Amos Chapter 3: Announcing Judgement on Israel by Ho King Swee dated 19.2.17

In the earlier chapters Amos warned the surrounding nations.  In this chapter he warned Israel and Judah.

The judgment on Israel 3:1-15

    1. Israel's judgment deserved (1-10)

    2. Israel's judgment described  (11-15)

1. Israel's judgment deserved (v.1-10)

   a) They enjoyed God's special favour (v.1-2)

   b) God's warnings of judgment (v.3-10)

Lev 26:23-25

Do we walk with God?

Walk with Him in agreement mutually?

Only on His term – to obey ALL His commandments

3: 4-5- lion roar for a reason, similarly snare will not spring up if it caught nothing.

There is a reason or cause

 for a thing to happen

Judgment is certain

Sin is the trap that will ultimately kills

Dan 9:13  As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this evil has come on us. Yet we did not make our prayer before Jehovah our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand Your truth.

Dan 9:14  Therefore Jehovah has watched over the evil, and has brought it on us. For Jehovah our God is righteous in all His works which He does; for we did not obey His voice. 

3:7-8, 3:9-10

The LORD God had spoken!

His prophet had obeyed and fearlessly  declared to you

Do you see how dreadful your sins are?

Why don’t you repent ?

2. Israel's judgment described  (v.11-15)

 a) A plundering adversary shall destroy thoroughly (v.11-12)

3: 11-12

The LORD is always merciful and gracious to save the remnant of Israel  Amos 3 9:8

V 13-15

Application

Will you repent when the Lord warns you?

Will you obey when the Lord speaks to you?

Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know I am God”

Amos Chapter 2 by Pastor Richard Sim dated 5.2.17

Who was Amos?

-          A shepherd from Tekoa

-          A fearless prophet

-          A prophet of justice

The Jewish Nation divided into two kingdoms:

Israel the Northern Kingdom

Judah the Southern Kingdom

Amos

Amos lived during the reign of    Jeraboam II and overlapped with King Uzziah

God Called Amos to preach to the Kingdom of Israel and to share with them the message they needed to hear

His work was 2 years before the earthquake and most scholars   date it at 760 – 755

From 805bc to 740bc  the Jewish nations were enjoying a period of expansion, peace and prosperity.

Israel  -   the Northern Kingdom  -  under  Jeroboam II

Judah – the Southern Kingdom  - under Uzziah

The Jewish people were enjoying a good time of peace and prosperity. The wealthy were getting richer. They lived in big comfortable mansions with all kind of luxuries. They eat and drink and party all the time. With prosperity, the people lost sight of their need for God.  They forgot their roots.

The poor getting poorer. They were exploited by the rich.

God sent Amos to warn them. In Chapter 2 Amos turned his attention to Israel and Judah. Chapter 2:6 – 8.

The Jewish nations of Israel and Judah were in grave dangers of being destroy because of their great sins against humanity as against God.  Like Sodom and Gomorrah.

Warnings to Israel:

      1.       Israel’s sin exposed v 6-8

      2.       The aggravation of Israel’s sins V 9-12

      3.       Warning of the consequences to sins v 13-16

What a Dreadful and fearful warning !

God had given them victory, but now they trusted not in God but in their own strength. They thought and believed that the peace and prosperity were the work of their own hands and they deserved it.

They were religious outwardly, but inwardly, they despised God. Outwardly they appeared to be very religious, but inwardly, they were very far away from God.  They relied on their own strength and forgot their God.

What about us?

We live in a great country.  When the British came, they were God fearing people.

Now we have forgotten God.

Today

Corruption and injustice is headline news in our paper/media almost everyday. Are we any different from the society in Amos’ days? The rich getting richer and they also exploit the poor.  Father and son having sex with the same woman.

Warning

Amos gave to the Israelites is also the warnings for us today.

Repent and return to God or else…

Many have turned their back on God and walked their own way.

There is no God, this is my life and I can do what I like and want.

Are you called to be an AMOS  ?

2 Timothy 2:1-26 Guard The Gospel (Be steadfast Minister ) by Ho King Swee dated 23.10.16

Where exactly was Paul when he wrote this last epistle?

Paul was mostly likely in an underground prison according to Bro. King Swee.  It was a small place, fifty and smelly as many prisoners were most probably dumped there to die either from starvation or strangulations by prisoners in there.

1. Paul's Exhortations to be steadfast minister (2:1-13)

(a) To be strong in Christ's grace (2:1)

(b) To disciple others to reproduce (2:2)

(c) To endure suffering (2:3-13)

      a)      To be strong in Christ’s grace (2:1)

b) To disciple others to reproduce (2:2)

2: and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

4         generations for multiplication 

c) To endure suffering (2:3-13)

3: Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

9: the gospel for which I am suffering and wearing fetters like a criminal. But the word of God is not fettered.

10: Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with its eternal glory

12: if we endure, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;

2. Paul's Exhortations to soundness in Doctrine (2:14-26)

(a) To shun doctrinal error (2:14-19)

(b) To pursue personal purity (2:20-22)

(c) To correct those who oppose (2:23-26)

a) To shun doctrinal error (2:14-19)

v.14…avoid disputing about words,

v15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

v.16 Avoid such godless chatter

The best way to avoid doctrinal error is

to be diligent and discipline in the study of God’s word

(b) To pursue personal purity (2:20-22)

v.22 So shun youthful passions and aim at righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart.

(c) To correct those who oppose (2:23-26)

v.25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth,

Application

Be strong in the grace of the LORD

Make disciples to multiply

Diligent to study the word of God

Make every effort to save souls