Amos 5:21-6:1a
At Ease in Zion: A Complacent People
I. Introduction
-God has blessed us!
-God has blessed our church!
-Greensburg started in 1985 in the basement of the Farm Bureau building.
1. It took some work to seek God's plan to this day.
2. Time, talent, and treasures of many people.
-Ill. Over 350 years ago a shipload of ppl landed on the NE coast of America.
1. First year they established a town site.
2. Second- elected a town government.
3. Third- government planned to build a road running five miles West out of town.
4. Fourth- the ppl tried to impeach their elected officials
5. "Who needs a road five miles West?"
-Ironically they had come over three thousand miles across the Atlantic, but lost sight of what was five miles out of town.
-Same problem I think the Israelites had.
II. Scripture
III. Background
-The kings of the day were Uzziah (Southern kingdom) and Jeroboam II.
-Times were good!
1. There was peace!
2. There was wealth, prosperity, and great times!
-People were religious!
1. They had religious festivals
2. They even had solemn assemblies (boring services).
3. They performed the sacrifices they were suppose to.
4. Even paid their tithe.
5. They sang praise to God.
-But for all the good things, God says He hates, rejects, refuses all of this from them.
-Why? Amos 6:1 "Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure in the mountain of Samaria."
IV. Lack of Urgency
-When times are good, we tend to lose our sense of purpose/ urgency.
-Ill. Pain in my foot.
1. If is continues I'll see the doctor.
2. But if it suddenly goes away the urgency is gone.
-We identify spiritual need today by bad circumstances.
1. Economic troubles.
2. Relational troubles.
3. Emotional, family, job.
4. If you have those troubles, you must have spiritual trouble.
-But that's not who Amos is talking to.
-He speaks the comfortable!
1. To a ppl who feel no urgency to act on anything.
2. There is nothing so important to them that needs their attention.
3. Nothing that demands their actions change.
-He speaks to you and I today!
V. Been Through the Wilderness
-The Israelites had been through the wilderness.
1. Through attacks, and wars, and famines, and hardship.
2. Finally they come to a point in their history were there is a little peace.
-And they grow at ease in Zion (ie. Jerusalem)
1. The stronghold.
2. Feel safe on the Mountain of Samaria (N. kingdom capitol).
-Amos proclaims God's truth to them.
-Ill. Geese call to ducks.
1. Ronald Meredith, an author, writes about a night he awoke to the call of geese overhead.
2. He ran to the window and watched them fly over in formation calling.
3. He noticed the tame ducks that lived in the pond next to his house.
4. As the geese honked the tame ducks fluttered a little bit, but the temptation of the corn that Ronald through out was too much.
5. They stayed.
-Amos' call was little more than the geese flying overhead.
-They reject his message.
VI. Ease and Complacency
-Their complacency restricts their ability to do right over time.
-Ill. Dandelions in the garden.
1. Gardner tried everything to get rid of the weed.
2. Nothing worked so he wrote the department of Agriculture.
3. "What shall I try next?"
4. Their response: "Try getting used to them."
-Unfortunately that is the advice Christians tend to take concerning sin in their life.
VII. Greensburg History
-Started in 1985 in the basement of the Farm Bureau building.
-Now in this beautiful building.
1. We can pay our bills.
2. We have a pastor.
3. We are blessed with all kinds of talents.
-I wonder... have we become at ease in Zion?
-The cornerstone of this building says ‘1987' have we been at ease since then? (Church is nice.)
1. Since January when we got a new pastor?
2. Since there haven't been any problems?
3. Since there haven't been any difficulties?
-Praise God for what He has done in our past!
1. We wouldn't be here today if God was not in it!
2. He has blessed us with this building.
3. With resources and talents to continue in ministry, but...
-Are we at ease? ...do we feel comfortable and secure?
-Are we preoccupied with keeping the status quo?
-Are we blinded by yesterday's accomplishments?
1. Garbage Can
2. Awards thrown away.
-What we did yesterday is in the past?
-What Amos asks us, is what we are going to do today?
VIII. Amos Today
-I wonder if our scripture could read for us today?
-"I hate, I reject your revivals, I do not delight in your special services.
Even though you offer up to me elaborate prayers and beautiful songs, I will not accept them.
And I will not even look at your offerings...
-Are you willing to lay down your reputation in this community for Christ?
-Willing to roll up your sleeves and get dirty.
-You know what made the difference in the early church?
1. They never became at ease in Zion.
2. They never came to a point where they were coasting. (Even after Pentecost and the thousands of ppl who became Christians.)
3. They were willing to rock the boat.
-Every great movement of God in history is accompanied by people unwilling to waver from God's Will.
1. Unwilling to be influenced by culture.
2. But fervently seeking God's will in the world.
3. Biblically defined vs. culturally defined Christians
-We need some people who are willing to rock the boat!
-Let's see the vision of what God wants to do...
1. Not grow the Greensburg Church.
2. Build His kingdom in Green county.
3. You could account that to
IX. Conclusion
-You would think that the people, after hearing Amos, would have repented and loosed themselves from the apathy and ease.
-Not the case.
-Amaziah, the priest!, rejected Amos and his message.
-He even went so far as to pursue and attempt to destroy him.
-Will you leave here still at ease in Zion?
Response
