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3 Characteristics Of A Sacred Assembly
Opposite of Las Vegas – what happens here does not stay here!
Joel 1:14 – Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.
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Sunday we talked about the cure for judgment.
3 Characteristics Of Calling A Sacred Assembly
1. Fasting preceded the assembly: like soil, we must prepare the heart.
2. The call is to all believers.
3. Go to the place of anointing: take action – “I’ve had enough.”
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3 Characteristics Of A Sacred Assembly
Joel 2:12 “Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” 13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. 14 Who knows if He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him—
1. “Turn to Me with all your heart?” There can’t be hidden areas of rebellion, ulterior motives, or Plan B’s.
It must start with a complete turning, a heart breaking, and a prideful man repenting.
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Zechariah 7:5, “When you fasted and mourned did you really fast for me – for me?”
2. Position yourself to receive from God – fast, weep, and mourn
WHY SHOULD WE WEEP AND BE SAD?
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The most popular pornography site draws 80 million visitors a day—more traffic than Pinterest, Tumblr, or PayPal.
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Mass shootings.
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Children, teens, and young adults are lost – our future leaders. [Tide Pods]
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Marriage is being mocked, abortion is taking nearly 3000 lives a day – 56,993,299.
Would the blind beggar have been healed? Would Rachael have conceived?
GOD says, “I HEAR THE GROANS AND THE CRIES” – No parent goes to the room of a newborn if they’re content.
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Real prayer is travail – BUT it can’t be fake.
3. “Rend your hearts – not your garments.” A Hard Heart Will Prevent Revival
Jonah 4:2, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.”
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Jonah was mad – critical, judgmental, and negative: “Negativity is a tendency to be downbeat, disagreeable, and skeptical. It’s a pessimistic attitude that always expects the worst.”
Stop the criticism – the complaining – and the polarization of politics!
A complainer will not experience renewal. A critical heart will not feel the love of Christ.
“Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. Who knows if He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him.”
PRAYER TIME + Leaders who lead to fulfill their own agendas + Society, education, government all mock Your word – “I will not be mocked.” + Sexual perversion and addiction are epidemics + Abortion is the murder of innocent life [but Your grace covers] + The church is calling good evil, and evil good .
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