Arrogant self-confidence (Amos 5:14-15)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 10/3/2015 10:28 PM

My Worship Time Focus: Arrogant self-confidence

Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Amos 5:14-15

Message of the verses: "14 Seek good and not evil, that you may live; And thus may the LORD God of hosts be with you, Just as you have said! 15 Hate evil, love good, And establish justice in the gate! Perhaps the LORD God of hosts May be gracious to the remnant of Joseph."

When one looks at this sub-title one may not understand where Dr. Wiersbe came up with this sub-title for these verses, but we have to understand where the people of Israel were to understand it. The people of Israel were arrogant and were self-confident over what they were doing and after all the nation of Israel was financially blessed and so they thought that because of this and the fact that they were going to their false religious services having a false priest and bring false sacrifices to this false religious service that they were fine with God. The truth of it all is that they were not fine with the Lord and He even sent many prophets to tell them that they were not fine with Him. Now here is the question we need to ask ourselves as we look at this section we have been looking at in the book of Amos, and that is what can we learn from all of this in the church age that we live in that is now in the 21^st century. I want to mention one more thing before I write some very insightful quotes from Warren Wiersbe, and that is that in the next main section we begin with the 18^th verse in chapter five and it goes until the last verse in chapter six. It is not too often that we have a chapter broken up into different main points from these Minor Prophets, but that is the case here.

Dr. Wiersbe writes in his concluding comments from this section something we can all learn from: "God is still seeking for wall-builders" (see Ezekiel 22:30) "for intercessors who will plead with God to send revival and renewal to His church. For it’s only when God’s Spirit is allowed to work among His people that the flood of evil can be stopped and righteousness and justice flourish in the land. The saints want God to judge the wicked, but ‘the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17).

"If only a remnant will repent and turn to God, there is hope that He will send the revival that we desperately need.

"Hear God’s Word!’ Are we listening?

"Seek the Lord!’ Are we praying?

"Seek the good!’ Do we hate that which is evil?

"There is no other way?"

10/3/2015 10:49 PM