Woe to the Nation that Forgets God 

The prophet Amos spoke at a time when the nation of Israel had again forgotten God. He speaks, not as a mere man but as the Oracle of God to call a nation back to the righteous foundation upon which they were established. The prophecies and pleas came just before the Jews were taken into captivity by the Syrians.

It is startling to read the warnings given in the book of Amos and to realize that Amos could have very well been speaking to the United States of American in the year 2003!

The comparisons between his prophecies so many centuries ago and the state our country is currently in is shocking! 

America, You Need To Heed This Warning Call 

It is tragic that the majority of people in this country today are sinful individuals who refuse to heed God's instructions. They are pleasure seekers, who seek mostly two things: entertainment and sex. The most tragic part is that even "so called" Christians of today are caught up in the same things and they see no problem with it. People today are no longer mindful of God's instructions or the authority of the Word of God, and they are no longer seeking God at all. Instead, their teaching is coming from secular, worldly, devilish sources and not from the Word of God.

We have all but forgotten the Christian foundation upon which this country was founded!

"America is great because she is good—if America ever ceases to be good, then she will cease to be great." (Alexis de Tocqueville, French Ambassador to America, 1830's)

"…but if we in our posterity neglect the instructions and authority in this book, [the Bible] no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overtake us, and bury our glory in profound obscurity." (Daniel Webster)

If America does not remember the consequences of the Israelites of old, she is doomed to the same fate!

Look at God's Word: 

All Scripture is taken from the Book of Amos and from the King James Bible

"And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither." (Amos 1:2)

One of the sad things in America is that many do not want to hear God's voice calling them. There are Christians that deny God can speak to us today, and close themselves off to any mention of it.

The Fact is: God Still Speaks; His voice is strong and can still be heard.

He will call, He does call. We just need to open our ears to hear.

"…the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn."

Many churches (the habitations of the shepherds) cry and mourn because of the lack of commitment from fellow believers. Many other churches mourn because God does not allow them continue in their own sinful ways!

Take for example the Episcopalian church of today. Many weep now because of the sin of homosexuality that has run rampant OVER that church. Many more weep because they realize that there are still SOME who hold fast (at least partially) to the Word of God and forbid a homosexual who is in open, blatant rebellion against the Word of God to be ordained as a 'priest'. 

 "And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon..."
(Amos 1:8)

Those who "hold the scepter" are those in authority. Today we have many leaders that are corrupt, all the way from the White House to the poor house, from the President on down to the bosses on our job.

Rest assured, God will turn against those leaders that do wickedly. It is his promise and God cannot lie. There is a day coming in which God will reveal his righteousness.

"…I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant."  (Amos 1:9)

The 'brotherly covenant'? Look at how we treat even our own brothers and sisters in the society of today.

We kill and cheat our loved ones. We have brother suing brother, children suing parents! Christian suing Christian!

What ever happened to "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (Matt. 19:19)

"Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border."  (Amos 1:13)

Amos says God will not turn away the punishment due the "children" (the people not just a country, but the people in that nation).

For what reason? "…because they have ripped up the women with child." This was a cruel act of War that left no heirs to the conquered ones. This could also be equated to today's modern day abortion!  No heirs are being left to many today due to abortion. 

 "And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith the LORD."   (Amos 1:15)

Going into captivity is not just being taken into captivity, but can also mean "bound". Our previous president was "bound" by legal problems and turmoil in office: Satan had him bound by the lusts of his own heart. He had obviously been captured in the "snare of the devil". Our present President has been bound for years now by men who have opposed his every move. I wonder what it will be like for the next President?

"Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked."   (Amos 2:4)

This sounds like America above all. The general attitude in this nation today is to "get rid of God". We allow our children to speak of Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy as if they were real, then we turn around and prohibit them from freely speaking of Jesus, the ONLY ONE who IS real!

Our whole nation desires to reject God and His law. Parents tell their children there is no moral laws of God and that they should live unto themselves. They tell them lies and the children, naturally follow suit. The children are following after the ways their fathers have walked!

"Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes."  (Amos 2:6)

Have you noticed the reoccurring phrase, "I will not turn away the punishment thereof?"

God will bring our punishment for wrongdoing, for sin. He will not allow us to just get by. Why? There is no respect of persons with God! He is totally fair and just and will by no means excuse the guilty.

"...Because they sold the righteous for silver..."  

Today we have T.V. Evangelists that are doing exactly what Peter warned us about:

"And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not."  (2 Peter 2:3)

With feigned words.....made up words....false words.... 'making merchandise' of people, tricking the people into giving them money, etc. Let me give you an example, and we've ALL either heard this ourselves or heard of them.

These so-called T. V. preachers, all in the name of "souls" make such statements as: "If You'll send us a 'love gift' of $20, we'll pray for you; we'll send you a prayer cloth, a cross, etc."

They are MAKING MERCHANDISE OF YOU. You are nothing more to them than another potential dollar for their "ministry".

Friends, that "prayer cloth" or other little trinket that you will receive is nothing more than a good luck charm. A Christian has NO BUSINESS holding to idolatrous "luck charms".  

Let's cover the second part of Amos 2:6:

"...and the poor for a pair of shoes"

In Amos' day this was considered an insult! The thing received (the shoes) was considered a worthless trade for any man. Have we sold the out poor in this country? We've KEPT them poor and have refused to offer them real help. We've given them the Band-Aid of welfare instead of the real help they could use ... a steady job! 

"...and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name."   (Amos2:7)

This is pure filth and perversion. It is wickedness that has found no boundaries in the world of today. The greatest shame is that these sins are prevalent in our society, they flood television, and are accepted as normal. Sadly Television and Radio Hosts think this is Ok, and even Christian people believe they can commit such acts and STILL go to heaven.   Apparently, it has become an issue much like that of 1 Corinthians chapter 5.  People consider such a thing to be bragging rights.

Friends, this is vile. It was rebuked by God in the days of Amos, it was rebuked by God in the days of Paul and guess what? It is rebuked by God TODAY. How deceived this generation really is! How great the wickedness really is! 

"And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god."   (Amos 2:8)

There are countless people today who were Christian but have turned now to Far Eastern Mysticism, to Yen, Yoga, Islam, Unitarianism, New Age teachings and various other false religions that are too numerous to mention.

Pagan religions have flooded our land, bringing with them a tide of immorality that exceeds that of Sodom and Gomorrah.

"...and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not."  (Amos 2:12)

Pastors today are now being described as weak, simple minded, and cowardly by the media and others such as Jesse Ventura the vile Governor of Minnesota. Here is a quote from Mr. Ventura that 'slipped' concerning Christians and Christianity:

"ORGANIZED RELIGION IS A CRUTCH FOR WEAK-MINDED PEOPLE WHO NEED STRENGTH IN NUMBERS..." (directly quoted from Mr. Jesse Ventura, Governor of Minnesota)

It is comical to note that this anti-Christian (you can read that according to the Word of God as 'ANTI-CHRIST' see 1 John 4:3) statement somehow got the attention of God himself when God caused Mr. Ventura to "slip" (according to his spokesmen) and sign a document declaring Christian Heritage Week.

Tom Prichard, president of Minnesota Family Council, applauded Ventura's blunder. "Inadvertently, or providentially some might say, he's recognized the role of faith and religion in our society. We'll gladly accept that."   What?  How could someone support such a statement?

It is easy to see why Men of God are called weak and cowardly, though, since MOST of them will not preach the word but instead give their congregations smooth words, gentle messages, and pleasant speeches. People today just don't want hard messages of the kind that usher in repentance, and Pastor's have obliged them.  Surely  we can't have messages such as those, we say (those hurt our ego too much, and make us 'feel bad'...after all God would never make us 'feel' bad now would he? Ok friend, ...whatever you want to believe ...)

True prophets, True pastors who aren't afraid to preach the complete Word of God are often rejected of the world (and much of the church of today for that matter).

God help us!

"Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself: Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver himself: neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself. And he that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, saith the LORD." (Amos 2:14-16)

Our military is at it's weakest.

Our Navy is down from 600 ships before former President Clinton was in office to about 200 now. The Department of the Navy states that most ships are under-manned by 25%. The Air Force now has 20 tactical wings compared to 35 just a few years ago. According to General Norman Schwarzkopf: The Army is at less than half the strength they had in the first Gulf War.   The military as a whole is missing it's recruitment and retention goals on a regular basis.

Don't get me wrong, I fully support the U.S. Armed Forces. I was in them, 2 branches to be exact and would be again if it wasn't for my age!

I only pray that the day never comes that we see our Military turn and flee. (*Update:  the day has finally come when our military men and women have refused to carry out lawful orders and have indeed turned to flee...read more here.)

I am simply showing you that the prophecies of Amos have a striking similarity to the world of today!

"Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"  (Amos 3:3)

We can never agree on anything in this country can we? How then, can we walk together? The unfortunate fact is that we cannot and do not walk together as a country like we did in times past. You can hardly get church members to agree on the color of carpet without getting upset!

"Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled." (Amos 3:11)

We've already affirmed and reaffirmed that our adversary is among us in our own country.  They are living among us waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.  This has been confirmed by our intelligence forces on numerous occasions. 

People, judgment is coming and it will not linger!

"And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD." (Amos 3:15)

We care more about our houses than we do God. People spend unreal amounts of money fixing up their houses, building new houses, building summer homes, winter homes, vacation homes, and homes larger than they could ever possibly need, but their lives are in shambles before God.

"And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings: for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord GOD."
(Amos 4:5)

The offering to God was to be "unleavened." Notice here they offer it leavened. The offerings here were polluted, they were of evil origins, from ill gotten gains and not from righteous means. How unleavened is your offering to Him? 

"…yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD."   (Amos 4:6)

Isn't this God's plea for any backslidden generation? He pleaded with Israel over and over. He pleaded with Nineveh until they woke up and repented and were all spared. God is pleading with America! Look at how many times God says this:

Amos chapter 4, verses 6,8,9,10,11 all state "yet have ye not returned to me..." The carnal mind sees the acts of God in these verses as punishment. These are not acts of punishment, but acts of chastisement (correction) and mercy. God is trying to show them that HE IS STILL GOD, and pleads with them. 

"And also I have withholden the rain from you, when [there were] yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered."
(Amos 4:7)

"I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD."
(Amos 4:10)

I believe God is making the same statements today as he made then...YET HAVE YE NOT RETURNED TO ME!...

I believe God has caused us to prosper ... yet we have not returned to Him ... he has allowed wars and pestilences ... yet we have not returned to Him ... We are a land of plenty and lately even that is failing ... yet we have not returned to God.   We have had the best of the best...yet we have not returned to God.   We are the most literate country in the world, capable of reading the Word of God and free to do so ... yet we still have not returned to God. 

Think of this, when is the last pestilence that swept through this country? Some of you may remember Polio and possibly small pox, but MOST of you can NEVER remember even a single one.  Look at what is happening now. What will happen to our food supply be if Mad Cow Disease turns up at every hand, (not to mention what would happen to the economy)? How about SARS, Anthrax, even the latest strain of flu? How about Aids and other diseases such as Asian and Bird Flu that have come to our shores?  How about West Nile? 

Yet...We STILL have not returned to God.

What will it take to get us back to God, another World Trade Center type attack? 100 World Trade Center Attacks? God is pleading with us to return. Will His call go unanswered here in America?  Florida has had 7 hurricanes in a single year.  New Orleans has been quite literally devastated by 2 major hurricanes, Katrina and Rita.  As a result the vile, sinful, pagan culture of that wicked city has spread it's godless influence like a cancer throughout the United States now.  What will it take?

"I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD."  (Amos 4:11) 

God gives us a means to live, to prosper and to be a righteous people. The instruction is found in Amos 5 verses 4, 6, and 14.

"For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live."
(Amos 5:4)

"Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth."
(Amos 5:7)

Look at our justice system!  Former President Bill Clinton violated the very sense of morality that SHOULD go with the office of President and gets a slap on the wrist.  O.J. Simpson goes free when innocent men are put to death?   Do you really call that justice?  We have young kids murdering others and they get a slap on the wrist because of our "system". Men get 3 years for Murder and 20 for robbery.  Lately, we've watched as pedophile after pedophile has been turned out of our prisons after very short sentences only to watch them kidnap, rape and kill our children again and again.  Something is wrong.  Judges have declared that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional because it contains the phrase "under God".  DemoNcrats have filibustered judicial nominees out of FEAR that someone GODLY might get in office.  After all, we wouldn't want a judge who actually believes in calling murder...well, murder (read that abortion) would we?  Something is very wrong. 

Yes, my friends, something is wrong and that "something" is that MEN HAVE LEFT OFF RIGHTEOUSNESS in the earth. The will NOT seek after righteousness.  Men today have perverted the ways of God and have taken it upon themselves to set their own standard of morality, casting off all sense of absolute morality as set forth in the Word of God.

"Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them. For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right. Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time."   (Amos 5:11-13)

We seek to have and we will run over anyone in our way in order to get!   We want and possess, but forget that we are miserable, poor, blind, and naked. Our tax system allows 85% 'write offs' to the wealthy and demands 40% from the poor. We keep silent because it is an evil time and men are afraid of retribution from government offices such as the IRS and the court systems.

The poor and the elderly are treated like trash. I'm sure one day they will be deemed "expendable" by our wonderful "justice" system. After all, the elderly are encouraged now to terminate their lives when they are diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Don't even mention the unborn. They are treated as less than expendable. Have you seen the income factors concerning abortions?

An amazing 57% of all abortions are by women who make less than $17,000 per year. And we say we are not persecuting the poor? The federal poverty line in the U.S. was set at $15,260 for a family of 3 in 2003.

Of course, those having abortions would never reach that poverty line, since it is impossible to gain a family of 3 when you're always killing your children, now isn't it?

"Therefore the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord, saith thus; Wailing shall be in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas! and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing. And in all vineyards shall be wailing: for I will pass through thee, saith the LORD."
(Amos 5:16,17)

Is there ever a time when our farmers are not complaining of crop loss? How many farmers per year are filing for bankruptcy? Even with new bankruptcy laws in place that were designed to stop the growing numbers of bankruptcies, the bankruptcy rate continues to climb.  Yes, friend, the poor are oppressed and the middle class of America has now become the new "working poor" class. 

"Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him."  (Amos 5:18,19)

When Jesus comes there will be no where to hide, there is no escaping His wrath! In other words, you can run, but you can't hide!

"I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies."  (Amos 5:21)

We say, "let's put Christ back into Christmas."  

God says He hates the feast days. So what about our holidays—Easter, Christmas, Halloween, New Year's? Aren't they all of pagan origins anyway, or is the Church of today blinded to that fact now? 

"But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream."   (Amos 5:24)

Amos is pleading to let RIGHTEOUSNESS prevail, especially when it comes to justice and judgment! We had better get our justice system back on line.

Somebody needs to let our 9 Supreme Court justices know that, yes, you're appointed for life, BUT, you CAN be impeached!  Somebody needs to get some GODLY boldness!

"Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!"  (Amos 6:1)

At ease in Zion? Are you asleep Christian? Are you walking in the Spirit? Have you been quickened by the power of God's Word? You had better be!

"...which are named chief of the nations"   (Amos 6:1)

Look at our "chief of Nations today. We call this the UNITED NATIONS. They are constantly pushing the entire world to form a UNITED government and a common religion.  If you don't think it's about religion, just give it time.  You're going to find in the coming years that it is ALL about  "religion":  Just not the CHRISTIAN religion!

"Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border?"
(Amos 6:2)

Do we think we are better because we're "bigger"? Careful God may wipe us as the dust of the ground!

" That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David; That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph."
(Amos 6:4-6)

Remind you of some nation? What if I name the terms "couch potato", or "overweight"? Now does it sound like one particular nation?  What about the music of today?  Whose music has the most influence in the world of today? Does THAT sound like any nation in particular? What of the availability of Alcohol in nearly every convenience store you walk into?  I've seen 10 coolers of beer, wine and liquor, and 2 of soft drinks, milk and juice.  Shall I mention the MULTIPLE "Christian" people today who are taking anti-depressants, Prozac, etc.?  Something is so wrong!

We say we have compassion, but do we really? Do YOU? When is the last time YOU fed the homeless, clothed them, suffered with someone in affliction, or even GRIEVED FOR THEM?  When is the last time YOU showed mercy or longsuffering?  When is the last time you actually prayed for your ENEMIES.  When is the last you you actually PRAYED?  We have more compassion on dogs than we do people.  Let someone kick a dog and watch the jail time come.  Let someone kick another human and watch the slap on the wrist with a minimal fine.

"The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself, saith the LORD the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein."
(Amos 6:8)

God says He abhors the excellency or pride (excellency) of Jacob.

Pride ... surely no one in America would have pride! Really? Then do this: Go to your local church, teach people that according to the Bible, they should KNEEL in prayer before God at an altar (if you can even FIND an altar in the local churches).   You'll get almost instant rebuttals in nearly every church.  You'll certainly find multiple excuses and reasons why someone can't kneel or shouldn't kneel.  You'll likely hear scriptures (misquoted and misused ones) to "prove" their point.

Better than that, though,  go to your local Wal-Mart (or other favorite store) and begin to speak with other Christians about JESUS. I DID NOT say to mention "the Lord" or "God" or "the man upstairs", etc.  I said to talk about JESUS. You will very quickly see 2 things surface in most 'Christians' today: PRIDE and SHAME.

"Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?"
(Amos 6:13)

How much credit do we give to God in victories? Did we proclaim God as the one that obtained victory for us in the Gulf War? Have we admitted that it was God who has spared us many disasters in the past?

If we fail to recognize God as the one who deserves the glory, we will quickly see things take a turn for the worse. We will begin to see worse disasters than ever before. We'll see losses of life like we have never seen in this country.  We will see calamities, pestilences and increased attacks by our enemies.

God will not be the cause of this, however, God will not stop it either.

Wake Up America! 

"And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small."
(Amos 7:2)

How much intercessory prayer do you do for America? Have you prayed at all this week? Is your food blessing the only prayer you pray or have you even forgotten to do that? Have you asked God to keep his hand upon our leaders (whether you actually like them or not is irrelevant)? Have you asked God to bless the leaders of this nation with WISDOM.

Yes, there are many who are ungodly in control of this nation, however, with TRUE WISDOM, they will turn to God. 

---

"Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words. For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land."
(Amos 7:10,11)

How much of this goes on in the Church? How many of you Men of God go running to non-believers for counsel regarding church problems?

Don't you understand that Unbelievers CANNOT possibly give you Godly counsel? Church folks, don't you know that you need to pray for GODLY wisdom in your Pastor, in your leadership?

NO MAN OF GOD, NO CHRISTIAN man, woman, boy or girl has any right to go to the WORLD for any counseling! Why?

Because the carnal, unregenerate hearts and minds of this world CANNOT understand the things of God...period.  The carnal mind is enmity (an enemy) with God.

"Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there: But prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king's chapel, and it is the king's court."  (Amos 7:12,13)

As we saw in Amos 2:12, if you tell the truth of God, even the "Church establishment" will come against you.  Don't be deceived!  You WILL be persecuted for being blunt and to the point (in other words for telling the entire truth!)

Truth, especially in our day and age is NOT popular. We only want to THINK that we like the truth because ''thinking we like the truth'' makes us "feel good", it soothes our conscience.

"Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land."   (Amos 7:17)

We have wives in this nation running to other men and divorce is now as common as vehicles. Our children are being murdered in our schools and on the streets. Drugs are taking babies from the cradle to the grave, crime is an everyday occurrence, sexual immorality and pornography is polluting our land far worse than Sodom and Gomorrah ever had been.

There is a "line of separation" being drawn between the people of God and the World of today. There is a growing hatred of Christians and Christianity and it will only increase in magnitude and frequency as the days linger.

"Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?"  (Amos 8:5)

When will the new moon be gone? In other words they were wishing for the "Holy Days" to be over so they could continue "making money".

We can't wait to exit Church so we can run to the local restaurant for lunch, or perhaps to the mall so we can do what our society does best:   buy and sell.

"Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwelleth therein? and it shall rise up wholly as a flood; and it shall be cast out and drowned, as by the flood of Egypt."  (Amos 8:8)

This is not necessarily speaking of a flood of water. Look closely at this verse. Shall not the LAND tremble for this ........ and IT (the land) shall rise up wholly as a flood ... The reference is then given "AS" by the flood of Egypt. This could be speaking of a great Earthquake. We HAVE had many floods lately in this country, and we are seeing an ever increasing pattern of Earthquakes. Seismologists of today are quick to point out that seismic activity has increased 10 fold over the last century and they state "It is only a matter of time" before we, in these United States,  experience devastating earthquakes. This certainly parallels the teachings of Jesus ... "earthquakes in divers places".

"And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day: And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day."
(Amos 8:9,10)

The Day of Jesus Christ will come, are you ready?"

"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD."  (Amos 8:11)

This is the most clear comparison and is a great truth in our day. Believers are running to and fro from Church to Church in search of God's Word, but it's hard to find. Sound Biblical teaching is all but missing. Preaching is only done to entertain. There is no preaching against sin and no call for repentance.  There is no fear of God either in the messages we hear or in the average church-goer of today.  Church services are more like rock concerts or plays.  Ear tickling sermons abound and Preachers, by their sermons, are crying PEACE....SAFETY...... Their cry is that God is so good, no one will ever perish.

My friend, there IS a famine of hearing the words of the Lord!

"Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the LORD."
(Amos 9:8)

Do you know the consequence of any unrepentant nation?  David wrote it in the Psalms:

"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."  (Psalms 9:17)

However, if we come back to Him here's what He will do:

"In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.
(Amos 9:11-15)

That is exactly the way this country was for years and why? Because we believed in, trusted and held faith in God!  We believed that even if we were in trouble, God could and would deliver us.  We committed our lives, our substance and our well being to God.  It would do us well to Commit EVERYTHING WE HAVE back to God and THEN for us to turn to a life of righteousness.

It is now, however, our continual rebellion, disobedience, pride, arrogance, and abandonment of God that is destroying us.

This is reflected in our courts, in our government, in businesses all across this nation.  It's being reflected in our schools and in the youth of today. 

America, we need to wake up and get back to the Godly roots of our founding Fathers.  We need to Repent and turn back to God before it's too late. 

Pray for your country, pray for the Church, pray for souls, and turn to God.  

Only God Can Help Us Now!