📖 SERMON 193 — Amos 8:11–14
Date: October 30, 1949
Text: Amos 8:11–14
Preacher: Rev. G. S. Kok
INTRODUCTION
Tomorrow is Reformation Day, when we commemorate the beginning of the great religious Reformation of the sixteenth century under the leadership of such men as Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli. The importance of that Reformation, and the need of a new Reformation, are shown in the word of God spoken by Amos, who warned Israel of a coming famine.
SUBJECT: REFORMATION OR FAMINE
A. The ten tribes had forsaken the word of God and established a religion contrary to God’s will
1. They had separated themselves from Jerusalem to worship elsewhere—Dan, Bethel.
2. They had rejected the word of God, choosing to worship as they saw fit.
3. Their views of God and salvation were no longer in harmony with the truth. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
4. Salvation was sought in external acts of worship—sacrifices and ceremonies—instead of repentance and obedience.
B. The Roman Catholic Church had departed from the word of God and established a religion contrary to it
1. The Bible was a closed and hidden book; it was not the rule of faith and conduct.
2. They forsook the truth of salvation and substituted teachings serving their own purpose:
a. They forsook justification by faith.
b. They substituted self-righteousness for the righteousness of Christ.
c. They taught indulgences—salvation for a price—denying that Jesus paid for salvation once for all.
3. The Word of God had to be reinstated as the final rule of faith and conduct.
a. Rome refused to do so.
b. The Reformers’ cry was, “Back to the Word of God!”
c. Unlike the ten tribes, multitudes of Europe heeded the call and reformed.
C. Today
1. Again the churches are departing from the Word of God.
2. Again people base salvation on grounds not found in Scripture:
a. Their own goodness.
b. The general goodness of God without repentance.
c. Their material contributions—“contributing members” who never worship but expect salvation for dues paid.
3. Again today the Bible is disregarded in social problems.
a. God’s Word is not consulted.
b. God’s law is mocked.
c. Homes, schools, and public life ignore God’s commands.
4. Today men must again be called back to the Word of God.
a. True within the church.
b. The Bible must be reinstated as the Word of God with instruction for all of life.
A. It is either Reformation or famine
1. So it was in Amos’s day.
2. So it was in the Reformation.
3. So it is today.
B. The nature of this famine
1. Not a famine of food or drink.
2. Not a famine of physical necessities.
3. “A famine of hearing the words of Jehovah.”
a. A time when the Word will not be heard, even if sought.
b. People will hear voices but not the Word of the Lord.
4. A terrible experience:
a. “Man shall not live by bread alone.”
b. Saul longed for a word from the Lord; when the Lord no longer speaks, people perish.
5. The ten tribes experienced it:
a. They refused Jehovah’s warnings.
b. Jehovah withdrew and no longer spoke.
c. When they finally desired a word, it was too late.
They wandered seeking it.
The young fainted because their fathers rejected God’s Word.
They fell before dumb idols and perished.
C. Its present threat
1. The Word of God is again despised.
2. Unless America reforms and heeds God’s Word, she will perish.
3. Unless churches return to the Bible and preach it as God’s Word, the church will perish.
CONCLUSION
During the Reformation, people returned to the Word of God and the famine was prevented. Imagine the darkness today if God had not raised up men to call the world back to His Word. Imagine the darkness soon to come if there is no Reformation now. When the light of the Word goes out, civilization perishes, hope dies, confusion reigns. How tragic that America, though calling itself Christian, has removed God’s Word from the schools, and many even oppose schools that teach the Word of God.
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