Week 6 - Warning Against a Relaxed and Comfortable Life

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DECLARATION:

Ephesians 2:20–22 (ESV)

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

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We are joined together by union with Christ, we are growing, and we are a dwelling place of God by his Spirit.

Prayer for...

INTRODUCTION:

Review:

WHY?…

TODAY: Warning against a laid back life and a false confidence about the future when the justice and righteousness of God is lacking!

Opening Scripture:

Warning Against a Relaxed Life and Comfortable Life

Amos 6:1-7 “1 “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes! 2 Pass over to Calneh, and see, and from there go to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Or is their territory greater than your territory, 3 O you who put far away the day of disaster and bring near the seat of violence? 4 “Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, 5 who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music, 6 who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! 7 Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile, and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away.””

1) Laid back life

2) False confidence of the future

v. 6 “wine in bowls” is not just excessive drinking but perhaps associated with cultic activity (the “fines oils” perhaps were also for cultic activity).

OPTIONAL v. 6 “Joseph” (cf. Amos 5:6, 15) - stands for the northern kingdom (Jacob who is later called Israel had a fav. son named Joseph who got the special coat AND THUS THIS MAY BE A REFERENCE TO THE SPECIAL PLACE ISRAEL THOUGHT THEY HAD.)

v. 7 “stretch themselves out” is referencing a funeral meal (also tied to cultic activity).

Elements found in Extra biblical references for funerals meals include: meat, wine, music, anointing, and lounging (IVPBBC:OT).

Coming Judgment

Amos 6:8-14 “8 The Lord God has sworn by himself, declares the Lord, the God of hosts: “I abhor the pride of Jacob and hate his strongholds, and I will deliver up the city and all that is in it.” 9 And if ten men remain in one house, they shall die. 10 And when one’s relative, the one who anoints him for burial, shall take him up to bring the bones out of the house, and shall say to him who is in the innermost parts of the house, “Is there still anyone with you?” he shall say, “No”; and he shall say, “Silence! We must not mention the name of the Lord.” 11 For behold, the Lord commands, and the great house shall be struck down into fragments, and the little house into bits. 12 Do horses run on rocks? Does one plow there with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood— 13 you who rejoice in Lo-debar, who say, “Have we not by our own strength captured Karnaim for ourselves?”

Amos 6:14 “14 “For behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel,” declares the Lord, the God of hosts; “and they shall oppress you from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of the Arabah.””

v. 8 “PRIDE of Jacob”

It is all of Israel God is now addressing

3 Judgments:

1) Death (vv. 6:9-10)

Only 10% of city remain

“Silence” could mean “God forbid” and could carry the sense of saying “god not speak/act against anyone else”

2) Destruction (vv. 6:11-13)

v. 13 “Lo Debar” is a reference to a Lobo-Hamath which was a place of past victory but revocalizes it to “Lodabar” that means “nothing” (IVPBBC:OT)

3) Disgrace/defeat (v. 6:14)

“Lebo-Hamath” was northern border of the empire and “Sea of Arabah” was southern border (IVPBBC: OT) ...”all the way”

Conclusion/Reflection:

Jesus Has Brought Judgement on This World

John 12:31–33 “31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.”

Judged Earth so that reality of Heaven might come to Earth thru His Church!

At the cross is the defeat of Satan who is being driven out.

Jesus Will Judge What is Hidden Inside Believers

1 Corinthians 4:5 “5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.”

Jesus Will Judge Unrepentant At the Great White Throne

Revelation 20:12 “12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.”

Revelation 20:15 “15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

Book of LIfe

Exodus 32:32–33 “32 But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.” 33 But the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book.”

Exodus 32:33 ESV

33 But the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book.

Luke 10:20 “20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.””

Philippians 4:3 “3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.”

Revelation 21:27 “27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

Revelation 22:19 “19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”

TALK IT OVER

Read the Parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12:16–21. How did this man show his complacency? What does the Bible say about laziness and its dangers? (See Prov. 6:9–10; 24:33–34; Isa. 56:12; Ezek. 34:2–3.)

How can we avoid becoming complacent in our Christian lives? (See Isa. 32:9–11; Luke 6:24–26; John 9:4; Rom. 13:11–14; Eph. 5:14–16.)

To what extent should we take pleasure in a job which we have done well? How can we prevent such pleasure from becoming pride? (See Matt. 23:12; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:6; 1 John 2:15–17.)