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This is the audio from the July 16, 2023 sermon, “Called By God: The Need to Obey”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Amos 7

Today I continued a sermon series which is based from the Old Testament book of Amos.  If you’re wondering how applicable the message from this book of the Bible can be today, consider the following description of the world in the days of Amos.  See if this sounds familiar at all to the world we currently live in.

“A spirit of self-sufficiency and smug complacency thrived on material prosperity.  The rich were getting richer and the poor were getting poorer.  Idolatry, hypocrisy, moral corruption, and social injustices were everywhere.  The nation was truly on the brink of disaster.”  (Irving Jensen)

God’s desire for each one of us is that we would grow in relationship with Him.  As God calls us to not only accept Him but to grow in this relationship, our response is often put to the test.  God’s plan for us has always been to use ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things.  That only happens when we understand the need to . . .

• Observe: (Amos 7:1, 4, & 7)

  • When called by God, Amos learned to observe the things that God intended for him to see.  We also have been called by God and He expects us to pay attention and observe His nature and His work as we spend time in His Word and in prayer.  Being able to gaze into scripture and notice the laws and instructions of God ought to put us into a position of listening.  Because we are called by God, we must understand the need to observe all that He has commanded.

• Believe: — (Amos 7:2 & 5)

  • Observing the nature and character of God is one thing, but the true test comes in what we choose to do about what God has revealed.  When Amos observed the judgement that God revealed was to come upon Israel, he cried out to God for mercy because he believed God would do what He said.  Observing the truth of God’s Word and the promise of the return of Jesus ought to compel us to have great concern for ourselves and for everyone around us.  Sometimes we fail to be all that concerned for others because we may be harboring doubt about what God has shown us in His Word.  Because we are called by God, we must believe in a way that compels us to action.

• Examine: — (Amos 7:8)

  • Observing and believing are great places to start, but it is not enough to just do anything that comes to mind.  As God set forth a plumb line for Amos to observe, He was calling Amos to examine the standard by which God calls people to Himself.  Our enemy is a master at deception and does everything he can to distort God’ Word in order to confuse our actions.  We must be careful to use the straight edge of the Word of God as the standard by which we live and act.  Because we are called by God, we must consistently examine what is before us so that our response to God and to those around us would always be right.

• Yield: — (Amos 7:14-16)

  • As Christians we tend to accept the need to observe, believe, and examine.  The difficulty often comes when we attempt to put those elements into action and are required to fully yield to God.  God calls ordinary people to do extraordinary things because that is really all that any of us are.  Amos was an ordinary farmer who was called by God to deliver an unwanted message and even when the message and messenger was rejected, Amos yielded to God as he continue to do the work God had called him to.  Because we are called by God, we must learn to continually grow in the ways we yield to God in all things.

Today, how will you OBEY?