Already And Not Yet
Text: Joel 2:28-32
Introduction
1. Tim Smith asks the question, "What do these dates have in common (1248, 1306, 1689, 1792, 1836, 1844, 1914, 1936, 1960, 1974, 1981, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1994, 2011)? They all represent the times in which people predicted that the second coming of Christ would occur. No one, not even Jesus knows the exact time of Christ’s coming. Matthew 24:36 What we do know is this: Christ’s coming will be unexpected and dramatic. "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10."
2. Several times in Joel we see the phrase "the Day Of The Lord." That phrase refers to the day of God's judgment on mankind.
3. When we talk about the Day of the Lord we need to keep in mind that prophecy has an already/not yet component to it. Some of the things concerning the last days have already happened and some of them are now happening. However, there are some things prophesied about the last days that are yet to come.
4. Our text today gives us some good examples of this already/not yet element...
A. Already: Pouring Of The Spirit
B. Already: Salvation To Anyone Who Asks
C. Not Yet: Signs Of Judgment
5. Let's all stand as we read Joel 2:28-32.
Proposition: The events leading up to Christ's return are happening before our very eyes, and we must be prepared for his coming.
Transition: One of the things concerning the Day of The Lord that is already happened is...
I. Already: Pouring Of The Spirit (28-29).
A. I Will Pour Out My Spirit
1. As Pentecostals one of the things regarding the Last Days that has already occurred is the out pouring of the Holy Spirit.
A. We believe the Holy Spirit comes and lives inside of us when we accept Jesus as our savior and we are transformed into new people.
B. However, we also believe that there is something available to all believers called the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
C. This is something separate from and in addition to the Holy Spirit living inside of us when we believe.
D. We also believe that the major emphasis of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is to empower us for ministry.
E. Furthermore, we believe that the initial sign or proof of this baptism is speaking in tongues.
2. You might ask why this is so significant? It is significant because in OT times God was selective as to whom he filled with the Spirit.
A. It was usually given to certain people like kings, prophets and priests.
B. In addition it was usually given for a specific purpose.
3. However, Joel tells us, “Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. 29 In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants—men and women alike."
A. God promises to pour out his Spirit on “all flesh,” which refers to all humanity.
B. This is clarified by the list of those on whom the Spirit will rest: sons, daughters, old men, young men, male servants and female servants.
C. The prophetic gifts would not be limited by age, gender or societal status.
D. Pour out signifies great abundance. As the physical rains came in sufficient volume to restore the parched land, as well as restored the streams and rivers, so this coming of the Spirit would be an outpouring.
E. All people refers to every category of person. The three categories that are most significant with in any culture - gender, age and class - are to be irrelevant among God's Spirit-filled people. Whatever Spirit-anointed ministry is to be equally available to sons and daughters.
F. Dreams and visions were the common way by which prophecy came in OT times. In those days Servants were the slaves, and for prophecy to come through this group of people was absolutely unheard of (Spirit-Filled Life Study Bible, 1084).
4. Now you might be asking, "What does this have to do with the last days?"
A. Acts 2:16-21 (NLT)
No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel: 17 ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. 18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike— and they will prophesy. 19 And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below— blood and fire and clouds of smoke. 20 The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the LORD arrives. 21 But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved."
B. There are several things we need to make note of here.
i. Peter associates what happened on the day of Pentecost to Joel's prophecy.
ii. Peter changes the some of the words of Joel's prophecy. He changes from "In those days," to "In the last days."
iii. The original Greek languages indicates that what Peter is doing here is operating in the gift of prophecy.
iv. In other words, this was not a prepared speech or sermon, Peter was speaking directly through the agency of the Holy Spirit.
v. Therefore, what happened at Pentecost was a fulfillment of Joel's prophecy.
vi. So I want to contend with you today that we are in the last days, and in fact, we have been in the last days since the day of Pentecost.
B. Holy Spirit Baptism
1. Illustration: I love this question by Martyn Lloyd-Jones, who is certainly not known as a Pentecostal preacher. His doctrine and theology was that of the Reformed Church. When he was the pastor at Westminster Chapel in London, England, near the end of his life--and some say at the very pinnacle of his ministry--he asked his congregation a question. He said, "I want to talk to you today about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. You may call it what you want, but I want to know, have you experienced the fullness of the Spirit? I know all of you listening to me come as I do from a Reformed background. But it’s not good enough. I know that all of you would want to say to my question about the Holy Spirit, ’Well, we got it all at conversion; there’s no need for any more experience.’ Well," said Martyn Lloyd-Jones, "I have only one other question to ask you. If you got it all at conversion, where in God’s name is it?"
2. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is available to all believers today, just as it was on the day of Pentecost.
A. Acts 2:39 (NLT)
This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”
B. People tell me frequently, "that Holy Spirit stuff is fine for you, but it's not for me."
C. Well that's not what the Bible says!
D. The Bible tells us this is for you, and you, and you.
E. It tells us that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is for all believers.
F. It is a gift of God for the people of God.
G. It is meant to enable us with spiritual power to do spiritual work.
H. It's not for a select group of people, but rather it is for all those willing to receive it.
I. It will be available to God's people until Jesus returns.
Transition: Another thing in this prophecy that has already happened is...
II. Already: Salvation To Anyone Who Asks (32).
A. Everyone Who Calls
1. In addition to the Holy Spirit, salvation was also limited in Biblical times. During Joel's time and even past the time of Jesus it was believed that only the Jews could be saved. We can see this clearly in the Book of Acts where God coming to the Gentiles caused quite a bit of controversy.
2. But look what Joel says in v. 32, "But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved, for some on Mount Zion in Jerusalem will escape, just as the LORD has said. These will be among the survivors whom the LORD has called."
A. Along with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, there will be the outworking of salvation for him who truly trusts God as his Redeemer.
B. To "call on the name of the LORD" is to invoke his name in approaching him, but especially to call on him in believing faith.
C. For such a one there will be not only physical deliverance but a spiritual transformation (The Expositor's Bible Commentary – Volume 7: Daniel and the Minor Prophets, 257).
D. This passage speaks of survivors of the Day of the Lord: those who call upon his name. Those who have not called upon the Lord will not escape his wrath.
E. A parallel idea is seen in John 3:16-19,
F. John 3:16-19 (NLT)
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. 18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.
G. In both places, there is no middle ground. Either a person calls upon the Lord and is saved, or he does not and faces God’s wrath.
H. The apostle Paul cites Joel 2:32 in Rom. 10:13 when he discusses the open invitation of the gospel, the opportunity to call upon the Lord for salvation, and the necessity to proclaim this gospel so that people know about God’s invitation (The Complete Biblical Library – Daniel-Malachi, Under: "Chapter 2").
3. As in the out pouring of the Spirit, God's offer of salvation is to be for all people regardless of race or spiritual pedigree. Anyone who repents and asks for the Lord Jesus to come into their lives will be saved.
B. Salvation If Free For The Asking
1. Illustration: A preacher had once to illustrate the free nature of God’s gift of salvation. He stood in the pulpit one morning held up a poinsettia plant and said: "Whoever wants this beautiful Christmas poinsettia may have it. All you have to do is take it."
They stared at me. I waited. And waited.
Finally a mother timidly raised her hand and said, "I’ll take it."
"Great!" said the preacher, "It’s yours."
But to my astonishment, she nudged her son, "Go get it for me."
"No," I said. "Whoever wants this gift must come and get it personally. You can’t send a substitute."
She shook her head, not willing to risk embarrassment. I waited again. It was a gorgeous flower, unusually large, wrapped in red cellophane with a gold satin ribbon. It was set in front of the pulpit to brighten our small sanctuary during the holiday season. Several people had commented on how beautiful the plant was. Now it was free for the taking.
Someone snickered, "What’s the catch?"
"No catch," I replied. "It’s free." No one moved.
A college student asked, "Is it glued to the altar?" Everyone laughed.
"It is not glued to the altar. Nor are there any strings attached. It’s yours for the taking."
"Well," asked a pretty teenager, "can I take after the service?"
I shook my head. "You must come and get it now."
(I was beginning to wish I’d never started the whole thing, when a woman I’d never seen before stood up in the back.) Quickly, as if she were afraid she’d change her mind, she strode to the altar and picked up the plant. "I’ll take it," she said.
As she returned to her seat carrying the free gift, I launched with enthusiasm into my text, Romans 6:23. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." "The gift of God is eternal life! It’s free."
2. Salvation in Jesus Christ is free for anyone who will ask and receive.
A. John 1:12 (NLT)
But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
B. Like in my illustration, salvation not only has to be asked for, it also has to be received.
C. It is a gift, and any gift has to be received in order to do you any good.
D. It's easy to say, "I believe in Jesus," and then nothing in your life changes.
E. To believe and receive you have to be willing to allow Jesus to Lord of your life.
F. If Jesus isn't Lord of all, then he isn't Lord at all!
Transition: Now that we've looked at the two already elements to this prophesy let's look at the...
III. Not Yet: Signs Of Judgement (30-31).
A. Wonders In Heavens And On Earth
1. What we are about to talk about is the portion of the prophesy from Joel that hasn't happened yet, but make not mistake, it is coming!
2. In vv. 31-32 it says, "And I will cause wonders in the heavens and on the earth— blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and terrible day of the LORD arrives."
A. This is the second “day of the Lord” mentioned in Joel. As in Part 1, there is an emphasis on the cosmic proportions of the Day of Yahweh, darkness, and of its greatness and awesomeness.
B. The fact that the sun will become dark and the moon become blood red is an indication that these days will be filled with great violence and war (New Spirit-Filled Life Study Bible).
C. Unlike Part 1, the Day appears to be further in the future. It should be understood to refer to the NT Day of the Lord, that is, the time of Christ’s return.
D. As can be seen in the NT, the time prior to Christ’s return will be one when great, terrifying events will happen in the skies.
E. A reader might ask, “If this passage was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost, how can you say that the Day of the Lord here is eschatological?” (which means about the last days)
F. On the Day of Pentecost, only part was fulfilled: the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and salvation to those who called upon the name of the Lord. The wonders of Joel 2:30f were not seen.
G. Joel Part 2 (as well as Joel Part 3) has an already/not yet character about it. Both passages have a blending of the present with the distant future, complete with a fuzzy transition.
H. Thus, the present merges with eschatology at an unclear time (The Complete Biblical Library – Daniel-Malachi, Under: "Chapter 2").
3. But rest assured the time gets closer everyday!
B. Final Judgment
1. Illustration: Biblical prophecy provides some of the greatest encouragement and hope available to us today. Just as the Old Testament is saturated with prophecies concerning Christ’s first advent, so both testaments are filled with references to the second coming of Christ. One scholar has estimated that there are 1,845 references to Christ’s second coming in the Old Testament, where 17 books give it prominence. In the 260 chapters of the New Testament, there are 318 references to the second advent of Christ--an amazing 1 out of every 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books refer to this great event. For every prophecy in the Bible concerning Christ’s first advent, there are 8 which look forward to His second!
(Today in the Word, April, 1989, p. 27).
2. The Bible shows us that the Day of the Lord is quickly approaching.
A. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NLT)
You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
B. Does any of this look familiar to you today?
C. Our society is increasingly filled with those who love only themselves and their money.
D. There are plenty of people today that scoff at God, say he doesn't exist, and that he is only a part of our imagination.
E. There are a growing number a young people who are disobedient to their parents and ungrateful thinking everything should be given to them.
F. Look at our society and tell me people are more interested in their own pleasure rather than God.
G. There is a lot of truth to the picture going around on social media that shows a picture of the Bible with the caption "This book is being played out before our very eyes."
H. We don't know the day of the hour, but we can see that it's getting close, so let's prepare ourselves because he could come today!
Conclusion
1. When we talk about the Day of the Lord we need to keep in mind that prophecy has an already/not yet component to it. Some of the things concerning the last days have already happened and some of them are now happening. However, there are some things prophesied about the last days that are yet to come.
2. Our text today gives us some good examples of this already/not yet element...
A. Already: Pouring Of The Spirit
B. Already: Salvation To Anyone Who Asks
C. Not Yet: Signs Of Judgment
3. Warren Wiersbe tells a story of when he was a young man preaching on the last days with all the events of prophecy clearly laid out and perfectly planned. At the end of the service an older gentleman came up to him and whispered in his ear, "I used to have the Lord’s return planned out to the last detail, but years ago I moved from the planning committee to the welcoming committee."
4. Are you ready for Jesus to come?
