The Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you…that He may have mercy on you. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you. —Isaiah 30:18,19
America is in a Psalm 2 crisis that requires a Joel 2 response.
Psalm 2
Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying…
World Leaders:
“Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure…
God:
“Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.”
Jesus:
“I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’”
Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
1. Turn to God with all your heart.
The day of the Lord is great and very terrible; who can endure it? “Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. …afterward I will pour out My Spirit on all people; your sons and daughters will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth…before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” —Joel 2:11,12,28,30,31
Matthew 18:19,20; 2 Chronicles 7:14
2. Repent of your sins.
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near… —Joel 3:14
Read about Elijah, the 450 Baal prophets and their duel by fire in 1 Kings 18.
So rend (tear) your heart…return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness… Who knows if He will turn and relent… —Joel 2:13,14
3. Cry out in earnest prayer.
James 5:16; Matthew 7:7
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
Books
Letter to the American Church by Eric Metaxas
Videos & More
gracestl.org/weekend-resources
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Why would corporate prayer be more powerful than the prayer of an individual?
2. What do you think is the most critical issue of our day?
3. If you ever got into a season of prayerlessness, what happened to your relationship with the Lord during that time? How did you start praying again consistently?