DAILY MANNA SUNDAY, APRIL 5 2020 – TURNCOATS BY PST. KUMUYI

DAILY MANNA
SUNDAY, APRIL 5 2020

TURNCOATS
TEXT: AMOS 8:1-10.
KEY VERSE “Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that me may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit? That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?” (AMOS 8:5,6).

The Christian Post on August 5, 2019 reported that a former Pastor and evangelical author demonstrated his support for the homosexuals by marching in Vancouver’s annual Pride Parade less than a month after announcing he no longer considers himself a Christian. He shared several photos of himself participating in gay festivities. Even before him, there were other backsliders also who had deserted the cause of Christ and denounced what they once believed.

Our passage reveals the horrible condition of the children of Israel at the time of Amos. God showed him a vision of a basket of summer fruits, a picture of the inevitable harvest of judgements to come on the land. Sabbath was impatiently endured so that they might continue their exploitation of the poor and the needy. These avaricious and merciless people wished the new moon and Sabbaths to be over so that they will go to the market, as it were, and “buy the poor.” It was the custom of those times that when a man could not discharge his debts, he would surrender himself and family to his creditor as bondservants. By this, the rich increased their power as well as their wealth. Not content with defrauding in the measures and prices, they mixed the chaff and sell it together with the wheat.

God is concerned about the image of the Christian today. He hates every form of oppression and fraudulence. A genuine believer will not defraud his brother or sister in business just because he or she is richer. Adding value to other people’s life is an obligation for every believer, and this will make us to be true witnesses of Christ. It is time for all turncoats to return to Jesus.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Men fall in private long before they fall in public.

COVER TO COVER JOHN 16-18.

MEDITATION

Little things with deadly consequences

1. Little things that many count as smartness and not sins
a. Taking advantage of the needy and the poor v4. This can be done in many ways. Cheap labour, buying their wares at ridiculous rates because they are desperate to sell and survive, demanding gratifications from them when you know they have no choice, asking for gratifications before giving assistance or helping hand etc.
Q In what other ways do people do these and count them as smartness?
b. Half hearted service to God on the altar of economic or other challenges v5.
c. maximising incomes, gains or profit using deception or other ungodly (smart?) means v5.
d. Exploitation of the vulnerable v6.
Q What other evil “smartness” with great consequences are in the text especially in v6?
2. Lasting and terrifying consequences of “smart sins”
a. Check vv3, 7,8,9,10. Apply those things to our present situations as individuals and nations.
b. Also very serious is v2b: “I will not again pass by them any more” Define abandonment after God is fed up with them.
Pass me not by gentle Saviour, I hereby repent of all my half hearted service, worship and sins in the name of smartness. Confess those you can remember
Promise God that you will do all you can to be helping the vulnerable in the society
Pray that God will show mercy and not abandon or pass by your country. Ask the Spirit of repentance to be poured on all
Pray for an enriching home service to all this Sunday morning

HYMN Power in the blood

1
Would you be free from your burden of sin?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you o’er evil a victory win?
Chorus
There’s wonderful power in the blood.
There is power, power, wonder-working power,
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is power, power, wonder-working power,
In the precious blood of the Lamb.
2
Would you be free from your passion and pride?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Come for a cleansing to Calvary’s tide,
There’s wonderful power in the blood.
3
Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Sin-stains are lost in its life-giving flow,
There’s wonderful power in the blood.
4
Would you do service for Jesus your King?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you live daily His praises to sing?
There’s wonderful power in the blood.