Prepare to Meet Thy God - Understanding the Message of Amos 4:12-13

Prepare To Meet Thy God AMOS 4:12

Amos 4:12-13 12 Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. 13 For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.

Introduction As we end 2019 & begin 2020, preparations are needed As we prepare for 2020, we review 2019 we should look at Our accomplishments and things we failed to accomplish Our resolve to live better and give up any bad habits This lesson does not focus on the physical, but the spiritual The need to prepare to meet God is universal and a Bible subject 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10-12; Acts 17:30-31; Hebrews 9:27 Many want to go to Heaven, but few are willing to prepare Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people - John 14:1-4; Hebrews 11:6 Hell is a prepared place for unprepared people - Matthew 25:41 One does not get to Heaven by accident - 1 Peter 4:17-19; Matthew 7:13-14 We must prepare in this life for the life to come!

The Context of Amos 4:12 A serious and solemn warning of doom coming to those of the Northern Nation of Israel - Amos 1:1; 7:15 We must solemnly observe this principle today Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11; 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Like those of Amos day, we will meet God whether we are prepared or unprepared - Doom awaits the ungodly 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 We must behold the goodness and severity of God - vs. 22 Romans 11:18-25

The Time & Setting of Amos 4:12 The date of this text around 791-750 BC During the reign of Jeroboam II Israel had become a heathen and sinful nation - Amos 5:12; 9:8 An insatiable hunger for riches - 3:12, 15; 5:11; 6:1-3 They were removed from truth & justice - 7:7-8 Did not regard the poor - 2:6-7; 4:1; 5:11-12; 8:4 God gave them Divine revelation & they turned to their own way - 3:1-2 They had no knowledge of God and His laws - 3:10 Practiced idolatry - 3:14 Depended on their own strength - 6:13 They were cheaters and swindlers - 8:5-6

The Time & Setting of Amos 4:12 Israel was a nation that forgot God & needed to heed Amos They outwardly worshiped God but were not influenced in heart Reminds us of Jesus description of Israel in His day - Matthew 23:27 They went through the motions of worship like many in religion today God had every right to be angry with them - Matthew 21:12-13 God punished with famine, petulance & earthquake - Amos 4:6-11 God sent Amos to warn Israel of the coming doom God gave them time to repent - Amos 4:12; Acts 17:30-31 The Assyrians, were the instrument of God s wrath & judgement on Israel They ignored the warning - prepare to meet they God, O Israel

Heed the Warnings Of The N.T. To Prepare Jesus teaching in Matthew 25 serves to warn us today The ten virgins - vss. 1-13 The talents - vss. 14-30 The judgment of nations - vss. 31-46 Carefully observe other N.T. teaching on making preparation Lay up your treasures in Heaven - Matthew 6:19-20 Put God and His kingdom FIRST in your life - Matthew 6:33 Seek to be spiritually and morally pure - Titus 2:11-15 Be steadfast, obedient Children of God - Hebrews 2:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:58

Suggested Actions To Prepare To Meet God Become a Christian, obey the Gospel - Romans 1:16-17 Share the gospel with those who will receive it - 2 Timothy 2:2 Acts 8:4 Yield to God, not to temptation and sin - Romans 6:11-16 Love God by keeping His commandments - 1 John 2:3-4; 5:3 Love your brethren - 1 Peter 1:22; Hebrew 13:1-3 Study God s word, make application to self - 2 Timothy 2:15 Examine yourself, make correction - 2 Corinthians 13:5 James 1:22-27

Suggested Actions To Prepare To Meet God Pray to God without ceasing - 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Hebrews 4:16 Develop a moral & spiritually pure character - 2 Timothy 2:22 2 Peter 1:5-11 Never forsake the assembly 0f the saints - Hebrews 10:24-26 Give attendance to daily Bible reading - 1 Timothy 4:13 Seize opportunities to learn more about God s word - Acts 17:11 Be ready and willing to suffer for righteousness - 1 Peter 2:20 1 Peter 3:14-17

Behold Now is The Time To Prepare Even though the numerous N.T. warnings many Live without God in their lives Have no fear of God Reject God s authority Ignore His works and do not regard the coming judgment Conduct their lives as though there is no God Behold now is the day of salvation - 2 Corinthians 6:2 The day of doom and reckoning is approaching We will ALL be judged - 2 Corinthians 5:10 We will ALL give account to God - Romans 14:12

Scriptural Preparation Is Needed Now We will give answer to God, prepared or not We must be prepared according to God s way Matthew 7:21; Jeremiah 10:23; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3 Man cannot mix the ways of man with God s way Matthew 7:22-23; Revelation 22:18-19 Are you making preparation to meet your God?

Prepare To Meet Thy God Alien sinners must PREPARE to meet Godby Hearing the Gospel Romans 10:17 Believing the Gospel John 8:24 Repenting of Your Sins Acts 17:30 Confessing Christ Before Men Matthew 10:32 Being Baptized in Water to Wash Away Their Sins Acts 2:38 Erring children of God must PREPAREby Repenting & Praying for Forgiveness Acts 8:21-23 Christians must always live faithful unto death Revelation 2:10 Amos 4:12 12