Woe To Those At Ease in Zion Amos

Woe To Those At Ease in Zion Amos 6: 1

Amos 6: 1 • Amos, a prophet from Judah sent primarily to Israel (1: 1) • Uzziah in Judah and Jeroboam (II) in Israel (ca. 780 -740 BC) • A time of prosperity, with corruption and immorality. • Also complacency!

At Ease in Zion • Zion, a name for Jerusalem. Often with a dual meaning pointing toward God’s kingdom. The place where God dwells with His people! • Israel (and Judah) are warned to REPENT and wake up.

At Ease in Zion • Complacency: A feeling of being satisfied with how things are and not wanting to make them better. Self-satisfaction, especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies. http: //www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/complacency

At Ease in Zion • Complacency in Zion • Zion thought they had it made. They lived in luxury, trusting in the might of their neighbors, etc. • They despised the laws of God and followed false prophets (2: 4 -5) • They put off judgment.

At Ease in Zion • • Complacency in us? How is our service to God? Are we growing as we ought to? Are we putting off obedience or repentance? • Do we live as if we have plenty of time? • Are we concerned about others?

At Ease in Zion • The Bible and complacency • Prov. 1: 32, “For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them” • Matt. 25: 1 -13, the 5 unprepared virgins • Romans 12: 11, not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord

At Ease in Zion Is NOT because: • There is nothing to do • The Christian life is one of being busy. Growing, moving ahead! • Eccl. 9: 10, Colossians 3: 23; whatever you do • John 4: 35, the harvest is white • Acts 10: 38

At Ease in Zion Is NOT because: • There are too many workers • Luke 10: 2, Matt. 9: 37 -38; the harvest is plentiful • John 4: 35 • If you need something to do, ask! We will find something!

At Ease in Zion Is NOT because: • There is plenty of time • Prov. 27: 1, “Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth. ” • John 9: 4, night is coming • 2 Peter 3: 10 -12, day of the Lord the • 2 Tim. 4: 2 -3 • 2 Corinthians 6: 1 -2

At Ease in Zion Is NOT because: • There is no reward • Eccl. 11: 1, “Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days. ” • 1 Cor. 15: 58, night is coming • There are rewards both NOW, and in the next – Heb. 9: 4, 1 Pet. 1: 3 -5

At Ease in Zion WHY are we at ease? • We are too comfortable in this world! • Colossians 3: 1 -2, James 4: 4 • The ways of the world sometimes make it too appealing. Are there things we don’t want to give up? • There is something to be said about persecutions! Cf. Matt. 5: 10 -12

At Ease in Zion WHY are we at ease? • We have let down our guard! • Sometimes we are so busy, we have simply quit paying attention to our spiritual surroundings. • Heb. 2: 1

At Ease in Zion WHY are we at ease? • We are ignorant • Sometimes we don’t realize we are unprepared because we don’t know what being prepared involves • Hosea 4: 6 • I. e. the Positive preaching movement, (i. e. Joel Osteen) • Ignorance is NO excuse, 2 Tim. 2: 15

At Ease in Zion WHY are we at ease? • We are indifferent • We don’t really care! Some don’t want to change, or be bothered about the future (right now) • Isa. 30: 9 -11

At Ease in Zion How do we overcome? • We must WAKE UP! • 2 Cor. 6: 2 • Isa. 55: 6, “Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. ”

At Ease in Zion How do we overcome? • If needed, repent! • 2 Cor. 7: 10 -11 • 1 John 1: 7, if we walk in the light!

At Ease in Zion How do we overcome? • Return to the Old paths! • Jeremiah 6: 16, “Thus says the LORD: “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it. ’” • Heb. 10: 32 -36

At Ease in Zion How do we overcome? • Get to work! • Galatians 6: 9, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ” Don’t quit!

Sadly… • Israel did not heed the warnings of Amos. A few years later, Israel fell to Assyria, and later Judah fell to Babylon. • IF we fail to wake up, we will suffer a much worse fate!!!!

• TRUE ease will come, when this life is over (Rev. 14: 13

Are You At Ease in Zion?