• Our founding fathers recognized our form of civil government wouldn't work without proper self government.
• This is why they put such an emphasis on Christianity, the Bible, and church.
• Amos speaks of the same - you can't have justice (civil gov) without righteousness (self gov).
• RIGHTEOUS means "right relationship" with God.
• A righteous person doesn't need a law because he's led by love.
• JUSTICE means that proper boundaries are being enforced - specifically God's boundaries.
• You can only have justice when punishment for crossing a boundary is enforced.
• The goal of justice is to keep people in bounds because that's where blessing is.
• In America we see a major lack of justice. Why?
• Because we first lacked righteousness.
• "When the righteous rule the people rejoice" - because justice rules the day.
• Amos 6:12 - Justice was turned to poison and righteousness to wormwood.
• If we want justice back we have to first get righteousness back through repentance.
Amos 5:24 (12/17/15)
Justice & Righteousness
December 17, 2015 • Benham Brothers
Amos 1:1 (12/12/19)
December 12, 2019 • Benham Brothers
* What do Amos, Elisha, Jesus, and the Disciples all have in common? * They were gainfully employed in business when God called them. * They were shepherds, farmers, carpenters, accountants, doctors, fishermen - all men of business. * Why? * I believe the marketplace is the best place to train people - it’s the great “sifter” of men. * How? * If you don’t bring real value in the marketplace you don’t make it! * In vocational ministry you are often judged by your INTENTIONS. * So if the event didn’t go well or your lunch meeting went 3 hours too long, then it must have been God’s will. * But in the marketplace you are judged by your ACTIONS. * If the event didn’t go well or you took 3 hours too long in a meeting, you could get fired! * That trains you to stay on point and bring real, tangible value. * Amos was a poor country farmer, but God gave him a powerful word to speak. * What does this say about you and me? * We are God’s ministers in the marketplace!!!!
Amos 2:4-6 (12/14/17)
December 14, 2017 • Benham Brothers
* Judah was going to be judged for rejecting God’s law. * If you reject God’s law you reject God. * State-funded police write tickets because violating their rules is a violation of the state. * If you reject your parent’s rules you are rejecting your parents. * When confronted with the law we have a choice - accept or reject. * Here’s the key - If you accept the rule you accept the rule-giver. * If you reject a rule you reject the rule-giver. * If you reject Him He rejects you.
Amos 3:3-6 (12/14/17)
December 14, 2017 • Benham Brothers
* Amos was a farmer and used examples from nature. * He was trying to show the Israelites that God’s punishment wasn’t without cause. * God had used natural disaster (locusts, etc) to punish them. * Look at Amos’s examples: * vs 3 - if two people walk together (effect) they had to first agree on a direction (cause). * vs 4 - if a lion is going to roar in a thicket or his den (effect) he had to first find his prey (cause). * vs 5 - if a bird is going to be caught in a trap (effect) he must first be baited (cause). * vs 6 - if disaster comes upon a city (effect) then God had to have planned it (cause). * vs 10 - if God planned disaster on a city (effect) then the people have sinned against Him (cause). * Apply this to your life - what effects do you see? * This will help you get to a cause.