11/18/2020 Bible Study

Introduction:

Last week we began to examine the visions that Amos saw in Amos Chapter 7. We spent some time talking about the grasshoppers, or modern day locusts, and then we looked at how prayer does make a difference. Tonight, we will look at the 2nd of Amos’ visions in greater detail.

The Significance of Fire

Amos 7:4–6 KJV 1900

4 Thus hath the Lord God shewed unto me: and, behold, the Lord God called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up a part. 5 Then said I, O Lord God, cease, I beseech thee: By whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small. 6 The Lord repented for this: This also shall not be, saith the Lord God.

What is the significance of fire? What does it represent? Is it symbolic in any way? Is there something we should take away from the presence of fire?

If you do not know how to answer these questions these verses should make them perfectly clear. Fire is being used as a form of God’s judgement of Israel.

Is the use of fire only limited to judgement of wrongdoing? Is there no other reason for it in God’s Word?

Consider Zechariah 13:7-9 which says, “7 Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, Saith the LORD of hosts: Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: And I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. 8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, Two parts therein shall be cut off and die; But the third shall be left therein. 9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, And will refine them as silver is refined, And will try them as gold is tried: They shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: And they shall say, The LORD is my God.”

Here we see God separating or rather purging those who have gone against the shepherd. This then sets the stage for a purification process to take place in which the final outcome is those who are God’s will call upon the name of the Lord in repentance through their faith.

In these scriptures fire is not judgement rather it is purifying or refining the people. When being refined you are cleansed. The King James says that they will be tried which means they will be tested. Here the fire is bringing people closer to God & resulting in a much more harmonious relationship with Him.

Malachi 3:2-3 says, “2 But who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: 3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: And he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.”

Once again we see fire being used in this text as a means of refinement. What is the purpose of this cleansing? In order for the Believer to reap the benefits of God’s promises they must be able to stand before him without blemish or stain. We know that it is Jesus who provides that cleansing for us & makes us righteous. It is only because of His intercession that we have the ability to stand before God guiltless & worthy.

Let us turn our attention back to Amos Chapter 7. This fire will devour a part of the territory & consume the great deep. The outcome of this fire would be a devastating drought that would even dry up the water that supplies them.

Will some survive a fire of this severity. We just looked at 2 other verses where those who are with God come through the fire. But how could a just God choose some that will perish & others who will not? How does He decide who shall come through this type of fire cleansed?

Leviticus 26:27-28 gives us some insight & knowledge to how & why this takes place when God’s Word tells us, “27 And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me; 28 Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.”

To walk contrary to the Lord is to do the exact opposite. That is the outright rejection of God. This is the deciding factor for who shall perish and who will carry on. Please understand that the outcome is not predetermined but rather each individual has a choice of rather they will accept & serve God or reject & walk contrary to Him.

Then there is the fire which most of us jump to when we see it in God’s Word. A fire of judgment alone.

2 Peter 3:10 says, “10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”

This fervent heat is not for purification or for cleansing. This is a fire well the wicked shall be destroyed.

Conclusion:

There are 507 verses in the King James translation of the Bible that contains the word fire. A lot of people, specifically those who are influenced by atheistic or agnostic philosophies, will say that people only seek Christianity because they are fearful. Frightened of the unknown or even the possibility of torment after we leave this earth. However, this mindset is flawed from the start. The goal of the Follower of Christ should not be to avoid or concern themselves with the wrath of God upon themselves. The Christian should not be consumed with thoughts of impending agony or fire. In fact we should take comfort in knowing that God will protect us from the fire. Isaiah 43:2 says, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; Neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

God has promised that final judgement would come to every person. Yet just like when Amos fervently & urgently asked God to not bring this judgement of fire to pass, God granted his request. This evening it is critical that you know where you stand with God. Do you trust Jesus as your savior, the one who will cleanse you? Or do you allow your acknowledgement of Jesus to blind you to the fact that you do not stop at just knowledge but you must have dependence upon Him. If so, there is no better time to urgently & fervently pray for Him to save your soul.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Is 43:2). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 2 Pe 3:10). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Le 26:27–28). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Mal 3:2–3). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Zec 13:7–9). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Zec 13:9). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.