God Is Still God

A Nation In Trouble:  God Is Still God

Many times Christians come to think that when things are not going well or the way we want them to that God has abandoned us or is just not listening.  Some times, He may just simply be trying to get our attention.

Background

   -Amos was a sheepherder, not a professional—750 BC

   -Israel had become very prosperous—led to luxury & entitlement

     -which led people to THINK they didn’t need God

   -Amos is WARNING of God’s coming judgment—just a messenger

   -2 weeks ago—7 nations announced judgment—God is serious

     -God is serious about sin of His people—so much so He sent Jesus

   -Last week:  God’s chosen are not exempt—higher standard is Jesus

     -God was announcing judgment on His own

Amos 4:1-13

   {Treasure}

His Holiness Prevails—v. 1-3

   -He condemns the “cows of Bashan”—women using wrong heart

     -they oppressed the poor & crushed the needy

     -bossed their husbands = lords or master --but not really

   -He swore by His holiness = apartness; sacredness

     -Lev. 10:3—Moses told Aaron God was to be treated as holy

   -Because He is holy, He will act:

     -Assyrians will lead them out by meat hooks, fish hooks, & cast

            to Harmon—garbage dump—dead bodies there

     -God’s judgment is thorough

His Eyes See Their Mockery—v. 4-5

   -their actions do not go unnoticed & are not ignored

   -He invites them to continue in their sin since they are so satisfied

   -They had perverted His Laws to their intentions:

     -enter Bethel and Gilgal and continue to worship idols—not Him?

     -bring sacrifices every morning to false gods—no tithe to God?

     -offer tithes every 3 days—if you think that will help?

     -give thank offerings—thanking & praising a god?

     -proclaiming freewill offerings—extra from inner devotion to God

     -they seem to love to do this, because they keep on—but not to Him

   -God is serious about His own being devoted to Him

     -Jesus paid the price for our sin—we owe Him everything—life!

Their Eyes Are Closed—v. 6-11

   -over and over again God had given them warnings and cautions

   -over and over they did not pay attention to Him—only themselves

   v.6—cleanness of teeth & lack of break—famine

     -still have not returned to Him

   v. 7-8—withheld rain, especially near harvest--drought

     -send rain on one city but not another

     -weakly they staggered to those who had the rain—never enough

     -still would not return

   v. 9—sent scorching wind and bacteria to inhibit growth of crops

     -sent caterpillar to devour the crops

     -gardens, vineyards, fig trees, & olive trees—nothing left alone

     -still have not returned to God

   v. 10—sent a plague among them like in Egypt—horrible suffering

     -young men and their horses killed by the enemies

     -death of the people was so much that their city smelled of it

     -yet still have not returned to God

   v. 11—many of their cities destroyed by enemy like Sod. & Gomorr.

     -like firebrand snatched from flame—just before it burns up

     -yet still have not returned to Him

His Name Is Still God—v. 12-13

   v. 12—God declares that He will act & He certainly will

     -“prepare to meet your God”

     EX:  when parents threaten—“prepare to meet your maker!”

   v. 13—A Reminder that He is still God

     -forms mountains

     -creates the wind

     -lets man know His thoughts

     -makes light into darkness—{on the cross}

     -walks on the high places of the earth—sees it all

     “The Lord God of hosts is His name.”

     -God is still God—recognize Him & treat Him as such