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Devotional For the Week— 4 December 2006

IT’S NOT ALL GLOOM AND DOOM

Scripture Text: AMOS 9:11-15

INTRODUCTION

What is What kind of father only punishes his child without any hope that the child will change to be a sensible and useful child? The main purpose for discipline is to see that the son will come out good.

From the beginning of the book of Amos, God was punishing the sinful neighbouring countries of Israel and giving many warnings concerning Israel’s own sinfulness. Eventually, judgment befell Israel.

LESSONS

So far in our studies of Amos, we have learned that Israel had sinned against God to the point of no return. The spirituality of Israel can be compared to the physical state of Eli and the manner in which he died.

(1)        Eli was old and his eyes were dim. Likewise spiritually, Israel was weary and groping in darkness.

(2)        Eli fell backwards when he heard that the Ark was captured. Similarly, Israel was backsliding from God.

(3)        Eli broke his neck and died. Israel was punished for being stiff-necked.

The Israelites, however, were oblivious to their own sin and thought everything was alright. They were prosperous under King Jeroboam II. They never thought God would punish his own people. However, they were dead wrong.

If we remain in our wrongdoings and are stubborn, we face certain consequences.

1. We cannot escape God’s judgment (1-10)

God is a just God and He will judge sinfulness. However, the beauty is that He also offers the hope of redemption. The analogy of a two-faced coin aptly compares God’s judgment and His grace, going hand-in-hand. This is consistent throughout the Bible, in that God’s judgment has never been total destruction. Hence, it is not all gloom and doom. There is always hope.

2. We can expect God’s Gracious Restoration (11 – 15)

Whenever we come across the name Yahweh, it refers to the covenant keeping God who never fails to take care of his people and to deliver them. Hence, it is important to understand that although Israel abuses her privilege and will pay for her sins, God will eventually restore the nation.

What does it mean when the Bible says that God will restore? When we study the Bible we find that God’s restoration is defined differently. It involves a return to a state that is far better than the original condition. What will He restore? There are three promises given by God in this passage and these are meant not only for Israel but also the church.

(1)        I will raise the fallen booth of David (Identity: The People Of God)

This is more than just raising the Dynasty of King David. It is the fulfillment of Christ, where we believers become His co-heirs. As the church we are called to be His people. God will restore our identity.

(2)        I will restore the captivity of Israel (Fruitfulness: the Product of the People of God)

We are sinners and are spiritually poor. We were once outside the Kingdom of God with no purpose or meaning in life. However, when we follow Christ, we become prosperous in every sense. We become fruitful in His ministry as well as in the way we live. (Joshua 1:8)

(3)        I will plant them on their land (Security: the Promised Land of God)

This land refers to more than the geographical land given back to Israel after the exile or to the land granted to the Jews in 1948. It is a place of rest and refuge, a place of worship as well.

Instead of being in destitute when we were sinners, we now have a destiny in Christ. We move on in life towards fulfilling our destiny.

APPLICATION

HOW CAN I BE A RESTORER?

This is the key. We need to believe we are:

1.         Called to be Restorers

2.         To stand in faith to be Restorers

3.         To prepare for the Ministry of Restoration

God has revealed to us His promises and His purpose. He wants us to carry out that anointing for restoration. In order to do that He wants us to have personal breakthroughs. He also wants to anoint us to minister restoration to others.

Prayer:

Lord, we join together to thank you for wanting to have a genuine, intimate relationship with us.

Thank you for revealing to us that it is your desire to restore what the enemy has robbed and plundered. We receive this revelation with open hearts and we want you to restore our lives so that we might be ministers of restoration.

Amen.

Devotional based on message by Pastor Leslie Lim