On The Level

Introduction:

· The recording device in the Oval Office

AMOS SPEAKS TO THAT DRIFT; LET’S LOOK AT THE NECESSITY OF GOD’S JUDGMENT, THE PLEA AMIDST JUDGMENT, AND THE RELIEF WE CAN FIND FROM JUDGMENT.

I) The Nature of God’s Judgment

A. Two Visions of Judgment: Locusts and Fire (8:4-6)

i. The Spiritual Danger of Prosperity

1. Worship became an interruption in the pursuit of money and power

2. The people became corrupted in their view of the poor

ii. The Problem of Drift:

1. Israel’s posture didn’t develop overnight – it was a slow, gradual drift

2. APPLICATION: Where will today’s choices take you in a year? 5 years?

iii. God’s Judgment would strip His people of what they trusted in (vv. 1-6)

1. Late locusts would eat the crops destroying the economy (vv. 1-2)

2. A severe famine would ruin the land (vs. 4)

B. “Mirror, Mirror, on the wall…”

i. The Plot Twist in Amos

1. Most of us see the value of judgment “out there”

2. In Amos: surrounding nations à the bullseye on their back

ii. APPLICATION:

1. The biggest mistake: Looking “out there” without looking “in here”

2. APPLICATION: Is worship central to your life? How do you see the poor? What is prosperity doing to you?

NOW, I SAID THAT THESE FIRST TWO VISIONS ARE SIMILAR – AND IN BOTH CASES, AMOS PLEADS FOR GOD’S MERCY.

II) The Plea From Judgment (vv. 2, 5)

A. A Prophet Intercedes For His People

i. Amos’ Unusual job: (vv. 2, 5)

1. Usually priests would pray – this time a prophet pleads

2. Twice, Amos is allowed to plead on behalf of the people

ii. The Basis of Amos’ plea

1. NOT: “Give them another chance” but the character of God

2. NOT: “Too severe” but rather the COVENANT of God

B. God Responds with Compassion For His People

i. God “changes His Mind”

1. Does God change his mind? Relent?

2. God is moved by compassion at the intercession of a prophet

ii. The Compassion of God

1. For those of us needing assurance: God is a God of deep compassion

2. APPLICATION: A sin still bothering you, a life waaay of track…

THAT BRINGS US TO THE THIRD VISION.

III) The Final Hope in the face of Judgment (VV. 7-9)

A. A Third Vision: Time Will Run Out And The People Will Be “Measured”

i. The pattern changes: Amos doesn’t plead, and God no longer puts off judgment

1. God will, one day, measure his people according to divine measurements

2. Knowing they would fall short, destruction would come

ii. God’s Plumb Line vs. our own

1. Our plumb line:  “I try to be a good person” or “be like Jesus” – but, we don’t even meet our own standard, never mind God’s plumb line

2. The response: Amos was ridiculed, & fired (by those he prayed for!)

B. We Need a Greater Prophet Who Will Plead For Us

i. Jesus is the perfect plumb line:

1. The only one to ever measure up to God’s plumbline is Jesus

2. If you’re weary of the constant demand to be, do, enough-àJesus!

ii. Jesus pleads for those who killed him

1. On the cross, Jesus prayed for the very people nailing him there

2. APPLICATION: what to do when Satan accuses?

Transition:

Conclusion

A new magnetic North