Willow Ridge Sermons

May 18th, 2025 • "The Lord roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake. But the Lord is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people of Israel." – Joel 3:16

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Creators and Guests

Host

Beau Bradberry

Senior Pastor

What is Willow Ridge Sermons?

Sermon audio from Sunday services at Willow Ridge Church.

Welcome to the Willow Ridge Sermons Podcast, where you can listen to audio from our most

recent sermons and more. Thanks for listening, and be sure to add this show to your library

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Absolutely. Good morning. If you have your Bibles, and I hope you do, I want to invite you to join us in Joel chapter 3.

Before we get into some other announcements, if you do not have a Bible, if you do not own one,

maybe the one that you use is a little bit difficult for you to read, wherever, if you would like one of these,

here's the point, if you would like one of these, we have some black Bibles that are free.

They're available to you. They're back here, back at this table. And so on your way out, please come by,

grab one of these. It is the translation that I use on Sunday mornings, and so you've got that,

but want to make sure that everybody has an opportunity to have a copy of God's Word, and so

that's back there. Graduates, congratulations. Congratulations. To be honest, we got a little

choked up over there watching that for the high school graduates. It was the realization that

I became the senior pastor the summer that you were going into your first grade year at school.

So that hit me emotionally and pridefully, all right? It's like, that explains, I'm really old.

There's a lot of gray that's coming in. But just to see so many of you, whether you've been here,

there's some of you in that, that have been here with us for a couple of years. There's some of you

who have been with us since you were first graders, and even before me. And it's just been

such a joy to see God work and God move in your life. And so you're one of our graduates, high school

graduate, college graduate, whatever that next step is for your life, the prayer is that you would go

and that you would do that for, that you would pursue that for the glory of God, that you would pursue

that for his name to be made known, that you would do that so that you can go out and love people and

share the gospel with them. And so congratulations, a lot of hard work. Parents, congratulations,

a lot of hard work, right? And just excited for you guys. For our high school graduates,

please, please, please want to make sure that you're connected with Josh in our young adult ministry.

And that ministry has been growing and thriving. I want to connect you to be a part. And I know Josh

will be looking to reach out to you as well. If you are a first-time guest here, let me say on behalf

of all of us that call Willow Ridge Church home, thank you so much for being here. Thank you for

worshiping with us. We would like to know that you're here with us. And one way that you can do that

is your QR code that's on the back of the chair in front of you. At some point in time, maybe right now,

you can scan that, give us some information about you. I promise we're not going to bombard you,

but we would like to reach out to you this week and just tell you thank you for worshiping with us.

Or what we'd like for you to do is, as you're leaving today, Aaron and I will be back here at

this table. If you wouldn't mind just stopping by there, we would love, again, love to thank you

personally for being here and for worshiping with us. And if you have any questions, be a great time

to get those questions answered. Also, you'll see that there are these cards that are around. This is for

everybody here who has one of the kids for our kids' ministry. We will be doing our kids' camp.

There's how you can get them registered and who can be a part of that weekend or that week. We want to

make sure that you're getting connected with that. So next Sunday, some different things are happening.

We wrapped up this quarter of our studies this Sunday morning for most of us, I believe. And then

next Sunday, our own children's minister, Dawn Coulter, will be in here sharing her testimony during the

nine o'clock hour, okay? So even though the studies are wrapping up, we will have that opportunity.

And we want you to be in here. We want you to hear Dawn's story to see what God has done in her life

and how God is using her. And so that's an exciting thing. I can't wait to be in here to listen and to

hear all that God has done and all that God is doing. And so we want to make sure that you're in here

with us. Next week also, during our worship hour, we are starting our new summer series. I'm excited

about this as we're going to be teaching through. You know, we kind of do something a little bit

different during the summertime each year. And this summer, we're doing that as well. And so what we're

going to be doing, Pastor Dave and myself and Josh Nix is going to preach on a Sunday too, we're going

to be looking at some of the most misunderstood or misquoted verses of the Bible, all right? So

here's what I want to, we want to go ahead and roll out the grace, all right? Because here's what should

happen. What should happen is you should show up on a Sunday and go, "Man, I've been getting that one

wrong," all right? That should happen. And don't feel guilty because it's been funny as Dave and I have

been talking through this and studying and prepping and looking at things. We're like, "Man, I've gotten

that one wrong," all right? So we're in the same category together. We want to learn and we want to see

what God is doing and the right, the true meaning, the proper application to these verses of the Bible.

So make sure you'll be here then with us. And then this summertime, so what we're going to do,

instead of having individual studies, and it's a wonderful way for us to connect more as a church

family, is during the nine o'clock hour, I'll have preached the previous Sunday on a verse, or Dave

or Josh will have preached on a certain verse. And then the next Sunday morning at 9 a.m., what we're

going to do is for all the adults, we're going to gather in here together and we're going to have

a different member of our congregation lead us through different questions where we can talk amongst

one another about what we learn, about what God is teaching us, about the previous week's message.

And so a wonderful time for you to come and be a part of that. And so that'll be at nine, and then

like I said again, we'll be back into our verses, or back into the message during the 10-15 hours.

I want you to be here and be a part of that. Well, Joel 3:16 says this, kind of a focus

verse first this morning. "The Lord roars from Zion and utters his voice from Jerusalem,

and the heavens and the earth quake. But the Lord is a refuge to his people,

a stronghold to the people of Israel." Would you pray with me?

God, we come to you this morning, God, in praise and humility,

thanking you for your love, your compassion, your grace, and your salvation.

God, we lift up these graduates to you. Lord, we thank you for their dedication, their commitment,

their desire of growth, and their study in academics. But we also, Lord, we lift them up to you as this

next phase of life as they go into college, military, career, more school, whatever that may be.

That, God, whatever path that you have for them, while it may look different in the steps that they will take,

that, God, what is consistent is their longing and their desire to be in the center of your will.

God, may we as a church not just pray for them this morning, but may we lift them up daily. May we lift them up consistently to you.

We thank you for them. We thank you that they are not the church of tomorrow, but they are the church today.

And, God, may you use them for your name and for your renown. And it's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen.

So, we are going to wrap up Joel, as we've been in Joel the last few weeks. And so, here's what we've seen so far.

If this is your first time with us, we want to kind of bring you up to speed. Judgment comes to God's people and judgment is coming to God's people.

That's what we find out in Joel 1 and Joel 2. So, God calls people to do two things. He calls them in Joel 1 to repent of their sin.

And then in Joel 2, God calls them to return to Him. It's this very specific piece that we see of the acknowledgement of the sin that is in our lives.

Repentance before God and in our returning to Him. And what we find out is that repentance and returning are kind of hand in hand.

They go together. We turn from our sin and we turn to God. We grieve our sin and we celebrate Him.

And then what we find out at the end of Joel 2 is the faithfulness of God.

That God in Joel 2, that God will restore. That this is the work that God is doing. It's not dependent on you. It's not dependent on me.

It is the miracle, life-providing, working hand of God that says in the chaos, in the famine, in the death, that He will restore.

And what we see in the power of the gospel is there is not a soul who is too far lost.

There's not a soul that is too far gone that cannot be held in the restorative hand of God.

And then in Joel 3 this morning, and this is where we will be, we get a prophetic word from God concerning the end times.

Now when it comes to the end times, let's be honest with ourselves, we all want to know the how, right?

We want to know how is it going to happen.

When will it take place?

What's it going to be like?

And there's been more heretics than we can count, who have come forth and said, I know the day and the time.

But the Bible tells us that only God knows the day and the time.

But we want to, right?

Give me the time, give me the events, give me all the stuff.

I want to know how this is going to happen.

And today, you and I, we're from the book of Joel, we're going to get a how, but maybe not the how that you want, but it's the how that we're going to get.

It's the how that we all need.

It is how do I prepare myself now for what will happen then?

I don't know when the then will be, but God's word is very specific and very consistent, that we should prepare ourselves now for what will happen then.

Here's what I want us to get to.

If you believe that one day that Christ will return, if you believe one day that the great judgment will come,

if you agree that you believe that no one but God knows when that day will be,

if all of this is true, then there should be preparation, activity that you and I are doing in response to that.

That should be the focus of the how.

How do I live my life today, knowing that that is true?

So if you would join me in Joel 3, we'll start reading in verse 1.

For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,

I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat.

And I will enter into judgment with them there on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel,

because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land.

And have cast lots for my people and have traded a boy for a prostitute and have sold a girl for wine and have drunk it.

What are you to me, O Tyre, O Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia?

Are you paying me back for something?

And if you are paying me back, I will return your payment on your own head, swiftly and speedily.

For you have taken my silver and my gold and carried my rich treasures into your temples.

You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to remove them far from their own border.

Behold, I will stir them up from the place to which you have sold them, and I will return your payment on your own head.

I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabians, to a nation far away.

For the Lord has spoken.

Let's pause here for a minute.

Joel here gives us a glimpse from the words of God into the final judgment at the end of the world.

God tells in Joel 3, 1-8, that it is He, God, who will judge.

And very specifically, what we gain from this, what begins the thread that is through, is that God will judge human evil.

And here is the important part, the important piece for us of what we can cling to, of what we can understand.

He does not need our help in doing that.

Just as God will be the one to restore, God will be the one to judge.

And it says that He will gather people into the valley of Jehoshaphat for the final judgment,

and He will pour out vengeance on the nations because of what God has done.

God will hold them accountable.

God will be the one, God will be the one, God will be the one who executes wrath.

God will be the one who pours out judgment.

And here's where this should be, as you and I,

who live in the midst, in the middle,

of the brokenness of the brokenness of this world,

where we see injustice after injustice go unpunished.

Where we see depravity and debauchery celebrated.

Where we see destruction and evil established as the expectation of the world.

Here is where you and I can draw some comfort in this moment.

God will set all things right.

God will.

God will set all things right.

For every injustice, there will be justice.

And it will come from the very hand of God.

So what does that mean for me now?

So what does God call us to do,

knowing that at the right day

and at the right time,

in the very hand of God,

this will take place.

What does God call you and I to do?

Forgive.

God calls you and I,

as his people,

to be people of forgiveness.

Why?

Because there are two types of people in this world.

You see,

we try to categorize people

by a million different ways,

a million different categories

that we can drop people in.

But when we look biblically,

what we begin to see

is that in the course of eternity,

there's a category that matters.

The first one is those who are forgiven

so they do not stand in the wrath of God.

Because the wrath of God

has been poured out on Christ

instead of on them.

And if you're a Christian,

a follower of Jesus,

this is the category that you fall into

because you've placed your faith,

hope, and trust

in Christ and Christ alone

and you are forgiven

and you are saved

from the wrath of God.

Reason to celebrate.

Reason to smile.

This is how we've been forgiven.

And this is the category

that we fall into.

But then there are those

who are not forgiven.

who do stand in the wrath of God.

They are not forgiven

since they have not

or did not place their faith in Christ

so they are not saved from His wrath.

It's saved versus lost.

It's what Paul talks about

in Ephesians 2

where he says that before Christ

that we were by nature

objects of wrath.

But we are forgiven

or we are not.

And that those

who have been forgiven

that we are called

to forgive

because we've experienced

the forgiving grace of God.

When Jesus is teaching

the disciples how to pray

in Matthew chapter 6,

Sermon on the Mount,

close gatherers that are there,

a crowd that's there around them,

Jesus looks at Matthew 6 verse 12

and He says,

forgive our debts

as we also

have forgiven our debtors.

You see,

there's an expectation

within the life of a believer

who has been forgiven

not by some,

not by current,

but by all sins,

past, present,

and future

that we will be people

of forgiveness.

He continues on Matthew 6,

14 and 15

for if you forgive others

their trespasses,

your heavenly Father

will also forgive you.

But if you do not forgive others

their trespasses,

neither will your Father

forgive your trespasses.

So the connection

of what's there

of people of grace

live as people of grace.

Because here's what we begin

to understand,

did you or I deserve

to be forgiven?

No, absolutely not.

I did not deserve

the forgiveness.

I did not deserve

the payment of Christ.

But God,

who is rich

in mercy

because of His love

for us,

offered Christ.

Put on Him

the punishment

that we deserve.

So we don't just forgive

those that we feel

deserve it,

we forgive others

even if we don't feel

they deserve it,

we are forgiving.

So the question is,

then why is that

difficult for us?

Why is that

difficult for us?

Number one,

if that's difficult

for you,

I just,

there's two aspects.

You see,

because there's that

part of our flesh

that we continually

wrestle with,

but I do,

I feel misled

if I don't begin

by saying this,

that have you

truly looked

at your walk

with the Lord?

have you truly

begun to see,

are you saved?

Does it need

to begin

with the peace

right now

that you humbly

submit before Him?

Understanding the depth

of your depravity

and the beauty

of His grace.

But if you have,

why is it,

why is it still,

why is it still

a struggle?

And I think

often times

is that you

and I struggle

to forgive.

not because

we want

to be bitter,

not because

we want

to be angry,

but because

you and I

want to be right.

We want

vengeance.

We want

to pay them

back.

We want

to do

to them

like they've

done to us.

We want

to hurt

them more

than they've

hurt us.

We want

to do

these things.

But here's

what Paul

says in

Romans 12

that I think

rings true

and is an

emphasis

of what we

see begin

to happen

in Joel

chapter 3.

Repay no

one evil

for evil.

Repay no

one.

Well,

what about

him?

Nope,

not him.

What about

her?

Nope,

not her,

but what

about

especially

that guy?

Nope,

nope,

especially

not him.

Repay no

one for

evil,

but give

thought to

do what

is honorable

in the sight

of all,

if possible.

And these

are some

hard words.

So far

as it depends

on you,

live peaceably

with all.

You see,

if possible,

live peacefully

with all

means that

there might

be an

instance that

it's not

and there

might not

be there,

but here's

the deal,

as far as

it depends

on you.

So it's

not their

fault,

it's my

fault.

Live

peacefully

with all.

Verse 19,

Beloved,

never

avenge

yourselves,

but leave

it to the

wrath of

God,

for it

is written,

vengeance

is mine,

I will

repay,

says the

Lord.

But God,

what about?

Nope.

But God,

in this?

Nope.

But God,

you don't

understand?

Nope.

Repay no

one evil

for evil.

Vengeance

is mine,

I will

repay,

says the

Lord.

Jonathan

Akin,

in his

commentary

on Joel

says this,

Bitterness

and

unforgivenness

are failures

to believe

the gospel

fully.

Let me

repeat that.

Bitterness

and unforgivenness

or failures

to believe

the gospel

fully.

When you

hold a

grudge,

you are

saying that

the cross

of Jesus

Christ

is enough

to forgive

the sins,

or isn't

enough to

forgive the

sins you

have committed

against God,

but it is

enough to

forgive the

sins that

I have

committed

against God.

Forgive

as you

have been

forgiven

because God

has poured

out his

vengeance

at the

cross

or will

at the end

of the

age.

He does

not need

your help.

Words

that should

cut to the

core of

who we

are.

Let's keep

reading.

So we're

called knowing

that the

end is

coming to

be people

of forgiveness.

Let's keep

on in

Joel 3,

Proclaim

this among

the nations.

Consecrate

for war.

Stir up

the mighty

men.

Let all

the men

of war

draw near.

Let them

come up.

Beat your

plowshares

into swords

and your

pruning hooks

into spears.

Let the

weak say

I'm a

warrior.

Hasten

and come

all you

surrounding

nations

and gather

yourselves

there.

Bring

down your

warriors,

O Lord.

Let the

nations stir

themselves up

and come

up to the

valley of

Jehoshaphat.

For there

I will

sit to

judge

all the

surrounding

nations.

Put to

the sickle

for the

harvest

is ripe.

Go and

tread

for the

winepress

is full.

The vats

overflow

for their

evil

is great.

Multitudes,

multitudes

in the

valley of

decision

for the

day of

the Lord

is near

in the

valley

decision.

The sun

and the

moon

are darkened

and the

stars

withdraw

their

shining.

Joel 3

tells us

that there

will be

a battle

that will

take place

and they

will rally

against

God

but have

no shot.

Joel 3

describes that

they will

be defeated

like grapes

in a

winepress.

God

will win

the battle.

So what

does God

call us

to do?

praise.

God

calls us

to praise.

At the

beginning

of each

track season

Aaron and

I get an

from the

distance

coach

and he's

really

thorough.

He gives

a lot of

information

and it

never fails

like the

information

that we

skip

sometimes

is the

information

that we

desperately

need.

the point

of him

is read

all the

information

that he

gives you

and he's

great

and we

love him.

We love

the influence

that he's

had on

Grayson and

we love

the influence

that he's

had on

Emma.

Dear guy

to our

heart,

close guy

to our

family.

but at

the end

of that

and we've

gotten

this

since

Grayson

was in

seventh

grade,

at the

end of

that

particular

he says

something

along the

lines of

listen

parents

Adam

meet

Adam

meet

I'm

there to

coach

you're

there

encourage

and to

celebrate.

I'm

there to

coach

you're

there

encourage

and

celebrate

in a

very

polite

way

here's

what

he's

saying

parents

coach

is not

in front

of your

name

it's

in front

of my

name

and I

not

their

parent

you

are

their

parent

and

here's

what

need

you

need

you

stay

out

the

way

and

let

job

and

you're

coach

you've

ever

coached

you

get

that

right

I'm

looking

at the

bushes

they

both

coach

absolutely

that'll

preach

right

let

coach

and

you

what

you

are

supposed

God

says

listen

I'm

going

and

I've

been

fighting

battles

here

and

need

you

let

fight

battles

and

need

you

let

take

care

this

because

I'm

God

and

you're

not

worship

team

kudos

for that

song

and

you

came

here

late

you

missed

God

the

one

who

has

God

the

one

who

God

the

one

who

will

fight

the

battle

front

you

and

front

not

the

name

God

that's

not

stop

trying

to do

what

he's

already

done

stop

trying

what

he's

doing

and

stop

trying

what

he's

going

where

get

praise

love

this

love

the

picture

and

how

God

puts

together

throughout

the

history

his

people

and the

words

and the

prophecies

to begin

to see

these

things

come

together

you see

because

2nd

chronicles

2015

there's

a battle

that we

find out

about

that

happens

900

years

before

the

birth

Jesus

Joel 3

talking

about

the

future

this

points

back

the

past

see

some

consistencies

and

here's

what it

says

2nd

chronicles

starting

verse

and

said

listen

all

Judah

and

inhabitants

Jerusalem

and

King

Jehoshaphat

thus

says

the

Lord

you

not

afraid

and

not

dismayed

this

great

horde

for

the

battle

not

yours

but

God's

there's

battle

that

will

happen

there's

battle

that

will

take

place

God's

people

and

amongst

and

the

power

themselves

will

crushed

and

defeated

God

says

this

battle

not

yours

it's

God's

verse

tomorrow

go down

against

them

behold

they

will

come

the

ascent

Ziz

you

will

find

them

the

end

the

valley

east

the

wilderness

Jerusalem

you

will

not

need

fight

this

battle

stand

firm

hold

your

position

and

see

the

salvation

the

Lord

your

behalf

Judah

and

Jerusalem

not

afraid

not

dismayed

tomorrow

go out

against

them

and

the

Lord

will

with

you

then

Jehoshaphat

bowed

his head

with his

face

to the

ground

all

and all

Judah

and the

habits

Jerusalem

fell down

before

the

Lord

worshiping

the

Lord

and the

Levites

and the

Kohathites

and the

Korathites

stood up

to praise

the

Lord

the

God

Israel

with a

very

loud

voice

and they

rose

early in

the

morning

and they

went out

into the

wilderness

call

and they

went out

and Jehoshaphat

stood and

said

hear me

Judah

and

inhabitants

Jerusalem

believe

in the

Lord

your

God

and you

will be

established

believe

his

prophets

and you

will

succeed

and they

had taken

the

council

with the

people

and he

pointed

those

who

were to

sing

to the

Lord

and praise

him

in holy

attire

as they

went

before

the

army

and say

give thanks

to the

Lord

for his

steadfast

love

endures

forever

marching

into the

battle

in front

is the

choir

and when

they began

to sing

and praise

the

Lord

set an

ambush

against

the men

of the

Moab

and Mount

Seir

who had

come

against

Judah

they

were

routed

who

did

that

God

did

that

there

ain't

man

on that

battlefield

taking

credit

God

says

let me

what

let

fight

let

you

what

you're

supposed

praise

church

our

praise

our

partnership

in the

cosmic

battle

against

evil

may

people

praise

proof

Jericho

and

Joshua

six

priests

play

instruments

the walls

fall

down

that

wasn't

the

trumpets

that

was

God

Paul

and

Silas

act

they're

imprisoned

they're

in the

bottom

they're

in the

cellar

they're

in the

dungeon

surrounded

by what

we begin

to understand

the prison

set up

is they're

surrounded

by the

runoff

the

waste

and the

feces

of everyone

in the

prison

and what

they do

they sing

hymns

and pray

and what

happens

they're

freed

from prison

and a

family

comes

faith

if the

most

powerful

thing

you

and I

can do

we all

agree

this world

ain't getting

better

but God

calls us

as he's

fighting the

battle

for us

to praise

for us

to praise

him

then why

do so

many of

when we

have the

opportunity

to gather

together

as God's

choir

that God

has appointed

that God

has chosen

that God

has placed

at Willow Ridge

Church

then why

is it

when it

comes time

to praise

we stand

there with

our mouths

closed

our arms

crossed

and a

face that

looks like

I'm not

a person

of praise

but I'm

a person

of bitterness

may we

be people

who praise

God

and men

men

the most

manly

thing

you can

the most

manly

way

that you

can

lead

your

family

worship

is not

by being

that stoic

hard man

that you

think that

you are

but is

being

vulnerable

in your

praise

before the

Lord

well you

don't

understand

I don't

like the

song

I don't

care if

you like

the song

I don't

like some

songs

that's

flesh

well you

don't

understand

I don't

sound

good

well let's

have a

battle

I guarantee

you

Damien sat

beside me

today

ask him

I sound

worse

you want

proof

nah

that's

afterwards

right

men

you want

to be

the soldier

for God

that he's

called you

to be

may it

begin

with an

attitude

and a

posture

of praise

invulnerability

in our

weakness

before him

let's

continue

Joel

the

Lord

roars

from

Zion

and

utters

his

voice

from

Jerusalem

and the

heavens

and the

earthquake

but the

Lord

is a

refuge

to his

people

stronghold

to the

people

Israel

so you

shall

know

that I'm

the

Lord

your

God

who

dwells

Zion

holy

mountain

and

Jerusalem

shall

holy

and

strangers

shall

never

pass

through

and

that

day

mountains

shall

drip

sweet

wine

and

the

hills

shall

flow

with

milk

and

the

stream

beds

Judah

shall

flow

with

water

and

the

fountain

shall

come

forth

the

house

the

Lord

and

water

the

valley

Shetham

here

God

described

as a

lion

who

roars

I love

that picture

of him

lion

who

roars

and

that

it's

simple

his

sound

that

not

only

brightens

those

against

him

but

shakes

the

very

foundation

the

earth

he's

lion

should

fear

there's

power

there's

wrath

but

Joel

doesn't

end

there

because

it also

says

but

the

Lord

refuge

his

people

salvation

his

people

and so

look at

verse 17

so you

shall

know

that I

am the

Lord

your

God

so what

does God

call us

to do

we're to

forgive

right

we're to

praise

we're to

believe

we're to

believe

we're to

believe that

God is

both

terrifying

and tender

he's both

terrifying

and tender

we're to

believe that

he is the

judge

and that

he is

the

savior

if you're

here this

morning

do you

believe

do you

believe

Paul writes

in Romans

through 10

he says

simply

if you

confess

with your

mouth

that

Jesus

Lord

and

believe

in your

heart

that

God

raised

him

from

the

dead

here's

the

promise

God

church

you

will

saved

will

not

the

lion

that

you

are

afraid

will

the

refuge

that

you

find

salvation

for

with

the

heart

one

believes

and

justified

and

with

the

mouth

one

confesses

and

saved

do you

that

deep

within

you

are

you

believing

beyond

collection

facts

but

are

you

believing

the

posturing

that

puts

hope

you

see

confess

admit

publicly

that

belief

God

not

just

internal

recognition

within

our

mind

statement

facts

but

it's

boldness

belief

God

that

causes

confess

that

Jesus

Lord

confess

that

died

the

cross

for

sins

confess

that

will

return

one

day

confess

that

his

and

that

mine

confess

that

sinless

confess

that

God

and

you

believe

you

believe

we've

talked

about

this

before

earthly

belief

and

hope

are

much

lower

than

biblical

belief

and

hope

biblical

belief

and

hope

really

would

for

this

happen

would

really

trust

that

these

are

the

events

that

would

take

place

but

that's

not

what the

Bible

teaches

about

belief

that's

not

what the

Bible

teaches

about

hope

what the

Bible

teaches

about

belief

and

hope

is that

we know

know

just as

sure

that I

know

that I'm

standing

here

today

one day

my faith

will be

sight

and

I'll

know

beyond

knowing

that

the

Lord

refuge

you're

here

this

morning

and

you're

not

follower

Jesus

and

you're

wondering

but

what do

I need

clean

what do

need

differently

what do

need

correct

what do

need

fix

what do

need

sell

what do

need

get

rid

what do

need

pursue

could

begin

today

with

belief

right

now

between

you

and

the

Lord

your

confession

is not

to me

your

confession

is to

him

would

you

confess

him

that

Jesus

Lord

and

that

you

need

saved

right

now

would

you

confess

him

and

believe

your

heart

belief

that

produces

faith

confidence

not

what

may

happen

but

what

will

happen

that

God

raised

him

from

the

dead

that

God

one

day

too

will

raise

you

and

you'll

spend

eternity

with

him

you see

the

complicated

part

sometimes

for the

gospel

for people

is the

simplicity

of it

would

you

confess

and

believe

and

let's

Joel 3

through

Egypt

shall

become

desolation

and

Edom

desolate

wilderness

for the

violence

done to

the people

of Judah

because they

have shed

innocent blood

in their

land

but Judah

shall be

inhabited

forever

in Jerusalem

to all

nations

I will

avenge

their

blood

I have

not

avenged

for the

Lord

dwells

Zion

Joel 3

says that

there are

those

who

oppress

God's

people

and they

will become

desolate

why

because in

their attack

and their

sin

against

and their

crimes

against

they've

rejected

the blessing

of God's

people

they've

rejected

the hope

of nations

so what

does God

call us

to do

as we

take the

context

of Joel

and put

in the

context

of all

scripture

what is

God calling

God's

calling

to share

you see

it's not

just

that I

believe

but it's

because I'm

a believer

in Jesus

Christ

that I'm

called

to share

and this

has always

been

the goal

of God

for his

people

that they

would be

a people

who bless

others

and their

blessing would

not come

from their

finances

from their

kind words

from the

simple works

they can do

but that their

blessing would

come forth

and come

from the

blessing we

receive in

Christ

Genesis

1-3

who would

begin to

see the

heart of

the great

commission

now the

Lord said

to Abram

go from

your country

and your

kindred

in your

father's

house

to the

land that

I will

show you

and I

will make

you a

great

nation

and I

will bless

you

and make

your name

great

so that

you

will be

blessing

I will

bless

those

who

bless

you

and him

who

dishonors

you

I will

curse

and in

you all

the families

of the

earth

shall be

blessed

I've got

a friend

of mine

who's a

doomsday

prepper

and maybe

you are

no judgment

here

that's maybe

a side

conversation

that we

can have

but I

talk with

him

and I'm

well

how many

gallons

of water

you got

now

he'll

I'm

talking

he has

a whole

section

of his

house

dedicated

to canned

goods

water

toilet

paper

medical

supplies

like all

of these

things

stacked

on top

of one

another

I love

him

bless

him

it's

his

hobby

I guess

right

we all

gotta have

something

but as

God's

people

we don't

know

when

we don't

even

know

how

but we

know

that Jesus

will return

and that

God calls

to live

as a

people

who are

prepared

I'm

prepared

because

someone

forgiven

but I

trust

in the

power

of the

Holy

Spirit

in the

easy

and in

the

difficult

and in

everywhere

in between

to forgive

those

who I

think

deserve

forgiveness

but even

to desperately

cry out

to God

to help

forgive

those

who I

don't think

are worthy

of my

forgiveness

that

God

calls

to be

people

praise

that

the

joy

that

heart

knowing

that

the

battles

that

need

to be

fought

that

he's

fighting

those

and

then

can

trust

that

God

going

to do

what

God

going

and

watch

the

work

his

hand

and

praise

him

for

that

need

to be

people

need

to be

person

faith

person

belief

Jesus

Christ

not

means

end

but

the

savior

soul

not

just

take

care

bank

account

not

just

take

care

sickness

not

just

take

care

and

treat

him

genie

from

bottle

because

not

that

but

treat

him

and

trust

him

with

all

that

mine

his

salvation

the

hope

that

have

that

our

refuge

and

regardless

where

you've

been

and

regardless

where

you

are

can

your

refuge

too

would you

pray with

God

your

goodness

and

your

mercy

Lord

thank

you

for

who

you

are

Lord

look

your

word

look

specifically

Joel

are

excited

look

forward

Lord

what

you

are

going

what

you

are

capable

and

that

God

that

not

stand

front

the

lion

brings

fear

and

judgment

but

you

are

our

refuge

you

are

our

strength

you

are

our

peace

you

are

our

stronghold

Lord

you

are

our

hope

God

live

talk

about

that

need

people

who

live

the

reality

the

power

the

resurrection

God

that

need

people

who

live

the

reality

that

one

day

Christ

will

return

and

that

there

are

those

who

are

saved

and

those

who

are

not

God

prayer

that

the

people

your

church

the

sheep

your

flock

the

sons

and

daughters

God

would

numerous

beyond

comprehension

that

there

not

soul

this

room

who

would

not

find

themselves

that

place

but

we're

brought

through

the

adopting

work

Christ

and

God

there's

anyone

here

maybe

earlier

during

the

prayer

Lord

maybe

now

this

moment

may

say

don't

understand

everything

about

Christianity

may

not

understand

everything

that was

talked

about

this

morning

but

today

whatever

put

faith

hope

anything

that's

not

Christ

place

that

you

today

Jesus

God

and I

pray

that

today

be the

day

their

salvation

God

thank you

so much

for your

kindness

and your

compassion

may

with

all

that

because

all

that is

the

beauty

of who

you

are

vulnerable

loved

forgiven

sons

and

daughters

God

may

praise

you

it's

Jesus

name

pray

amen

that's

for

this

week's

message

sure

check

back

week

for

new

episode

and

the

meantime

you

can

visit

online

willowridgechurch.org

or by

searching for

Willow Ridge Church

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and YouTube

thanks again

for listening

and YouTube.com.com.

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