JOEL 2:28-32: “After this I will pour out my Spirit on all humanity; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will have dreams, and your young men will see visions. I will even pour out my Spirit on the male and female slaves in those days. I will display wonders in the heavens and on the earth: blood, fire, and columns of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, for there will be an escape for those on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, as the Lord promised, among the survivors the Lord calls.” CSB

OBSERVATION: No matter what you are facing – better days are ahead! No matter what you have experienced – better days are ahead! No matter what your future holds – better days are ahead!

BETTER DAYS ARE AHEAD!

These words may sound like the empty words of an insensitive cheerleader to one who is hurting and cannot see past their pain. Yet, they are true. They are the continual, unwavering declaration of the Word of God. And, these verses in the book of Joel bear out this truth.

Whenever one reads this section of the Joel chapter two, they are immediately drawn to the second chapter of Acts. In Peter’s great sermon on the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit had fallen upon the 120 in the upper room, when a great multitude came to hear him speak, Peter said –

• “…Fellow Jews and all you residents of Jerusalem, let me explain this to you and pay attention to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it’s only nine in the morning. On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: And it will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all people; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. I will even pour out my Spirit on my servants in those days, both men and women and they will prophesy. I will display wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below: blood and fire and a cloud of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Acts 2:14-21 CSB

So was this the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel, or was it merely the firstfruits of something better to come? It was merely the firstfruits. There is a day coming that will eclipse even what happened on the Day of Pentecost. It will come at the end of the age when Jesus returns to establish His Millennial Kingdom. It will be a day of full restoration when He restores the entire nation of Israel to Himself and all those who remain will call upon the name of the Lord.

BETTER DAYS ARE AHEAD!

Even on the Day of Pentecost, although a great number of 3000 believed, there were more who did not. The church grew rapidly, but so also did the opposition to the church. And, the same is true today. There is a battle between light and darkness, good and evil, the Spirit of the Lord and the spirit of this world. In the midst of this battle we still partake of the firstfruits, but –

BETTER DAYS ARE AHEAD!

No matter what I am facing – better days are ahead. No matter what I have experienced – better days are ahead. No matter what the future may appear to hold – better days are ahead. Why? Because in Christ we are more than conquerors. We have the Spirit of God within and the Word of God as our sword. We have faith as our shield and the promise of salvation as our helmet of protection. We have the breastplate of righteousness given by Christ to remind us that we are always His own. And, we are secured with the belt of truth and guided by the gospel of peace to lead our way.

BETTER DAYS ARE AHEAD!

Lord, thank you for reminding me this morning that You are the Lord of the better day. Your mercies are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness. Help me to rise up in renewed faith and embrace the day!

BETTER DAYS ARE AHEAD!

• “For I know the plans I have for you” — this is the Lord’s declaration — “plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11-13‬ ‭CSB‬‬

In Jesus Name!