AMEN!

Words that are common in all languages: OK, Coca-Cola, huh, Amen

When you listen to someone pray in a different language they end their prayer with “Amen”. One reason is that the Greek New Testament did not translate the Hebrew word. Instead of using the Greek equivalent meaning “let it be”, the NT writers used the Greek letters to form the Hebrew word, amhn. We use the word “amen” after a prayer. But I think sometimes we do it as an after-thought; something we just do without really understanding the meaning behind the word. This morning, I want to show you that “amen” is so much more than an ending to our prayers. It is our worship. It is our praise to God. It is our love for Him. The word “amen” is used about 80 times in the bible

Revelation 7:9-12

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 7

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;

10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying,

“Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,

12 saying,

“Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

Meaning of Amen

The word “amen” is found about 80 times in our English Bibles. The first time we see it is in the Old Testament Book of Numbers, and the last time we see it is in Revelation 22:21.

“Amen” is the last word in your Bible. It is God’s last word on His Word. And it means “surely, truly, firmly, so it is, so be it, may it be fulfilled.” It was customary in bible times to respond to good news with “Amen!” We still do that today, don’t we? We hear a good song; agreeing with someone’s prayer; the pastor’s AMAZING message; and so on. Dictionary.com gives this definition of “amen”; uttered at the end of a prayer or hymn, meaning ‘so be it.’ It’s SO MUCH more than that!!

Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology Amen

Amen. In current usage, the term “amen” has become little more than a ritualized conclusion to prayers. Yet the Hebrew and Greek words for amen appear hundreds of times in the Bible and have several uses. Amen is a transliteration of the Hebrew word ʾāmēn. The verb form occurs more than one hundred times in the Old Testament and means to take care, to be faithful, reliable or established, or to believe someone or something.

Let’s look into the God’s Word and see a few examples of how important this word is.

Importance of Amen

1 Chronicles 16:23-25

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 16

23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth;

Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.

24 Tell of His glory among the nations,

His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.

25 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;

He also is to be feared above all gods.

We see that our amens are important for what they say to God. For example, our amen can say, “God, we agree!” God, we agree with your Word. We agree with what you say about yourself. We see this agreement in our text this morning. We agree in David’s song that v. 23; and then in verses 24 & 25.

We also agree with David’s words in vs. 31-36.

1 Chronicles 16:31-36

Then in verse 36, because they agreed with these things, all of God’s people said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord. In short, “God, we agree that You are wonderful. You are great. God you are worthy to be praised.” And we can do this even in the hardest seasons of our lives…we can say amen.

Max Wagaman

And all the people said, “AMEN!”

Another reason our amen is important is it say, “God, we accept Your commands.” Turn to the book of Deuteronomy 27.

Deuteronomy 27:15-16

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 27

15 ‘Cursed is the man who makes aan idol or a molten image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’

16 ‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Amen

The significance of the response is that with it the people adopted what had just been said as if it were their own. For example, in Deuteronomy 27:15–26 (where “amen” appears 12 times) the people responded with “amen” after each statement of a curse directed toward those who disobey God.

What does this mean? “God, we accept your commands. We accept your judgements. We don’t understand it all, but by your grace, we will obey.”

So you see, our amens are important for what they say to God. But God’s amens are also important to what they to us. It is hard for us to see this in our English translations, but God’s amens say, “I want your attention!” God used this word in the original language over 100 times in the NT, every time urgently trying to get our attention. In the KJV these amens were translated as “verily”. Other translations will us phrases like, “I tell you the truth; or in the NASB, “truly, truly”. Let’s look at a few examples of this

John 3:3-5 where Jesus is talking to Nicodemus.

John 5:24

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 5

24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

John 6:47 NASB95

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.

John 8:34 NASB95

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.

John 8:51 NASB95

“Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death.”

In all of these places and many more, God is urgently trying to get your attention. He wants us to know beyond the shadow of a doubt that we must turn away from sin, and trust Jesus Christ as our Savior.

It’s also important because God Himself is the great “Amen”.

Wait. What?! YESSSS!

Revelation 3:14 NASB95

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:

Jesus Christ is “THE AMEN”!!! It’s a name that God has chosen for Himself. In Revelation 3, Jesus calls out the lukewarm christians of Laodicea. He warned them to repent. He wanted them, and us, to be on fire for Him.

This makes total sense when we understand the word picture of the word “amen”. It’s standing firm, being faithfully supported, being nourished by a reliable nurse. As “the Amen”, Jesus wants to hold you up, make you firm, and take care of you. To this we should all say......”AMEN”!

So with that in mind, let us go back to the Scripture we started with. Revelation 7.

What will change because of what you now know about Amen?