No One Is Exempt

No One Is Exempt

EX:  Cotton Candy—sugar & artificial flavors and artificial colors

Background

   -Amos was a shepherd who is used by God—time of great prosperity

   -Neighbors of Israel judged & then Israel’s judgment announced

   -God’s Chosen—held to higher standard (Christ), will be judged

   -Holy God who sent Jesus to give us opp.; they deserve judgment

   -“The Lord God of hosts is His name”

   -He is NOT done with His people

It’s Been All About Them . . .

Amos 5:1-3—Their Funeral Song

   v.1-God sings a funeral song over His people—Israel

   v.2-she has fallen and will not get up—died in His mind

   -she was as pure as a virgin, but has given in to self & not pure

   -lies neglected on her land = God has abandoned her

   -none to raise her up—left as a disgrace to God

   v.3-only a tenth will return from battle—devastating to a town

   -God’s destruction will cause great heart ache—not worth it

Amos 5:4-7—Their Only Hope

   v.4-He does give them hope—SEEK Him to live

   -judgment is still coming and will be real

   -SEEK = resort to; no other choices

   -v.5-don’t resort to:

     Bethel = center of idolatry for Israel

     Gilgal = entrance to Promised Land, but now place of idols

                        and place of a cult now

     Beersheba = place of patriarch temple worship

   v.6-Seek the Lord to live

   -house of Joseph consumed by fire—Bethel will burn

   v.7-everyone guilty for turning justice to bitterness (wormwood)

   -cast righteousness to earth—don’t realize benefit of God’s right.

Amos 5:8-9—Their God Is Real

   v.8-God made the stars

   -Pleiades & Orion—brilliant cluster-hundreds stars-Job 9:9

   -changes dark to light and light to dark—crucifixion

   -calls for waters of sea to pour out—rain

   -“The Lord is His name”—only He can do these things

   v.9-He can use this power to destroy—complete

Amos 5:10-13—Their Consequences

   v.10-things have been so misused and messed up that:

     -judges in the gate are hated—righteous are not believed

     -poor forced to pay heavy fines for no good reason

   -their nice houses and vineyards will not be enjoyed in judg.

   v.12-God knows their sins are many and He knows them all

   v.13—prudent keeps silent—best for them not to defend sins

Amos 5:14-17—Their Fate Is Coming

   v.14—they claim God is with them in prosperity—but He isn’t

   -must start seeking good and not evil to live—seek Him

   v.15-in fact—HATE evil & LOVE good

   -establish justice in the gate—its rightful place

   -then God MAY be gracious to the remnant

   v.16-there will be great amount of death in the cities

   v.17-God will pass through and do what He says

It’s Been All About Them . . .

Now It’s Going To Be ALL About HIM!

1.  Don’t Forget Him In Your Daily Life

2.  Don’t Think He Doesn’t Care

3.  Do Pray For Our Country