‘Before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord’ (Acts 2:14-21)

‘Before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord’

 

 

[Acts 2:14-21]

 

 

How should we interpret the frequent large-scale natural disasters that have occurred in the 21st century?  Environmentalists attribute them to human exploitation and devastation of nature.  In contrast, Christian fundamentalists say that this world is drawing near to the end prophesied in the Bible.  Regarding this, we, as Gospel believers standing in the Reformed tradition, should understand that these two perspectives are not contradictory but should rather hear God's voice, which He intends to show to humanity through natural disasters, within the providence of God's nature and history, connecting them with each other.  God's warning through natural disasters can be categorized into three points:

 

(1)    It is a warning regarding personal sin.

 

God, through natural disasters, warns us that we should live righteous lives before Him in regard to nature and our neighbors.

 

(2)    It is a warning regarding societal sin.

 

The disaster of Sodom and Gomorrah was an ethical crime, and yet God sent down brimstone and fire from heaven to destroy the city.  Similarly, during the time when iniquity was rampant, God, through the flood, wiped out all the people of that era.

 

(3)    It is a sign of the end of times.

 

In Matthew 24, Jesus speaks of the signs of the times when the Son of Man will come.  These signs start with natural disasters.  When the disciples ask about the signs of the end of the world, Jesus responds as follows: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of birth pains." (Matthew 24:7-8).

 

In Acts 2:20, which we read today, it says, "the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord."  Here, considering the return of Jesus, let us think about how we should live before that day comes, and seek to hear God's voice.

 

First, "before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord," we should not get drunk.

 

Look at Ephesians 5:18a – “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. ….”  D

 

 

Today, in Acts 2:15, during the sermon of the Apostle Peter, it is stated that the 120 disciples who received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and were filled with the Holy Spirit did not get drunk.  The reason Peter mentioned this while preaching in front of devout Jews from various nations (v. 5) and a large crowd (v. 6) gathered for the Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended, was because among the gathered people, some were mocking and saying, "They have had too much wine” (v. 13).  However, Peter provided evidence that at "the third hour," which in our time is 9 o'clock in the morning, during a cultural practice of that time, and specifically on the day of Pentecost, it was entirely impossible for the 120 disciples to be drunk.

 

I came across an internet news article with the title ‘Korean-Americans, Drinking an Average of 12 Bottles of Soju per Person Last Year,’ where it reported that the total sales of soju (including Jinro and Doosan brands) in California in 2004 were 2.73 million bottles, which is a whopping 20% increase from the previous year's 2.28 million bottles.  This calculation was based on the sales figures of the leading brands Chamisul and San Soju, using data from the California Census of Korean-Americans (a total of 241,923 individuals), which averages out to about 12 bottles per person.  In church, a common question that arises when discussing alcohol is, "Where in the Bible does it say not to drink?"  Look at Luke 1:15: "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb."  So, I wrote a piece centered around Luke 1:15, titled "Let's Not Drink Soju!" and posted it on our church website.  I still remember being surprised when I was in Korea and saw a bottle of Chamisul Soju in the refrigerators of many young people's homes.  Some houses even had hard liquor.  However, as I spent more time in Korea and observed the drinking culture, it became clear how challenging it is to avoid drinking gatherings, and how difficult it is to say 'No' to a glass of alcohol.  In this context, it's worrisome to see young Christians seamlessly assimilating into the culture of drinking like their non-Christian peers.  My concern is this: are we not resolutely saying "No" to the proximity of alcohol in our lives, recognizing that indulging in it can dull our hearts?  Of course, one might argue that it's okay to have a drink or two, as the Bible does not explicitly forbid it.  However, it seems to me that there is a significant gap between alcohol and the pursuit of being filled with the Holy Spirit.  In other words, in the life of a Christian seeking the fullness of the Holy Spirit, alcohol is of no help.  Instead, it can be an obstacle.  This is why Paul advises, "Be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil" (Eph. 5:15-16).  The wisdom of the world might say, "Drink, and even get drunk to forget the stresses and worries of life," but God's wisdom advises us to be filled with the Holy Spirit and not with wine or liquor (Lk. 1:15).  In my opinion, we need to be cautious.  What do we need to be cautious of?  We must be cautious not to let our hearts be dulled by getting drunk.  "Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life" (21:34).  Even if, due to work or business, there may be situations where one feels compelled to drink, it's important to firmly say "No" to alcohol, being mindful of oneself and setting an example as a Christian in the world.

 

Second, "before the great and glorious day of the Lord arrives," we should not get drunk, but instead be filled with the Holy Spirit.

 

Look at Ephesians 5:18: "...but be filled with the Spirit."  When we look at Acts 2:17-18, during Peter's sermon, it proclaims the fulfillment of the prophecy of the prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-32), which speaks of pouring out the Holy Spirit, not the disciples getting drunk and speaking in various languages, as the 120 disciples did.  What Peter emphasized by using this prophecy from Joel was that the declaration of declaring the mighty works of God in the various languages of the nations witnessed by the large crowd (Acts 2:11) was not limited to the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy, but rather, it extended to "all people" (ve. 17), encompassing sons, daughters, young men, old men, male and female servants, and all social strata receiving the Holy Spirit through the Pentecostal outpouring.  The phenomenon that occurs when people of all strata receive the pouring of the Holy Spirit is as Joel the prophet stated: 'they will prophesy,' 'see visions,' and 'dream dreams.'  This is akin to the Old Testament prophets receiving God's word through dreams or visions and proclaiming it to God's people.  In the Pentecostal outpouring on that day, God's people became prophets, testifying about the astounding work of God, namely the redemption event of Jesus Christ (Yoo).

 

We must all live a life exalting and testifying about Jesus by receiving the fullness of the Holy Spirit.  In the book ‘Those who are called do not get discouraged,’ Pastor Han Heum Ok said the following: ‘Perhaps you know you're a sinner but continue to commit certain sins.  Then you need to receive the Holy Spirit.  Is your heart willing, but your flesh is weak, making it difficult to obey?  Then you need to receive the Holy Spirit.  Is worship becoming tedious?  Is there a lack of joy in praising and giving thanks?  Then you need to receive the Holy Spirit.  Is it difficult to listen to the Word? ...  Is your mouth heavy, making prayer a struggle?  Then you need to receive the Holy Spirit.  Are you serving diligently but your spirit feels constricted and thirsty?  Then you need to receive the Holy Spirit. ...  Is evangelizing a challenge?  Is there no burning compassion for dying souls?  Then you need to receive the Holy Spirit. ...  Regardless of the reason, you need to receive the Holy Spirit’(Ok).  So, how do we go about receiving the fullness of the Holy Spirit?

 

(1)    We must earnestly desire the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

Pastor Lloyd Jones emphasized that a sincere desire is necessary to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.  This means being in a state conducive to receiving the fullness of the Spirit when we have a genuine desire to be filled along with our consecration.  This desire should include a willingness for God to judge and remove sin from our lives.  It signifies a desire to separate oneself from the ways and evil systems of the world, seeking to die to sin and live for God in our daily lives.  Additionally, it implies a desire to bear the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.  The fullness of the Spirit, brought about by the Holy Spirit, is truly given to those who thirst for it, to those who are prepared to pay the price, and to those who are willing to forsake all else.  Jesus also said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Mt. 5:6).  One crucial point to note is that the genuine desire to be controlled by the Spirit can only be achieved through the richness of prayer and the Word.  The reason it's called the fullness of the Spirit is precisely for this reason.  A desire lacking in the follow-through of prayer and the Word is merely a superficial and intellectual aspiration.

 

(2)    We must confess our sins.

 

Stott mentioned that when the grace of the Holy Spirit's fullness is lost, it can be restored through repentance and prayer.  He noted that the Holy Spirit is grieved by sin (Eph. 4:30) and ceases to fill the sinner.  Repentance was stated as the only way to be filled again.  Leman Strauss emphasized the need for repentance, stating that those who are rude, unkind, ungracious, unforgiving, and unthankful are not filled with the Spirit.  He asserted that a believer who repents of their sins, puts on the garments of holiness, and lives truthfully is sensitive to the Spirit and is therefore a Spirit-filled believer.  The Holy Spirit cannot rule over a sinner who does not hear the Spirit's reprimand within them and does not abandon their sin.  It can be understood in this sense that those who resist the Spirit will never receive forgiveness.

 

(3)    We must seek.

 

If we are to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit, we must seek it.  The extent to which the Spirit dwells in us depends on whether we seek Him in faith.  This is both our duty and God's way.  When we earnestly seek the Spirit and are filled with Him, we come to know that God is the One who sent Him for us to seek.  D.L. Moody also stated that one should examine oneself, confess all known sin and shortcomings, yield oneself wholly to God in obedience to the leading of the Spirit, and then seek the fullness of the Spirit according to Luke 11:13 and said that after Pentecost, Christians sought the Holy Spirit alone.

 

(4)    We must walk in faith.

 

All blessings in Christianity come to us through faith.  By believing in Christ as our Savior, we are justified from sin, and by believing in Him as our Savior, we are sanctified from the power of sin.  Likewise, the fuller indwelling of the Spirit of holiness in us is received not through works, but through faith.  While it is true that the Spirit helps us in our weakness and prays for us, it is through faith that we actively seek the Spirit's presence and power in our lives.  Faith is the means by which we possess the Spirit and Christ.  Rene Pache explained that the first step in being filled with the Spirit is having faith.  This involves (a) believing that we must first believe in Jesus Christ and look to Him for everything, (b) believing that Christ desires to dwell within us through the Spirit, and (c) believing that Christ desires to fill us with the Spirit. (d) We must obey God's Word.  Many people fail to receive the fullness of the Spirit due to this condition, while many others experience the fullness of the Spirit through this condition more than any other.  Torrey emphasizes obedience as one of the steps in receiving the fullness of the Spirit.  He states that when he speaks of obedience, he is referring not only to receiving Jesus as our Savior but also to obeying in everything, doing what God commands.  The heart of obedience lies in the will.  Surrendering our will is considered one of the most fundamental conditions for receiving the fullness of the Spirit.  Ultimately, the fullness of the Spirit, which signifies being under the Spirit's control, is experienced when we obey the Spirit's promptings and leadings, and the results manifest themselves.  Waiting for the Spirit to do everything without a willing heart and obedient will is foolish, as it fails to recognize the Spirit's personality.  Only personal obedience allows for the fullness of the Spirit. Leman Strauss stated, ‘An empty heart is the first condition for the fullness of the Spirit, and when we yield ourselves completely in submission to God's Word, God will fill us with His Spirit.’  The obedience of the disciples who obeyed Jesus' final commandment to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the Spirit resulted in them being filled with the Spirit, demonstrating that obedience to Christ's commands is the key to the fullness of the Spirit (Internet).

 

 

            Third, "before the great and glorious day of the Lord arrives," we must call upon the name of the Lord.

 

                Look at Acts 2:21 today: "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."  In today's passage, Acts 2:19-20, during Peter's sermon, Joel's prophecy about the signs of the last days is mentioned.  "Blood, fire, and billows of smoke" refer to many wars, and "the sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood" signify various expressions of God's wrath, indicating that there will be disasters.  The purpose of these many wars and disasters is to lead people back to the gospel of Christ (Park).  Are you familiar with the movie "The Day after Tomorrow" (released worldwide in May 2004)?  It is a Hollywood film depicting a catastrophe in which global warming causes the polar ice caps to melt at an alarming rate, leading to a new ice age covering the entire Northern Hemisphere.  This results in most of the Northern Hemisphere becoming uninhabitable.  Americans, in a bid to survive, migrate en masse to Mexico, facing a tragic situation due to the closure of Mexico's borders.  According to Reuters on May 26, 2004, the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA), a gathering of scientists from eight countries near the Arctic studying Arctic climate, released a massive 1,800-page report stating, ‘Arctic ice caps are melting at an alarming rate, and the temperature rise in the Arctic is two to three times higher than the global average, raising concerns of a major disaster.’  It has been confirmed that Arctic ice caps have decreased by a third over the past 30 years.  If this trend continues, it is expected that all Arctic ice caps will disappear before the end of the 21st century.  Global warming continues unabated.  The increase in the size and frequency of hurricanes, such as Katrina, which turned the southern United States into a wasteland, is attributed to global warming.  The evidence of warming is more pronounced in the Arctic" (Internet).

 

                The great and glorious day of the Lord will come.  Along with the judgment of the Lord, there will be the salvation of the Lord.  For those who do not believe in Jesus, it will be a day of judgment, but for us who believe and receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, it will be a day of salvation. "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (v. 21).

 

                God gives warnings and allows for delays.  In the history of humanity, the flood was an irreversible disaster, but God gave a sufficient warning and grace period.  God first warned Noah, who found favor in His eyes (Gen. 6:12).  Just as in the case of Noah, God instructed him to build an ark in preparation for the flood and allowed for a sufficient period to carry out this task.  This period was an opportunity for Noah to prepare for the salvation from the flood, and it was also a sufficient time for the people of that time to turn back to God from their sins.  By faith, Noah, warned of things not yet seen, in godly fear, built an ark to save his household (Heb. 11:7).  However, the rebellious humanity of that time, while God was patient and waited for a long time, perished due to disobedience (1 Pet. 3:20) (Internet).  Therefore, before the great and glorious day of the Lord arrives, we must not indulge in drunkenness.  Furthermore, before the great and glorious day of the Lord arrives, we must receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit instead of becoming drunk.  And before the great and glorious day of the Lord arrives, we must call upon the name of the Lord.  Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anticipating and waiting for the great and glorious day of the Lord,

 

 

 

 

James Kim

(Praying for the reception of the fullness of the Holy Spirit without indulging in drunkenness)