NE7ER 3 // A Never-Failing Stream
Amos 5:21-24 (NLT) | 21 I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. 22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. 23 Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. 24 But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!
Hypocrisy
- People were playing at faith while lacking justice and righteousness in their relationships.
- God does not want our trinkets, because He has everything.
Justice
- Should flow like a river to a larger body of water
- Constant movement from us to others to God
Righteousness
- Doing what’s right in God’s eyes towards others into the world
- True from governments to individuals
Playing church while ignoring others causes justice to dry up like an old creek bed.
How to flow with righteousness and justice…
- Don’t just go through the motions
– Proverbs 21:3 (MSG) | Clean living before God and justice with our neighbors mean far more to God than religious performance. - Don’t play at church
– Matthew 6:1-18 summarized | When your faith life is a performance, your audience is your reward – even in prayer, fasting, and giving - God wants your whole heart
– Matthew 9:13 (ESV) | Jesus said, “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Closing Questions
- How are you guilty of hypocrisy?
- How does God’s view of righteousness and justice challenge you?
- How is God calling your sinner’s heart?
