Then I said: “O Lord GOD, cease, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, for he is small!” Amos 7:5
In chapter 7, Amos saw two visions of judgment on Israel. In the first, he saw an army of locusts that was going to attack Israel. They would devour everything and the entire land would be consumed and destroyed (7:1-2). In the second, he saw a fire that would consume Israel (7:4-5). As such, Amos was so grieved in his heart that he cried out to the Lord, and God relented from His judgment (7:3, 6). This is how God works in our lives. Before God does anything, He will first reveal His secret to His servants, the prophets (3:7). Once the prophet sees the burden of the Lord, he must pray and intercede for the people.
Real prayer and intercession are built on the basis of divine revelation. We can only pray effectively when we understand what is in the heart of God. Real intercession is only born through a hearing-praying relationship with God. “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26).
Amos stood before God like Abraham did when he prayed to God for Sodom and Gomorrah. God was going to destroy those two cities because of their gross sins and wickedness. Abraham interceded, pleading with God not to destroy those cities. Amos was doing exactly the same. He stood in the gap for Israel. As a result, God relented. God does not change His mind with regards to His blessings and covenant promises. But concerning His judgment, God may change His mind toward a generation who intercedes and prays to Him (2 Chr. 7:14). That is why the ministry of intercession is so important in the Church. God can spare a nation from the severity of His judgment when intercession is made. When the people of Nineveh heard Jonah’s prophecy on how God was going to judge the city in 40 days, they gathered to repent before the Lord in prayer and fasting (Jon. 3:5). As a result, God changed His mind. “Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it” (3:10).
When things go wrong in your life, in your business or in the nation, and you recognize that it is the dealing and judgment of God, remember that your sincere prayers of intercession and humility can bring God to relent from His judgment.
In chapter 7, Amos saw two visions of judgment on Israel. In the first, he saw an army of locusts that was going to attack Israel. They would devour everything and the entire land would be consumed and destroyed (7:1-2). In the second, he saw a fire that would consume Israel (7:4-5). As such, Amos was so grieved in his heart that he cried out to the Lord, and God relented from His judgment (7:3, 6). This is how God works in our lives. Before God does anything, He will first reveal His secret to His servants, the prophets (3:7). Once the prophet sees the burden of the Lord, he must pray and intercede for the people.
Real prayer and intercession are built on the basis of divine revelation. We can only pray effectively when we understand what is in the heart of God. Real intercession is only born through a hearing-praying relationship with God. “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26).
Amos stood before God like Abraham did when he prayed to God for Sodom and Gomorrah. God was going to destroy those two cities because of their gross sins and wickedness. Abraham interceded, pleading with God not to destroy those cities. Amos was doing exactly the same. He stood in the gap for Israel. As a result, God relented. God does not change His mind with regards to His blessings and covenant promises. But concerning His judgment, God may change His mind toward a generation who intercedes and prays to Him (2 Chr. 7:14). That is why the ministry of intercession is so important in the Church. God can spare a nation from the severity of His judgment when intercession is made. When the people of Nineveh heard Jonah’s prophecy on how God was going to judge the city in 40 days, they gathered to repent before the Lord in prayer and fasting (Jon. 3:5). As a result, God changed His mind. “Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it” (3:10).
When things go wrong in your life, in your business or in the nation, and you recognize that it is the dealing and judgment of God, remember that your sincere prayers of intercession and humility can bring God to relent from His judgment.
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