05/13/2024
“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the survivors whom the Lord calls.” (Joel 2: 28-32)
The hope for an historical day of the Lord gradually took the shape of future, eschatological (end times) hope. Often the two were intertwined as in this passage. This prophecy found direct fulfillment at Pentecost (Acts 2:16-21), yet ultimate fulfillment awaits the end time, as expressed in the apocalyptic language of the passage. Some aspects of the prophecy are fulfilled as people accept salvation provided through the work of Christ and the administration of the Spirit. In regard to end times., the prophecy refers to God’s final intervention to complete His redemptive work. In this final intervention to complete His redemptive work. In this aspect the day of the Lord includes both judgment upon unrighteousness and reward for righteousness. Here, Joel is foretelling a time when God would pour out His Holy Spirit upon all people. The world would be shaken, and everyone who call on the name of the Lord would be saved. Both Peter and Paul taught this prophecy was fulfilled in the coming of Christ and the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:16-21; Romans 10:13).
PRAYER FOR THE DAY:
Dear Abba, today’s focus is upon the question: “What Happens on ‘The Day of the Lord.’” On that “day,” there will be both judgment on the unrighteous and reward on the righteous. There be those who rejected Christianity and those who claimed to be Christians, but didn’t not live their lives as Christians. For those who not only claimed Christianity “and walked the walk” as Christians, they will be rewarded for the sacrifices they made in pursuit of spreading the Gospel message in both word and deeds. Today, bless all those who are hurting in body, mind, or spirit, that they might set aside their issues and let You deal with them on their behalf, and accept their humble repentance of their sins Abba. For those in conflicts around the world, especially in the Middle East, with wars and natural disasters, pour out an anointing upon them all, that they too, might feel You near them and take comfort in that knowledge. Amen
THOUGHT OF THE DAY:
“God’s work, done in God’s way, will never lack for God’s supplies.”
KNOWING GOD:
“The great day of the Lord is near—-near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the day of the Lord will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. I will bring distress on the people and they will walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like filth. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth.” Gather together, gather together, O shameful nation, before the appointed time arrives and that day sweeps on like chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord comes upon you, before the day of the Lord’s wrath comes upon you. Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger. For God will pour out His wrath against the lands of Philistia, Moab and Amnon, Cush, Assyria and all have poured out hatred upon God’s favored land of Israel. (Zehaniah 1: 14-2:3-15)
Beloved, when God acts decisively in history in judgment upon the sin of individuals and nations, it is the day of the Lord, a day of divine intervention. A past event such as the destruction of Jerusalem could be described as the day of the Lord in His anger (Isaiah 22:1-3; Lam 1:12; 2:1, 22). More often the references to a coming day against Israel’s and God’s enemies (Isaiah 34:8; Jeremiah 46:10; Eze 13:5; 30:3; Obadiah 1:15. The inspired prophets could speak of the day of the Lord as the day of universal judgment (Isaiah 2:12; 13:6; Joel 2:31; 3:14). The idea of judgment is prominent in the prophetic warnings about such a day. The darkness and gloom associated with destruction and overthrow characterize the language about that day. It is a time of God’s wrath upon human sin. The glimmer of hope for those who would seek righteousness breaks forth brightly in the other side of the day of the Lord, that which brings deliverance and newness in history and in the consummation.
It should be noted that here the prophet presented the possibility that those who obey God’s commands may be sheltered from His anger. Obedient believers are saved from the wrath of God. We may suffer from human attacks, but we can take refuge in God’s salvation. To seek God is more than public or private prayer, for it involves humble devotion to God’s purpose for society—-Justice. To “do what He commands” is literally to “do His justice” (Hebrew- mishpat). Only doers of justice can expect God’s protection.
SECOND THOUGHT OF THE DAY:
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. By their fruit you will recognize them. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Thus by their fruit you will recognize them. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you.’ Away from me, you evildoers!” (Matthew 7: 15- 16, 18, 20-23)
False prophets plague the church because they can easily deceive with false claims and mighty works. To recognize false prophets, the ordinary Christian must examine the way they live and their message. Do their behavior and character conform to Christ and His teaching? Do they proclaim only what people “want to hear that makes life easy and pleasurable,” while ignoring the demanding and difficult requirements of being a follower of Jesus Christ? A bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
Miraculous powers do not give proof of authentic faith. In the first century many claimed to have miraculous powers. Like the magicians at Pharaoh’s court, they sometimes succeeded. The claim here is centered around “in your name.” False prophets gain public acclaim for themselves. The source of their success is not easily explained. Their lack of faith is clearly evident. They do not act in accordance with God’s will. Love for self, not for others, dominates their lives. Jesus claims as His own only humble, obedient servants.
The Old Testament phrase, the day of the Lord is shortened to “that day.” It refers to the future day of judgment for those whose lives bear evil fruit. It is the day when the faithful and genuine enter the future kingdom. “That day” will be one of separation based on true character as revealed in outward conduct. It will be a day of surprise for those who performed public actions and even demonstrated unusual power but never committed their lives in submission to Christ. Beloved, Jesus convincingly showed He was different from all human teachers in the authority people experienced as He taught. Only God has such authority. The best teachers in our past and even to today, have no problem, revealing their dependence upon Christ in their daily lives. Those who do not or cannot make this type of bold statement and give their witness to their personal beliefs, are not believeable or inspiring. Those who can live as open books for all to see.