Judgment and Hope: The Day of the Lord

Devotional

Day 1: God's Comprehensive Justice

The Day of the Lord is a profound event where God will gather all nations for judgment, addressing not only the wrongs committed against Israel but all human evil throughout history. This day serves as a stark reminder of God's comprehensive and inescapable justice. The imagery of a vast valley, the Valley of Jehoshaphat, symbolizes this judgment, emphasizing its certainty and seriousness. The atrocities of human history, from genocides to human trafficking, are known to God and will be brought to account. This day challenges us to consider the reality of God's justice and its implications for our lives. [07:51]

Joel 3:12-13 (ESV): "Let the nations stir themselves up and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the winepress is full. The vats overflow, for their evil is great."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively seek justice in your community, reflecting God's comprehensive justice in your daily actions?

Day 2: The Certainty of God's Judgment

Joel uses the imagery of the Valley of Jehoshaphat to symbolize God's judgment, with the name Jehoshaphat meaning "God has judged." This imagery emphasizes the certainty and seriousness of the event, challenging us to consider the reality of God's judgment and its implications for our lives. The Day of the Lord is not just a distant theological concept but a pressing reality that urges us to examine our lives and priorities. It calls us to think beyond our immediate concerns and align our lives with God's eternal purposes. [08:32]

Zephaniah 1:14-15 (ESV): "The great day of the Lord is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there. A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness."

Reflection: How can you align your daily decisions and priorities with the eternal purposes of God, knowing the certainty of His judgment?

Day 3: Hope in the Midst of Judgment

Amidst the sobering reality of judgment, there is a message of hope. God, who is the judge, is also the refuge. This paradox is at the heart of the gospel. Through Jesus Christ, who bore the judgment due to us, we find refuge and redemption. This assurance allows us to live in peace and joy, knowing that the ultimate decision about our lives has already been made. The gospel invites us to lay down our defenses and embrace the refuge offered in Christ. [29:21]

Nahum 1:7 (ESV): "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to lay down your defenses and fully embrace the refuge offered in Christ?

Day 4: Assurance through Justification by Faith

Justification by faith means that God's decision in our favor is made known in advance to those who are in Christ. This assurance allows us to live in peace and joy, knowing that the ultimate decision about our lives has already been made. It is a profound truth that transforms our perspective on life, enabling us to live with confidence and hope. This assurance is not based on our own merits but on the finished work of Christ, who bore the judgment due to us. [34:37]

Romans 5:1-2 (ESV): "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

Reflection: How does the assurance of justification by faith change the way you approach challenges and uncertainties in your life today?

Day 5: Living with Eternal Perspective

The Day of the Lord challenges us to examine our lives and priorities. In the busyness of life, we must consider what truly matters in light of eternity. It invites us to lay down our defenses, our "puny swords and spears," and embrace the refuge offered in Christ. This eternal perspective helps us to focus on what is truly important and to live in a way that reflects God's eternal purposes. It calls us to think beyond our immediate concerns and align our lives with God's kingdom values. [38:29]

Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to shift your focus from temporary concerns to eternal values?

Sermon Summary

In the final installment of our series on the book of Joel, we delve into the profound themes of judgment and restoration. Joel paints a vivid picture of the Day of the Lord, a day of judgment that will encompass all nations and generations. This day is not just a distant theological concept but a reality that presses upon us with urgency and relevance. Joel chapter 3 brings this day into sharp focus, urging us to consider its implications for our lives today.

The Day of the Lord is a global event where God will gather all nations to enter into judgment. This is not merely about the evils committed against Israel but encompasses all human evil throughout history. Joel uses the imagery of a vast valley, the Valley of Jehoshaphat, which symbolizes God's judgment. The name Jehoshaphat means "God has judged," emphasizing the certainty and seriousness of this event. The atrocities of human history, from genocides to human trafficking, are known to God and will be brought to account. This day is a reminder that God's justice is comprehensive and inescapable.

However, amidst the sobering reality of judgment, there is a message of hope. God, who is the judge, is also the refuge. This paradox is at the heart of the gospel. Through Jesus Christ, who bore the judgment due to us, we find refuge and redemption. Justification by faith means that God's decision in our favor is made known in advance to those who are in Christ. This assurance allows us to live in peace and joy, knowing that the ultimate decision about our lives has already been made.

As we reflect on these truths, we are called to examine our lives and priorities. In the busyness of life, we must consider what truly matters in light of eternity. The Day of the Lord challenges us to think beyond our immediate concerns and align our lives with God's eternal purposes. It invites us to lay down our defenses, our "puny swords and spears," and embrace the refuge offered in Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. The Day of the Lord is a global event where God will gather all nations for judgment. This day is not just about the evils committed against Israel but encompasses all human evil throughout history. It serves as a reminder that God's justice is comprehensive and inescapable. [07:51]
2. Joel uses the imagery of the Valley of Jehoshaphat, symbolizing God's judgment. The name Jehoshaphat means "God has judged," emphasizing the certainty and seriousness of this event. This imagery challenges us to consider the reality of God's judgment and its implications for our lives. [08:32]
3. Amidst the sobering reality of judgment, there is a message of hope. God, who is the judge, is also the refuge. Through Jesus Christ, who bore the judgment due to us, we find refuge and redemption. This paradox is at the heart of the gospel. [29:21]
4. Justification by faith means that God's decision in our favor is made known in advance to those who are in Christ. This assurance allows us to live in peace and joy, knowing that the ultimate decision about our lives has already been made. [34:37]
5. The Day of the Lord challenges us to examine our lives and priorities. In the busyness of life, we must consider what truly matters in light of eternity. It invites us to lay down our defenses and embrace the refuge offered in Christ. [38:29]
** [38:29]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - Introduction to Joel's Message
[00:33] - The Day of Judgment
[01:12] - Imagining the Day of the Lord
[02:16] - Relevance to Our Lives
[03:30] - Thinking Beyond the Present
[04:24] - Why There Will Be Judgment
[05:07] - God's Promises of Restoration
[06:26] - The Gathering of Nations
[07:02] - The Valley of Jehoshaphat
[08:09] - God's Judgment on Human Evil
[10:16] - The Reality of Justice
[11:58] - God's Memory and Justice
[14:52] - The Picture of Judgment
[18:18] - The Multitudes in the Valley
[22:48] - God on His Throne
[24:26] - The Lord's Roar
[28:29] - Where to Find Refuge
[30:14] - The Heart of the Gospel
[34:37] - Justification by Faith
[37:34] - The Gift of Justification
[38:29] - Prayer and Conclusion

Sermon Clips

Joel uses words to paint pictures and he portrays for us the the day of the Lord so that you can taste it so that you can see it so that you can feel it what might otherwise be remote and might seem like it's not too much to do with me or what surrounds me today it comes very very near perhaps more near in it than in any other scripture outside of the book of Revelation. [00:01:24]

God here addresses us about the ultimate issue to which we need to attend, something bigger than all the presses in on us and it is this day of the Lord. I have three things simply to say about this today. I wanted you to see from Jolin chapter 3 why there will be a judgment God says very clearly that there will be. [00:04:07]

I will gather all the nations so this is inclusive France, Britain, the United States of America, the vast populations of India and of China, Brazil and Russia and on and on I will gather the nation's God says and notice what he says as he speaks about it he says and I will enter into judgment with them there. [00:05:46]

The name Jehoshaphat means God has judged and so when God says I'm going to gather all the nations in the valley of Jehoshaphat what that means is I am going to bring to the place of judgment all nations and I am going to enter into judgment with all peoples there that's what God is saying now. [00:07:38]

Human evil is known to God who records it in his book and he never forgets. We may have forgotten about the half million who in just three months were slaughtered in Rwanda in 1994 half of whom were children not one of them is forgotten by God the world has moved on from 1.6 million who were slaughtered in Cambodia. [00:12:14]

The Bible tells us that God has a book and that God has a bottle always remember that God has a book revelation in chapter 20 in which he records all human evil and God has a bottle in which he gathers all human tears that some 56 in verse 8 every act of cruelty and violence every atrocity in the entire history of the world is known completely to God. [00:13:48]

The Lord roars from Zion and the others his voice from Jerusalem and what happens the heavens and the earth quake you see that verse 15 the Sun and the moon are darkened and the stars withdraw their shining the lights go out the voice of God verse 13 gives this command put in the sickle for the harvest is ripe go in tread the winepress is full their vats overflow for their evil is great. [00:24:33]

The Lord who is the judge you should fear is also the refuge you should seek so I gotta take that in let me see it again the God who is the judge you should fear is also the same God is the refuge you should seek the Lord the Lord is entering into judgment is the refuge from judgment you think how does that make any sense. [00:29:41]

Christ Jesus has been put forward by God the Father God put forward Christ Jesus Paul says in in Romans in chapter 3 he is the refuge for a Jew and for Gentile and for young and for old and for men and for women and for rich and for poor and this Christ he's put forward and and what does this Christ do he provides Paul says a propitiation by his blood. [00:31:56]

Justification is God's decision in a person's favor made known in advance to all those who are in Jesus Christ that is glorious justification is God's decision in favor made known in advance to all who are in Jesus Christ you say how can that happen because the judgment that would have been due to me on the last day was poured out on him. [00:34:23]

The marvelous gift that is at the heart of the gospel justification is God's decision in a person's favor made known in advance to all those who are in Jesus Christ that is glorious justification is God's decision in favor made known in advance to all who are in Jesus Christ you say how can that happen because the judgment that would have been due to me on the last day was poured out on him. [00:34:23]

The decision that really matters is the decision that God will make about you and in Jesus Christ he is ready to say to you today there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ justified by faith why would you push him away why would you be resisting the Savior holds these gifts in his hand. [00:38:20]

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