http://countrysidechurchofchrist.sermon.net/main/main/21450219
Oracle against Phoenicia—09/09/2019-Pastor Reggie Webb
Book of Amos lesson 4
Consider the lilies of the field… Matt 6:28
Consider the lilies of the field… Matt 6:28
http://countrysidechurchofchrist.sermon.net/main/main/21450219
thedailylily.com 
There were a lot of atrocities of the surrounding nations of Judah and Israel mentioned in this lesson by Pastor Reggie.
He makes a profound point of saying that “God demands that the human rights of all people be respected.” He clearly stated that God has placed within every man a moral law and that when men disregard this law, judgement will inevitably fall in God’s own timetable.
He brings it to today in America by saying that God has punished all these other nations for their sins, atrocities and crimes and that he does not think that God will let America go free for hers ….if things don’t change.
Debi, you have given P Reggie’s tag line to the world at large, “God demands that the human rights of all people be respected.” This line calls for some deep thinking on my part and many in the church that I hear trumpet sounds that doesn’t seem to align with this statement. Wonder how this trumpet will sound… “It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.” I Corinth 15:52
If I haven’t heard trumpets and obeyed the truth tones of human rights while earth dwelling what makes me think I will recognize the last trumpet sound?
“If I haven’t heard trumpets and obeyed the truth tones of human rights while earth dwelling what makes me think I will recognize the last trumpet sound?”
That is a probing question, Sara.
It would seem that if we have selective hearing regarding the human rights of others that we will become deaf to the voice of God and the sound of His trumpet. Lack of obedience to God’s demands will bring deafness. It made me think about verses that speak of not being able to hear like this one:
“To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.” Jeremiah 6:10 And a similar warning of deafness was announced by Isaiah in the year that King Uzziah (same king that was in power when Amos spoke his prophetic words) dies. (Isaiah 6:9-10)
And as I read in Revelation about the blowing of those 7 trumpets by the angels and the terrors they each brought, it almost sounds like no one listened to them either. They sure didn’t heed the judgments brought by them because it said (Rev 9:20) that the people who didn’t die in the plagues accompanied by the trumpet blasts “still refused to repent of their evil deeds”.
Debi, absolutely great lesson and understanding of The Book of Amos and a lot of clarity that twins with Reggie’s teaching. Oh, that the church would quickly awaken. As you continued to quote Reggie, “does not think that God will let America go free for hers (ie sins)….if things don’t change.”
This lesson reminds me of mixing water and eggs in a cake mix with Pastor Teacher Reggie being the electric mixer. It sure shook my being as I tried to hold on to my thinking. I’m saying I should bake this in my mind and serve up a generous slice to all that will listen.
It just might be timed to perfection for serving as we in America approach 2020 election. We may not get our contacts to listen here but we can copy and paste with our encouragement notes on email or message and send to church leaders, prayer leaders and all in between.
I would say this is kindness and great love. Hope you share ways you found to share these great manuals of survival in the storms of judgements according to the Book of Amos. Interesting, people may not believe and call us and Amos names below King and tell us to go back to gardening or sewing. But, there is beauty in serving a slice of cake. They heard.
As has often been said, unless we make the unconscious conscious, it will direct our life and we will think of it as fate.
I so often hear it’s fate, it’s God, we’re winning, we’re prospering, it’s all good. Just isolate those that might see and think I’m wrong when it’s God. Isolate those that don’t agree with me, my ego, my arrogance etc etc How does one unmask and recognize sin in their own life? How do we make the unconscious conscious?
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” James 1:22-25 ESV
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” James 1:27 ESV
The book of James has been like Prophet/farmer gave me a dozen eggs and James cracked them for me without a single chip from the shell in my eatable bowl.
Thank you Pastor Reggie for teaching, loving and caring about the souls of men. We give thanks for you. I need a lot of aspiration for this study!
Sara, you stated and asked above, “Just isolate those that might see and think I’m wrong when it’s God. Isolate those that don’t agree with me, my ego, my arrogance etc etc How does one unmask and recognize sin in their own life? How do we make the unconscious conscious?”
I kept thinking about ‘isolate’ and the scripture that says the contrary, “And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
I Cor 12: 21 NKJ
An eye (someone with the gift of seeing) can see what’s behind a mask. A hand can remove a mask. So I think it takes someone else with the seeing eye gift working under the power of the Hand of God to take off another’s mask. I don’t think the person can do it alone, which is why they probably isolate themselves either unconsciously or consciously, to avoid mask removal. To make the unconscious conscious I would say we need to be accountable to another who can help us recognize sin in our own life.
I thought this scripture related to what you said above as well: “But I also want you to think about how this keeps your significance from getting blown up into self-importance. For no matter how significant you are, it is only because of what you are a part of. An enormous eye or a gigantic hand wouldn’t be a body, but a monster. What we have is one body with many parts, each its proper size and in its proper place. No part is important on its own.” I Cor 12:19 Message
Rena Oynes’ comment. She is having online issues…
So well covered Sara and Debi opening up and bringing to us the lesson from the people’s of yesterday to today’s time. No change feel the pain.
Knowing judgement will fall on all for atrocities against human rights of people, all peoples need to fall and ask for their Nation a heart change, for no Nation is exempt from judgement . God’s mighty gavel will come down and be heard throughout heaven. Before that day of reckoning let us all fall prostrate and pray, “Lord God Almighty you have been merciful to us and your eye goes to and fro throughout the world to see if any nation bows before you. Today we ask for our nation to have a heart change and turn back to “In God we Trust.” May we turn, turn back filling our hearts with you and your guidance instead of worldly guidance which have destroyed the rights of people. We are a people who stand guilty of pride of our greatness among the nations. Such wealth and abundance is exhibited daily as people tread on the backs of our fellow persons.
There is a remnant but all need to be on board God’s Soul Train. We know without change your gavel will fall and we will stand guilty as it was said in our lesson of history past in the Bible who tried it their way. Amen!!! Rena Oynes
Rena, You along with Pastor Reggie mentioned change, human rights…What do you see as these issues in our communities today?
Debi, that’s some Bible you are quoting. Whoa! I will reread after a good night’s rest. Thanks!
Sent from my iPhone
The issues today against human rights is the same as the ancient of days. Same but wrapped a little differently.
Here are a few issues I perceive:
1. As Pastor Reggie says, I to see an issue with abortions. In 2017, 881,000 babies were aborted (killed).
2. I see an issue with children who do not have enough food to eat. 16 million American children struggle with hunger each year.
3. I see an issue with the way children who look differently or act differently are treated by others. Example, Downs Syndrome, autism, birth defects, diseases, accidents that physically change them, etc. or children of different cultures.
4. I see an issue with the increase of drug use which affect children in the womb which leads to affecting behavior and learning. Drugs affect the drug user, taking them down a path that requires more and more to fill their emptiness as a person and more rehab. I see an issue with drug addicts trying to get drugs by going from doctor to doctor causing pharmacies to have to be policing prescriptions.
5. I see predators who prey on children, men, and women.
6. I see children who come from other countries being separated from parents.
4. I see an issue with sexual trafficking.
5. I see an issue with any institution or people that appear safe but indeed prey on children as if sex toys which destroys their lives and forever.
6. I see an issue with bullying.
7. I see an issue with lying and stealing climbing up to the highest officials of any group or governing agencies in the land.
8. I see an issue with rich getting richer off the backs of average hard working citizens or non citizens.
9. I see an issue with those who work for others, being taken advantage of who are just trying to make a living.
10. I see an issue with racism among different cultures. Also hatred and violence towards others for no reason other than doing harm. Also I have an issue with killing police officers.
11. I see issues with treatment of the elderly.
12. I have an issue with someone who covets another’s spouse or man/woman or property.
13. I see an issue with technology only as it is so addictive that personal time with others suffers causing lack of communication skills and enjoyment of sharing with one another life.
14. I see an issue with those who do not heed the Biblical warning of respect of human rights. This disrespect brings judgement. So…….
Some acts of disrespect of human rights may be heard by a judge here on earth, but all cases of disrespect of human rights will be heard in God’s courtroom.
Looks like these issues will remain until Jesus comes. 🙏🏻 Come Jesus!!!!
Rena, that’s a list that should put fear in the soul. Looks like judgement might be nearer than one might think.