The Twelve: God has spoken!
The Book of Amos
Here's a link to the sermon video: http://fellowshipjoplin.org/index.php/sermons
The Bible may not have ever been on the New York Times Best Seller List, but - it’s without a doubt, the most important book ever. Period. It’s not like any other book. No other book is God’s Word.
No other book is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword... judging the thoughts and intentions of the heart. No other book is the inspired, inerrant, authoritative, sufficient Word of God.
Few people pay attention to Amos, why? One reason is that it takes some work to understand, but also I think it’s because it’s too convicting. Amos speaks of social injustice, using other people, and the religion of “going through the motions...”
Things we’ve all done at one point or another.
Always remember: The Centrality of Christ
We desire for Christ to be preeminent in everything. Even in Amos.
• The goal is your sanctification
• The Old Testament is the riddle to which Jesus Christ is the answer.
The Minor Prophets emphasize:
1. The Sovereignty of God
2. The Holiness of God
3. The Love of God
Remember these things as we walk through Amos.
The Overall Message of Amos:
God judges injustice and masks!
Injustice - How we treat others. Masks - The religious masks we wear.
• Does God care about the details of our lives?
Does He care when someone is mean to me? When someone’s actions cause me to suffer?
“Cosmic Top Theology” sayS that God created the universe, set things in motion, then stepped back to watch it.
• Does God care about your life? My life?
Here’s a question I recently heard a Pastor ask: Do you really want God to care?
What about when YOU are the mis-treater?
What about when YOU cause the suffering of someone else?
When You talk about someone else behind their back?
Well I think He does. And I think that the book of Amos shows us that very clearly.
• Amos was: an ordinary guy
He was a shepherd from Tekoa. A shepherd and a farmer.
An ordinary guy that God called to bring an important message.
Lesson: God uses the insignificant to bring glory to Himself
1 Corinthians 1:26-29
Three of the most significant OT Figures came from humble beginnings:
Abraham - He was a pagan, but became the father of a nation.
Moses - Born to slaves. God used him to give the law. He became the main figure of the Exodus.
David - Nobody (including his family) expected anything from him. He became Israel’s greatest king.
Don’t think that God can’t use you to do something great.
Three Stops
1. The Judge & Judged 1:1-3:8
Jereboam, the King of the North didn’t want to risk his people becoming loyal to Rehoboam (the King of the Southern Kingdom) so he set up some alternate places for them to worship. This was, in fact, an abomination to God.
.
• The LORD is the one sending the message. (the Judge)
Here’s how we know that God is concerned with the details of our lives:
Amos 1:2 – The Lord roars from Zion and utters his voice from Jerusalem;
again in 3:8 – The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who can but prophesy?”
The Lord is the Lion, the main character. A Lion roars when it attacks.
This is the roar of a pursuing lion. He roars. He’s interested in what’s going on (And He is not happy).
The people of Israel are the judged, especially their leaders.
• Ignorance of God, intentional or not, does not diminish your accountability to Him.
Amos begins with a list of other countries who have sinned and are under condemnation.
• The whole world is accountable to the One True God.
All people are the judged, not just Israel. After judging the nations, and Judah (Amos 2:4), Amos turns his focus to Israel (Amos 2:7) This just got real personal. He’s definitely got their attention now.
Have you ever been misquoted? Someone says Oh, I heard what you said......
• That’s NOT what I said...
We can only imagine how Amos’ prophecy would have been received. 7:9 was the last straw. the sanctuaries? OK now enough! Amaziah, the priest, sends a message to the king.
He said: Amos is raising a conspiracy against you. (not true) He said you’re going to die (again, not true).
Here’s something we see that we all know too well:
You can talk about religion and even God and Jesus as long as you’re vague. And broad generalities that everyone likes.
God is love. Jesus died for us. Come just as you are, there’s room at the cross. That’s fine. But talk about sin. Judgment. Wrath. Specific sins? Ouch! Then you’re intolerant. A bigot.
Jesus is the ONLY way? How narrow-minded of you to think that.
• The Religious Show doesn’t impress God.
It didn’t then - it doesn’t now. Just showing up at church on Sunday and not living a life pointed toward the glory of God is a Religious Show. Don’t do that.
Amos 5:21-22 – I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
22 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them.
23 Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen.
God is the judge. The people are being judged and especially their leaders.
2. The Judgment 3:9-6:14
(the focus of God’s judgment)
God will judge HIs people. They are not immune to judgment as “His People”
Israel was prosperous, but instead of pointing to God, they decided that they earned them and deserved them.
• Pride feeds so many other sins.
Now the prophecy gets really personal:
4:1-3 – “Hear this word, you cows of Bashan...
This was an indictment of their lazy, luxurious, self-indulgent lifestyles.
The women who were leaders didn’t care about others. But it didn’t stop there -
6:1-7 – Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, ...the notable men of the first of the nations.
The leaders aren’t worried about the problems. They’re lazy, secure. They don’t grieve - over the ruin of God’s people. They’ll be the first to go into exile.
They thought as long as they were going through the motions - that they were good and they didn’t have to worry about their sin. (this is so easy to do)
• We’re really good at convincing ourselves that we’re good with God while continuing in our sin.
In truth - continuing in our sin should be the first thing that tells us we’re probably not good with God.
He then says, in 4:12-13 – prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”
This is pretty intense. It’s no passing comment. It’s an active threat.
You’ve ignored the warnings. They should be scared at this point. The Lion roars!
• Have you ignored any of the warnings God has sent your way?
No matter how popular you are, how powerful, it won’t help you.
Because God looks on the inside.
3. The Conclusion 7:1-9:15
No one will escape God’s judgment. Don’t think that God cannot or will not follow through.
He is God. He only needs to touch the earth and it dissolves.
• You cannot escape God’s judgment.
To whom much is given, much is required - nowhere is this idea more clearly put forth.
1 Peter 4:17 – 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?
Because God has taken Israel into a place of intimacy with Himself, He will all the more assuredly visit upon her head all her iniquities.
• The nearer we are to the Lord in relationship, the more faithfulness is required of us.
Well, I know it’s a sin. I know I shouldn’t do it, but.....
The truth is you love your sin more than you hate it and you’ve forgotten that God hates ALL sin, not just the “BIG” ones that YOU have decided are big. Oh - I would never do any of that stuff. I’m a Christian! Well Christian, what did you watch on TV last night? Did it glorify sin? Were you using sin as entertainment?
Being near to God (here in church - growing up in church) is a Great blessing, but along with that comes the responsibility of obedience to His Word
The most tragic thing of all in the judgment God passed on them is
8:11 – “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord God, “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.
It is such a great gift to hear God’s Word. Don’t ever be here and not hear it.
Don’t try to convince yourself that because you’re here. All the other stuff doesn’t matter. Because it does.
Does God care about the details of your life?
Yes - He does. He cares so much that He sent His Son to do what you couldn’t.
You cannot escape God’s judgment. But Christ - took the punishment, the judgment - the wrath - that God has toward all sin. And in the cross we see how serious God is about sin. About His holiness.
His wrath was poured out on Jesus for all those who believe in Him.
You cannot escape God’s judgment, but if you have repented of your sins, turned to Him, and trust in, rely on, and cling to Christ alone - that judgment - that wrath is poured out on Jesus instead of you.
He made Him to be sin who knew no sin
• Does God care?
Yes - He cares so much that He will judge.
The real question is do YOU care? Do you care that God will judge Do you care that you have offended a holy God with your sin? Will you repent and turn from your sin and trust in Christ alone?
Your mask won’t save you.
Reflection Questions:
• Amos 3:3 – Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?
God will not walk together with you when you are in sin. To walk together with God, you have to agree with Him.
Walking with God requires confession of sin. A life that is worthy of the Gospel. An obedient life.
• Amos 3: 4 – Does a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Does a young lion cry out from his den, if he has taken nothing?
The threats of the prophet are the result of the sinful state of the nation.
Are you under threat of punishment? Or does your life reflect the holiness that God requires?
• verse 5 – Does a snare spring up from the ground, when it has taken nothing?
Where is your sin leading you? God takes it seriously. It won’t go unnoticed. If you are constantly looking for sin and eliminating it, you don’t need to worry about snares. We cast of the sin that so easily entangles so that we can run the race with endurance.
• How does your life give testimony to God’s character?
Do others see God’s compassion and mercy and justice in the way you life your life? If you were their only example, how would someone describe God?
• Are you living a life giving or taking?
The people of Israel were taking. The women - the cows - taking. The men - taking.
Jesus was the ultimate example of giving.
• Are you wearing a mask, or is it genuine?
So many get up, put their mask on, come to church, go through the motions, go home, and hang up the mask for next week. It’s such a part of your routine, you don’t even think about it.
When the transforming work of the Spirit of God comes up against our lives, we become more like Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
• Does your life point to Christ?
• What would Amos say to you?
No comments:
Post a Comment