Amos

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Amos

• Burden-bearer
• 31 413

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Review

• Amos was a shepherd and fig-gatherer called to be
  a prophet
• Sent mostly to the northern kingdom of Israel
• Though his message in chapters 1 2 was directed
  to 8 nations (including Israel)
• Now we move to the second section of the book
  Sermons against the sins of Israel
• Each sermon begins with Hear this word . . .
• There are three sermons
• Well look at the first two in this lesson

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Fellowship with God

• The nature of Israels fellowship with God
• Amos 31-3
• Began from Egypt
• God took special notice of them
• God revealed Himself and His law to them
• No other nation could claim such fellowship with
  God
• Therefore, the sins of Israel must be punished
• Other nations knew of Israels fellowship with
  God and might think God condoned the sins
• After all, to have fellowship, both parties have
  to be agreed about their path

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Fellowship with God

• Listening to warnings Amos 34-8
• If you hear a lion roar, you know he has caught
  prey
• If you see a bird caught in a trap, you know
  someone set the trap
• If you see a trap sprung, you know something
  sprung the trap
• If you hear a warning trumpet, you know the enemy
  is approaching
• God has been warning through His prophets
• God warns because He wants to have fellowship
• And Israel is no longer on the path with God
• You better pay attention and be afraid

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Fellowship with God

• Public Punishment for Sin Amos 39-11
• Outsiders will be witnesses to Israels
  punishment
• Because Israel did not do what was right
• Israel will be conquered, taken captive, and
  plundered

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Fellowship with God

• A remnant saved Amos 312-15
• As a shepherd might fight a lion to save a few
  scraps
• God will save a remnant (small portion) of Israel
  from the punishment He just described
• Those to be punished are described as living at
  ease on their couches
• Further expanded to mean materialistic
• Multiple houses
• Expensive houses
• Huge mansions

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Fellowship with God

• Lessons
• If you want to have fellowship with God . . .
• You have to walk His path, not your own
• If you get off His path
• He will give warning, in His word
• If you dont listen to the warning
• You will be punished
• The few who do listen will be restored to Gods
  fellowship
• Materialism is a sign that one is not in Gods
  favor
• Oddly most people think wealth is a sign of favor

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Facing Gods wrath

• The sins of Israel Amos 41
• Bashan was excellent pastureland east of Jordan
  River
• Well-known for its very fat cattle
• Israel, under Jeroboam II, was like Bashan cattle
• Overfed, under-worked
• They were already well-off and got more by
  oppressing those who had less
• And then celebrated their increased wealth

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Facing Gods wrath

• Gods reaction Amos 42-3
• Because of His holiness
• Need to remain separate from sin
• He will drag Israel way captive
• Painfully (like dragged by fishhooks)
• And He will destroy the walls of their cities
• This is Gods warning of the consequences of
  their sin

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Facing Gods wrath

• Sarcasm Amos 44-5
• Considering Gods warning, God sarcastically
  tells Israel to . . .
• Continue with idol worship (golden calves) in
  Bethel and Gilgal
• Even says to increase their tithes (to their
  idols) from weekly to every 3 days
• Might as well include leaven in their offerings
• Silly to be worried about whether the offering
  has leaven when they are worshipping idols
• Make a big fuss about your piety
• Because you love being thought religious
• If you are determined to ignore God, then you
  might as well completely ignore Him

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Facing Gods wrath

• God warned, but no repentance Amos 46-11
• He sent famine, no repentance
• He sent drought, no repentance
• He sent blight, mildew, locusts, no repentance
• He sent plague and war, no repentance
• He destroyed some of their cities, no repentance
• God had given them many warnings of their sin
• They had refused to repent, maybe even refused to
  acknowledge the warnings as from God

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Facing Gods wrath

• Prepare to meet your God Amos 412-13
• If you wont listen to His warnings
• If you wont repent of your sins
• Then get ready to meet God!
• He is the creator (omnipotent)
• He knows all your thoughts (omniscient)
• He can control nature (omnipotent)
• He is everywhere (omnipresent)
• He is Jehovah, God of hosts
• Are you truly ready to stand face-to-face with
  Him and give account of your actions?

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Facing Gods wrath

• Lessons
• God knows all our sins
• God has warned us, in His word, of the
  consequence of sin (Rom 623, etc)
• If you dont think you need to pay attention to
  Gods word, then you might as well stop
  pretending to follow it at all
• If you wont repent . . .
• Prepare to meet your God!

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Conclusion

• Are you in fellowship with God?
• Are you walking His path or going your own way?
• Are you more concerned with Gods word or with
  making money and accumulating material things?
• Are you listening to Gods word?
• Especially when He tells you that you are in sin
• Have you repented (returned to God)?
• Are you ready to meet your God?

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