Amos

[0:00] as the Lord shall be pleased to help me I shall call your attention to a subject you will find in the book of Amos chapter 3 verse 3 can two walk together except they be agreed the book of Amos chapter 3 verse 3 this is a question which should cause some searching of heart and it will do amongst all who have the mercy to be sinners born again and if it could be the will of God it could be possible to cause some searching of heart amongst some who are not yet born again can two walk together except they be agreed and now in approaching the subject

[1:29] I would look first of all at the second of it and remember this word dropped from the lips of God Amos was inspired of God to record it but the context tells us hear this word that the Lord hath spoken against you O children of Israel against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt saying you only have I known of all the families of the earth therefore I will punish you margin reading I will visit upon you for all your iniquities and then God laid the foundation of the where and wherefore of his dealings with Israel can two walk together except they be agreed but though God said if you as you have been doing for long years walk in disagreement with me and my word what can you expect but that I shall visit upon you for your departure from me and my truth the heading of the page is very solemn necessity mark that word necessity of God's judgments upon

[3:27] Israel there is necessity for God's judgments to be poured out not only against Israel as they were poured out long ago but nowadays it can be and will be against England as a nation for there is necessity for it the word of God still holds good can two walk together God for long years has been England's God and done wondrous things for England as a nation made us long years ago to be an empire on which the sun never set but alas there is a different picture to behold nowadays in looking upon

[4:32] England as a nation and what was said concerning Israel of old has been fulfilled to Israel and has been fulfilled too in the judgments of God against England as a nation there is a striking word in the Old Testament regarding Israel's behavior and God makes it very plain if you walk as a people in agreement with me as Israel's God then I will make you in the world at large to be the head and not the tail but if it should be otherwise and you should walk in disagreement with me then you will become the tail and not the head and that has been worked out dear friends in regard to England as a nation can two walk together except they be agreed and in approaching the subject it is very striking that

[5:55] Amos the prophet was raised up from among the herdmen of Tekoa and the word of the Lord was locked in his breath and he was enabled to go forth and proclaim the words of Amos who was among the herdmen of Tekoa which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel go back to this heading necessity of God's judgment against Israel necessity what does that mean when it is viewed a right God will deal with everyone on the basis of what their behavior has been be not deceived

[7:08] God is not mocked whatsoever the man soweth that shall he also reap he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting sin regarding the judgments of God against Israel it was to be observed that while they were in the wilderness they fell a prey to idolatry and actually sought to worship the molten calf and when it meant they were instated in the land of promise after a while the same evil was made manifest and they learned the ways of the heathen amongst whom they lived instead of casting them out as the word of the Lord was the psalmist tells us they mingled with the heathen and learned their works and so the judgments of God came upon them because they reaped in accordance with the seed which they had sown and as it was in

[8:31] Israel's day so it still is in the days in which you and I are living and now that is just a background a dark background of our subject and I want to look at it from one or two viewpoints can two walk together except they be agreed I should judge in the world as it is to be viewed nowadays there was never to be seen so much disagreement among men and among nations and although there are some men who we would regard as statesmen with good intentions to their fellow creatures and they have their commissions and they gather together the so-called united nations thinking to do this and that but you see all that they attempt to do is bound to fail because they leave God out of it or they do not walk with

[9:43] God in what they purpose to do do not even seek his blessings as they assemble can two walk together except they be agreed and going back to England as a nation it is as though God says to England as a nation seeing that you no longer regard me and the word of my grace you deny its divine authority and regarding my son you say as to the majority of you we will not have this man to reign over us depart from us we desire not the knowledge of thee or thy truth and seeing you break my sabbath day no longer regard it and seeing my house wherein

[10:48] I should be worshipped is forsaken by you and seeing that you love pleasure much more than you are lovers of me and mine I ask you can two walk together except they be agreed you do not agree with me and what is laid down in my word as to how you should live in England as a nation therefore I must punish you there is necessity for my judgment to be poured out upon you and now this is very solemn to contemplate I wish it could be possible that you could realize the solemnity of it and every one of you be found amongst that number of which the word of God says set a mark upon the forehead of the men that sigh and cry for the iniquities done in the land for all who have that wondrous mark of distinguishing grace stamped upon their lips and lives as it were they will realize the blessing of the

[12:11] Lord and they will find a shelter in the town of storm when the judgments of God are poured out in an amazing fullness as they must be as they will be do remember that can to walk together except they be agreed and God still proclaims in his word only acknowledge your iniquity return unto me and I will return unto you much might be said under that heading but there are one or two more instances which I would look at before I open up the subject as my mind runs can to walk together except they be agreed and now how good it is when young people setting out in life together beginning in a home of their own can walk in agreement with God in how they begin to do it have in their coming together to journey on through life as companions until they die in the beginning

[13:38] God remembering except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it there are some beautiful pictures of home life where husband and wife walk together in agreement with God where the great concern is Christ is the head of this house where the things of God are entered into where the blessing of God is sought in everyday life and a great concern to our first things first or it is good to walk together like that joined to each other but realising more still he that is joined to the

[14:43] Lord is one spirit it is a good life to live and I do rejoice that many of us have known what it is to live such a life and you must remember how it came about that you were brought together to live such a life and dwell under your own home roof and find the son of peace to dwell there too who might give thee to differ from another what is thou that thou dost not receive in you dear young people who have been born in the homes of the godly oh that you might realise the mercy made known to you in as much as such a privilege has been afforded you and whatever you do do not turn your backs back on that godly home life that you have known in your bringing up and think that when you can do as you like think you're of age to do it oh do not turn your backs on how you were brought up but remember thy creator in the days of thy youth and do remember this continue walk together except they be agreed those who love you those who have prayed for you ever since you were born are concerned that you should as grace is given walk in agreement with god or they want god to come into your life do you want god to come into it you might think about it it may be some things you hear you wish they were not said maybe there are some things in the word of god you read and you wish they were not there and why oh because you are not in agreement with god that you are just living as you were born and you are content to live like that therefore you have it in your hearts to wish that god could be otherwise than who he is but he will be the god that he is and god in the scriptures to reveal his will as condescended what he has said there he will fulfill though man shall be offended do you remember that can two walk together except they be agreed and now when you can walk together in setting up in home life and desire the blessing of god on you coming together and desire that god shall be first in your home life oh that is commendable the lord bless you can two walk together except they be agreed there is just another viewpoint of this subject which I must touch on can two walk together except they be agreed and now sometimes godly men mark the word in godly men in business

[18:45] life may be tempted to make unequal alliances with the world because of some advantage which they may gain in doing so a godly man in business may be tempted because of some LST benefit to take a worldly man in partnership and think to still carry on his business on a godly plan but you will not be able to do it this word will look at you can two walk together except they be agreed a godly man can only run his business on how the word of god lays it down trust in the lord and do good so shalt thou dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed

[19:49] I've sometimes reminded you of godly Jehoshaphat who made an alliance with godless Ahaziah Israel's king to build a navy to get gold you see it was LST that was the aim worldly wealth but although the ships were built the word of god tells us the ships of Jehoshaphat were repped for Esion Geber and do you know I have known in my long ministerial life more than one godly man in business who was fallen appraise and made such an unequal alliance he was found in his life and as he on Geber and his projects were crossed his plans were thwarted and he had to come back and walk together with god and confess his guiltiness in seeking to walk otherwise can two walk together except they be agreed all you need as a godly man in business is to have god for your partner and if you have the father the son the holy spirit the blessed trinity your business will go well however not you may be tempted and tried in running it in the ultimate issue you will find the blessing of the lord will rest upon you godliness is profitable unto all things having the promise of the life that now is and that which is to come and now let us come to the subject itself can two walk together except they be agreed the great thing is for god and man to walk together and be one with each other it can only be nowadays as a miracle of grace is wrought to bring about such an amazing privilege but there was a time when god and man did walk together for how long no creature can tell you one must not speculate but when in the beginning god created the heavens and the earth and eden's garden was formed and adam and eve were placed therein they came from their creator's hands as perfect creatures as i have told you many a time and the subject of a free will man as he came from his creator's hands was a perfect creature indeed likewise and they were in eden's garden with a capacity to enjoy all that god had placed therein for them to realise happiness in the fullness of it as his creatures and god came down in the garden it seems very difficult to understand it but there was a way in which god was pleased to do it and manifest himself although he is the majesty of heaven and he walked in the garden and he talked with adam and eve

[23:50] and they walked together in agreement but when adam and eve were created they were created under a law you can do this but you must not do that and that you must not do that through their downfall because they had a free will and satan was found in the garden and he gained a conquest over eve sin entered into the world death by sin so death passed upon all men for that all of sin and the outcome of it was that god and man could no longer walk in agreement the abanthal had taken place and the lord god drove out the man and the women from eden's garden placed the angel with a fiery flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way that led to the tree of life but there is one thing I want you to especially remember you dear young people too although the adam fall took place like it did and adam and eve could no longer walk in agreement with god they still remained under the law and though they had lost their capacity to obey it god still commanded it to be kept in every jot and tittle although by the adam fall adam and eve had lost the ability to do it and though that is where the adam fall the right understanding of it is so essential and why salvation if it is known can only be known as salvation is of the lord so that if god and man are to walk together again in agreement something has got to be done and man can do nothing at all not one jot or tittle in regard to what must indeed be done god and man can do it and god in his infinite condescension was pleased to do it the adam fall made a tremendous breach between god and man and joseph heart tells us for this there must be one who can from sin and death release us make up the breach which god and man which none can do but jesus and god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life and so jesus christ came down into this world and was seen among men verily man verily god and he did love redeeming work he died his meritorious death he rose from the dead triumphant over sin and death and hell he ascended up on heart and what is he doing there there is one god and one mediator between god and man the man christ jesus and jesus christ is there to enable man to walk again in agreement

[27:50] with god with whom he has to do blessed be god that it is made possible and if you are given that religion that god is the author of then you will be able to do what the word of god says and do not walk with god and it says no walk with god and you will be helped from time to time to especially heal the pleasure and privilege of it to walk together with god it is a great it is a beautiful it is a blessed experience to do it walk with god and walk in agreement with him and now when a sinner is born again he realises that he is not in agreement with god as he was born but when he is born again and when he is brought before god's holy law when he the spirit of truth is come he shall convince the world of sin the word of god declares and the sinner finds out what the adam paul has done the law says to that sinner do this do not do that and a sinner is in earnest about his soul's eternal welfare and he seeks to heed the law's demands and he reforms his life he seeks to be better and do better but he finds although the law keeps thundering tell me that which thou owest that he cannot produce one stitch of the righteousness which the law demands

[29:51] I told you often righteousness to full perfection must be brought let him not fearless of rejection but the sinner cannot produce it and now here you begin to walk in agreement with god the law says do listen cursed is the man that continue with not in all things written in the book of the law to do them and that takes hold of a sinner being brought in guilty before god being convinced by the spirit of god and stripped of all his fancy meekness to approach the dread i am and he agrees with god in what the lord declares he accepts the punishment of his iniquity and he says with the psalmist if thou lord should mark iniquities o lord who shall stand if my soul is sent to hell thou righteous lord approves it well and there before sinai's mount he walks in agreement with god in what his holy law declares but the spirit of god will not leave that poor sinner like that because he will lead him from sinai's mount and bring him before calvary's cross and there he will show him how it is possible for the poor sinner lost ruined undone in the

[31:37] Adam fall and not able to produce the righteousness which the law demands can be made righteous and walk in agreement with god as the lord is righteousness jehovah said king he shows that sinner christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone which believe it christ when he came into the world came into the world as the word of god declares when the fullness of time was come god sent forth his own son made of a woman made under the law and as thoroughly man jesus christ kept that law in all its demands in every jot and fiddle and in doing that he brought god and man together again on friendly terms for he brought out a righteousness to sinners who were made solemnly aware that they have none of their own willing to appear before god tend to walk together except they be agreed and now that means that when a sinner is being led into the truth a sinner born again that he walks together with god in what the word of god declares and the sinner is glad to do it because the terms laid down in the word of god are very acceptable as to how a sinner is to be fitted for the skies or he walks in agreement with this great declaration by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of god not of yours lest any man should bridge and he is glad to sing if ever my poor soul is saved it is christ must be the way he walks together with god on the basis as to how sinners can be saved with an everlasting salvation and he solemnly confesses not the labour of my hands can fulfil the law's demands much might be said along that line of thought but I want to look at the subject from another viewpoint regarding this walking together can to walk together except they be agreed and now it might be as you journey through life you can look back over life journey some of you and search into it and as you journey through life you have had things come upon you that you looked not for trouble like a gloomy cloud that gathered thick and thundered loud and at their onset you may have been hard put to it to see the why and the wherefore of it and it might be what you are by nature as being very much churned up and it may be you have said with

[35:09] Jacob all these things are against me and you could not feel in your heart an agreement with God that such a trouble all into what its nature was should come on you or yours you were ready to say not so my father you could not agree with God at the time when it came and now if you are indeed a sinner born again you can also remember how God brought you to acquiesce in his dealings with you made you to be like clay in the potter's hands how he enabled you to humble yourself under the mighty hand of God in his dealings with you and enabled you to say it is the Lord let him do what seem it in good it is the

[36:15] Lord imploned in light whose claims are all divine who has an undisputed right to govern me and mine it is a wonderful thing when you can walk with God and accept the cross that he ordains for you to bear when you can feel did you ever feel it tis my happiness below not to live without the cross but the saviour's power to know sanctify him every loss can two walk together except they be agreed or it is good in times of trial whatever their nature to walk together with God therein for therein you learn it is enough for thee disciple that he be as his Lord did Christ my Lord suffer and shall I repine his way was much rougher and darker than mine then there is a way where

[37:22] God and man walk together in a sweet blessed companionship Godly John said truly our fellowship was with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ what an amazing privilege that is there is a beautiful setting forth of it in those disciples going along the Emmaus road as they reasoned together about the things which had happened they could come to no comforting conclusion in their minds that Jesus himself drew near and went with them what a wonderful walk that was for those disciples and how amazing that he who is the light of the world should have lighted up his own holy scriptures and enlightened their understandings so that they could walk with

[38:23] God walk with him who is Godly calm as he unfolded the written world of which he is the blessed son and substance did got our hearts burn within us while he talked with us by the way while he opened to us the scriptures if you walk with God and walk in agreement with him you will find it very blessed at times as he opens up the scriptures to you and he will open up to you your own interest therein and you will say with Jeremiah thy words were found and I did eat them and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart they that are after the spirit do mind the things of the spirit then in walking together with

[39:26] God at times you will go through floods and through fires and yet feel within a divine aid communicated so that you do not fear to go on in the way that God has ordained you will have that feeling whate'er thy sacred will ordain oh give me strength to bear let me know my father reigns and trust his tender care you walk in agreement with God and then it might be sometimes you come to spots and places in life journeys when you have to rearrange your life or at least they are rearranged for you it may be a door in the providence of God is shut and as it is shut you desire another to be opened and then as you wait on God you find step by step as you go on the way will open up before you and as you leave the issue with God and you must do that if you are to walk in agreement with God in his dealings with you supplication it must be as you commit your way unto the Lord and trust also in him and wait on him to bring to pass what is his will concerning you

[41:03] I say it must be supplication not dictation not suggestion to the Lord there is a way that you can see if he will only give you permission to go along it no no you must walk in agreement with God and that means this thy way not mine O Lord however dark it be choose thou with thine own hands O choose my way for me and use this our grace to walk in it however hard to be understood his dealings may seem to be to walk in conformity with the will of God can two walk together except they be agreed what do you and I know about it as I come to the amen there is a walking together with God when you are helped to commune with him like the woman in the gospel when she fell down at Jesus feet and told him all the truth and sometimes you get sweet liberty to do that in your approaches unto God and you can say with Asa it is good for me to draw near unto

[42:27] God a little talk with Jesus how it moves like rugged road how it cheers and helps me onward when I think beneath my nose can two walk together except they be agreed oh it is a great thing let it be the chief thing for us as we journey on to be agreed with God as we live out our life to their allotted span walk with God oh the privilege of it oh the pleasure of it oh the necessity for it whom do you walk with in your everyday lives do you walk with the world and are worldly in your everyday life can the world discern any difference between you and what they are and what they do do you walk with the world and can you walk with all who have a name to live whether they have been either sprinkled baptized or confirmed it matters not can you walk with all folks who profess to be religious no not if you walk together with God you have to get down to bedrock truth and walk with God according to what the word of

[44:03] God lays down as to what it is to be a real Christian the living cannot walk with the dead and those who have just a form of godliness and no power you want reality you want the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace whom do you walk with do you walk with those people of whom God has said I will leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people when you get in touch with them hear them tell out how they feel the dealings of God with their souls what are their exercises unto godliness do you feel as in water face as with under face so does the heart of man to man and you can walk with them because you feel to be one with them and desire to be so living and dying tend to walk together except they be agreed and now what is the happy issue of walking with God if you and

[45:26] I have helped to do it it brings us into one scripture which otherwise is very very difficult to realize what it means be ye reconciled to God and now that word is recorded in the epistle to the Corinthians and it is not just a word that some well meaning evangelist is to take at a street corner and think he can convert all and sundry round about as he sets forth his thoughts upon it no it was addressed to people with names on church rolls dear friends people already born again it is addressed to quite a few of you be ye reconciled to God and it means be ye reconciled to live in your life inside the covers of the holy bible book divine to the pattern

[46:38] God has lined out as to how the life of the righteous must be lived be ye reconciled to God if there comes upon you and yours things that the flesh dislikes and that is inevitable it is for you to seek to be reconciled to God in what he declares we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God and to humble yourself under his mighty hand in all his dealings with you and seek to live like this and to get grace to help in the time of need which it will be to do it Lord I would indeed submit gladly yield my all to thee what thy wisdom sees my fit must be surely best for me to be reconciled to God in whatever comes upon you all yours and to feel that this is the will of God your sanctification and that you should be helped to live like this this prayer and this ambition mine living and dying to be done oh that

[48:09] God would work amongst us in our course of truth and help us only have the mercy to be born again to walk more together with God that we might show the world at large more manifestly whose we are and whom we serve to hold up the sacred word and feed thereon and grow go on to seek to know the good and practice what we know amen and damn amen and to