Falls Presbyterian Church (OPC)

God promised to rescue us, and described how we know that we are rescued. What is the evidence of our rescue? 1. The outpouring of The Spirit of The LORD. (v.28-29) 2. The coming of The Day of The LORD. (v.30-31) 3. The calling on The Name of The LORD. (v.32) What is the real benefit of being rescued? Of what day was Joel speaking? Acts 2:14-36 What does it mean for our future? 2 Cor 1:22, Eph 1:13-14 In what way does our rescue come? Titus 3:3-7

The portrayal of God encircling His threatened people shows that He gives such security, stability, and peace that we sing songs of trust! 1. Security is found in trusting that we are as safe as God is invincible. (v.1-2) 2. Stability is found in knowing that God will not let us be tested beyond our ability, and so we are realistic as we learn to patiently wait for God to remove wicked powers. (v.3) 3. Peace is found in learning to pray with the awareness that good and bad are mixed – for now. (v.4-5) How are we encouraged by the image of encircling? Why are we immovable? Mt. 16:18, 1 Cor.15:58, Heb. 12:26-29 When does patience become necessary? Rom. 13:1 1 Cor. 10:13 How can we learn to pray with assurance? Eph. 2:14, 1 John 2:19

As Joel saw, the Spirit is God's amazing gift to restore us. 1. Know about the grand event, and celebrate. (v.1-4) 2. Evaluate the mixed reactions, and keep them in mind. (v.5-13) 3. Understand Peter's explanation, and call on God. (v.14-21) How does this apply to us? What do you know about the power of the Spirit? Ezekiel 37:9-14 Who may call on the name of the Lord? Romans 10:9-13 Who says not to harden your heart? Hebrews 3:7-12

The Lord is My Shepherd: In My Lord's House, part 3. 1. My Lord's house: the believer's incredible hope a. A meeting place b. A holy place 2. My dwelling place: the Lord's incredible grace a. Our claim b. Our assurance 3. My forever home: the believer's incredible life a. Our love song b. Our eternal song

In power, compassion, and grace, our Lord Jesus repays our losses. How? 1. The Lord in grace makes up for our sin and grief and loss. (v.25) 2. The Lord in grace removes our shame, supplies our need, and gives us every reason to praise Him. (v.26) 3. The Lord in grace protects us, and gives us certainty about His own presence. (v.27) How can we be sure, so that we can really start to hope? Over what do we grieve? Why? Isaiah 55:6-12 For what are we truly looking? Have we found it? Mt.1:21,23 What will happen to our shame? Ps. 27:1-6 Rev. 21:3-4

Since we know that earthly armor fails, we are called to look to God alone for His supernatural help, which never fails. 1. God rescues us out of danger. (v.1-5) 2. God gives us a supernatural escape. (v.6-7) 3. God trains us to have great confidence in His help alone. (v.8) Upon what are we constantly relying? Luke 21:36 Why would King David win in battle? 2 Sam. 5:17-20 What one thing do we trust in for victory? Psalm 20:7, John 14:6 Why can we think of the Lord as being on our side? Rom. 8:31-39

Since the Spirit is in us, we have good reasons to hope. 1. We have hope, because of the Lord's compassion for us. (v.18) 2. We have hope, because the Lord turns barrenness into fruitfulness. (v.19-20) 3. We have hope, because the Lord turns grief into joy. (v.21-24) With what certainty can we begin again to hope? How important is the object of our hope? Psalm 25:3-5 Where is our hope placed? Psalm 39:7 What do we say to ourselves? Psalm 62:5-6

Only when we look to God do we learn to set our troubles into a context that is large enough to dwarf them. 1. As we pray in Christ's name, we look up to The LORD. (v.1-2) 2. We ask for God's mercy. (v.3) 3. God's mercy takes the sting out of contempt and scorn. (v.4) What is one type of honor for a believer? Acts 5:41 Where does it help us to look when facing troubles? Is. 55:9 In what direction does The Lord's Prayer have us look? Mt. 6:9 What is more murderous than anger? Mt. 5:22 Dn.12:2

When we hear the trumpet call to repent, God wants us to respond by returning to Him in repentance, faith, and worship. Why? 1. Because the coming day of judgment cannot be escaped or endured. (v.1-11) 2. Because the Lord's gracious character cannot be doubted. (v.12-13) 3. Because even the required repentance and faith are free gifts. (v.14-17) What should we be hearing now? How were the man's ears opened? What about us? Mark 7:35 What happened to the ears and minds of believers? Luke 24:31,45 When should we repent? Matthew 4:17

We rejoice that, through the grace of Christ, we now belong to His church and will enter His heavenly city, the New Jerusalem. 1. We rejoice whenever we are privileged to enter the presence of The LORD in worship. (v.1-2) 2. We marvel at the wonder of Christ's church and the New Jerusalem. (v.3-5) 3. We pray for Christ's church, and we long for the New Jerusalem. (v.6-9) Why do we long for true peace? 1 Tim. 2:2, Eph. 4:3 Where is gladness to be found for a believer? Ps.92:1-4, Heb. 7:2 What will our future gathering be like? John 4:20, Rev. 21:10 In the New Jerusalem, what is central? Heb. 11:10 and 12:22-24