Tag: Amos 3:7
Three Angels of God’s Mercy
Scripture reading for December 18: Revelation 14
“And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of His anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” Revelation 14:9-12
Following John’s vision of the beasts and the mark of the beast received by those deceived by the false prophet and antichrist, John saw three angels, each bearing a message of invitation or warning. The first angel preached an eternal Gospel to all people still dwelling on the earth. He invited all to fear God and give Him glory and worship Him as Creator and Lord. (Revelation 14:6-7) The second angel followed warning or declaring the fall of Babylon the great, the humanistic world system exalting man, rebellion, and sexual immorality. (Revelation 14:8)
The third angel warned all of earth’s inhabitants of the coming judgment and wrath of God on those made in His image who have received the beast’s mark on their forehead or right hand. This angel told of torment by smoke and sulfur viewed by the Lamb and holy angels. He warned that this torment would last ‘forever and ever!’ This passage shows the mercy of our Lord giving all a final chance to repent of their idolatry, sexual immorality, greed and theft, and violence and murder. God truly does nothing by judgment unless He warns His people by the prophets and in this case angels. (Amos 3:7)
Have you received the invitation to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord? As others look at how you live your life, would your decision to either repent and follow Jesus or live for yourself be easy to discern? Do you think that you have the seal of belonging to Jesus imprinted on your forehead?
Prayer: Father God, I humbly renew my acceptance of Your amazing invitation to honor You by repentance and faith in Your Son Jesus Christ. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and form Your heart and mind in me today afresh. May I declare Your invitation and broadcast warning to all You send me to. Amen.
Truth? or Lie?
Scripture reading for April 16: John 8
“Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of My own accord, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear My Word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because no truth is in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”” John 8:42-44
Jesus confronted those religious leaders who were seeking to trap Him and kill Him. As God does nothing by judgment without first warning those in danger, so Jesus spoke plainly and explained to them their deception through Satan’s lies. (Amos 3:7) He plainly told them they were under their father the devil and doing his will. He warned them that the devil was a murderer from the beginning, as Cain killed Abel after the fall of man. They were blind to the light of Jesus and God’s Word because they were under the devil’s fatherhood and lying nature. Their deception was turning them into murderers because of the lie they believed. Only the truth would make them free! (John 8:32, 36)
Jesus taught that when God is our Father, we love Jesus! Jesus came from God as His only Son as One sent on a mission to reveal the Father and His amazing love for mankind. Jesus was sent to the Jews first, descendants of Abraham, but they could not bear to hear Jesus’ Words. They would need to humble themselves and repent of their murderous ways and their pride in clinging to the devil’s lies. They would have to confess and repent to receive God’s Fatherhood. Jesus laid out the Father’s world view to lead them to freedom from the devil’s lies.
Have you ever believed something so strongly that you hated anyone who would threaten that belief? Why was it hard for these religious people to hear Jesus’ plain but convicting truth? In what way was the devil behind the deception? Is this still the case in our modern culture?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending Jesus as the ‘Light of the World’ to illuminate my heart through the truth of His Word. Thank you for drawing me to true repentance from the lies of the devil. Deliver me from the evil one today for Yours is the Kingdom and glory for ever and ever! Amen!
Confronting sin!
Scripture reading for August 22: Ezekiel 20-23
Confronting sin in people is the calling of the prophet and preacher. We who minister the Word of the Lord must speak plainly to those whose souls are in danger of God’s eternal wrath. Sin brings the wrath of God. That wrath is ongoing in the law of sowing and reaping. It is also an eternal thing that will happen to all who die in their sins on the day of judgment. (Romans 1:18-19) (Romans 2:5) God loves each person enough to confront him before He judges him. In fact, He has stated that He will not send His wrath without revealing His plan to the prophets. (Amos 3:7)
In today’s reading, Ezekiel was told to confront the people of Jerusalem with all of their detestable practices. (Ezekiel 22:1) God declared that the sin of bloodshed was bringing doom on the city. The people’s sin of sacrificing their children in the fire to the false idols was bringing God’s wrath! Ezekiel pointed out mistreatment of fathers and mothers by children and mistreatment of the alien and orphan as reasons for the coming destruction. The people had despised the holy things and desecrated the Sabbath as a day of worship and rest. (Ezekiel 22:7-8) Adultery, incest, and lewd sexual conduct were hastening the day of wrath! Excessive interest was being charged and people were extorting money from the weak and powerless with mafia-like tactics. Sure sounds like today!
God also confronted the priests who were doing violence to God’s law. They were twisting God’s law to call evil, good and then to call good, evil. They did not help people to discern between what was holy and what God considered profane. They whitewashed their evil deeds by giving the people false visions and lying divinations. They claimed the the Lord had spoken when He had said nothing of the sort! (Ezekiel 22:26-28) When the ministers of God are messed up, the people are led further astray by their false teaching and example. God looked for one man to stand in the gap on behalf of the land so He would not have to destroy it, but found none! (Ezekiel 22:30-31)
Why does God confront people who are in sin? God is loving and wants all to know that He is the Lord and that what He has decreed will come to pass. He is to be honored and obeyed by those who are His people. When God confronts sin, He gives His people opportunity to repent and be delivered. Take time today and allow the Lord to speak to your heart. Listen and repent so that the wrath may be turned away! If you are right with the Lord, stand in the gap for someone who is lost and in need of His grace!
The great separation!
Scripture reading for August 3rd: Amos 1-3, Matthew 13
Key Scriptures: Matthew 13:47-50 “”Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.””
Jesus taught in parables so that those who heard would have to think and seek out the meaning. Those with ears would hear the truth and those with hard hearts would not understand or come to the wrong conclusion. This prophetic parable of the fishing net cast into the sea should have been easily understood around the Sea of Galilee. Good fish and inedible fish are caught in the net. They are sorted out and the good are kept and the inedible are cast away. The kingdom of heaven will catch men but not all will be “good.” The end of the age will bring a great separation!
Amos 3:7 “For the Lord God does nothing without revealing His secret to His servants the prophets.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for prophetic truth in Your parables. Help me to cast a clear Gospel message and cast the net to bring men and women into the kingdom. May all receive Your grace through Jesus Christ so as not to be cast away!