Joel 2:28 – “After all this, I will pour out my Spirit on all kinds of people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your elderly will have prophetic dreams; your young men will see visions.”

As I prayed, read, and pondered the Word of God, I heard in my heart of hearts – Not Isolate but Penetrate! I believe that is the call and commission of the Called-Out Ones – The Church!

Joel 2:28 is a powerful reminder of God’s Promise for the Last Days! Something in that verse speaks a truth that we may have missed.   It does not say they will HAVE visions; it says they will SEE visions.  It could be have, but it is beholding, discerning, respecting, and knowing, not just having an apparition.  It is seeing something with the eyes of the Spirit that captivates the heart and transforms the life.

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said, “I will build My Church.” That Church is created and commissioned not to “Isolate but to Penetrate.” It is to bring the Kingdom of God to Earth and change the culture around it. It is to manifest Jesus!

I believe that God is raising up a Generation that will see the fully restored Church, fully manifesting Jesus, and fully demonstrating the Overcoming life! There is a line in the Sylvester Stallone movie ‘Cobra’ –“Crime is the disease, and I am the cure.”   I believe that Jesus is saying to the devil, “Devil, you are the disease; I am the cure.” Since Jesus is in us, living His life through us, we become that cure by His Spirit.

Prayer becomes a totally new venture when we SEE the Vision of God!  When we SEE the Finished Work of Jesus.  Ephesians 3:20 –“Now to Him that is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ASK or THINK, according to the power that works in us, unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all the ages [Generations], world without end.”

All that we can “Ask” or “Think.”   

I can think a lot! I have Holy Spirit thoughts, dreams, and visions. He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly ABOVE all that I can “Ask” or “Think.”  Do you hear that?  Our problem is, “We do not THINK enough or BIG enough!” Our God has called and commissioned us to go in His Name! We have the Authority and the Weapons! We have the Covenant! When will we exercise our position in Christ?

Prayer is releasing the divine intervention of God and bringing Him into time, space, and history, and gives us Much More than we can “Ask” or “Think.” God puts eternity in our hearts! We are the Generation that will bring Christ back, and we must be radical, militant, and expectant!

Lord help us to be penetrators, not isolators!

Acts 9:40 – “But Peter sent them all outside, knelt down, and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.”

As I prayed, read, and meditated on the Word of God today, I heard, “Remove the Distractions and stand on Holy Ground.” That perplexed me only in the sense of the two elements of the directive.

I realized that this was a direct reference to prayer and results! It was a revelation of how to pray effectively! Effective prayer cannot become a reality when distractions are present. Distractions distract! Distractions demand attention. Distractions open the door to doubt.

But the directive was not just to remove distractions. It was to stand or pray on Holy Ground.  As with Moses in the desert at the burning bush, God said, “The place where you are standing is Holy Ground.” What made it Holy? God’s Presence!  So, effective praying flows from an undistracted focus in the presence of God!

In Acts 9:40, when Peter was brought to where the body of Tabitha (Dorcas) was, he did just that – removed distractions, stepped into the presence of God, focusing on God, and prayed.  THEN, he turned to face the problem, the dead girl. From the undistracted time in the presence of God (Holy Ground), he spoke in faith, and she arose from the dead.

He removed the distractions, stepped onto the Holy Ground of God’s presence, and prayed. That prayer produced the faith required for the miracle.

We do not know how long he prayed, only that he removed the distractions, entered the presence, and prayed. It might be quick or take time, but in the atmosphere of heaven undistracted, he communed with the presence, and from Holy Ground, heaven came to earth.

If you are not getting through in prayer?  Maybe distractions are preventing you from focusing and blocking you from Holy Ground. Create a place, a time, a space to Shut Everything Out but God. In that undistracted condition, step onto Holy Ground and watch what happens.

Lord, help us be free from distractions as we come into Your presence!

2 Timothy 3:14-17 – “You, however, must continue in the things you have learned and are confident about.  You know who taught you ¹⁵ and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, the Word TRUST kept reverberating in my mind.  How we pray, what we pray, and when we pray reflects Trust.

The account of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20 always inspires me.  When trouble comes and danger is realized, fear is a natural reaction.  How we respond to fear reveals both the level of trust and what or whom we trust. What we focus on solidifies our faith.  That is not necessarily good.   If we focus on the problem, we trust the problem’s perceived power.   If we focus on God, our confidence (trust) in God is enhanced.  In fear, we should rehearse the promises rather than give power to the problem.

2 Timothy 3:15 holds a key truth.  We quote v 16, omitting v 15.  Paul told Timothy that the scriptures had the capacity to make him wise unto salvation through faith in Jesus.  The Word is like a door (Jesus said, I am the door). It opens our spiritual eyes. Faith + Word = Light. If you abide in ME and My words abide in you…

The Word provides information and inspiration.  It is profitable to teach us, correct us, inspire us, guide us, and equip us.  The Holy Spirit takes the Word and completes us.  The Word embraced in faith is the greatest deterrent to doubt, deception, and disobedience.

Lord, make Your Word so important to us that we consider it our necessary food daily.   Christ is the Word, and Christ in us is the hope of glory.  Jesus is not separate from His Word.  Don’t pursue the Word as a shopping mall of blessings, but as a life source.   It is water in the desert, food in famine, and light in darkness.  The inspired Word inspires! How can we know it’s God, not our own desires or minds?  Line it up with the principles and precepts of the Word.

What do we Trust?  What do we focus on and fill our hearts and minds with?  What is most important? 

Lord, help us learn to Trust you completely!

Proverbs 13:3 – “He who guards his mouth keeps his life; he who speaks too much shall bring ruin upon himself.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, two words became my focus.   Filter and Faith.   The words of our test are powerfully important. 

In Proverbs 18:13, we are informed that if we answer before we have the facts, it is foolishness and reviles.

Proverbs 17:27 – “He who spares his words has knowledge; and he who is patient is a wise man.”   That means we need to “put a filter on our mouths” and enjoy God’s blessings.  We are to guard against doing harm with our words.  Why do some want to “tell it like it is?”   They have no filter but speak out of selfishness.

Proverbs 18:21 – “Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and those who love it shall eat the fruits thereof.”

No filter results in needless harm and ultimately death.   The absence of a filter and patience were exhibited in Luke 1 with Zechariah and Elizabeth when Gabriel visited.   Zechariah asked, “How shall I understand this?”   He was asking for a sign.  Gabriel gave him a sign.  His unfiltered mouth got him in trouble.  

Mary demonstrated both ‘filter and faith’ when she asked for understanding since she was a virgin and would remain so until marriage.  She asked to understand and was blessed.  Zechariah asked for a sign, expressing doubt.   His words got him in trouble, but Mary’s words got her blessed.

Be aware of your words.  Unfiltered words can bring God’s disfavor.   Think before you speak. 

Lord, make our words pleasing to You.  

Joel 2:25 – “I will make up for the years that the ‘arbeh-locust consumed your crops—the yeleq-locust, the hasil-locust, and the gazam-locust—my great army that I sent against you.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I was drawn to the reality of judgment. If that alone had been my focus, it would have depressed me. But as I read in Joel, I saw God’s judgment with God’s purpose of restoration. I saw God’s incredible mercy, and I was encouraged and comforted.

There is a chorus that flows from Joel 2, which was once sung about the Army of the Lord.  That chorus always troubled me.  The Army that the chorus described is an army of various kinds of devouring locusts sent for judgment.  They rushed on the city, climbed on the walls, and were called the army of the Lord. It was judgment, and they were bringing destruction. I could not get excited about that.

However, I can get excited about what Joel declares in Joel 2:12-13. The reality is that even in judgment, God is merciful and compassionate, seeking restoration.

In Joel 2:25, we see God’s heart for the repentant. “I will make up for the years that the ‘arbeh-locust consumed your crops, the hasil-locust, and gazam-locust – My great army that I sent against you.”  He continues telling them they would move from lack to plenty.

Then, in verses 28-29, we have that incredible promise of a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit. But notice how he begins the promise, “After All This…”  After the incredible judgment of the Day of the LORD.  After the hearts have been brought to repentance, the overflow of Revival, Renewal, and Restoration will come!

In verse 32, God’s guarantee is, “It will so happen that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be delivered.” Judgment is coming to this world, but God’s love, mercy, and grace are too! If we seek Him with our hearts, we may not escape the pain of judgment, but we will be delivered. God will not abandon us.   In times of judgment, we need the Body of Christ to be a functioning Body. We strengthen each other. We have hope even in times of hopelessness.

I see the dual or parallel. There will be judgment and revival coming simultaneously. Those who turn to God with a whole heart will be delivered! We will be able to rescue others as well.

Don’t be shaken by the coming shaking. Hang on to your hat; visions, dreams, and a mighty overflow of the Holy Spirit are about to burst forth. As the darkness gets darker, the light gets lighter. As evil abounds, grace abounds even more. As destruction comes, restoration comes to the hungry, surrendered heart.

It is a choice!  God’s love opens the door to victory. Walk through it! Things are about to get really exciting. It will be frightening for the uncertain and rebellious. It will be exciting for those who are fully surrendered and committed.

Although judgment is coming, so is Mercy and out of Mercy Revival, Renewal, and Restoration!