The steps to make God’s word primary in rebuilding lives begin with forgiving sin and studying His word as preparation to obey it, speak truth, not cheat the poor and nourish young people to deal harshly with evil. Then you can plant His word to restore and rebuild lives.
Ask God to Forgive Sin and Study His Word As Preparation for Destroying Idolatry
After God prepared locusts to strip the land clean, Amos cried out for His forgiveness. He asked how Jacob could survive His judgment being so small. God relented after Amos begged Him to stop. He showed him a plumb line that God set among Israel. He would destroy the high places of Isaac, ruin the sanctuaries of Israel and rise against the house of Jeroboam (Amos 7:1-9). Ask God to forgive sin and study His word as preparation for destroying idolatry.
Obey God’s Word and Speak Truth Humbly to Confront Sin
Amaziah the priest accused Amos of conspiracy against Jeroboam king of Israel when he predicted his death and exile of God’s people. Amaziah commanded Amos to return to Judah and not prophesy anymore at Bethel. Amos said to Amaziah that he was neither a prophet nor prophet’s son, but a shepherd who took care of sycamore-fig trees. The Lord took him from tending the flock and told him to prophesy to Israel. God said Amaziah’s wife would become a prostitute, his children die by the sword, land divided up and he die in a pagan country with Israel exiled (Amos 7:10-17). Obey God’s word and speak truth humbly to confront sin.
Stop Focusing On Excessive Profits that Cheat the Poor
God showed Amos a basket of ripe fruit saying He could no longer spare His people Israel. Songs in the temple turned to wailing with many bodies flung everywhere until there was silence. Those that trampled the needy and humble asked when they could they sell grain and market wheat after the Sabbath. They skimped the measure, boosted the price, cheated with dishonest scales, bought the poor with silver and needy for a pair of sandals, and sold the sweepings with the wheat (Amos 8:1-6). Stop focusing on excessive profits that cheat the poor.
Use God’s Word to Direct and Provide Spiritual Nourishment for Young People
The Lord never forgot what they did. He turned their religious feasts into mourning, singing into weeping and the land sank like the river of Egypt. He sent a famine of hearing the words of the Lord with men staggering and wandering who searched for God’s word without finding it. Young men and women fainted because of thirst swearing by the idol of Samaria and falling never to rise again (Amos 8:7-14). Use God’s word to direct and provide spiritual nourishment for young people.
Exalt the Lord Almighty Who Deals Harshly with Evil
The Lord told Amos to smash the tops of the pillars and cut off the heads of everyone. God killed those left. He commanded the serpent to bite those who hid at the bottom of the sea. God fixed His eyes on them for evil and not good. The Lord Almighty melted the earth, build His lofty palace in the heaven and poured waters over the land. The Sovereign Lord looked at the sinful kingdom and destroyed it. He gave the command and shook Israel as grain was shaken in a sieve (Amos 9:1-10). Exalt the Lord Almighty who deals harshly with evil.
Plant God’s Word To Restore and Rebuild Lives
In that day, God restored David’s fallen tent and repaired its broken ruins to possess the remnant of Edom and every nation that bore His name. Days were coming when the reaper was overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes. New wine would drip from the mountains and flow from the hills. He would bring back exiled Israel to rebuild the ruined cities, plant vineyards and make gardens. He would plant Israel in their land never to be uprooted again (Amos 9:11-15). Plant God’s word to restore brokenness and rebuild lives.
Here are the steps to make God’s word primary in rebuilding lives:
1. Ask God to forgive sin
2. Study His word as preparation to destroy idolatry
3. Obey God’s word
4. Speak truth humbly to confront sin
5. Stop focusing on excessive profits or taking advantage of the poor
6. Use God’s word to direct and provide spiritual nourishment for young people
7. Exalt the Lord Almighty who deals harshly with evil
8. Plant God’s word to restore brokenness and rebuild lives
