Where is God when you need Him?

Joel 2:12 – 17

Where is God when you need Him?

The context for these words is “the Day of the Lord.” (vv 1 – 2).

It is a day filled with fear. It is a day of darkness and gloom. The symbol of this day, for Joel, was an army of locusts. Maybe they were suffering from a massive swarm of locust that had moved in and was eating everything. God pointed this out and said, that’s how bad this is going to be. Locust are destructive, devour everything in their path, and leave nothing behind.

“The Day of the Lord” is a “type.” It reflects when God is on the move to bring His people back to himself or set all wrongs right. The images reflect the crucifixion (darkness), the second return of Christ (unstoppable army), and the day of judgement (wrath). Theologically they are all connected.

During Lent, it has been the historical practice of the Christian church to prepare for time of darkness and gloom as a purging of our sinful desires.

 

I.         God has a purpose for the gloom.

 

            A.        God wants His people to “return.” [v 12]

 

                        1.         “Even now” shows us there is a time frame for response.

 

                                    a.         Wesley’s idea of “awakening.” There is a point where we are aware that God is trying to get our attention. If we respond then we “awake” to God. If we do not then we go back to sleep in our sin.

 

                                    b.         “Limited time” offer: “So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice, [8] do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert.” [Hebrews 3:7 – 8]

 

                        2.         Hardship has its positive side: “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons.” [Hebrews 12:7a]

 

                                    a.         Discipline can be punishment for sin, more often it is CORRECTION.

 

                                    b.         The idea is that God does NOT have our attention. Something has to happen to knock us out of our comfortableness. We tend to enjoy physical comfort and being free from financial worry. (God does not have our attention, we are not listening.)

 

            B.        God wants His people to really meant it.

 

                        1.         The theological word is “repent.”

 

                                    a.         Jesus demanded that “repentance” be preached FOR the forgiveness of sin. (See Luke 24:47 TNIV)

 

                                    b.         Theologically, you cannot have forgiveness without repentance!

 

                        2.         Joel suggests disciplines to help:

 

                                    a.         Fasting , weeping, and mourning [v 12]

 

                                    b.         “Rend your heart.” [v 13] (“Let your broken heart show your sorrow...” GNB)

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. [11] See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.” [2 Corinthians 7:10 – 11]

 

            C.        God wants His people to prove it.

 

                        1.         “Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly.” [v 15]

 

                                    a.         Private sins come from social sins.

 

                                    b.         The way to deal with social sins is to do it publicly and deliberately.

 

                        2.         The idea is that NOBODY is left out, everyone is in agreement.

 

                                    a.         The elder to the nursing baby.

 

                                    b.         Even the bridegroom and the bride. Weddings are a time of joy. In the OT the bridegroom is exempt from many duties (such as military service).

II.       God extends the possibility of relenting.

“Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing.” [v 14]

            A.        God MAY turn.

 

                        1.         We are going to let God be right about everything, then we are going to have trust God.

 

                                    a.         Maybe, God will not “turn and relent.”

 

                                    b.         Why? Pity to one is cruelty to another. Some lines once crossed can only be purged.

 

                        2.         The choice is ours, but it is also God’s. True repentance throws itself on the mercy of God and does NOT demand (possibly even expect) forgiveness.

 

                                    a.         We cannot manipulate God to relent from planned or necessary purging.

 

                                    b.         (Ill.) When I had the flu, I became alarmed at the amount of fluids I was losing. I was disoriented, dizzy, and drifting in and out of being consciousness. I called the Dr. who told me to not take anything to slow down the body’s purge... or it would just extend my misery.

 

            B.        Not only may God turn but God may leave a blessing!

 

                        1.         This is dramatic... to go from the purge of God’s discipline to the blessing of God’s discipline.

 

                                    a.         Part of the difference between people who passively let things happen to them and people who do good things is how they handle adversity.

 

                                    b.         Are problems obstacles or opportunities?

 

                        2.         God’s blessing is not like what we might expect.

 

                                    a.         Jesus talked about “abundant” life. (See John 10:10)

 

                                    b.         “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” [2 Corinthians 4:17]

 

III.      God offers promises to those who respond.

 

            A.        God’s promise of restoration, AFTER, the locust have gone through.

 

                        1.         [v 23] God promised timely rain.

 

                                    a.         Even though it may have looked like there was no hope, not everything was gone.

 

                                    b.         The promise of the rain was the promise of a crop... fruitful abundance returned.

 

                        2.         [v 25] God promised repayment.

 

                                    a.         God is not bankrupt. God does not lack means. God is ready, willing, and able to restore and repay well beyond what was lost.

 

                                    b.         Here again is the issue of trust. Are we going to trust God or shake our fist at God?

 

            B.        God’s promise is also spiritual.

 

                        1.         [v 28] This comes in the form of the Holy Spirit.

 

                                    a.         Everyone is included: Sons, daughters, old and young.

 

                                    b.         This is the continual presence of God given to believers (the church) at the Day of Pentecost.

 

                        2.         [v 32a] This comes from salvation.

 

                                    a.         Everyone, yet there is a condition. “Call” reflects back to repentance. (We do not believe in a universal salvation.)

 

                                    b.         Here is the condition of the heart. If it is hard toward God, we will not respond positively. This salvation will be impossible for us if we harden our heart.

 

IV.      God reveals the passion for us during the gloom.

 

            A.        Consider the personality of God. [v 13]

 

                        1.         God is gracious. In other words, kind when we don’t deserve it.

 

                        2.         God is compassionate. Another word for this is mercy. Grace is getting what we do not deserve. Mercy is NOT getting what we do deserve.

 

                        3.         God is slow to anger. The idea is that God does not lose His temper.

 

                        4.         God is abounding in love. This love is “unfailing” and “extravagant.”

 

                        5.         God is eager to relent. The impression is that God is looking for any excuse, any way...

 

            B.        It starts with the mercy and justice of God demonstrated at the cross.

“God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-- [26] he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” [Romans 3:25 – 26]

 

                        1.         Jesus took our penalty to satisfy the demands of justice.

 

                                    a.         Someone had to pay. We could not... our eternal destiny was eternal Hell.

 

                                    b.         We could not save ourselves by observing the law. Something more powerful and effective than the law had to intervene.

 

                        2.         Lent is the time we look forward to that sacrifice of atonement.

 

                                    a.         As we look forward to that sacrifice, something dawns on us... This was a heavy price to pay for OUR sin.

 

                                    b.         We become sorry for our sin, we mourn because someone completely innocent suffered and sacrificed himself for us.

(Ill.) Arlington. The first shock is to see the simple white crosses. Crosses as far as the eye could possibly see. As you read the names it starts to sink in that each cross was someone that someone loved. As you read the dates of the their deaths, it hits home. These people put someone else, us, above even their own lives.

Vietnam sundial in Kentucky. It is a sundial that will tell you the time of day and the time of year. As you walk over the bricks and figure out the date and the time, you notice, inscribed on various bricks names. These are the names of the people who died in that war. The day of their death and the time (if known) of their death is marked by the shadow of the sundial. Families will sit and wait for the shadow to cross the name of their loved one.

Where is God when you need Him? Trying to get your attention!

Before any of these existed, the cross of Jesus Christ was set up on a hill for all to see. Many people mocked Jesus that day, not realizing it would extend a shadow into all of history. As Jesus blood flowed that day to cover the penalty you and I justly deserve, just was done. The only question is do we have courage enough to throw ourselves on the mercy of God?

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What does “Christian perfection” look like?

1 Thessalonians 5:16 – 18

What does “Christian perfection” look like?

John Wesley – “Rejoice always in uninterrupted happiness in God. Pray without ceasing, which is the fruit of always rejoicing in the Lord. In everything give thanks, which is the fruit of both the former. THIS IS CHRISTIAN PERFECTION. Further than this we cannot go, and we need not stop short of it.”

 

I.         Jesus purchased our joy and righteousness.*

 

            A.        Joy and righteousness is ours through Jesus Christ.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, [5] who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. [6] In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. [7] These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. [8] Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, [9] for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” [1 Peter 1:3 – 9]

 

                        1.         Joy is based on our standing in Jesus, not circumstances. [v 6]

 

                                    a.         In Jesus we have a “new birth” and a “living hope.” [v 4]

 

                                    b.         Suffering plays an important part in “proving” our faith. [v 7]

“RO 3:21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. [22] This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, [23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” [Romans 3:21]

 

                        2.         Righteousness is based on the work of Jesus Christ, not our work.

 

                                    a.         The keeping of the law implied the possibility of earning or deserving salvation.

 

                                    b.         Righteousness comes through one source: Jesus Christ, crucified, risen, and coming again.

 

            B.        Joy killers:

 

                        1.         The desire to gratify the imagination.*

 

                                    a.         These are things that were never designed to satisfy the desire to gratify the immortal spirit.*

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16] For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. [17] The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” [1 John 2:15 – 17]

 

                                    b.         The real trouble is that all the things we crave (want) outside of Jesus is false and will eventually let us down or betray us.

 

                        2.         Bitterness.*

“See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” [Hebrews 12:15]

 

                                    a.         Bitterness is connected to missing the grace of God.

 

                                    b.         This affect can be both initially and eventually.

 

                        3.         “Looking for life in things that make you die.” [“Life begins at the cross” by the Alter Boys]

 

                                    a.         When we chase what is false, the end will always be bad.

 

                                    b.         We have so much to confuse us. We add so much to the exercise of religion. We become “smorgasbord” in our approach because we don’t know the Bible.

 

II.       Prayer is the breath of our spiritual life.*

 

            A.        Joy makes us want to be constantly in the presence of God.*

 

                        1.         “Sweet of hour of prayer” vs “pray without ceasing”

 

                                    a.         Someplace we get the idea that the presence of God is something we can enter and leave at will.

 

                                    b.         While at times we are invited into God’s presence for special times, such as church services, Bible reading, prayer... we are constantly in God’s presence!

“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” [Colossians 1:27]

“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, [22] set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” [2 Corinthians 1:21 – 22]

 

            B.        Of all our physical functions... (outside of our heart beating) breathing is the most critical (we die the quickest if this it denied).

 

                        1.         Spiritually, it works the same way... if we disconnect from God in prayer... we will cease to live spiritually.

[Ill. There is an octopus that changes color and is about the size of a golf ball. It is considered the most lethal creature on earth. If a person comes in contact with the octopus, death results in about four minutes and there is no known antidote. The problem is not the octopus, it is a deadly bacteria that grows on its skin. It works because it causes the body to stop breathing which causes cardiac arrest. Basically, its drowning without the water.]

 

                        2.         When you are in love with someone, there is a joy that fills you when you are around them... Joy that is real will compel us to be in the presence of God, constantly in prayer.

 

                                    a.         Here’s life: in Jesus Christ we are alive in the presence of God. There is joy and a desire to continue in that joy is expressed in prayer.

 

                                    b.         We breath spiritually in prayer.

 

III.      Thanksgiving is inseparable from true prayer.*

 

            A.        Thanksgiving in all circumstances?

 

                        1.         Suffering produces good things.

“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; [4] perseverance, character; and character, hope. [5] And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” [Romans 5:3 – 5]

 

                                    a.         This is contrary to our desire for comfort and ease.

 

                                    b.         Typically we see suffering as negative (even a curse).

 

                        2.         Suffering confirms relationship.

“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? [8] If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. [9] Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! [10] Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. [11] No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” [Hebrews 12:7 – 11]

 

                                    a.         Discipline is direction and training, not just punishment.

 

                                    b.         Hardship/suffering helps produce good things in us: holiness, righteousness, and peace.

 

            B         Notice that we are to give thanks IN all circumstances not FOR all circumstances.

 

                        1.         God wants us to maintain rejoicing, constant prayer, and thanksgiving regardless of the circumstances.

 

                                    a.         Nothing can separate us from the love of God. [see Romans 8:35 – 39]

 

                                    b.         If God is still around with His infinite love for us and we have not thrown away our confidence in the saving work and blood of Jesus Christ... Then regardless what circumstance we find ourselves in, we maintain joy, constant prayer, and thanksgiving.

 

                        2.         Pain is still pain.

 

                                    a.         Pain is very useful in teaching us and keeping us safe. (Ill. Hot stove...)

 

                                    b.         God uses the everyday grind, the natural painful parts of life, the inevitable wear and tear to teach us and point us in the way we should go.

 

IV.      What does this mean.

 

            A.        It can be a test.

 

                        1.         A “standard” is something that gives us an idea of what to expect and what is good.

 

                                    a.         Joy, constant prayer, and thanksgiving are the “standards” for the Christian life. They are the constant. They are the consistent marks. They are the expected outcomes.

 

                                    b.         If any of them are missing then something is wrong... in some cases very wrong.

 

                        2.         If something is wrong, then you need to change courses.

 

                                    a.         Navigating the Great Lakes was a very treacherous thing. Light houses were built to help ships navigate. Detailed maps were drawn showing the depth and dangers. Even adjustments to compasses were charted (to compensate for the heavy mineral deposits in the area). All intended to keep ships safe.

 

                                    b.         Still, they built the “widow’s walk” on houses. You can see them today, on top of the houses near the river... a walk way built on the roof so wives could go out and see if their husband’s ships were returning. If they didn’t see the ship, it meant it had gone down and they had probably lost their husband.

 

            B.        It can be necessary correction.

 

                        1.         Shipwrecks are terrible things... There is desperate work to stop the possible. There is frantic desire to avoid the inevitable. A shipwrecked life is a terrible thing.

 

                                    a.         Lives are uprooted and destroyed.

 

                                    b.         Families and churches are destroyed.

 

                        2.         It’s time to take an honest check on our bearings: joy, prayer, and thanksgiving.

 

                                    a.         If something is missing then you are off course. If you are off course then you are in danger.

 

                                    b.         Maybe you are hung up on jealousy, evil surmising (suppose without having evidence – Oxford), groundless or unreasonable suspicions, envy, resentment of past injuries or insults.

 

                        3.         Make the correction: repent... let God’s love and joy fill you again.

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Introducing the King

Mark 1:14 – 34

Introducing the King

One of the major themes in Jesus’ life was “the kingdom of God.” It was His first sermon and the basis of everything He did.

 

I.         The Kings’ argues His case.

 

            A.        There is a King.

 

                        1.         This is not a matter of self government. (Jude 4 speaks of people who “deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.” The word Sovereign means “absolute ruler.”

 

                        2.         Jesus’ further words and actions will demonstrate that He is the King in the kingdom of God.

 

            B.        Because Jesus is the King we need to repent.

 

                        1.         Wesley’s ideas

 

                                    a.          “And until we do so (repent), we can go no further. For, till we are sensible of our disease, it admits of no cure.”

 

                                    b.         Repentance is “a conviction of our utter sinfulness and guiltiness and helplessness; and which precedes our receiving the kingdom of God.”

 

                                    c.         “Repentance disclaims the very possibility of any other help; faith accepts all the help we stand in need of.”

 

                        2.         Repentance involves changing the mind and changing the behavior.

“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” [Matthew 3:8]

 

                        3.         Repentance is not “being sorry” it is being “in sorrow.”

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” [2 Corinthians 7:10]

 

            C.        We need to believe Jesus is King.

 

                        1.         That’s the choice we are left with.

 

                        2.         That’s the choice Jesus’ words and actions seek to impress.

 

II.       The Kings’ authority to command our lives.

 

            A.        The claim: “Follow me.”

 

                        1.         Following Jesus is the only way to become what we think we are (in our idealization).

 

                        2.         Following Jesus is “absolute” in that it requires all our time, all our stuff, all our energy... [Ill. You are standing on a road and a truck is speeding toward you. Why do you move out of its way? Answer: because you believe.]

 

            B.        “Fishermen” become “fishers of men.”

 

                        1.         Fishing is a very dark image in Scripture... the image is of judgement.

“The nations heard about him, and he was trapped in their pit. They led him with hooks to the land of Egypt. ... [9] With hooks they pulled him into a cage and brought him to the king of Babylon. They put him in prison, so his roar was heard no longer on the mountains of Israel.” [Ezekiel 19:4, 9]

“But I will put hooks in your jaws and make the fish of your streams stick to your scales. I will pull you out from among your streams, with all the fish sticking to your scales.” [Ezekiel 29:4 A prophecy of judgement against Egypt]

“The word of the LORD came to me: [2] "Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; prophesy against him [3] and say: `This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. [4] I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army--your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords.” [Ezekiel 38:1 – 4 A prophecy concerning a world war against Israel.]

“Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? [14] You have made men like fish in the sea, like sea creatures that have no ruler. [15] The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks, he catches them in his net, he gathers them up in his dragnet; and so he rejoices and is glad.” [Habakkuk 1:13 – 15]

“The Sovereign LORD has sworn by his holiness: "The time will surely come when you will be taken away with hooks, the last of you with fishhooks.” [Amos 4:2]

“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. [48] When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. [49] This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous [50] and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” [MT 13:47 – 50 an image of the final judgement]

 

                        2.         Please note, fishing is never good for the fish.

 

                                    a.         If the image of fishing is dark and painful judgement and fishing is never good for the fish...

 

                                    b.         Why do we apply this verse/idea to evangelism?

 

III.      The Kings’s ability to create understanding.

 

            A.        The people were amazed... they knew something was different.

 

                        1.         Understanding does not mean agreement!

“All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. [29] They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff.” [Luke 4:28 – 29]

“Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” [John 19:19]

 

                        2.         Sometimes understand brings a violent reaction... the reaction of the demon possessed man.

 

            B.        They recognized the authority in Jesus’ teaching.

 

                        1.         Authority carries the sense of ability/power.

[Ill. The police have the authority to do their work and they have been trained and equipped to with the ability to do their work.]

 

                        2.         The people saw this was not just another teacher. This was someone who had the ability to command through relationship.

 

IV.      The Kings’ absolute power over spiritual forces.

 

            A.        In spiritual confrontation Jesus’ practice was “total resistance,” “no grace, no possibility of reconciliation” [Leighton Ford, Transforming Leadership, 258, 270]

 

                        1.         In other words, when it involved “loyalties, values, and beliefs” [Ford, 255] Jesus fought.

 

                        2.         The King does not compromise and goes to battle when necessary.

 

                                    a.         His words and actions could be “violent.” [e.g. driving out demons, making a whip and driving out the merchants and money changers from the temple, and calling leadership ugly names like “white washed tombs filled with dead man’s bones.”

 

                                    b.         The “real” Jesus is far from the peace loving one that is often thought of in American Christianity.

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. [12] His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. [13] He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. [14] The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. [15] Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.” [Revelation 19:11 – 15]

 

            B.        Notice the King provided freedom and release from the one held captive by the demon!

 

V.        The King admits the hurting and helpless.

 

            A.        Jesus heals Peter’s mother in-law and others who were sick and demon possessed.

 

                        1.         Life can hurt and be miserable... some of that is self-inflicted, some of it is imposed on us.

 

                        2.         Here is another demonstration of Jesus’ power, but physical healing was only temporary (the people still, eventually, died).

 

            B.        King Jesus’ goal was not simply the hear and now physical relief. King Jesus’ real purpose was eternal.

 

                        1.         Repent and believe... this is the gateway to the kingdom of God.

 

                        2.         Accepting Jesus’ rule as your King... this is the daily walk in the kingdom of God.

 

                        3.         Allowing King Jesus to “destroy the devil’s work” [1 John 3:8] and “demolish strongholds” [2 Corinthians 10:4] in your life... this it the freedom of the kingdom of God.

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