occasion of one sacred assembly during King Solomon’s reign, God made the following promise.  If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the grasshopper to consume the land, or if I send pestilence on My people, and My people who are called by My name humblethemselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I willhear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:13-14,HCSB).

The healing of our land is waiting on the repentance of God’s people. So is the healing of our marriages,families, churches, and cities.

Sacred assemblies are appropriate times and ways for people, families, churches, cities, and nations to return to the Lord. Now is the right time

for us to declare a holy fast, sound the alarm, and call a sacred assembly. Now is the time for us to return to aright relationship with God.

Now is the time to renew our covenant commitments to Jesus Christ. We dare not rush into the presence of a holy God unprepared. God

commanded Joel to consecrate the people. 

Ask the Lord to help you prepare this week to enter His presence.

Keep the Son in your eyes,
Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20