Sermon Tone Analysis

Secular:

*   I chose Amos….

Because I wanted to bring an OT book to you… reminding you that the God of the OT is the God of the NT…

* That the problems in the OT are the problems in the NT

* And salvation in the OT is the salvation made more clear in the NT

* What I found was a book that resonated with the very age in which we live…

* We live in an age on the brink of the judgement of God

* In case you want to tune out in favour of a happier message…

* Your heart should bleed for those who face the wrath…

* And overwhelmed that you… the child of God… would know salvation

Biblical:

Amos 1:1 The words of Amos, who was among the sheepherders from Tekoa, which he envisioned in visions concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. 2 He said, "The LORD roars from Zion And from Jerusalem He utters His voice; And the shepherds' pasture grounds mourn, And the summit of Carmel dries up." 3 Thus says the LORD, "For three transgressions of Damascus and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because they threshed Gilead with implements of sharp iron. 4 "So I will send fire upon the house of Hazael And it will consume the citadels of Ben-hadad.

5 "I will also break the gate bar of Damascus, And cut off the inhabitant from the valley of Aven, And him who holds the sceptre, from Beth-eden; So the people of Aram will go exiled to Kir," Says the LORD.

6 Thus says the LORD, "For three transgressions of Gaza and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because they deported an entire population To deliver it up to Edom.

7 "So I will send fire upon the wall of Gaza And it will consume her citadels.

8 "I will also cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, And him who holds the scepter, from Ashkelon; I will even unleash My power upon Ekron, And the remnant of the Philistines will perish," Says the Lord GOD. 9 Thus says the LORD, "For three transgressions of Tyre and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because they delivered up an entire population to Edom And did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.

10 "So I will send fire upon the wall of Tyre And it will consume her citadels."

11 Thus says the LORD, "For three transgressions of Edom and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because he pursued his brother with the sword, While he stifled his compassion; His anger also tore continually, And he maintained his fury forever.

12 "So I will send fire upon Teman And it will consume the citadels of Bozrah." 13 Thus says the LORD, "For three transgressions of the sons of Ammon and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead In order to enlarge their borders.

14 "So I will kindle a fire on the wall of Rabbah And it will consume her citadels Amid war cries on the day of battle, And a storm on the day of tempest.

15 "Their king will go into exile, He and his princes together," says the LORD.

Amos 2:1 Thus says the LORD, "For three transgressions of Moab and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because he burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime. 2 "So I will send fire upon Moab And it will consume the citadels of Kerioth; And Moab will die amid tumult, With war cries and the sound of a trumpet.

3 "I will also cut off the judge from her midst And slay all her princes with him," says the LORD. 4 Thus says the LORD, "For three transgressions of Judah and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because they rejected the law of the LORD And have not kept His statutes; Their lies also have led them astray, Those after which their fathers walked.

5 "So I will send fire upon Judah And it will consume the citadels of Jerusalem."

6 Thus says the LORD, "For three transgressions of Israel and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because they sell the righteous for money And the needy for a pair of sandals.

7 "These who pant after the very dust of the earth on the head of the helpless Also turn aside the way of the humble; And a man and his father resort to the same girl In order to profane My holy name.

8 "On garments taken as pledges they stretch out beside every altar, And in the house of their God they drink the wine of those who have been fined.

9 "Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, Though his height was like the height of cedars And he was strong as the oaks; I even destroyed his fruit above and his root below.

10 "It was I who brought you up from the land of Egypt, And I led you in the wilderness forty years That you might take possession of the land of the Amorite.

11 "Then I raised up some of your sons to be prophets And some of your young men to be Nazirites.

Is this not so, O sons of Israel?" declares the LORD.

12 "But you made the Nazirites drink wine, And you commanded the prophets saying, 'You shall not prophesy!' 13 "Behold, I am weighted down beneath you As a wagon is weighted down when filled with sheaves.

14 "Flight will perish from the swift, And the stalwart will not strengthen his power, Nor the mighty man save his life.

15 "He who grasps the bow will not stand his ground, The swift of foot will not escape, Nor will he who rides the horse save his life.

16 "Even the bravest among the warriors will flee naked in that day," declares the LORD.

Personal:

* We go toe to toe for truth all the time…

* Especially if we are married…

* We defend “our truth”

* Become hostile sometimes

* Often over song lyrics… or movie plots… or recounting our history…

* It is time to take that passion and remind ourselves of the truth of God…

* His heart

* His passion

* His character

Bridge:

* The nations around Israel and Judah were judged for what they failed to acknowledge.

* Truth in conscience… truth in creation

*  The nations of Israel and Judah were judged for that which they did know but failed to do!

* Where are the voices of God’s people?

* Where is justice?