Dakota Community Church
May 9, 2010
Amos 5
I want to move forward in our study of the book of Amos by looking at a couple of the themes given as reason for the coming judgment upon the people of God.
Let’s begin with a quick review of the heart of God concerning the poor:
Amos 2:6-7
They sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals.
7 They trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed.
Amos 3:15
I will tear down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses adorned with ivory will be destroyed and the mansions will be demolished," declares the LORD.
Amos 5:11
You trample on the poor and force him to give you grain.
Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine.
Today is not about feeling guilty about things that are not sin.
Today is not about reverting to works righteousness
Today is about understanding the heart of God
Luke 12:13-15
13Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
14Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" 15Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
Galatians 2:1-10
1Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. 3Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. 5We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.
6As for those who seemed to be important—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance—those men added nothing to my message. 7On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles,[a] just as Peter had been to the Jews.[b] 8For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9James, Peter[c] and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. 10All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
Is the lighthouse mission a New Testament concern? Should we be going to the Dominican Republic with supplies for orphans and churches?
Today is about examining our own hearts
Matthew 6:24
24"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
There is a reason why Jesus called money out here.
How many other things might He have used here?
• Power
• Sex
• Amusement
• People
• Self, pride
• Addiction, food, alcohol, substances and stimulants
He chose money – think about why that might be.
What is your excuse for not participating - if you don’t – financially in the Kingdom of God?
I do not want your guilt money; the New Testament is clear about generous hearts!
I want for you a freedom I saw amoung the poor Christians of Rio San Juan, a freedom that has been working its way deeper and deeper into the heart of this former prosperity preacher.
How much is enough?
Today is about what we are building together here at DCC
Grace, Freedom, Laughter
Christ centered, cross focused, gospel driven
The solution to what ails our society is a return to strong gospel preaching in the pulpits of our churches.
Inside: feeding, equipping, caring true community
Local: involved and engaging our culture in real and tangible ways
Globally: stepping up and meeting the needs as God presents
PowerPoint available (Free of charge) on request dcormie@mts.net
