Going With the Flow

Explanation

Exp. by Ill.

Application

App. by Ill.

INTRODUCTION

Throughout the preaching of Amos, the Lord affirmed that, because Israel had turned from him and used religion only as a mechanical means to try and appease God, he had no interest in the people’s attachment to their worship. The Lord was interested in their hearts, not in their sacrifices.

Looking at Israel’s worship may be a bit like looking at the drug industry. Studies show that sugar pills, or placebos, can alleviate many symptoms if a sick person believes he is getting treatment. Current research revels that one in three people find such medication to be helpful – even when they are told they are getting a placebo. This shows the power of mind over body. It also shows that a belief may be temporarily soothing, even when people are misled.

If Amos were evaluating our worship activities today, what would he have to say? We can surround ourselves with orders of worship, songs of praise, multitudes of offerings and still get worship wrong. Our worship is reflected in the life we live inside and outside of church. It is possible that we could mislead ourselves into thinking we have pleased God and instead he has rejected our praise.

One current argument going on in many churches today is over the style of worship to have. One side wants a traditional style. They cannot imagine anything else taking place so what they are doing must be right. The other side wants to make people happy through a contemporary style of worship. This side thinks that there must be change because other churches have changed and it worked for them. Each side believes that they are correct and the other side must change their view. What if God doesn’t like either side?

This paragraph is to focus the attention of the congregation.

This paragraph is to illustrate the effects of false belief.

This paragraph is to apply the results of false belief to worship.

This paragraph is to illustrate one example of misled belief.

Explanation

Ignoring and mistreating others affect our worship. The truth of this can be seen in Amos 5:21-24. “I hate, I reject your festivals, nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not

even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream (NASB).” Justice and righteousness become action words in this passage and can be seen through the image of the surging river. The Israelites failed at their worship because they ignored the helpless individuals around them (C.I.T.). Individuals can impede Justice and righteousness, but we are to encourage them by “Going With The Flow” (Title).

BODY

“In the past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets many times and in many ways (Heb. 1:1, NCV).” When Amos spoke, the state religion was at its peak of popularity and the leaders were at a peak of power. However, a growing void was developing between the elite and the poor. Like a pagan nation, Israel had grown prosperous and felt herself secure. However, she paid no attention to the one who provided her prosperity and security.

Amos seems to be interrupting the busy activity of a shrine and announcing the Lord’s reaction to all that is going on. The words of Amos illustrate God’s utter contempt for their worship. The Lord does not like the smell (“I do not delight…” is literally, “ I do not like the smell.”), the sight (“I will not look…”), or the sound (“I will not even listen…”) of what is happening in Israel’s sanctuary. The Israelites practiced rituals and ignored relationships.

This paragraph is to introduce the text, C.I.T., and Title.

This paragraph is to provide some background information.

This paragraph is to show God’s total disgust with Israel’s worship.

App. by Ill.

Explanation

Application

App. by Ill.

By concentrating on the elements of worship, believers are going with the flow of ritualism. Ritual is popular because it is easy to do. My Dad used to say about fishing that all you had to do was to hold your tongue just right to catch fish. We wish it were true! Then all we would have to do is stick out our tongues just so and pull the fish into the boat. We wish that it were so easy to serve God. To just do these three things or to not do these five things and then God would owe us salvation, but it is not that easy. Even though we have done all that, we still have to admit we are unworthy and throw ourselves on God’s mercy and perfect grace. No amount of ritual can ever make up for a lack of justice and righteousness.

Religious activity is no substitute for national or personal righteousness. Amos consistently uses righteousness and justice as terms for the qualities that ought to be present in the social order. The prophets remind us that God wants justice (Isa. 1:10-17; Hos. 6:6; Micah 6:6-8). The people in his time were influenced by the Canaanite cultic religion that allowed people to be personally immoral and unethical. They could still be right with their gods if they merely supported the cult enthusiastically. In verses 21-23, Amos throws the listeners into a crisis of having nothing to do but listen to the divine word while God takes over and defines the nature of their relationship to him.

We are to have great concern for people. By ignoring and mistreating our fellowman, we are not going with the flow of justice and righteousness. We are not to stop and start justice to suit our needs. A society truly in harmony with God will practice justice and righteousness: always and everywhere. In order for that to occur, each one of us must continually seek God’s will to help us deal with other people fairly and justly.

An ancient proverb states, “Find a cruel man and you will find a crowd.” We cannot abandon the necessity of justice for the sake of popularity or fame.

This paragraph is to illustrate the problem with ritualism.

This paragraph is to provide background information for the second point.

This paragraph is to show the necessity of listening to God and seeking His will.

This is to further illustrate the previous paragraph.

Explanation

Exp. by Ill.

Application

Explanation

Application

Verse 24 is the key verse to the book of Amos. God demanded that justice and righteousness be produced in Israel like a wadi in the rainy season. He doesn’t want them to be restricted or sporadic but pervasive, overflowing like a flood, and permanent, like a river that never runs dry. Justice and righteousness are for the benefit of the people. The powerful had blocked God’s justice from achieving its ends on earth. Amos announces that God will provide such a flow of justice and righteousness that the leaders will not be able to stop it.

The picture of justice that is brought to mind in our society is that of a woman, blindfolded, holding a set of balances before her. Thus, justice is a static concept, a noun, describing the achievement of fairness and equality and symbolized in the state where all is at rest. The image Amos calls to mind is entirely different. Justice is like a surging, cleansing stream. Justice is constantly in motion.

Christians are to actively serve the helpless around them (Thesis). We are encouraged to do justice. We are to act as advocates for the powerless. We are to have authentic lifestyles that reflect our relationship with God.

By seeking God and returning to his ways, believers are going with the flow of God’s justice and righteousness. Justice is the expected response of God’s people to what God has done for them. Isaiah sang about a friend who tended a vineyard that only produced wild and worthless grapes (Isa. 5:1-7). This is a picture of Israel. Although God had done much for the nation, when God looked for the fruits of justice and righteousness they were not there. God’s people doing justice are like a farmer’s vineyard producing grapes. Doing justice is the people of God responding to what God has done for them.

CONCLUSION

Justice and righteousness will lead us through those places of our community where the poor live and they invite us to look into their eyes

This paragraph is to define the title of the sermon.

This paragraph is to provide a mental image of the type of justice sought.

This paragraph is to present the thesis.

This paragraph is to define justice as coming from a relationship with God.

This is to state the M.O.S.

Explanation

and see the lonely widow, the sick and disabled, the orphan, and the hungry beggar. They could also take us through the countryside and introduce us to a young couple about to lose the family farm. We may be led through a home for the aged, where a lonely hand reaches out to be touched. God may lead us into some difficult situations, but we are to serve the community around us (M.O.S.).

When the people of God expend their imagination and their energy in advocacy, in working to remove discrimination built into the economic and legal systems, in finding new and more effective ways to take up the cause of the powerless, then justice will begin to roll through the land like waters, and righteousness like and ever flowing stream.

INVITATION

What would it take for justice to “roll down like waters?” God expects his followers to draw close to him and practice his version of justice. Have you been one of those that have stood in the way of justice? God offers you a chance to start fresh and help build his kingdom starting in our community.

It may be that you have never experienced a personal saving relationship. You may be like the Israelites who had been practicing their religion, but they did not know the God who loved them. God has made the ultimate sacrifice to a needy and helpless world through his Son, Jesus Christ, who died to set us free from the burden of sin. I invite you to form that relationship today.

This paragraph is to provide reinforcement for the M.O.S.

This is to relate part of the invitation to the M.O.S.

This is to invite the lost to learn about a saving relationship with Jesus.