He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear
Amos 3:8 “The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?”
Amos was a man, who was content to dwell in Judah. He was a herdsman and a gatherer of sycomore fruit…which is like figs.
Yet he was called to go up to Israel,…the ten tribes which had separated themselves from Judah, and had set up golden calves…calling them “God” in Bethel and Dan.
Amos’ testimony was:
Amos 7:15-16 “And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto My people Israel.
Now therefore hear thou the word of the Lord:…”
The Lord “took” me. He got my attention,…and told me to do this. I will therefore speak His Words to Israel. (And we all know Amos was threatened because of this.)
Amos 3:8 “The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?”
The person who knows no fear, is out of touch with spiritual reality….for…
Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding.”
Fear is reverential awe. It places God as God, and ourselves as His servants. This is what happened to Amos…Amos feared the Lord…..and so he could pass the message of the Lord on to Israel.
Israel knew about the true God….yet went along in worshiping the golden calves….and God wanted them awakened and warned about continuing in this evil.
(Paul said, “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;…” 2 Corinthians 5:11. And what is this “terror”?
2 Corinthians 5:9 “Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him.” This is what made Paul afraid….that he might not please the Lord Jesus, Who loved him and saved him!)
And if any can shake their fist in the face of God, and by their actions say….”I will not!”….
Then it is certain that they have not known the beginning of Wisdom….for they have not known the fear of the Lord.
Let me explain, what happens when you come to “fear the Lord”.
First, there is a bowing of the heart.
Second, there is a desire placed within our hearts….not to run away….but to come closer to the Lord.
Third, there is a sight given of all that hinders our coming close to the Lord….and when confession is made…a seeking to keep all that would come between….out of our lives.
Fourth, there is a growing zealousness given to do all that pleases Him…. who has sought me…and brought me closer to Himself.
This is the fear of the Lord….and worship is diffused throughout our everyday lives….for “the knowledge of the Holy is understanding.” (Prov. 9:10)
God is Sovereign! And all things work to His Sovereign Pleasure.
We would want to change this….or that. He wills to change us.
We often want deliverance out of our circumstances. He wants to deliver us in our circumstances…and through them.
Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to recieve glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.”
This is one of my husband’s favorite verses….because it was given to him at a time when he was questioning some things which had happened….which even might happen…
….and it focused his eyes….not on himself, or these things…but on the Lord…the Creator and Sustainer of everything!
So he asked….and we should all ask….
What is Thy pleasure in these circumstances?
Where I am concerned…what is Your pleasure for me?
What lesson would You teach me…how can I honor You, in these circumstances?
Amos 3:8 “The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?”
“Speak My Word faithfully.” was the Lord’s answer.
And the answer is the same for all of us. We can never tell the end of a matter….we have but to speak HIs Word….and leave the results to the Lord….as Amos did.
Three times in the fifth chapter of Amos….the Lord says to “Seek” Him…..that ye shall live. (Amos 5:4, 6, 8) “For thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel, Seek ye Me, and ye shall live:”
The fourth time…the Lord says “Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live:…”
Nowhere is there true life, without Christ Jesus the Lord, in that life.
(I want to say here, that Israel, at this time was a prosperous nation. Wicked but prosperous. But Amos preached faithfully….and many were moved at his preaching,…but there was no true repenting of the nation.
Less than seventy years later….all Israel was taken away out of their land…removed for the sins Amos preached to them about! 2 Kings 17:7-15)
And what is it that the Lord says to all us in Laodicea? For His Words are there for us….
Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”
What are we to repent from? Our lukewarmness (Revelation 3:16)….which is an illistration of our indifference to Christ’s commands for our lives.
But He rebukes,….and He chastens….that He will have His godly remnant in this age…as in all others.
He wants us zealous….boiling hot for Him. Our hearts bubbling over with the desire to give glory and honor and praise to the One Who still calls us onward.
It only comes by repenting of that which holds us back….that which steals our hearts affection from HIm.
Be zealous therefore and repent.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 