Overview:
Do the prophets of ancient days have anything relevant to say to the church in our day? Do they ever! In this sermon on passages from Ezekiel, Amos, and Joel, Pastor Chuck Swindoll teaches how God’s people must stay hungry for God’s Word, how God’s ministers must repent of their failure to preach God’s Word, and how God’s house must keep true to its biblical purpose. Don’t settle for anything less than a pure and deep church—based on the Bible and centered on Christ!
Message Summary:
In this deeply encouraging message, Chuck Swindoll explores the profound promise found in Joel 2:25: "I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten." Chuck addresses the reality of "locust years"—those seasons of life characterized by waste, barrenness, and spiritual desolation caused by sin, indifference, or difficult circumstances. He argues that while we cannot turn back the clock, our sovereign God has the unique power to redeem lost time, infusing our remaining years with a depth of grace and purpose that far outweighs the previous years of fruitlessness.
The sermon draws a parallel between the physical devastation of a locust plague in ancient Judah and the spiritual state of the modern church. Chuck highlights that restoration begins with a "tender heart" and a sincere return to God, moving beyond religious ritual into genuine repentance. He challenges the "Church of the Living God" to awaken from its slumber and refuse to tolerate the desolation any longer. The message concludes with a call for believers to trust in God’s mercies, which are new every morning, and to stand courageously for the truth in a culture that has lost its way.Message Key Facts:
- The Diver’s Dream: Chuck tells the story of a collegiate diver who ignored his roommate’s witness about Christ until he had a terrifying dream. In the dream, he stood on the high board at night and saw his shadow in the shape of a cross on the pool floor. As he dove, he realized the pool had been drained of its water. This "mid-air" realization of his mortality and need for a Savior led to his eventual conversion.
- The Four Stages of Locusts: The message refers to the four types of locusts mentioned in Joel 1—the swarming, hopping, stripping, and cutting locusts—representing a progressive and total destruction of everything once fruitful.
- The "Restore" Promise: Chuck emphasizes that God doesn't just forgive; He "repays" or restores the value of the years that were lost, proving that it is never too late to start doing what is right.
- Awakening Rip Van Winkle: Chuck uses the analogy of Rip Van Winkle to describe a church that has been asleep through a cultural revolution. He calls for a spiritual awakening where believers take responsibility for their role in a broken world.
- The "But God" Perspective: Similar to other messages in the series, the focus remains on God's sovereignty. Even when we have "taken a fall," God's grace is the "trampled rose" that provides the way back to restoration.
Message References:
- Joel 2:12–27: The primary text regarding the call to return to God with all one's heart and the subsequent promise of divine restoration and plenty.
- Joel 1:1–4: The description of the locust plague that serves as the backdrop for the message of judgment and hope.
- Lamentations 3:22–23: A reference to God's steadfast love and mercies being "new every morning."
- Romans 15:4 (Context): A reminder that Old Testament stories are written for our learning, patience, and comfort.
