Introduction

Good morning, everyone. Today, we will examine the seventh chapter of the Book of Amos. The seventh chapter of the Book of Amos is exceptionally well-written, discussing God's prophets and the King's court prophets. In the preceding chapters, Amos covered a great deal, but was his message truly from God? People might be confused. This chapter clarifies the nature of God's prophets versus the King's court prophets. It requires careful consideration and is indeed worthy of our contemplation. I once visited a church where the greeter drove me to a grand restaurant built at the cost of thirty million. A group of Christians were gathered there, praying for the restaurant; they were the restaurant's court intercessors. If this approach were effective, it would have shown results long ago. The owner would not have faced such a miserable bankruptcy.

There are many similar occurrences. I often wonder why there are so many of such events in this generation. Once, a salesman from a maritime school mentioned a celebrity I was not familiar with. He claimed that if I could heal that person's illness, many people would follow the Lord. It turned out that even after healing the celebrity, no one came to faith. The issue was that the salesman had met this celebrity in order to sell health supplements. After introducing the celebrity to me, his health supplement business completely collapsed because we do not use health supplements; they do not solve people's ailments.

The inside of a person is often very dirty. If one does not clean that garbage, it is difficult to live well. Actually, those people have nothing but money. What are those around them after? Her followers only want her money. Later, as I ministered to her, I learned that her home was a large estate, with about a hundred pastors learning to worship. I was surprised that in her estate, they were conducting worship ceremonies without anyone caring about the hostess's issues. I dislike those fake things; just singing solves nothing. Although our church also sings, and we are very grateful for those who create these songs, I am focused on ministry. The wealthy person I ministered to said that despite so many people being present, no one cared about her problems except me. Of course, because we, as God's prophets, must pull people out of sin; we are not the King's court prophets.

I. God's Prophets Deeply Understand God's Grace and Mercy

You must understand that the problems people face are due to the curses they have brought upon themselves by disobeying God's words. However, we cannot say that since it is all God's curse, we should live in the curse. That is definitely not God's intention. Those of us who serve God, whether small pastors, district leaders, or anyone else, must know God's grace and mercy. We, serving as God's prophets in this generation, do not seek God to send fire to destroy this generation. That is not the role of God's prophets. Know that God does not delight in bringing disaster but is forced to do so by these people. When I minister to you, and your sickness is healed, it is not because you have changed, but because someone who serves God is willing to die for God, live for God, and be alive for God, crying out before God that this brother is so weak, so God may avert the disaster.

People relapsing into the same sins after being healed is also a matter of great distress to me during ministry. People offend God repeatedly, not treating God's grace as grace, even though they received it. Such people, even if they are God's prophets, even if Jesus is by their side, cannot be helped. Once, when we went out to minister, the pastor of the church, a friend of mine, brought all the unresolved problems of their church to me to handle, because he could not manage them himself. While I was ministering there, one of our brothers came. This person had many problems, the biggest of which was his love for hearing voices and seeing visions. He laid hands on the person being ministered to and prayed, saying that he saw Jesus standing behind him. As a result, the young man being ministered to glared at him, feeling that if Jesus were standing behind him, he would not have ended up in his current state. Claiming Jesus is behind the one being ministered to is not the practice of God's prophets; it is just making a show. But God's prophets deeply understand God's grace and mercy.

The Sovereign Lord showed me this: He was preparing swarms of locusts just as the second crop was coming up. This was after the king’s share had been harvested. When they had stripped the land clean, I cried out, “Sovereign Lord, forgive! How can Jacob survive? He is so small!” (Amos 7:1-2)

This is what a prophet of God looks like. It is not saying, God, look how bad these people are; those in power on earth are lording over others, and when the harvest comes, it must be supplied to the royal family. The previous chapter spoke of those in power who love vanity, authority, sitting in high positions or reclining on ivory beds, engaging in massages and such things. However, not only do the common people eat it up, but even the prophets chosen by the people eat it up, because they all depend on the king for a living.

When God creates locusts, the prophet sees the locusts eating up all the crops in the land and intercedes for that place. But not only does no one thank the prophet, many people also reject and hate him, even hoping that the prophet quickly returns to Jerusalem, returns to Judah, returns to his own place, and does not stay with them. But this prophet intercedes for that place. Were it not for his intercession, that place would have been destroyed by the locust plague. Because the locusts would not disappear until winter, and they would return in the spring of the following year, people would not be able to live at all, and the common people would live very miserably. People still have to provide food for the royal family, but do not think that the royal family supports people's lives; in fact, it is God who sustains people.

The prophet must be disgusted with the people of that place, feeling disturbed by them, but he deeply knows God's grace and mercy and intercedes for that place before God. As a Christian, a prophet of God does not seek God's fire to come down from heaven to destroy this generation, but seeks God's grace and mercy. Everyone in the world is a sinner, and if there is no mercy from God, no one can survive at all.

The Sovereign Lord showed me this: The Sovereign Lord was calling for judgment by fire; it dried up the great deep and devoured the land. Then I cried out, “Sovereign Lord, stop! How can Jacob survive? He is so small!” (Amos 7:4-5)

Here, the meaning is that if God continues to do this, it will all become a BBQ. God cannot possibly like eating something that is charred. As a result, Jehovah regrets it, saying that this disaster can also be avoided. God's intention is not to bring disaster but to bring blessings. But God is forced to bring disaster by these sinful and foolish people on earth. After the punishment of locusts and fire, not a single common person said that it was because of Amos's prayer that they repented. That is our dream. There are also many such foolish people among us who do not repent even after experiencing God's grace time and time again. It is really difficult for us to feel in our hearts when we minister to people like this, seeing their hardened and foolish hearts, calling to heaven but receiving no response, calling to earth but still receiving no response. Of course, this is not God's standard. God has His own standard; people cannot come before God unless they are holy. This is what a prophet of God is.

To be a prophet of God, one must have a sad heart, because the people of this earth, whom they serve, all have a foolishness in their bones. Serving them is like eating dung beetles. That is different from eating cockroaches. If it were a cockroach, you might be able to roast it and eat it. But eating dung beetles is like eating stink bugs. The smell on your hands after touching them lingers for a long time. Eating them would be even more disgusting. Eating dung beetles is that kind of feeling; it is not an exaggeration, but very helpless. Someone was so foolish that he was heavily in debt. The words I invented are not enough to describe him. His brain is filled with diarrhea, he is silly, his heart is like a peanut, and his brain is like a walnut. Such a person is deceived by the devil as soon as he is approached, and as soon as the pastor trains him, he discerns good and evil. It is very evil. I do not know when he will come out. I can only let him stay inside, slowly living in debt. I am worried sick for him and do not know how to persuade him. Although I have a good mouth, even if I use all my skills, I cannot remove the dung in his head. That is really powerful.

It is not easy to be a prophet. May everyone have mercy on me. Once, I advised a brother to quickly come out of the curse and bad luck. He refused and asked me what he would do if he came out. He offends God time and time again, but the prophet of God still has to pray for everyone, blocking the disasters brought down by God. Actually, I really dislike this work. It is like eating dung beetles one after another, but seeing those brothers and sisters who love God, I receive comfort in this life. They are not for money, nor for anything else, but for God. They are truly prophets of God. Give a thumbs up to our small pastors who love God. They serve with their hearts and strength, putting aside their own enjoyment. They could also be swiping on Douyin there, but they serve you. Yet you still discern good and evil from them, making them feel really bad. To be a preacher, you must have a strength, be invulnerable, because this is the fate we have chosen.

II. God’s Prophets Declare Judgement Without Fear of Authority

God's prophets are not afraid of authority to declare judgment. Amos prayed to stop God's judgment already happened twice. This time God told Amos not to stop it anymore, that He really was coming.

This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall built plumb, with a plumb line in his hand. And the Lord asked me, “What do you see, Amos?” “A plumb line,” I replied. Then the Lord said, “See, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer. “The high places of Isaac will be destroyed and the sanctuaries of Israel will be ruined; with my sword I will rise up against the house of Jeroboam.” (Amos 7:7-9)

Jeroboam was the king. Today you dare to stand in front of the King to speak? If you are in the United States, you can scold the President, and no one will manage you if you curse him on the street. But if you are a prophet, if you are there proclaiming judgment, no matter what country you are in, if you are really an eyesore, they will really take care of you. The plumb line mentioned in the scripture is God's standard. Originally we are God's temple, to build the temple according to God's standard; it is the city wall of Jerusalem, the temple of Jehovah, built according to God's revelation, but when you measure it with God's plumb line, everything inside and outside is evil, all wrong. In the future, once measured, it will be over, all built according to one's own intention. Everyone be careful, people build the temple according to their own intentions, God measures it with a plumb line, that is enough for you to have two sips.

Today, our brothers and sisters must know for sure that God's standard cannot be compromised, and it must be measured according to God's standard. Be careful, God's prophets are not afraid of authority, and in this declaration of judgment, they will attack the house of Jeroboam with swords. Jeroboam was the local emperor, people will not let you off even if you mess with the local county magistrate. Seeing God calling you to fulfill such a ministry, if you cannot lay down your life and still have many concerns, you really cannot do this work.

According to God's heart, although he does not like to bring disasters, He is not Santa Claus. However, once He decides to bring disasters, even the prophets cannot stop Him. You think I am a master, but in fact, I am not even a junior master, because I am nothing before God, just someone who proclaims God's judgment. Some people have already been judged by God, and they do not repent even when disaster strikes; God withdraws His hand, and people sin again, and God sends down disaster again, repeating the cycle. Everyone, do not force God to act, that is called offending the king, God's standard cannot be compromised. Recently, I have been thinking about whether to consider compromising a bit and relax a bit. After struggling for a long time, I thought it would not work, and I still built it at the level of elite soldiers, those who should leave would leave.

Our brothers and sisters must know that saying they are helping God build the church is very angering to God, and God will definitely crush you. Have you suffered enough sins today? If there is still more, it is enough for you to have two sips. No matter how I persuade, I cannot persuade, and I can only be in pain in my heart, because God's judgment will come to these people sooner or later. So repent quickly, many years ago I did not know how to build a victorious church, I only knew that helping God is cursed. Some people say they want to help me build a church, but that is the same as helping God, there is no such thing.

It is by Your grace that you come to build God's glorious church. God does not need human help, and neither do I particularly need it. I need people to come to the church to receive grace. If you can do pastoral care in the church, although it is hard work, it is a grace for you, because you are serving God. Coming to the church to do ministry is hard work, but it is grace, not a contribution. Because you serve, you grow, you receive grace, and you please God. Today, we must establish this concept.

Amos answered Amaziah, “I was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. (Amos 7:14)

Being a prophet is God's calling. Those who fish are called fishermen, those who tend sheep are called shepherds, and those who cultivate the land are called farmers.

But the Lord took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ (Amos 7:15)

Being a prophet is not about following the masses, flattering the king, or pleasing those in power. He must not follow the flock. A pastor who tells his brothers and sisters to follow the flock will eventually become foolish. Go and prophesy to Israel; this is God's calling to him. Today, our brothers and sisters need to be a little bit smarter and offend the king and the royal prophets. Cutting off someone's wealth is like killing their parents; offending the royal prophets is not only killing their parents but also killing them.

3. You Must Know the Lord's Deeds

You must know that the Lord's deeds involve giving grace once or twice, perhaps three or even four times. Sometimes, after giving grace twice, calamity descends, or after three times. We must never gamble with God. If there is no calamity after three or four times, the fifth time it will come. Don't think that everything has been fine lately. That is forgetting the pain once the wound has healed. You must know the Lord's deeds. You don't know when God's wrath will be revealed upon you. Be careful. When God's wrath is revealed, I cannot stop it, nor do I want to, because I have had enough of dung beetles.

Everyone should reflect on how much discipline, sickness, and calamity they have experienced from God in recent years. Reflect well. This may be the last time; if it comes again, it will be over. In the story of Amos, calamity came quickly after only two instances. So, brothers and sisters, never tempt God. To the Lord, a thousand years is like a day, and a day is like a thousand years. You may think it's a long time, but it's actually very short. If you sow a curse and reap it ten years later, the calamity will be severe. If you sow a curse and reap it in three to five days, it's just a sprout, easy to handle. But if you sow a curse and reap it forty years later, it will be deadly, and the fruit will have been accumulating for a long time.

The Israelites have experienced so much and still do not know God's deeds. Those Israelites who died in the wilderness, I think their brains were on their behinds. It's truly remarkable, a great spectacle in the world. Six hundred thousand Israelites all died in the wilderness, wasting a perfectly good hand, all because they did not know God's deeds. Today, we must know God's deeds. If the words we speak are all devilish, then we must be very careful, every day. Some people are like Amaziah. They think they are truly serving God, but they are actually the king's royal prophets.

4. The King's Royal Prophet Accuses God's Prophet

Have you noticed that this era is very interesting? Cain killed Abel, which means that throughout history, false prophets have accused true prophets. In the past few years, I have made an interesting discovery while building the church: those who oppose me are all waving the banner of God. They are desperately praying for me, afraid that I will go astray, asking God to change me. But I am still the same, so let them pray slowly. People in the church have come and gone, and each time they leave, they give me a lot of good advice, so I am tired of hearing it. They advise me to be careful, but I am not a cautious person, nor am I a person of little faith. I am a person who trusts in God. So, I don't quite understand how the king's royal prophets have such great faith, thinking they are prophets. A person of the flesh does not understand the things of the Spirit.

Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent a message to Jeroboam king of Israel: “Amos is raising a conspiracy against you in the very heart of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words. (Amos 7:10)

If Amos is a false prophet, what are you afraid of? It's like an old farmer shouting a few times in the park. The country will not be ruined. They also believe that all the words Amos speaks, the land cannot bear, but they think that Amos decides this matter; in fact, it is God who decides this matter.

For this is what Amos is saying: “‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will surely go into exile, away from their native land.’” (Amos 7:11)

The king's royal prophet accuses God's prophet, thinking that the king can kill God's prophet. If God's time has not yet come, he cannot be killed.

5. The King's Royal Prophet is Just Trying to Make a Living

Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. (Amos 7:12)

The king's royal prophet thinks that God's prophet earns a living by prophesying. Some people earn a living by laying bricks or plastering walls, and others earn a living by stacking bricks or coding, but God's prophet does not earn a living by these things; he must lay down his life and dedicate it to God. If a person lays down his life for God, he does not have to worry about making a living. Like me, it's so good. If I really can't make a living, I will fast and pray. If fasting and praying for ten days does not solve the problem of making a living, I will fast and pray for forty days; if forty days does not solve the problem of making a living, I will fast and pray for eighty days. By then, I will definitely see stars.

God's prophets despise death. Making a living is no longer their pursuit and demand; it is just a trivial matter. So, the king's royal prophet accuses God's prophet of trying to kill the king. If God does not allow it, not a single hair will fall. So, what we preachers do is to die for God, and that is how we get a ticket to go before God. The king's royal prophet thinks that all prophets are just trying to make a living. I have seen many so-called prophets who are really just trying to make a living. In fact, if you can't make a living, then don't. Don't eat what you can't afford to eat, and don't use what you can't afford to use. Anyway, die early. Whoever wants the property after my death can take it, but the king's royal prophet's mind is all about making a living.

Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. (Amos 7:12)

This is where we make a living. Don't cut off our financial path here. Cutting off someone's wealth is like killing their parents. Hurry up and go to another place to prophesy.

Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. But don’t prophesy anymore at Bethel, because this is the king’s sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom.” (Amos 7:12-13)

Ponder these words carefully. Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever lays down his life for God will gain life. This is my faith. By pleasing God, I have prevented many calamities until today.

6. The King's Royal Prophet Cares About the King's Sanctuary and the King's Palace

People's vision is extraordinary. A few days ago, I ministered to a sister who had been moved out, and I decided to minister to her again when I found that she was still taking notes. I asked her to read the Book of Genesis again. She said that she had done it three times, but this time it was like hearing it for the first time. She had never heard of God's vision before. She said that her future was in God's vision. I congratulated her; she should have gained some truth.

Some people see the king's palace and the king's sanctuary and think they are magnificent. In fact, the palace of the Israelite king was very bad. When the envoys of those small countries arrived in China, they found that their king's palace was not even comparable to a small corner of the Forbidden City. When those people came to China to pay tribute, they entered Tiananmen in the Forbidden City. Behind Tiananmen was Duanmen, behind Duanmen was Wu Men, and behind Wu Men were other gates. Each gate had to be walked a long distance, and their legs were about to break. Some people see the church's air conditioning, sound system, and lighting and admire how good the other church is. If you care about this, it is a vision that destroys people.

7. God's Prophet Announces the Judgment of the King's Royal Prophet

It is not strange that many pastors are royal prophets. I don't know which rule he broke, or maybe he broke many rules, and finally he fell into judgment, as it says in the following scripture.

Now hear the word of the Lord! You say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel, and stop preaching against the descendants of Isaac.’ (Amos 7:16)

Whether to do it or not, it is not up to you; it is up to God. It is not up to you to decide whether to speak or not.

“Therefore this is what the Lord says: “‘Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword. Your land will be divided up with measuring lines, and you yourself will die in a pagan country. And Israel will surely go into exile, away from their native land.’” (Amos 7:17)

His wife will become a prostitute, which is a great shame. As far as I know, there is a pastor who serves a very rich person, praying for this rich person every day. This rich person felt that something was wrong and asked the pastor if he could serve other needy brothers and sisters in the same way that he served him. This is very reasonable, but the pastor said that if he served other brothers and sisters in the same way that he served him, the pastor would die. It turns out that he was serving this rich person so desperately because he wanted his money and hoped to get benefits from him, and he will definitely receive God's judgment. Moreover, for these rich people, they know very well who wants their money; people are really bad. There are many pastors in the church who see rich people and are about to kneel down to them. This cannot be good. This kind of situation is not rare. There is a word called kowtowing. Can God not judge these people? When God's judgment comes, what will happen?

8. Which One Do You Choose to Be?

We must begin to desire to walk in God's will. Everything you do must be found in the logical system of the Bible. Taking things out of context is useless. If you do not study well, you will not be able to grasp God's heart, and it is impossible to grasp God's heart by taking things out of context. Once you grasp God's heart, you will intercede and prevent calamity.

So, if you become God's prophet, you will offend people. In fact, offending people is very uncomfortable. You must know God and know that there will always be a time when God will no longer forgive, and even if we pray, it will be useless. Which one do you want to be, the king's royal prophet or God's prophet? Amos wrote these words very powerfully. In Israel, there are many royal prophets. In this generation, there are also many royal prophets. A businessman once invented a word called return to glory. Can business be full of glory? God considers these riches to be unrighteous wealth. What glory is there to speak of?

Today, I must remind you that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. If you are carrying too much, you cannot get through. Too much money blocks our hearts. The theme of this chapter is God's prophet and the king's royal prophet. Which one do you choose to be? Start to gradually understand God's words.