Joel: The Now and Not Yet in "plain" View.
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Introduction
Introduction
Before we go to Joel this evening open to Hebrews 2:5-11,
Last time we delved into the Now and Not Yet’s of scripture.
I want to read from Hebrews here. If you like to follow this is Hebrews 2:5-11
5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? 7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, 8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,
The point of all creation is that Christ be predominant in all things.
The author says here in verse 8, “Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control.”
Verse 10, “For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.”
In other words it is unfitting that any anything be outside of Christ.
The question is do we provide lip service to the reality when we interpret the scripture.
There are many that do, on one hand they will node and say yes everything is about Christ, and then turn around a completely remove Christ from the interpretation of the text.
We will not do that
So let’s turn to Joel 3:17-21*
As we are turning there, the sermon title The Now and Not Yet in "plain" View.
Every believer have lived in a now and not yet place.
Before Jesus the believers enjoyed righteousness by faith, Abraham’s faith was counted to him as righteousness, (Romans 4:5)
Did Abraham know all the details of that? He knew enough, he knew the one was coming to crush the serpents head.
Now that Christ has come again we live int he now an not yet,
At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9 But we see him.
Or as Paul said the Corinthians
“22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1 Co 15:21–26, ESV)
Lets Read
17 “So you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain. And Jerusalem shall be holy, and strangers shall never again pass through it. 18 “And in that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the streambeds of Judah shall flow with water; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord and water the Valley of Shittim. 19 “Egypt shall become a desolation and Edom a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the people of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. 20 But Judah shall be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem to all generations. 21 I will avenge their blood, blood I have not avenged, for the Lord dwells in Zion.”
May God Bless the Reading of His Holy, Inflatable, and Sufficient Word
Let’s Pray
Transition
Transition
The now and not yet are on display here. Look at verse 17.
Body
Body
No Stranger
No Stranger
17 “So you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain. And Jerusalem shall be holy, and strangers shall never again pass through it.
Where does the Lord dwelt?
No strangers
God dwells with his people and they worship him in spirit and truth.
The time is come when they will no longer worship in Jerusalem.
The temple of God is you saint.
Transition
Transition
Sweetness is the thing.
Sweetness the Saint has
Sweetness the Saint has
18 “And in that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the streambeds of Judah shall flow with water; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord and water the Valley of Shittim.
That day,
All things work together for Good
do you believe that
Is to live christ and to dye gain.
Calvin say it well, the prosperity of God’s people is is not in worldly appetites. “The Prophet here declares that God will be so bountiful to his people, that no good things will be wanting to them either in abundance or variety. When God then shall restore his Church, it will abound, he says, in every kind of blessing: for this is the meaning of this language, Distil new wine shall the mountains, and the hills shall make milk to run down; and all rivers also shall have abundant waters, and a fountain shall arise from the house of Judah to irrigate the valley of Shittim. We now perceive the design of Joel. But we must remember that when the Prophets so splendidly extol the blessings of God, they intend not to fill the minds of the godly with V 2, p 139 thoughts about eating and drinking; but profane men lay hold on such passages, as though the Lord intended to gratify their appetite.” [1]
do you understand that you have every blessing in heavenly places right now.
Are these promises real to you.
You say to me Pastor what about this cancer, what about this illness that keeps me in bed have the time, what about how we struggle to make the bills meeting every week, every heavenly blessing. Every heavenly blessing, All things work to gether for God.
Of course its hard, no one is saying that its not a struggle, no one is saying it doesn't hurt.
Mater of fact the author of Hebrews is saying yeah it hurts,
We do not yet see everything in subjects to him. Where is Christs Lordship when Babies are murdering int he womb, where is his Lordship when my friends and family die.
Christian, do you believe the word. every blessing, all things work for good?
Yes, we do not see it now, but we see him.
That is why this series is so important right now.
We got AI that can fake video
We have “news” media sleeping fear everywhere, babies being murdered, rebellion against God everywhere.
and Guess what, this is not new. This is not new.
The saints of God have faced dark dark times all throughout history, and they emerged more then conquerors and you know how they did it? They saw him! ‘
If you want the same victory you need to see him,
Not the illness, not the finances, what what George Soros or Bill Gates is doing, not what the United Nations, but HIM.
He is where the victory has already been won!
You will again say, but pastor Jesus said watch, yes he said watch he sky, because when he comes back its going to he like lighting from east to west.
He said, there will be wars, there will be trouble of all kinds, there will be those that say look Jesus will return, has returned, and even those that will say I am Christ, to you believer, do not be stirred by these things, these are not the things you are waiting for, these are not the things you are watching.
This is not an excuses for apathy.
Are called to be stewards,
We are called to proclaim the kingdom with an eternal mindset
We are called to plant, and grow, and nourish, and love one another, not looking to escape this world, but by endurance to transform it though gospel centered lives.
We are in this world though we are already of the next world.
There is much more here in verse 18 but notice the words “Valley of Shittim.” This valley is on the Eastern side of the Jordan, this is the place where israel fell into abominations with the moabite women. (Ref Numbers 25:1 and Micah 6:5)
Joel is doing here what he did when he referenced the early and later rain, he is directing the reader/hearer to remeber.
Remember that valley of wickedness, when they place will be washed clean when in that day.
Remember again, Jesus is the temple that would be built again in three days and we sign the Hymn, there is a fountain.
The water and the blood that from Him wounded side did flow cleanses even the worst sin. In him there is no condemnation, in him there is every blessing in heavenly places, in Him there is only good and fullness of joy.
Transition
Transition
In him every worng is undone, look at verse 19-21.
Every Wrong Undone
Every Wrong Undone
19 “Egypt shall become a desolation and Edom a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the people of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. 20 But Judah shall be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem to all generations. 21 I will avenge their blood, blood I have not avenged, for the Lord dwells in Zion.”
There are two primary points we want to consider this evening.
they are kept perpetually
They are avenged
Again Calvin’s comments are useful,
“God here testifies that his redemption would not be for a short time, but that its fruit would be for a long period, yea, perpetual: for it would be but a small thing for the Church to be redeemed, except God kept it safe under his own power.” [2]
this is the perpetual promises of God to his people
Noah was kept from the flood
Abraham was kept in the land that was not his
Job was kept in the middle of distress
daniel was kept in the lions den
and you dear stain are kept safe by the same power and for the same reason in Christ.
all this is so the predominance of Christ can be shown in all things
not only were they all and we are all kept we will as all be vindicated.
1 Peter 4:12–19 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”
so we are back again to the now and not yet
now we suffer for Christ, then the blood paid will be avenged
God does not Avenge the blood of the wicked and reprobat, he avengees the righteous.
Psalm 7:14–16 “Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies. He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made. His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends.”
Psalm 34:19–22 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.”
Conclusion
Conclusion
beloved the is no condemnation in Christ;
in Christ the mountains drip with with sweet wine and the hills with milk.
in chirst there is cleansing water for the darkest places
in Christ every tempest tosses is for His Glory and your good
Benediction
Benediction
Numbers 6:24–26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
all Gods people say, Amen
References
References
[1] John Calvin and John Owen, Commentaries on the Twelve Minor Prophets, vol. 2 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 138–139.
[2] Ibid
Bibliography
Bibliography
John Calvin and John Owen, Commentaries on the Twelve Minor Prophets, vol. 2 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010)