PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD

Amos 4:11-12  I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.  (12)  Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

Amos 4:6  And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

INTRODUCTION:           On this anniversary of our infamous 9/11 what I really wanted to do is take a deeper look at our nation’s situation with God.  A portion of our verse says we need to be preparing to meet our God.

              I really believe the time is coming near to the point whereby Jesus is about to return and take us home.

              What Have We Learned About Ourselves Since 9/11?  America is still as wicked as ever. America has still not recognized God as God.  America will do anything to honor the dead rather than the living Saviour.  America still needs churches that will...

              Preach the Gospel

              Preach Repentance and Faith

              Preach that we need to reach the lost.

              Preach the saving grace of Jesus

              Preach Holy Living.

              Preach growing in grace and knowledge of our Lord and       Saviour Jesus Christ

We have not learned anything new. 

As God tells us in Amos:

Amos 4:6  And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

              

     This last portion “…yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.…” is repeated three more time in Amos Chapter 4.  Regardless of what God does for us, or what we promise God, we turn our backs and walk away from Him.

Deuteronomy 1:17   Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.

I.            “YE SHALL NOT RESPECT PERSONS”

              A.           Ye Shall Hear

                             1.           The “small”

                                           i.            Our newscasters

                                                          a.           Spewing out generalities

                                                          b.           One conspiracy theory after

                                                                        another.

                             2.           The “great”

                                           i.            We need to be listening to something                                       

                                           ii.           We need to listen to God

                                           iii.          See what He has to say.

              B.           “Be Not Afraid”

1.               Is your heart right with God?

i.            If so you are then ready for your day.

                                           ii.           These catastrophes do strike terror in

                                                          our hearts. 

                                           iii.          I know for me stand up hear to quote                                                      “…be not afraid...”

2.               I have never witnessed a storm of terror we are currently going through

i.                Human bombs

ii.               Lack of concern for human life

iii.             Lack of concern concerning morals

iv.             Our willingness to follow the world

3.               I would be fearful for sure

              i.            Except I know my LORD and Saviour Jesus stands within.

              C.           The Judgment Is God's

                             1.           If it is to hard for you

                             2.           God tells us “Bring it unto me”

                                           i.            I will hear it

                             3.           Our problem is our hearts,

                                           i.            Strive to get us back to God

                             4.           The terrorists will never get to God.

(Amos 4:12) Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

II.           GOD'S PUNISHMENT DOESN'T WORK 

              A.           “I have overthrown some…”                                       (v 11)

                             1.           He overthrew the Northern Tribes of Israel. 

                             2.           He overthrew Judah and Benjamin also

                                           i.            They worshipped idols and other gods.

                             3.           He brought down Egypt, Greece, Rome and many other nations

                                           i.            Why would we think the USA is exempt

                  

              B.           “...yet have ye not returned to me…”

                             1.           A small faithful remnant.

C.           He said These Will I Do:

  1.           I have Sent You Pestilence                          (v 10)

    i.            Of the type sent to Egypt

                                                      a.           Storms, volcanoes, tsunami’s,                                                                

                                                      b.           Terrorist

                                       ii.           God has sent us a sign.

2.           I Have Slain With The Sword

                                           i.            As a Church and as a nation

                                                          a.           We need to be paying

                                                                        attention

D.           “...yet have ye not returned to me…”

              1.           I will do these things

                             a.           “…prepare to meet thy God…”

(Ezekiel 18:25) Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?

III.         IS THE WAY OF THE LORD NOT EQUAL?         [fair]

              A.           God's Way Has Always Been Fair

1.           We all say we just want to be fairly treated. 

2.           What is the cost of your salvation? 

3.           Is eternal life fair for a little devotion?

B.              Our Ways Are What Is Not Equal

1.               You and I are not equal

              i.            With one another

              ii.           With God

                             2.           We expect all from God

                                           i.            Little from us. 

                             3.           The balance scale cannot be balanced.

              C.           Our God Is A Just God

                            1.           Justice

                             2.           Judgment

(Ezekiel 18:21)  But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

IV.         IF WE (the wicked) WILL

              A.           Turn From Our Sin

  B.              Keep His Statutes

1.           Follow Him

              C.           We Shall Surely Live

1.           All our transgressions shall not be mentioned.

  D.           Does God Have Pleasure In The Wicked Dying?

(Ezekiel 33:11)  Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Conclusion:         What I am trying to say with all this that has gone before us, in remembrance of 9/11 we as Christians must realize where we stand.  Do the right thing in the eyes of God.  We must keep from looking to the World, the devils domain, as did Lot.  (Luke 17:32) “Remember Lot’s wife.”

              We have several Pastor’s leaders of Church’s threatened to burn Koran’s in opposition to the 9/11 Mosque that is proposed near the site of the Twin Towers. 

              What a media uproar, yet how many know of our military burning several hundred Holy Bibles in two Afghan languages to keep some from converting Afghan Muslims, thereby causing unrest.

              I am not for burning anything; I am not in favor of this Cordoba House Mosque.  As an American Patriot I am also against the threats of retaliation by this Muslim leader if they are not allowed to build their Cordoba House Mosque.

              Is this what God is doing to get our tolerance under back to the proper separation as He has always taught. 

              We must understand He will finally have His fill of our sinfulness, and our turning our backs on Him.  One day that will happen.

2 Chronicles 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

              We as Christian’s and our Nation must do what it will take to get our Nation back to His standards.  We must get a hold of our morality, get the wickedness, the sin as much out of our lives as possible.

              We don’t seem to care that we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ one time.     

              That time may be short or long.  It could be joyful or it could be gut wrenching.              What do you want it to be?