Amos 7

LORD showed Amos vision of locust                     verse 1- 2a 

Thus has the Lord GOD showed unto me

and behold

HE formed grasshoppers

in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth

AND lo

it was the latter growth after the king’s mowings

AND it came to pass

that when they had made an end

of eating the grass of the land 

Amos prayer                                                             verse 2b 

THEN I said – O Lord GOD – FORGIVE

I beseech you

By whom shall Jacob arise? FOR he is small   

LORD answer to prayer                                         verse 3 

The LORD REPENTED for this

It shall not be – says the LORD 

Second vision shown to Amos                                verse 4 

Thus has the Lord GOD showed to me – and behold

            the Lord GOD called to contend by fire

                        and it devoured the great deep

and did eat up a part 

Amos prayer                                                          verse 5 

THEN said I – O Lord GOD – CEASE

I beseech YOU

By whom shall Jacob arise? FOR he is small    

LORD answer to prayer                                        verse 6 

The LORD REPENTED for this

This also shall not be – says the Lord GOD 

LORD showed Amos a plumbline                          verse 7- 8 

Thus HE showed me – and behold

            the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline

                        with a plumbline in HIS hand

And the LORD said to me

            Amos what see you?

And I said

            A plumbline

THEN said the Lord

Behold

I will set a plumbline in the midst of MY people Israel

            I will not again pass by them any more 

LORD going to destroy false worship centers         verse 9 

AND the high places of Isaac shall be desolate

            and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste

I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword 

Amaziah lies about Amos                                      verse 10- 11 

Then Amaziah the priest of Beth-el sent to Jeroboam

king of Israel – saying

Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel

            the land is not able to bear all his words

FOR thus Amos says – Jeroboam shall die by the sword

and Israel shall surely be led away captive

out of their own land 

Amaziah tells Amos to leave Samaria                     verse 12- 13 

ALSO, Amaziah said unto Amos

            O you seer – GO – flee you away into the land of Judah

                        and there eat bread – and prophesy there

BUT prophesy not again any more at Beth-el

            FOR it is the king’s chapel

      and it is the king’s court 

Amos informs Amaziah of his call from God         verse 14- 15 

Then answered Amos – and said to Amaziah

I was no prophet

                        neither was I a prophet’s son

BUT I was an herdman

and a gatherer of sycamore fruit

AND the LORD took me as I followed the flock

            and the LORD said to me – GO

                        prophesy unto MY people Israel 

Amos has a message for Amaziah                           verse 16- 17 

NOW therefore hear you the word of the LORD

            You says – Prophesy not against Israel

                        and drop not your word

against the house of Isaac

THEREFORE thus

says the LORD

Your wife shall be an harlot in the city

            and your sons and your daughters

shall fall by the sword

            and your land shall be divided by line

            and you shall die in a polluted land

            and Israel shall surely go into captivity

forth of his land 

COMMENTARY:         

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers 

: 2        And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech you; by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small. (5545 “forgive” [calach] means pardon, spare, to be indulgent towards, to stop blaming or taking an offense into account, or practice forbearance)

DEVOTION: How are you at forgiving? If someone said or did something to you and they asked you to forgive them, would you? What would you do if they never asked you for forgiveness?

Here is Amos asking the LORD to forgive the children of Israel. They are not asking. A stranger from Judah is asking the LORD to forgive them because they are so small.

Yet the LORD forgave them and changed HIS attitude toward Israel regarding the locust. HE was still going to judge them but not with locust.

We are commanded to forgive others so the LORD can forgive us. In the disciples prayer or as others call it the “LORD’S prayer” we are to pray “…forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Are you a forgiving person? Is it easy to get bitter against someone who keeps hurting you?

Remember that each time we disobey our parents or others we are hurting our testimony which hurts the LORD.

CHALLENGE:  Obedience is key to living our life that is pleasing to the LORD.

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: 3        The LORD repented for this: It shall not be, says the LORD. (5162 “repented” [nacham] means relented, comfort, be moved to pity, have compassion, a change of heart regarding, turn from former attitude, to cease a particular course of action, or change of purpose)

DEVOTION:  In James 5: 16, we read “…. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” Throughout this chapter we find the LORD changing HIS course of action toward the children of Israel. Why? The reason was that the prophet prayed to the LORD to stop HIS judgment. The LORD agreed because of the prophet’s prayer or request.

One man can make a difference in a nation. One man close to the LORD can have the ear of the LORD. Jesus told the disciples that if they used HIS name in their prayer God the Father would grant them their request if it was according to the will of HIM.

What is according to the will of God? Sin is never according to HIS will. Repentance and a change of direction for believers or unbelievers is according to HIS will.

Amos was just a farmer who God had called to give HIS message to the people. Amos agreed to be God’s representative. He didn’t have any special education. He didn’t even really want the responsibility but he took it and God honored his prayers.

God will do the same for each one of us if we are using our gift/gifts that we received from the Holy Spirit to advance HIS church. If we are obedient to HIM, HE will answer our prayers according to HIS will.

CHALLENGE: Answered prayers are a blessing of obedience even when we pray for others. 

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

             : 5        Then said I, O Lord GOD, cease, I beseech you; by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small. (2308                                     “cease” [chadal] means stop,  refrain, forbear, desist, abandon, give up, or end)

DEVOTION:  Have you ever had someone do something to you that you wished they would stop doing it? Have you ever told them to stop and they wouldn’t? It can get irritating.

Some people just seem to like to do things that we don’t like. We find that there are things that God doesn’t like us to do in our life and yet we keep on doing it.

The children of Israel kept worshiping false gods and God told them to stop and repent but they wouldn’t do it. So HE was going to judge them with fire. HE was going to devour the land.

Amos comes along as someone called of God to be a prophet and asks the LORD to STOP!!! Would you ever ask the LORD to stop doing something? It sounds like it would be wrong. However, this was a prophet talking with the LORD about stopping a judgment.

Remember that Abraham did it for Sodom and Gomorrah. He kept praying for the LORD not to destroy the cities. He started with fifty and got it down to ten people. The LORD said HE would not destroy the cities if there were ten righteous in the five cities. There were not even ten. In fact, only three escaped the city.

If we find ourselves in a situation where we need to pray for the LORD to spare someone would we ask the LORD not to take them? Would we ask the LORD to stop what HE was doing in their life?

CHALLENGE:  God does answer the prayers of the righteous. We sometimes don’t understand the power that is available to us through prayer. It is great to see the LORD answer prayer.

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 15      And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel (3947 “took” [laqach] means to take, fetch, get, lay hold of, seize, acquire, or snatch.)

DEVOTION:  Amos has three visions in this chapter regarding Israel. He is prophesying at Bethel, which means, “house of God.” They had turned it into a place where they worshipped a golden calf and other false gods.

In his visions he sees the LORD sending grasshoppers to destroy the land. But the LORD relents in sending this. Next he sees the LORD sending a fire but HE relents again. The third vision is of a plumb line used measure accurately, so that, a building can be built right. Israel was not measuring up to the standard the LORD has set for them.

Amos told of judgment coming. Amaziah was a false religious leader for the worship of false gods that Bethel. Remember that “religion” is manmade. Christianity comes from the LORD alone. He didn’t like what Amos was saying. He wrote a letter to the king telling of this problem. He told Amos to STOP prophesying and return to his own land of Judah.

Amos responded by saying that he was not there in his own power. He was sent of God. He was minding his own business of tending sheep and caring for fruit trees. He was satisfied where he was BUT the LORD sent him to Bethel. The LORD SEIZED him and told him to go and say what he was saying. He had no training in being a prophet. He wasn’t the son of a prophet. He was just doing what the LORD had told him to do.

We have had opportunity to defend our call to the ministry. Here is Amos defending his call to the ministry to a false prophet in Israel. Amaziah was a priest of Beth-el. There were many high places set up there. This false priest wanted Amos to stop giving the word of the LORD in that place. He wanted Amos to return to Judah and stop bothering them.

When the LORD tells HIS servants to do something and they don’t do it – HE will send someone else or make it so hard on HIS servant that he has to go. HE did that with Jonah.

Is the LORD calling us to go someplace we don’t want to go and share HIS word? Are we willing to go? Amos implied that he had no choice but to follow the LORD’S instructions.

He was minding his own business and the LORD called him to serve. Are we open to the LORD calling us to serve? The LORD uses all those who are yielded and available for service.

CHALLENGE: Remember to keep short accounts with the LORD. Remember to respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level) 

Prayer for forgiveness                                          verse 2

Answered prayer                                                  verse 3, 6

Prayer for deliverance                                          verse 5 

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

                   Thus has the Lord GOD                                        verse 1, 4, 17

Word of the LORD                                                verse 16 

God the Father (First person of the Godhead) 

Lord – Adonai (Owner, Master)                            verse 1, 2, 4- 8

                        GOD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)  verse 1, 2, 4- 6

                        Lord GOD                                                            verse 1, 2, 4- 6

                        Creator                                                                verse 1

                        LORD – Jehovah                                                  verse 3, 6, 8, 15- 17

                        LORD relented                                                    verse 3, 6

                        Word of the LORD                                              verse 16 

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)    

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels) 

Priest of false god                                                verse 10

Chapel to false god                                              verse 13

Harlot                                                                    verse 17 

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins) 

Forgive                                                                  verse 2

Repent                                                                  verse 3, 6

Seer                                                                       verse 12

Prophesy                                                               verse 12, 13, 15, 16

Prophet                                                                 verse 14

Taken of the LORD                                                verse 15 

Israel (Old Testament people of God) 

Jacob                                                                     verse 2, 5

Amos                                                                     verse 8, 10- 12, 14

Israel                                                                     verse 8- 11, 15- 17

Isaac                                                                      verse 9, 16

House of Jeroboam                                              verse 9- 11

Amaziah the priest                                               verse 10- 14

Judah                                                                    verse 12

Bethel                                                                   verse 13

Herdman                                                              verse 14

Gatherer of sycamore fruit                                  verse 14 

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)

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QUOTES regarding passage

7:2 In his vision Amos watched the locust plague with anguish. The clause translated “when they had stripped the land clean” begins with the verb literally rendered “and it will be,” (wĕhāyâ). Translating it as a past tense requires an emendation. It also is followed by a particle (ʾim) usually meaning “if.” Furthermore, such a translation as the NIV (also NRSV) makes difficult the Lord’s promise, “This will not happen” (v. 2). Thus a translation is required that conveys the potential nature of the disaster. Stuart explains it as Amos’s vision of a potential future and translates, “It seemed as if they would completely devour the earth’s vegetation.” Andersen and Freedman explain the initial verb as giving the clause a modal sense and translate, “When they were about to devour the vegetation of the land entirely.”⁸

In desperation Amos interceded with God on Israel’s behalf. The double title for God, “Sovereign Lord,” suggests his absolute exaltation and, at the same time, his close relationship with the prophet. “Forgive” (sĕlaḥ) is an imperative of entreaty, probably expressive of the prophet’s sense of urgency about the situation he observed in the vision. The verb “forgive” has no object and may not have its usual meaning of “pardon for sin.” Perhaps the prophet’s appeal was for God to exercise forbearance and turn the threatened locust plague away from Israel.

The basis for the prophet’s plea was that “Jacob” (Israel) was small. The word “small” (qāṭōn) may refer to helplessness rather than to size. During the time of Jeroboam II, the nation and its army was not especially small or weak, except before God. “How can Jacob survive?” reveals the prophet’s assessment that the nation could not survive the potential plague. The nation’s survival hinged on the prophet’s intercession and God’s response to it. (Smith, B. K., & Page, F. S. (1995). Amos, Obadiah, Jonah (Vol. 19B, pp. 128–129). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

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7:3 God’s positive response to Amos’s appeal is in line with the consistent revelation of God in the Old Testament (Gen 18:22–23; Exod 34:6–7; Josh 7:6–13; Jer 18:1–10; Jonah 3:10).

God gave a positive response to the prophet’s intercession. One person made a big difference because God is approachable and merciful. Prophets have been identified traditionally as spokespersons for God to God’s people. Another important aspect of their service was as intercessors, speaking to God for God’s people. Abraham, the first person in the Bible identified as a prophet, is described as follows: “He is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live” (Gen 20:7; cf. also Gen 18:16–33). (Smith, B. K., & Page, F. S. (1995). Vol. 19B: Amos, Obadiah, Jonah. The New American Commentary (130). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

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This change of direction on Yahweh’s part the text calls repentance (cf. Gen. 6:6; Exod. 32:14; 1 Sam. 15:35; Joel 2:13–14; Jon. 3:10; 4:2). Though often described as an anthropopathism—a human emotion ascribed to God which is not really an integral part of the divine character—God’s repentance is something more than that. It is a reminder that the Old Testament never makes Yahweh ‘an arbitrary despotic Ruler but always regards Him as a God who sympathizes with man’. Theologically, then, God’s repentance is an expression of his compassion, of his commitment to covenant and of his freedom. (Hubbard, D. A. (1989). Vol. 25: Joel and Amos: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (220). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)

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2–3 When Amos saw in his vision that the locusts had finished the devastation, he prayed that what he had seen would not happen, because Israel would not be able to survive it. “Jacob [Israel],” he said, “is so small.” This appeal seems strange in view of Israel’s extensive territory and economic prosperity. But Amos had seen an awesome display of Yahweh’s might in this vision; and, in comparison to that, the nation seemed small and helpless. Amos’s prayer was answered. The Lord relented and the threat was revoked (v.3). (McComiskey, T. E. (1986). Amos. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Daniel and the Minor Prophets (Vol. 7, p. 321). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)

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7:2. In his vision Amos saw that the locusts stripped the land clean of all vegetation—both seeded crops and wild growth. Knowing that the nation would die if this vision became a reality, Amos begged the sovereign Lord to forgive the people of their sins. Though Israel was unrepentant, though her guilt was overwhelming, and though the punishment was just, Amos nevertheless pleaded with God not to bring this punishment on the nation. Jacob would never survive it. Jeroboam II’s proud people might think themselves invulnerable (6:1–3, 8, 13; 9:10), but when viewed in the face of God’s awesome might and wrath they were in reality so small, so helpless, so pitiable. By calling Israel “Jacob,” Amos perhaps meant to remind God of His early commitment to the ancestor when he was at Bethel, a site still hallowed by his descendants (Gen. 28:10–22; Amos 3:14; 4:4; 5:5–6; 7:13). Jacob is mentioned in 3:13; 6:8; 7:2, 5; 8:7; 9:8. (Sunukjian, D. R. (1985). Amos. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 1444–1445). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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The life of a prophet wasn’t easy. On the one hand, he had to stay close to the Lord in order to hear His words and be able to share them with the people. But on the other hand, he also had to be with the people to whom he was ministering, and they didn’t always want to accept his ministry. It’s no wonder that some of the prophets wanted to resign, including Moses and Jeremiah. Amos had two struggles: one with the Lord and one with the authorities, especially the king and his priest. When you read the Book of Acts, you see that the apostles also faced struggles with the religious establishment and with the government. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be concerned (pp. 63–64). Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor.)

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In verses 1 to 9 of the present chapter, three of these visions are described; while the balance of the passage gives a most interesting and instructive bit of autobiography. In the first vision, the prophet was shown a plague of locusts (not merely grasshoppers), “in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth, after the king’s mowings.” In Palestine two crops a year were readily harvested. Under favorable conditions, “the latter growth, after the king’s mowings,” would have reference to the second crop, which would be depended on largely for the winter supplies of food and provender. But the seer beholds devouring locusts destroying every tender shoot, leading to the heartfelt prayer on the part of Amos, “O Lord God, forgive, I beseech Thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.” And the Lord hearkens to the intercession, and replies, “It shall not be.”

Undoubtedly a desolating scourge like an army sweeping all before it, leaving no remnant, was symbolized by the locusts. As in Moses’ day, the anger of the Lord was kindled, and would have destroyed the nation; but the intercession of the mediator interposed. God loves to be entreated. He delights to answer when He hears the cry of such as bear His needy people on their heart. (Ironside, H. A. (1909). Notes on the Minor Prophets. (pp. 171–172). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)

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Ver. 2. And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, &c.] That is, the grashoppers or locusts; when in the vision it seemed to the prophet that almost all the grass of the land was eaten up, and they were going to seize upon the corn, and other fruits of the earth: this signifies not Sennacherib’s invasion of the land of Judea, but Pul’s invasion of the land of Israel, whose army seemed like these locusts; and spreading themselves over the land, threatened it with desolation, as these locusts seemed to have wholly consumed all the grass of the land; then the prophet said what follows; then I said, O Lord God, forgive, I beseech thee; the sins of the people, as the Targum, which were the cause of these locusts coming, or of the Assyrian army invading the land; and the prophet prays that God would avert this judgment, signified in this vision, or remove it, which is often in Scripture meant by the forgiveness of sin, Exod. 32:31, 32; Numb. 14:19; 1 Kings 8:33, 34, 36, 37, 39. this is the business of the prophets and ministers of the Lord, to intercede for a people when ruin is near; and happy is that people, when they have such to stand up in the breach for them. The argument the prophet uses is, by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small; or little; like the first shooting up of the grass, after it has been mown: or, as Noldius^b renders it, how otherwise should Jacob stand? and so Kimchi, how should there be a standing for him? that is, unless God forgives his sin, and turns away his wrath, how shall he stand up under the weight of his sins, which must lie upon him, unless forgiven? and how shall he bear the wrath and indignation of God for them? and so if any sinner is not forgiven, how shall he stand before God to serve and worship him now? or at his tribunal with confidence hereafter? or sustain his wrath and displeasure to all eternity? see Psal. 130:3, 4. or, who of or in Jacob shall stand? not one will be left; all must be cut off, if God forgive not; for all are sinners, there are none without sin: or, who shall stand for Jacob^d? or intercede for him? it will be to no purpose, if God is inexorable: so the Targum, “who will stand and ask pardon for their sins?” or, who will raise up Jacob? from that low condition in which he is, or likely to be in, if God forgive not, and does not avert the judgment threatened, to a high and glorious state of prosperity and happiness; for, if all are cut off, there will be none left to be instruments of such a work: for he is small; few in number, and greatly weakened by one calamity or another; and, if this should take place, would be fewer and weaker still. So the church of Christ, which is often signified by Jacob, is sometimes in a very low estate; the number of converts few; has but a little strength to bear afflictions, perform duty, and withstand enemies; it is a day of small things with it, with respect to light and knowledge, and the exercise of grace, especially faith; when some like the prophet are concerned for it, by whom it shall arise; the God of Jacob can cause it to arise, and can raise up instruments for such service, and make his ministers, and the ministry of the word and ordinances, means of increasing the number, stature, spiritual light, knowledge, grace, and strength of his people. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 6, p. 510). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

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FROM MY READING:

 (Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All others I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)

 Jack Speed

A father takes his son into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone.  Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.

The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never moving the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man! Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm. We, too, are never alone. Even when we don’t know it, God is watching over us, Sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to HIM. If you liked this story, pass it on. If not, you took off your blindfold before dawn. Moral of the story: Just because you can’t see God, doesn’t mean He is not there. “For we walk by faith, not by sight!!!

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 FROM: TozerSpeaks Volume two by A. W. Tozer

 Did you know that sheep cannot drink from noisy, running water? A sheep’s nostrils are so close to his mouth that if he starts to drink and the water is moving, he will choke and could perhaps drown. It is necessary for the shelpherd to dam the stream until a quiet pool is formed, and the moving water becomes still. Then the animal can put his muzzle intot he water and drink without choking and gasping for air. When David wrote about our Lord being our shepherd, he said, “He leads me beside the still water.” (p. 190)

Knowing the power of this gospel, I am willing to put myself on record that I would rather be preached to by a converted car thief than be lulled to death by the educated gentlemen who have reduced Christianity to nothing more than a psychology of comfort. (p. 192)

So we cannot afford to let down our Christian standards just to hold the interest of people who want to go to hell and still belong to a church. (p. 194)

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FROM: Prepare “Living Your Faith IN An Increasingly Hostile Culture by J. Paul Nyquist

 The Word Evangelical Fellowship estimates two hundred million Christians live under a daily treat of imprisonment or torture; twice as many reside where laws discriminate against them. Persecution is the global norm. Americans are the anomaly. (p. 14)

Theolgoian Geoffrey Bromiley’s definition is one of the best: “Persecution is the suffering or pressure, mental, moral, or physical which authorities, indiviiduals, or crowds inflict on others, especially for opinions or beliefs, with a view to their subjection by recantation, silencing, or, as a last resort, execution. (p. 16)

Important spiritual formation cannot be realized without experiencing suffering. (p. 18)

While there’s nothing sinful aobut having balck or white skin, the Bible says homosexual behavior and changing one’s gender is wrong – an affront to the Creator (Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Rom. 1: 26-27) (p, 36)

The best definition I found is “a culture is a way of life for a group of people – the behaviors, beliefs; values and symbols that they accept, generally without thinking about them, and that are passed along by communication and imitation from one generation to the next.” (p. 43)

Os Guinnes states, “As the legalization and then normalization of polyamory, polygamy, pedophilia, and incest follow the same logic as that of abortion and homosexuality, the socially destructive consequences of these trends will reverberate throughout society until the social chaos is beyond recovery.” (p. 56)

We need not be pessimists, but we must be realists. Realism shows that with the current, accelerating trends in America, we can expect our voices to be silenced. We can expect to be persecuted for our views. We can expect to be rejected and punished in the land of the free – for standing on scriptural truth. (p. 56)

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FROM: NEW Evangelicalism: The New World Order by Paul Smith

 Humanism produces men who are convinced tht they know what’s best for all mankind. This blindness comes from humanism’s limited view which tries to explain the miracle of life and the universe apart from God and His inerrant revelation. The humanistic view of life motivates men who think they are the rightful rulers over the common people. They promote themselves as the knowledgeable elite – with all the right answers for a new world order necessary for the survival of humanity. (p. 31)

The lights have gone off at the guard posts and the remaining watchmen on the wall are being ignored as men fail to see the detrimental effects of humanism, the new evangelicalism, and the denial of biblical inerrancy. (p. 34)

Don Carson, author of the book, Becoming Conversant with the emerging Church (2005), once commented that the first generation fights for orthodoxy, the second generation assumes orthodoxy, and the third generation abandons orthodoxy. (p.53)

When Fuller Seminary changed its Statement of Faith, it headed down the slippery slope that spawned new evangelicalism, humanistic church growth programs, and practices that have caused churches to neglect the work of the Holy Spirit as revealer of God’s truth. (73)

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Psalms 1
The righteous prosper as they delight in the Lord, while the wicked perish.
INSIGHT
In Jerusalem, each gate is named for the destination of the road leading away from it. There is the Joppa Gate, leading to Joppa; there is the Damascus Gate, leading to Damascus. Some of these gates are very close together, but their destinations are very far apart. Life is like that. The psalmist says there are basically two gates in life: the “wicked gate” and the “righteous gate.” Your destination in life depends upon which gate you choose. The “righteous gate” begins at the Word of God and leads to trees, water, and fruit. The “wicked gate” starts with man’s counsel and leads to wind and chaff.  (Quiet Walk)

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Double Damnation
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” (Matthew 23:15)
Among the eight “woes” in Matthew 23 is this frightening possibility that false teaching will produce double wickedness—a multiplying effect that redounds to terrible consequences. Jesus said that these self-righteous and hate-filled Pharisees were of the devil (John 8:44) and were so intent on resisting the truth that they were ready to kill if they could silence the message of liberty. Paul condemned Elymas the sorcerer as “full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness” (Acts 13:10).
During a great revival in Iconium, “the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren” (Acts 14:2). And they were not content with that. When Paul and his fellow helpers fled to Lystra, the God-hating group from Iconium followed them to Lystra and “persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city” (Acts 14:19).
Make no mistake about this issue; those who hate truth and God will turn their hate against the people of God. “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you . . . because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. . . . If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also” (John 15:18-20).
Our country has enjoyed some 250 years of liberty while centered on righteousness. But rising atheistic and secular favor has given boldness to the enemies of truth. May God grant us boldness to speak His Word (Acts 4:29) amidst “many adversaries” (1 Corinthians 16:9). (HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)

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