Amos 7:10-17
Martydom of Bob Marriott- GC 26yo
Alternate opening: retrofitting for eathquake
You cannot stop it from coming, but you can beware and ready your foundations
Intro
-Amos’s Prophesy begins with the God of Israel judging Israel’s enemies1:2ff.
-You can hear Israel cheering along, in chapters 1 and 2, as Amos lays out God’s judgment on Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab and even Judah.
-Amos 2:6 the tables turn and Amos receives a hard message to preach. Israel’s next. The majority of his book focuses on Israel’s judgment.
-Amos was called to bring the hard truths of God’s word to a rebellious nation. So are we.
SERMON TITLE: BRING IT, BUT BEWARE (Amos 7:10-17)
Amos brings it: The Prophecy of 7:7-9
God’s patience is out v7-8
Plumb line= 5:24, 6:12 Justice and righteousness
Is 28:14-17 same standard when God later judge Judah
Naming names and institutions
Religiously: Bethel is done for v9
Political: Jeroboam’s house is toast v9
Amos was commissioned to bring God’s hard truth to a hostile audience. He brought it and he brought it well. Let’s consider Amos as an example for ourselves.
Proposition:
We must understand the three dangers of preaching, and three prerequisites for preaching, the hard truths of God’s word with boldness.
Amos 7:10-13 Three dangers of preaching hard truth with boldness.
Danger 1) When you bring it, Beware of Cannibals: The religious are often the most bloodthirsty enemies of the truth.
Explanation
Experienced by Amos: v10 Amaziah the Priest of Bethel, Amaziah complains to Jeroboam but he doesn’t even respond
Illustration
Catholics in Jordan reporting evangelicals to the king
Argumentation
Promised by Jesus
John 16:2 (NASB95)
2 “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God.”
Proved: Jesus and Jews, Paul and the idolaters, Christians and Muslims ect
Application
Beware of Cannibals: the religious aren’t friends of the truth
Danger 2) When you bring it, Beware of Strawmen: Enemies of the truth will misrepresent your message.
Explanation
V10 Amos accused of “conspiracy” or co-ordinated rebellion
V11 “Amos says”, NO God says
Illustration
Jesus accused before Pilate
Luke 23:1-2 (NASB95)
… they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.”
Application
-Know that your teaching will be misrepresented.
-Be careful what you say and really be careful what you write.
-Don’t discuss volatile matters over email, have them call you
-Mama used to say “don’t speak before you think.” I say “Dont blog before you think”
Beware of Strawmen: Enemies of the truth will misrepresent your message.
Danger 3) When you bring it, Beware of Assassins: When men don’t like the message, beware, the messenger’s reputation is first on the hit-list
Explanation
Amaziah accuses Amos of being motivate by greed
-v.12 Prophet for profit
Argumentation
-This was Business and a Turf issue:
-Bethel was a great example of “religion for profit and power”
Bethel was established to secure profit and power by Jeroboam the 1st 150 yrs before in 1st Kings 12:25-32
Unabashedly a center of man made religion
Bethel is the example of injustice and righteousness (5:6-7)
Amaziah admits that his business of man made religion
-v13 “The kings sanctuary” Its admittedly Jeroboam II’s (781-753bc) sanctuary
Illustration
-Apostle Paul had his character attacked on many fronts. We see the evidence of these attacks in Paul’s self defense speeches throughout the epistles
-Just in 1 Thessalonians 2:1-10 you see evidence of many accusations:
“…we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition. 3 For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts. 5 For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness— 6 nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority…. 9 For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers…”
Application
-?Will your reputation withstand character assassination attempts?
-Safeguard yourself by a good track record
1 Peter 3:13-16 (NASB95)
13 Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; 16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.”
When you bring it, Beware of Assassins: When men don’t like the message, beware, the messenger’s reputation is first on the hit-list
Transition: Do you plan to bring the hard truths of God’s word with boldness to a hostile generation? Bring it! But BEWARE. Amos had a hard decision to make at this point. He had the cannibals, Strawn men and assassins talking their best shots. He had been called out by Amaziah and kicked out of Bethel. What would you do in his shoes? Hit the road or bring it? Amos chose to preach the hard truths of God with boldness. We have been called to bring the hard truths to a hostile audience. Are you going to hit the road or bring it? The dangers are many so, if you’re going to bring it, learn from Amos’s example. Learn from Amos three prerequisites for preaching hard truth with boldness.
Amos 7:14-17 Three prerequisites for preaching hard truth with boldness
Prerequisite 1) When you bring it, Be anchored in Godly motives (Amos 7:14-15)
Explained
Impure motives was the primary attack upon Amos
His Answer V14. not a pro or trained
“Son of the prophets” 10x in 2 kgs which was extant for 200 before Amos
Argument
1 Peter 5:1-2 (NASB95)
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; (also 1 tim 3:8 deacons, Titus 1:7 overseers)
Application
- Develop and maintain a clear track record of integrity of motivation
-Be able to say like Paul to the Thessalonians
10 You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers…(1 Thess 2:10)
If you are going to bring the world with boldness. you must Be anchored in pure motivations
Prerequisite 2) When you bring it, Be anchored in God’s calling: (Amos 7:15)
Explanation
Amos was a God called man “the LORD” did it 2x in v15
Argument
Assurance of God calling to the NT Preacher doesn’t come from direct revelation like Amos
Qualification for Elders (1 Tim 3 and Titus 1)
Confirmation by the local church
-1 Timothy 3:10 (NASB95)
Following the list of qualifications for Elders and Deacons
10 These men must also (like Elders) first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.”
-Who does the testing or examining? The church
Mayhue “the church recognizes ordained men when their ministerial desires, godly life, and giftedness for ministry match the biblical standards” [1]
Application
Examine you life. We are about done here. Are you there?
Has your local church put their stamp of approval on your ministry? If yes, how? If no, why not?
If you are going to bring the hard truths of God’s word with boldness and authority you must Be anchored in God’s calling
Prerequisite 3) When you bring it, Be anchored in God’s message: (Amos 7:15-17)
Explanation
-V15, 16, 17 Amos knew that his message was God’s message
-Galatians 1:11-12 (NASB95)
11“For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.”
-v16,17 Amos didn’t change his message under pressure
Illustration
Dilemma: President of JETS asked to sign an ecumenical statement. Problem: No civil rights, king say shut down, chains on door next day. Week before, a construction accident collapses one side of a 4-story building at the new campus.
Argumentation
Application
-We have received the revelation of the Jesus Christ in an even more reliable form: we have the scriptures.
2 Peter 1:16-19 “We have the prophetic word more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. 20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”
Don’t be tempted by the social pressures that you face to change the message.
If you are going to bring the hard truths of God’s word with boldness and authority you must Be anchored in God’s message
Conclusion
Amos was faced with bringing hard truths to a hostile audience. He brought it with boldness. We can learn a great deal from him today. We are here to bring the hard truths of God’s word to our generation with boldness. As we bring it, we must beware. Beware of cannibals: The religious are often the most bloodthirsty enemies of the truth. Beware of straw men: Enemies of the truth will misrepresent your message. Beware of Assassins: When men don’t like the message, beware, the messenger’s reputation is first on the hit-list.
Men we will face opposition when we walk out these doors and begin to preach the hard truths of God’s word. But, like Amos, we can bring it with boldness. Remember Amos three prerequisites: Be anchored in Godly motives, be anchored in God’s calling and be anchored in God’s message.
Bring it! But Beware!
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[1]John MacArthur, F., Jr, Richard Mayhue and Robert Thomas, L., Rediscovering Pastoral Ministry : Shaping Contemporary Ministry With Biblical Mandates, Electronic ed., Logos Library Systems (Dallas: Word Pub., 1995), 134.