God is looking for voices to be His mouthpiece throughout the earth today!
As I was reading the book of Amos I discovered things that would help us to be that voice.
Amos wasn’t an educated priest or graduated from the school of the prophets. He was a shepherd, a farmer. Today he would be considered as a businessman working in the marketplace.
Think of him like he’s someone who works on a computer in an office or at home, or a factory worker, a teacher or a new mom. He was going about his everyday life when the Holy Spirit tapped him on the shoulder and opened his eyes to what was happening all around him.
“This message was given to Amos, a shepherd from the town of Tekoa in Judah. He received this message in visions two years before the earthquake…….”Amos 1:6
Amos saw the injustice, the people trafficking, corruption, greed and demonic worship.
“They ripped open pregnant women with their swords.’
Does it sound familiar?
Leaders, including church leaders, teaching false doctrine, leading people astray. God highlighted the sexual immorality and the hypocrisy that was going on in this small town!
God wanted to give this town and the nation time to repent so he called Amos to be His voice to them.
There are consequences when a town, a city, a nation or an individual sins that can seriously affect future generations. That’s why He gives us time to repent, change our minds and thinking to do what is right and good.
That doesn’t mean that we wear a sign saying ‘repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand’ or telling people they are wicked and going to hell or stand on a street corner preaching doom and gloom. The Bible is THE book of good news!
God wanted to restore the courts into true halls of justice, He spoke about the demonstrations in the streets and farmers weeping. It’s a picture of today, what’s happing all around the world.
Amos was so touched by what he saw that it moved him to repent on behalf of the nation.
“Then I said, o sovereign Lord, please forgive US or we will not survive as Israel is so small.”
“So the Lord relented from this plan, I will not do it he said.”
Amos repented on behalf of Israel on other occasions and caused the Lord to have a change of heart.
I think God is actively looking for those who will plead the case of an individual, a town, city or nation. He said to Isaiah, “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18 NKJV
“So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” Exodus 33:11
And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. ‘And he was called the friend of God. James 2:23
And for you and I Jesus said this, “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to
you. “
There will always be opposition for those who speak truth,
“Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent a message to Jeroboam, king of Israel: “Amos is hatching a plot against you right here on your very doorstep! What he is saying is intolerable. 11 He is saying, ‘Jeroboam will soon be killed, and the people of Israel will be sent away into exile.’”
Then Amaziah sent orders to Amos: “Get out of here, you prophet! Go on back to the land of Judah and earn your living by prophesying there!” Amos 7:10-12
Will we stand our ground like Amos?
But Amos replied, “I’m not a professional prophet, and I was never trained to be one I’m just a shepherd, and I take care of sycamore-fig trees. But the Lord called me away from my flock and told me, ‘Go and prophesy to my people in Israel.’ Now then, listen to this message from the Lord: “You say, ‘Don’t prophesy against Israel. Stop preaching against my people. But this is what the Lord says: ‘Your wife will become a prostitute in this city, and your sons and daughters will be killed. Your land will be divided up, and you yourself will die in a foreign land. And the people of Israel will certainly become captives in exile, far from their homeland.” Amos 7:14-17
When the Apostles were bought before the high council where the high priest confronted them and gave them strict order to stop talking about Jesus, they replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.” Acts 5:29
We should be willing to stand up and speak out, just like Amos did. We won’t often get the popular vote!
If our hearts are set on heaven, the more our mouths will be willing to speak out against the injustices around us.
May His kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.
When God starts to move on our hearts, we can no longer be silent!
“Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything
until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7
Most of us aren’t called to stand in the office of a Prophet, but we can be a prophetic voice.
God has given each one of us a voice to make a difference to our families, friends, to our communities, schools, businesses, government and churches.
Your voice may be expressed through a pen, or a piece of art. Maybe God is calling you to be a voice in one of the seven mountains of influence, Government, Education, Media, Arts/Entertainment, Religion, Economy and Family.
Don’t let fear rob you of your voice, your power of influence. Don’t let the enemy diminish the gifts that God has already deposited in you, take a stand, take back your voice.
There is a film called The Quiet Place, that has a heart-breaking final scene. This film is about a fictional world where silence means safety. The dad in this film chooses to use his voice to save the life of his children, he uses his voice as the ultimate cost to himself. By loudly yelling, he draws the enemies attention away from his children towards himself, thus ending his own life whilst saving the lives of his children.
The power of a voice is so powerfully demonstrated in this emotional scene.
Recently the Holy Spirit said this to me, and equally he is saying it to you now. ‘I gave you a voice from the moment you were born, it wasn’t a silent cry, it was loud to announce your arrival into this world. A sound that pierced the heavens that was uniquely earmarked as yours. No one has a sound, a voice like yours, it’s as unique as your fingerprints!’.
Maybe you need to tell Him how sorry you are for all the times you stayed silent when you had the opportunity to be that voice of encouragement, that voice of righteousness, that lone voice for Jesus, at work, home or school! Why not join me in praying this aloud!
Father God, forgive me for all the times I haven’t spoken out when I know that it was you prompting me to speak out. Forgive me for partnering with fear and allowing others to silence me. Today I break all partnership with fear and timidity and ask for the same spirit that was upon the early Apostles to come upon me. Holy Spirit teach me and guide me as I become a voice of influence for good. Help me to stand when others oppose me. Help me to know where my voice can be best used for God’s glory. Help me to change direction if needed, align me with the right people so that I can be in the right place at the right time. Thank you for the unique voice that you have given me, help me to value it and use it for your Glory and for the benefit of those around me, far and near. To unashamedly declare your goodness over myself and others. To be a voice that changes atmospheres, that releases healings, miracles and deliverances, a voice that bring heaven down to earth. A voice that will leave a legacy for the next generation to build upon! For I ask it in the name that is above all names, the wonderful name of Jesus. Amen.
In the words of David, ‘Is there not a cause.”
Comentarios