Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro: Throughout the scriptures we see what is known as “Intercessory Prayer”.

Intercession is the practice of coming into the presence of God on behalf of others.

Moses intercedes on behalf of Israel when they worshiped the golden calf;

Moses intercedes on behalf of Miriam who God cursed with leprosy;

David interceded for the life of the sick child of Bathsheba;

Jesus interceded for His disciples and us before He was crucified;

Intercessory prayer is every believers responsibility.

Not just for individuals but also for the country.

Tonight I want us to look at Amos’ Intercessory Prayer for the nation of Israel and make application as we pray for America.

Text: Amos 7:1-6

God has shown Amos two visions of calamity that He has planned for the nation of Israel.

In either case it is such a devastating situation that the nation would not survive and the suffering would be so terrible that Amos interceded for the nation.

1. Vision of Locusts; 1-3

Locusts are certain species of short-horned grasshoppers.

As the locusts mature, they grow wings and take to the air.

Giant swarms of locusts can number in the billions.

They devour entire farms in hours, wiping out people's livelihoods, and causing mass starvation and misery.

Late Crop- There were two crops that could be harvested from the land in that day.

The early harvest or first crop was turned over to the king as payment for taxes to support the government and the military [ref. 1 Kings 4:7]

The second crop was for the people themselves.

If the locusts came after the kings mowing, the people and their livestock would perish.

The following verses detail the extent of a locust swarm in Joel’s time, 75 years earlier;

Loss of grapes for making wine: “The sweet wine . . . is cut off from your mouth” (Joel 1:5).

Destruction of figs: “It has laid waste my vine and splintered my fig tree” (Joel 1:7).

No grain or wine for offerings at the temple: “The grain offering and the drink offering are cut off from the house of the LORD” (Joel 1:9).

Destruction of grain, which would result in no bread: “The fields are destroyed, the ground mourns, because the grain is destroyed” (Joel 1:10)

Destruction of wheat and barley: “The wheat and the barley . . .

has perished” (Joel 1:11).

Loss of the fruit from trees: “Pomegranate, palm, and apple, all the trees of the field are dried up” (Joel 1:12).

Loss of olives: “The oil languishes” (Joel 1:13).

No food for the livestock (Joel 1:18).

Amos was overwhelmed with fear for the people and interceded for God’s forgiveness because they were “small.”

Small- they were helpless.

If the kings and rich of Israel took advantage of the common man in good times, what do you think will happen to the poor in bad times.

They would perish!

The rulers and the rich in this country don’t care about the poor, homeless or the common people.

If they did, they would help us instead of using us for their political power and private gain!

[3] Amos’ intercession for the people was heard by God and He withheld His judgment for a period of time to give the people an opportunity to repent.

2. Vision of Fire; 4-6

Conflict by Fire- severe drought

Drought- a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water.

Great deep- water supply

The drought would be so severe that it scorched the earth and dried up all the water supply from springs, streams, rivers, wells and cisterns.

Without a water supply, vegetation, animals and people would suffer and die of thirst and starvation.

In the Book of 1 Kings 17, we see God calls for a period of 3 1/2 years without rain through the prophet Elijah because of the wickedness of king Ahab.

Ahab was not concerned about the people but about his livestock.

He put the welfare of his animals above that of his people!

Today in America we have more politicians and people concerned with PETA and animal rights than we do people who are concerned about abortion!

[61% of all Americans support abortion rights, Pew Research 2022]

Amos again interceded on behalf of the nation and asked God to cease the drought for Israel would not survive the ordeal.

God again relented His judgement to give the nation opportunity to repent!

3. Our Intercessory Prayers; 1 Tim.

2:1-4

Paul encourages christians to pray for all men starting with rulers and those in authority that the people of the community and the country can live in peace, with godliness and dignity.

Intercessory prayer means that we pray for them persistently, passionately, and expectantly for God to hear and answer our prayers.

Our prayers should be for people to repent and be saved and come to the knowledge of truth.

How many people would have been saved … from a life of sin, from self-destruction, from certain trials and misfortune, from disease, from financial difficulties, from divorce, from poor choices and reckless behavior if we had interceded on their behalf to be saved?

Because people make up a nation, and if the people are saved and walking in righteousness, so does the country!

If we want to live in an America that is prosperous, strong, beautiful and free, then we need to intercede for the souls of men to be saved, not for a political party to be in power!

Scriptures demonstrating how we should intercede for men;

Luke 18:1 (NKJV)

1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,

John 15:7 (NKJV)

7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

Ephesians 6:18 (NKJV)

18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Jeremiah 29:13 (NKJV)

13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

1 Chronicles 16:11 (NKJV)

11 Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV)

17 pray without ceasing,

If we will be intercessors for one another and for the land that we love, I believe that God will hold off His judgment and give men opportunity to repent.

Pray