The reaper overtaken by the plowman

The reaper overtaken by the plowman

Scripture: “In that day “I will restore David’s fallen shelter— I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins— and will rebuild it as it used to be, so that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear my name may seek Me,” declares the LORD, who will do these things.

“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes. New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills, and I will bring my people Israel back from exile. “They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the LORD your God. Amos 9:11-15

Observation: This Scripture from Amos is the beginning of prophecy fulfilled before our eyes. For almost 2,000 years, there was no such country as Israel. Since the Romans destroyed the temple of Jerusalem, the Jews were scattered all over the world for centuries. In spite of their various geographical locations, they maintained their identity and preserved the Old Testament that we now have in the first part our Bible today. After World War II, Jews started coming back to Israel from all over the world and declared the independence of Israel in 1948. Despite severe resistance from the Arabs, Israel prevailed and established herself. Over the decades, despite inheriting a dry and barren land, the Jews have now built a network of irrigation systems that has made the land fertile and fruitful. As the Scripture in Amos prophesied, ruined cities were rebuilt, and more and more Jews have returned to Israel.

The description of the reaper being overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes give us the picture of abundant, overflowing blessing. A similar picture would be when Jesus asked the fishermen to let down their nets and the catch was so great the nets began to break.

In this Scripture we are reminded of three main things. Firstly, God is a God of restoration. He loves to restore, to bring back the years that the locusts have eaten, to bring sinful man back into relationship with Himself. Some of us may feel that we have lost so much in life. God can restore life and meaning to us, if only we turn to Him.

Secondly, God is the God of past, present and future. The fulfillment of prophecy in the Bible shows us that God is in control of all history, even what is yet to happen. We are bound by time and space, but God is timeless, infinite, without borders. What a great God we have indeed!

Thirdly, God is the God of abundant blessing. He loves to bless His people with overflowing abundance. To those who trust Him, who fear Him, who obey Him, He will bless with abundant grace.

Application: Some of us may feel let down in life, bogged down by regrets and complaints. Stop! Turn to God! He is the God who restores, who can bring us back to the life of hope and love and promise that should be ours. He sent His Son Jesus Christ to restore us back to Him.

Praise God that He is God of past, present and future. Praise God for the fulfilled prophecy in His Word which again and again show us the sovereignty and authority of God. Bless the Lord for His great blessing and generosity. He showers plentifully upon His children more than they need. In Jesus Christ, we have all that we need.

Prayer: Bless You O great Lord, for You are Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. You hold all the earth, all time, all history in Your hands. Restore us O Lord. Let Your face shine upon us that we might be saved. Restore to us O Lord the years that the locusts have eaten. Give us new life, new passion, new hope in You. Shower Your love upon us, Your abundant blessings that You give most generously to us. Give us more of Your Holy Spirit and a greater and deeper wisdom in knowing You, Lord Jesus. May Your name be praised forever. In Jesus name, Amen.

A famine of God’s Word

A famine of God’s Word

Scripture: “The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign LORD, “when I will send a famine through the land— not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the LORD, but they will not find it. Amos 8:11-12

Observation: In this famous verse from Amos, we see the prophecy declaring the famine of hearing the words of the Lord. This came true for 400 years from the time of Malachi to John the Baptist, when the Lord raised up no prophet among His people Israel.

From this Scripture, we can clearly see that the famine of God’s Word is far worse than the famine of food or water. Today, God speaks to us primarily through His Word, the Bible. However, there was a time in the past, during the dark ages, when the Bible was kept away from the masses, and only reserved for reading by the clergy. How precious is the Word of God readily made available to us today in many different languages! We must never take it for granted!

The absence of God’s Word is symbolic of the absence of God Himself. In everyone of us, there is a moral standard inborn in us. All of us know that it is wrong to kill another human being, to steal or to cheat others. Standards may differ from individual to individual but there is always a basic understanding of good and evil in each person. Where does there this morality come from? It is from our Creator God, who is just and strong, yet faithful and loving.

In societies where God is not present, it will quickly degenerate into anarchy and chaos. God’s Word brings order, righteousness, peace. It is not by chance that early Western Christian nations were transformed from barbaric, violent societies to civilized, peace-loving countries as more and more people began to adhere by the principles of the Bible. In this day and age, the Word is more and more disdained by the modern generation, and these countries are again degenerating into lawlessness.

In his in-depth teaching on blessings and curses, the late teacher Derek Prince spoke of a clear connection between blessing and listening to the Word of God and doing it. Likewise, there was a clear connection between curses and not listening to God and not doing what He says. Psalm 1 speaks of how blessed is a man who delights in God’s Word.

Application: God’s Word is infinitely precious. Ask God to give you a deeper, more intimate love for His Word. Endeavor to read Scripture and commit some to memory. In these last days, a time may well come again when access to the Bible may become very difficult.

Prayer: How precious is Your Word O Lord. Deepen my love for Your Word I pray. Open my eyes to understand Your Word more and more. Let Your Word always be near me, deep in my heart. Praise You, Father, Son, Holy Spirit. In Jesus name, Amen.  

Only a sheepbreeder

Only a sheepbreeder

Scripture:

Thus the Lord GOD showed me: Behold, He formed locust swarms at the beginning of the late crop; indeed it was the late crop after the king’s mowings. And so it was, when they had finished eating the grass of the land, that I said: “ O Lord GOD, forgive, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, For he is small!” So the LORD relented concerning this. “ It shall not be,” said the LORD. Amos 7:1-3

Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah: “ I was no prophet, Nor was I a son of a prophet, But I was a sheepbreeder And a tender of sycamore fruit. Then the LORD took me as I followed the flock, And the LORD said to me, ‘ Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’ Amos 7:14-15

Observation: In Amos 7, the Lord shows Amos three visions. The first is a vision of locust devouring the late crop after the king’s share had been harvested. The second, a vision of God calling for judgment by fire, and the third, the Lord setting a plumb line among Israel. In the first two visions, Amos prayed and the Lord relented from His judgment. 

In this first passage, we learn three things. Firstly, God shows His plans to His people. Secondly, the role of an intercessor is crucial to the fate of a people or a nation. Thirdly, the Lord responds to prayer.

In the second passage, Amos is confronted by Amaziah who rudely asks him to leave because of his unwelcoming prophecies. Amos replies by acknowledging he has no qualifications, not having the experience of a prophet or being the son of a prophet. However, it is the Lord Himself who has called him from his occupation as a humble shepherd and planter to be His messenger.

The lesson for us is that any one of us can be used by God. Regardless of occupation or gender or race, God can use anyone at all. God always looks at the heart and not at the outward appearance.

Application: Praise God that He shows His plans to His people. Seek to be an intercessor, to stand in the gap on behalf of our family, our people, our nation. Believe that our prayers can make a difference and move the hand of God. Know that God can call anyone at all to serve Him. It is purely whether we have willing hearts.

Prayer: Praise You, Father in Heaven for You reveal Your great plans to Your people. Teach me to be an intercessor, O Lord, to stand in the gap and pray before You for my family, my people, my nation. Praise You, O Lord, for You are a God who hears our prayers. You look not at how great or perfect we are, but on how willing and teachable our hearts are. Let me always have a humble and teachable heart that You may guide me and show me many things. Praise You O Lord. May Your great name be praised forever. In Jesus name, Amen.

I abhor the pride of Jacob

I abhor the pride of Jacob

Scripture: Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria,
you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come! Amos 6:2

You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph. Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile; your feasting and lounging will end. The Sovereign LORD has sworn by himself—the LORD God Almighty declares: “I abhor the pride of Jacob and detest his fortresses; I will deliver up the city and everything in it.” Amos 6:6-8

Observation: The first passage of Scripture in Amos is a warning towards those who are complacent. Typical of the end time church, which is interpreted as the Laodician church at large, is their complacency. They think they are alright, having big buildings, money in the coffers and plenty of activities for the member to pass time by. In Jesus' letter to the Laodicians, he said “

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see” Revelation 3:15-18 Typical of complacency is lukewarmness, a commitment without passion. In contrast, God calls us to be passionate for Him,on fire and zealous for the Lord's sake.

The second passage of Scripture warms those who are enjoying life, drinking plentiful wine and using the finest lotions but with no regard for the plight or suffering others. Some people think that it's perfectly fine to live life peacefully, minding your own business and enjoying your possessions. However, the Scripture tells us that the sin of omission also has consequences. We who follow Jesus are also called to care for the poor, to have a heart desiring to reach out and help those less fortunate than us. This passage also reminds us that God hates pride. We must always be humble before Him and depend on the Lord rather than on our fortresses (be it our money, property, qualification, skills,etc.)

Application: Always be on guard against complacency. Desire a fresh anointing, a fresh passion for the Lord and for the lost. Pray for a heart of compassion for others. Do not just treat those suffering as strangers but seek to make a difference where we can. Remember to be humble always before the Lord and to trust in Him rather than worldly fortresses.

Prayer: Forgive me O Lord for the times I have become complacent. Give me a fresh anointing and passion I pray. Let me have a heart of compassion for others, and empower me to make a difference where I can. Forgive my pride. Let me always walk humbly before Your.Bless Your holy name, In Jesus name, Amen.

He who made the Pleiades and Orion

He who made the Pleiades and Orion

Scripture:  He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns midnight into dawn and darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land— the LORD is his name. Amos 5:8

Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the LORD God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph. Amos 5:14-15

Observation: The first portion of scripture talks of three aspects of God. Firstly, He is creator of Pleiades and Orion. The Pleiades, also known as the seven sisters are among the nearest clusters of stars to earth and is said to be the cluster most obvious to the naked eye in the night sky. Different cultures all over the world have each given special significance towards this cluster of stars. Orion, also known as the hunter is one of the most recognizable constellation of stars in the night sky, visible throughout the world. In Job 38:31, the Lord says “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades? Can you loosen Orion’s belt? Just by looking at the stars, one just can’t help but acknowledge the smallness of men in contrast to the greatness of God in Heaven. The Psalmist writes “When I consider the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars that you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” Psalm 8:3-4.

The second aspect talks of God turning night to day and day to night. This reminds us of the faithfulness of God. As God promised Noah, “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” Genesis 8:22.

The third aspect tells us that God calls for the water of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land. Comparing this description to the mighty Tsunami that crashed over Japan just earlier this year, we can only be reminded of the great power of God.

In the second portion of Scripture, the prophet exhorts the people to seek good not evil. Since the fall in the garden of Eden, the weight of choice has always been with men. Do good or do evil. The word “seek” tells us which direction we are facing. If we seek righteousness, we are facing towards righteousness. Our desire and attention is to be righteous and we seek the Holy Spirit who helps us walk in righteousness.  Romans 8:5-8 says: “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.” Seeking has to do with where we set our mind. There are many distractions in the world. We have to wrestle to bring back our minds to be set upon what the Spirit desires, which is righteousness.

We are called to hate evil, to hate sin. Yet these days, we are so drawn towards sorcery, the occult, horror, and Hollywood makes it so interesting. Likewise, sexual immorality is made to be heroic, even “praiseworthy” by the media. Again the mind is the key, and we must strive each day to decide whether to follow the Spirit or follow our fleshly desires.

If we seek good, and love good, the Lord will be with us. Justice in the courts is also so important to the Lord. Our God is a just God, and we must be just and fair in our dealings.

Application: Look at the stars and praise God’s greatness. Praise God for His faithfulness, for His mercies that are new every morning. Praise God for His great power. Renew our minds by reading the Word of God and seeking the Holy Spirit. Train our hearts to always seek the Spirit, and not be easily led by our flesh. Pray for justice to prevail, and endeavor to be fair and just in all our dealings.

Prayer: How great are the stars in Heaven which You have created O Lord. I praise You for Your faithfulness, Your great mercy day by day. Indeed, O Lord, You have all the power, and even the seas and the winds obey You. Strengthen my mind O Lord, to be disciplined to seek Your Spirit. Led me not be easily led by the flesh, but to seek Your will. Let justice prevail in this land O Lord. Help me too practice fairness and justice in my life. Blessed be Your name always I pray. In Jesus name, Amen.

He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind

He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind

Scripture: He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth— the LORD God Almighty is his name. Amos 4:13

Observation: In this verse of Amos, we see a powerful description of the Lord. Meditating upon it, we can learn something of the Lord in each portion.

Firstly, we are reminded that it is God who forms the mountains. Mountains are one of nature’s great wonders. When we think of mountains, we think of beauty and greatness. Yet mountains are also symbolic of obstacles. It is hard going climbing up the mountain but once we conquer it, reaching the top, it is so satisfying. In thinking of mountains, we are reminded that life is not easy, there are problems to overcome everyday. But God allows mountains in our lives to make us stronger and more mature day by day.

Secondly, we are reminded that God creates the wind. Wind is so powerful yet intangible. You can’t see it but you can hear it and feel its presence. You do not know which way it will go. Wind speaks of change. God brings change to the world constantly. Rulers come and go, businesses start up and vanish, governments are overthrown overnight. God hold everything in His hands. We are reminded that though life is uncertain like the wind, God is in control.

Third, God reveals His thoughts to mankind. He is not a faraway, distant God. He is a God who is near us and loves to communicate with us, and share His thoughts with us. The Scripture says that God is not far from us, and we need only to reach out and touch Him.

Fourth, the Lord turns dawn to darkness. He is in control of time. He has set seasons and times in its place. Day and night is ordained by the Lord. Whether it is dawn where there is light, or evening, where there is darkness, the Lord is there.

Finally, God treads on the heights of the earth. No matter how high man may think he is, God is always higher. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” says the Lord. It is for us to humble ourselves and seek Him for He is wiser than us.

Application: Thank God for the mountains in our lives. Pray for His help to overcome every obstacle, and trust in Him to help us overcome in His good time. In times of uncertainty, trust in God though the whole world is thrown in turbulent winds. Praise God that He is a God who loves us and reveals His thoughts to us. Praise God that He is in control of light and darkness. Humble ourselves and seek His ways for He is ever wiser than us.

Prayer: Thank You O Lord for the mountains You have placed in my life. I know everything has Your purpose and You allow even obstacles to cultivate my character. Help me trust You always, O Lord, even in the most turbulent of time. Reveal Your thoughts to me, O Lord. May my heart ever seek You, I pray. You are in control of light and darkness, time and space. I will humble myself to seek Your face O Lord, for Your ways are far higher, Your thoughts far greater. Praise Your great name O Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

You only have I chosen

You only have I chosen

Scripture: “You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins.” Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?  Does a lion roar in the thicket when it has no prey? Does it growl in its den when it has caught nothing? Does a bird swoop down to a trap on the ground when no bait is there? Does a trap spring up from the ground if it has not caught anything? When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people tremble? When disaster comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it? Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. Amos 3:2-7

Observation: The Scripture today begins with the Lord reminding Israel that they were chosen out of all the families of the earth and therefore would be judged more severely. The warning is applicable too for us who have tasted the goodness of the Lord and still turned away and followed after evil. As Hebrews 10:29 says of those who deliberately go on sinning after knowing the Lord- “How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?” We must never lose the fear of the Lord, but endeavor to always live our lives reverently before God, seeking to be righteous like Jesus by depending on the Holy Spirit who is with us.

The next few verses remind us of the logic of cause and effect. Two don’t walk together unless they have agreed to walk together. A lion roars when it has prey. A bird swoops down to a trap because bait is there. In the first picture of two walking together, we are reminded of Psalm 1 which says that blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked. Each one of us has a choice whether to walk in the ways of the world or walk in the ways of Christ. If we are walking in the way of the world, it is because we have agreed to walk in it. The analogy of the bird and the trap reminds us of the temptations of the world which bait men. Power, lust, greed in different areas call out to us, and many fall into the trap. James Chapter 1 says that each one is tempted when by his own evil desire he is dragged away and enticed. We have to accept that temptation is part of life. Even our Lord was tempted. It is for us to stand up against temptation by depending on the power of the Holy Spirit who is with us.

The last verse speaks of the Lord doing nothing without revealing His plans to His servants the prophets. This shows us the loving heart of the Lord who involves human men like you and me in His divine plans. Each one of us who are in the Lord can become God’s messenger to others. This also shows the heart of the Lord for the human race as a whole. Peter clearly writes that God does not want anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

Application: Remember to fear and revere the Lord, knowing that our privileged position in knowing Christ also means more will be expected of us in how we live our lives. Let us desire to grow more and more in the Lord and to live by His Holy Spirit. Remember that temptations are part of our lives and the world will call us to depart from our values in the Lord. Depend on God for help in all circumstances. Praise God that He reveals His plans always to His servants. Pray for a greater understanding and revelation of God’s plans for us in these last days.  

Prayer: Father God, may Your name be praised forever. Guard my heart O Lord, let me always remember to fear You for You are our great and awesome God. Help me grow more and more in You O Lord. In my hours of temptation be my strength. As I seek you, help me Lord know you more and your great plans. In Jesus name, Amen

They sell the innocent for silver

They sell the innocent for silver

Scripture: This is what the LORD says: “For three sins of Judah, even for four, I will not relent. Because they have rejected the law of the LORD and have not kept his decrees, because they have been led astray by false gods, the gods their ancestors followed, I will send fire on Judah that will consume the fortresses of Jerusalem Amos 2:4-5

This is what the LORD says: “For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not relent. They sell the innocent for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name. They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. In the house of their god they drink wine taken as fines. Amos 2:6-8

Observation: In the Scripture today, Amos moves on from proclaiming judgment on the heathen nations to judgment on Judah and Israel specifically. God in His justice and righteousness judges both the heathen for their sins and also the children of God themselves where they have turned away from Him. Just as God judges Israel, He too will judge those who turn away from Christ. In the book of Hebrews, there are stern warnings for those who still go on purposely sinning even after receiving Jesus- “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?” Hebrews 10:26-29

Against Judah, they were judged for rejecting the law of God and not keeping them, even following after false gods. Under the new covenant, we are not under law, but under grace. However, this means living by the Holy Spirit as Galatians 5:18 says “If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law”. The Holy Spirit will not force His will upon us for that is not His way. As long as we are on earth, there is temptation, and we have a choice, to do things God’s way or to do it our own sinful way. Though temptation calls, if we continue to see God’s Holy Spirit, we will receive the power to overcome all temptation. The mind is important. We must set our mind to follow the Holy Spirit. The Spirit loves God’s Word, and will lead us often to it. The result of the Spirit’s leading is love for God, and love for our neighbor, which is the very spirit of the law.

Israel were especially admonished for their cruel treatment of the poor, their deceit and their sexual immorality. From the beginning, God has always been concerned for the poor, and those who are cruel and take advantage of the poor will receive harsh judgment from God lest they repent. In our lives, we should always have a heart for the poor, and help where we can. Also, we need to be on particular guard against sexual immorality, one of the most dangerous of all sins. Just see what happened in the case of King David and Bathsheba. Paul warns in 1 Corinthians 6:18 “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.

Application: Resolve to seek the Holy Spirit day by day, seeking to live by His guidance. Remember that when we are led by the Spirit, we are not under the law, and He will lead us to exhibit fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Beware of hardening our hearts and deliberately continuing in sin which is akin of trampling the Son of God under our feet. Remember that God is particularly concerned about the poor, so we too should feel likewise, and do what we can to help the poorer in society where we can. Be very careful of sexual immorality, the sin committed against one’s own body.

Prayer: Precious Holy Spirit, lead me to follow God’s ways day by day. Lead me O Lord in the way everlasting. Forgive me O Lord, for the times, I deliberately sinned because of my own selfishness or impatience. Help me grow more and more like You, Lord Jesus. Give me a heart of compassion for the poor, and help me always flee from sexual temptation. May Your name be praised forever. In Jesus name, Amen.

One of the shepherds

One of the shepherds

Scripture:  The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa—the vision he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel. He said: “The LORD roars from Zion and thunders from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds dry up, and the top of Carmel withers.” Amos 1:1-2

Observation: The book of Amos is a prophecy directed mainly at Israel who turned away from God and followed the ways of the nations surrounding them. However, chapter 1 starts with prophecies of judgment upon the neighboring nations – Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom and Ammon.

In the Scripture today, we saw that God chose a shepherd to be a prophet. In those days, shepherding was not seen as a respectable occupation, but the choice of Amos the shepherd shows that the Lord does not look at the rank or occupation, but rather the heart of a person. It does not matter how young we are or how lowly our occupation may be. What matters is that we are willing to be used by God. If we are willing, God can raise us up to do far more than we could ever imagine.

The name Amos means “burden” or “burden bearer”. In a way, when we are given an assignment by God, it is like a burden which we are compelled to carry out. The prophet Jeremiah likened God’s Word within him to a fire he could not keep but had to speak out. Yet this burden is not a terrible thing when we follow Jesus. As the Lord says “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light”. All of us who follow Jesus carry a burden for the lost, a desire for others who do not know Jesus to come to Him and be saved. Let that burden burst forth in prayer for others, and in a readiness to speak when the time comes to share in the Holy Spirit.

The dating of the prophecy “2 years before the earthquake” and the reference to the reign of Uzziah and Jeroboam places clearly the prophecy of Amos at a distinct point in time. God’s Word is not only a Spiritual Book but a Historical Book with actual events at distinct times involving actual people recorded in history.

The second verse is similar to Joel’s description of the Lord roaring from Zion and thundering from Jerusalem, bringing us imagery of great storms, lightning and thunder.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               The pastures drying up and the withering of Mount Carmel brings us imagery of judgment by fire. The Lord promised Noah never to destroy the earth again by water, but the coming judgment by fire is a certainty.

Application: Recognize that God can use anyone to serve Him, regardless of rank or age or occupation. It is the heart that the Lord looks at and not the outside appearance. Some of us have received a particular calling or burden to serve the Lord. Let the burden cause us to burst forth in prayer, and ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and the right timing. Often, we who are in Christ will receive a burden to pray for an unsaved family member or friend. Let that burden cause us to pray for him or her, and pray for opportunities to show Christ’s love to them. Remember that though God is loving, He is also just, and He will judge the earth by great fire.

Prayer: Father God, I thank You that You look upon men without favoritism, but choose Your servants according to their hearts and not their outward appearances or occupations. Fan the fire of the calling and burden You have placed in my heart O Lord. Help me call out in prayer to You. In Jesus name, Amen.