Words of Warning – Prophecy of Joel
#2 - The Day of the Lord
Joel 1:15-2:11
* (Read Text) The last 2 line of verse 11 are worth having burned into our memory for recall (at any given moment). It says, “The day of the Lord is terrible and dreadful—who can endure it?” It is my belief that if you and I were to get our minds around this truth, that it would revolutionize our hearts & lives. To carry an honest concept about how God will deal with humankind at the end of time is to be sobered about the actual Day of the Lord.
* Let us not become listless about the prophet of Joel. For the 21st century American (particularly inside the church), we have come to expect our Sunday messages to tell us things like, “how to be happy” or ‘how to overcome fear, depression, pride, or the like.’ The message of Joel while offering words of warning to people and the wants of God, if heard in our spirits, will touch us in the deep parts of our souls and affect all these areas of our lives. That is what is meant by “Seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and ALL THESE THINGS will be added.” When we seek Him and His first, then the rest of our lives will come into line and focus of His best for us.
* Today, let’s get a picture and Biblical concept of the Day of the Lord, and then tonight we will follow with the next 5 verses which call us to “Get Ready.” Let’s consider 3 thought about the Day of the Lord.
1. Be reminded about the day - The Term the Day of the Lord occurs 25 times in 23 verses, including the books of Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Zephaniah, Zechariah, Malachi, Acts, I & II Thessalonians, and II Peter and it is not speaking of only a one day, 24-hour, period of time.
a. it's coming – When I was a child, we played “hide and seek.” We counted to a specific number and then to the top of our voices declared, “Ready or not here I come!” Not wanting to humanize or disrespect our Heavenly Father, I submit that a countdown is in process. When we watch the countdown for the space shuttle, the end of a ballgame, or a wedding day, we know that when the countdown is over, something is going to happen. Here is what it will be; it will be the “Day of the Lord.” Just like coming to the end of a game is inevitable, coming to the end of this world is unavoidable. Ready or not, it’s coming.
b. it's near - Two times in our text we are told that this day is near. When a pastor says this, he will receive some sarcastic looks and even remarks. Never forget that Peter tells us ‘1000 years is like a day and a day is like 1000 years.” Putting God’s time table in place reminds us that it hasn’t been long since the world were spoken and it won’t be long until these words are consummated. The signs pointing to the second coming are increasing in number. Read the paper & become either excited or distressed, because the days are short. One of the reasons why I am so sure that the Day of the Lord is close is because ‘joy & gladness has been taken from the house of our God.”
The Day of the Lord – Pg 2
c. it'll be a surprise – The day of the Lord will be a surprise on many fronts. First, Peter tells us that this day will come as a thief. Think about the thief.
* The thief comes when you are not expecting Him. In Matthew 24, Jesus calls us to “be alert – since we don’t know when our Lord will come” and then goes on to say, “If the homeowner had known what time the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert.” The point is that ‘no one knows’ when the Day of the Lord is. No one but the Heavenly Father. He has the Holy countdown.
* The thief comes and takes something. God Himself will take the heavens, earth, the elements and all the rest of what we think is important to us. Multiple places in the Bible are we told that God will destroy all there is only to replace it with the NEW, the Perfect, and the eternal. Listen to this principle: “God will never take something without replacing it with something better.”
* Before leaving the thought of a THIEF, let me give us one more thing God will take from us. He will take our ‘secrets.’ You know what secrets are; they are those things you keep ‘from’ everyone else. The Bible tells us that what is hidden on earth will be revealed in heaven and what is revealed on earth will be hidden in heaven. Years ago in South Mississippi I remember an advertisement for a mechanic which said, “Pay me now or pay me later.” The point of his message was that every car needs to be properly maintained and it costs to maintain a car. However, if you choose not to maintain it, then you will face the pain of expensive repair. So (said the commercial) you can pay a little now or pay a lot later, BUT one way or the other, YOU WILL PAY.
* For many, there will be some other surprises on that day.
2. Be realistic about the day –Many people who claim to be believers have a preconceived notion about what the “Day of the Lord” will be like. Too often these thoughts are based on hear-say, personal preference, and even a glorified imagination, but what exactly does the Bible teach about this day!
a. Declaration – Anyone who knows that the day of the Lord is coming is obligated to “Blow the trumpet in Zion.” Every time we read blow the trumpet, we know that it is a call, an alert, or an alarm. A trumpet sound is used to sound taps, retreat, charge, reveille, as well as a warning! The declaration or the sound of the horn to warn people about the coming “Day of the Lord” rests in the hands of those of us who know. Do you remember the penalty for a guard going to sleep at his post? It is death. Why? Because everyone depends on the guard. For the believer, we are called to alert humanity that eternity is coming and to make ready. Think about it in terms of war: “If you don’t know the enemy is coming, you cannot ready yourself.” Blow the horn. Some will say, “We are not the enemy of God.” The Bible says, “To be a friend with this world is to be an enemy with God.” Think about this in terms of life and death; “If you knew someone was on a collision course with a freight train, would you feel any sense of responsibility?” Certainly you would. To have knowledge that the Day is close & not be divinely motivated to tell it is unthinkable.
The Day of the Lord – Pg 3
* We must blow the horn. We must tell. We must declare.
b. Reparation – The word reparation is unused today. For some it is an old and forgotten word while for others it is a new word, yet it is an accurate word as it speaks of much that will be a part of that day! Synonyms for this word are things like ‘compensation’, ‘reimbursement’, ‘recompense’, ‘amends’, and even ‘damages.’ Reparations are paid in the aftermath of a war to the defeated country for the purpose of helping them rebuild & restore their society. These countries get what they NEED to re-start their lives. Can you comprehend the parallel? Since the Garden of Eden this fallen world has fought against Creator God. We have feigned happiness and independence accompanied by an air of invincibility literally, ignoring God and His sacrificial offer of salvation in our lives. It is the principle of the wide gate versus the narrow gate. By and large as a people, we have told God that we want Him in eternity, but for now we can handle ‘time.’ We are having OUR DAY. Don’t forget we are talking about HIS DAY, the Day of the Lord. He will give this world the compensation for their deeds, the reimbursement for what has been given, in other words—He will give exactly what has been earned. To read this text and picture the complete judgment of God on this world is to be sobered about the future. On this Day, His day, He will take control of all; the agriculture, the animals, the atmosphere, the armies, and even the universe. Finally, this world and all her remaining inhabitant will get “JUSTICE.”
c. Separation – In that day there will be a separation like we have never seen. God’s people, those who have received His gift of salvation through Jesus will be apart from those who receive the judgment of God. Verse 11 of Chapter 2 says, the “Day of the Lord is terrible and dreadful.” There will be some husbands who will be separated from their wives (wives from husbands, parents from children, friends, and families) because on this day, it will finally be all about HIM. God does and will have the final word. Allow me to offer one observation about this scripture.
* The last thought from verse 11 requires attention? It asks, “Who can endure it?” My question from reading this scripture is “How can anyone endure it?” Let’s end today with an answer to that question.
3. Be ready for the day – In Amos 4, God is sending the word to Israel that He knows about their corruption and His impending discipline when verse 12 He utters, “Prepare to meet your God!” There exists an entirely different train of thought in being ready for heaven versus being ready to meet God! We better be prepared.
a. Deal in truth – Today we ask, “What is truth?” because there is this idea that truth changes. Jesus said, “I am the truth.” You want to be ready for the Day of the Lord then it is divinely required that you deal in the pure, holy, & eternal truth of the Lord Jesus. His life and words will guide you into everything you need. He teaches that as a sinner, we are outside of God’s plan & are an enemy of God. However, He teaches (John 3:16) God has provided a way.
The Day of the Lord – Pg 4
b. Decide for truth - Preparing for the day of the Lord is simple and complex; it is both easy and hard. It is simple because the Holy Spirit will come to you and convict you of your need for Jesus, but it is complex because deciding to follow Jesus, to put your faith in Him, is only the first step. It s easy because the Bible says, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved;” but it is hard because He demands your life, allegiance, and heart. God sent His Son, Jesus, to die the death of a sinner in your place and then God urges you, invites you, and pulls you to repent of your sin and turn to Jesus. But here’s the amazing thing; He allows you to decide. No, He forces you to decide. When you decide, “No I don’t want what God is offering,” at some point, God will leave you alone. But don’t be deceived---if that is your decision, you will meet Him again on much different terms on “HIS DAY.” However, to miss the horrors that await this world and those who reject God, decide for Him today. He has already decided for you.
c. Declare the truth – When you decide for God and allow Jesus into your life, it’ll be better than that new gadget or tool or toy you have discovered! Think about it; when you find something that rings your bell, you want to share it! When you come to faith in Christ and find the truth of eternity, you will want no one to miss it. The only thing you will want them to miss is “The Day of the Lord.”
(for power points on any of my messages, feel free to email me)
