PREPARE TO MEET YOUR GOD

Key Verse: Amos 4:12

"Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel."

Next week we are going to have a spring conf. with the title, "Alive Again." Through this conf. we would like to meet our Lord Jesus more personally than ever, and thereby participate in his work of salvation for life. For this happen, we would like to get ourselves ready expecting a result. [This passage can be a good supplement for Jesus' parable of the prodigal son coming back home.] Note: the hidden message of the book of Amos is Jesus Christ, the burden carrier. [Amos in Hebrew means "the one who carries [sin] burden.]

** Two years before the earthquake (1:1-2)

Read Amos 1:1-2. The Scripture says that Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. (2Ch 26:21) How did he contract this disease? (2Ch 26:16) What does the Bible say about the way for sinners to come to God for life (not for disaster)? (John 3:18; Acts 4:12; Luke 5:12)

** His pride led him to his own downfall. He was doing well, all because of his trust in the Lord who in turn helped him to succeed in many areas. Yet, later he became proud, and ended up falling from grace. 

The point of his pride was that he thought he could come to God, the source of life, on his own, that is, without a mediator. 

Leprosy is symbolic of sin and its consequences. Pride leads man to remain condemned, having to die 'leprous' (that is in sin), as Jesus said in John 8:24. 

There are many religious people who attempt to reach God without a mediator. They are all proud, and their pride will keep them leprous. 

 

** Acts 4:12 says that it is only by focusing ourselves on the name Jesus that we can be saved from the power of sin and consequences of sin. It is through Jesus alone that we can come to God the Father to have life and have it to the full. Amos saw this through, so he prophesied, prompting people to meet God according to the provision the Lord has made.

 

** For three sins, even for four (1:3-9:10)

Skim through Amos Chapters 1-9 and think about all the nations under God's wrath. Amos 9:8 reads, "Surely the eyes of the Sovereign LORD are on the sinful kingdom. I will destroy it from the face of the earth--yet I will not totally destroy the house of Jacob," declares the LORD." What does "the house of Jacob" refer to? (2:10; 3:1; Gen 27:9)

** [Amos can be divided into three parts:

1) 1:1-2 introduction; 

2) 1:3-9:10, God's judgment on the unbelieving nations; 

i) 1:3-2:3 God's judgment on the Gentile nations 

ii) 2:4-9:10 God's judgment on the [still unbelieving] Israel

3) 9:11-15 God's vision to restore the family of God.]

House of Jacob refers to those who were given the access to the throne of grace [the grace of having fellowship with God] via the blood sacrifice of the lamb. Jacob is no different than Esau, in that like Esau Jacob was also worldly and in sin. Gen 27:9 gives us the preview of God's plan of salvation that comes through God's grace, that is, Jesus' blood sacrifice on a tree. [two goats correspond to the two criminals, Isaac corresponds to Jesus on a tree, praying for sinners. Consider also the two goats that needed to be offered on the Day of Atonement. Lev 16:5 where two goats refer to the two criminals hanging on a tree, one believing, the other not, and ram referring to Jesus, as seen in Gen 22:13.] 

Categorically the house of Jacob refers to those who have been given the opportunity to hear the gospel, which in turn obligates man to prepare himself to come to the fellowship with the Father through the Son. 

Amos 9:8 says that the Lord will "not" totally destroy the house of Jacob. Why? (4:12; 5:4; 2Ti 2:19) 

** When one sincerely repents (of his sins), admitting one's need for the Savior (or mediator), and turns to the Lord, by faith in Him, believing his power to cleans him, and save him into God's presence, he can escape from the impending judgment. 

This meaning is seen in the word "Israel" [repeated twice in 4:12] for Israel means the one who "strives" (sarisa in Hebrew, meaning making efforts to overcome himself and the world, reaching God's level, holding onto the hands of the Lord extended to save us via the Son Jesus Christ.] When one makes such efforts, the Lord blesses his faith, by giving Him the Spirit of God who in turn transforms him to overcome the power of sin, and remain obedient to the Lord. 

** I will restore David's tent (9:11-15)

Read 9:11-15. What does "tent" [as in David's fallen tent] refer to? What do the following words have in common: reaper; plowman; planter; grapes; new wine; vineyards; gardens; and fruit? What is the present status of the prophecy described in v. 11? (Acts 15:16)

** Tent - "intimate" fellowship among the members of family born of the same Father, all united in love and holiness.

** These words talk about the salvation of a soul into the presence of God, for joy.

** In the book of Acts, James, the chairperson for the Jerusalem Council reached a conclusion that Jesus came to restore the David's fallen tent, with the purpose to invite all peoples on earth to Himself through faith in the Lord Jesus, the Son.

The end.

---