AMEN

God wants people to publicly commit themselves to him.

1 Kings 18:20-21

“So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said nothing.”

Joshua 24:14, 15

"Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

Exodus 32:25-28

“Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, "Whoever is for the LORD, come to me." And all the Levites rallied to him. Then he said to them, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: `Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.'" The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died.” (Why did they die? Because they would not commit to the Lord.)

God wants people to publicly commit themselves to Him.

Examples of Commitment:

“How long will you waver between two opinions?”

 “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.”

 “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me.”

Covenant of blessings and curses

About 28 miles north of Jerusalem there are two mountains, Garizim and Ebal. Ebal is on the north and Garizim on the south. At one place there is a deep semicircular recess in the face of both mountains. Two men, standing on opposite slopes, a mile apart can talk to each other. This was at this location where the 12 tribes assembled under Joshua to fulfill Moses’ command to read and hear the covenant of blessings and cursing, Deuteronomy 11:29; 27:11-13; Joshua 8:33, 34. Six tribes, about a million people, were to stand on one mountain and six tribes, another million, were to stand on the other. The Levites were to be in the valley and read the covenant of blessing and curses. Those on southern mount Garizem were to shout amen after each blessing and those on the northern mount Ebal were to shout amen after the reading of each curse.

In the following passage notice:

How often “Amen” was used.

“Amen” was never used in the middle of a sentence.

“Amen” was used after every important statement.

“Amen” was used with condemnation (negatively).

“Amen” was used with blessings (positively).

“Amen” put emphasis on the sermon.

Deuteronomy 27:11-26

“On the same day Moses commanded the people: ‘When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin. And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali. The Levites shall recite to all the people of Israel in a loud voice:

15 "Cursed is the man who carves an image or casts an idol--a thing detestable to the LORD, the work of the craftsman's hands--and sets it up in secret." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"

16 "Cursed is the man who dishonors his father or his mother." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"

17 "Cursed is the man who moves his neighbor's boundary stone." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"

18 "Cursed is the man who leads the blind astray on the road." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"

19 "Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless or the widow." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"

20 "Cursed is the man who sleeps with his father's wife, for he dishonors his father's bed." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"

21 "Cursed is the man who has sexual relations with any animal." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"

22 "Cursed is the man who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"

23 "Cursed is the man who sleeps with his mother-in-law." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"

24 "Cursed is the man who kills his neighbor secretly." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"

25 "Cursed is the man who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"

26 "Cursed is the man who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"

Deuteronmy 28:1-14 Notice the word “Amen” is not recorded but is there by implication.

1 “If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. (Amen)

2 All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God: (Amen)

3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. (Amen)

4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock--the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. (Amen)

5 Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. (Amen)

6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. (Amen)

7 The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. (Amen)

8 The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you. (Amen)

9 The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways. (Amen)

10 Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will fear you. (Amen)

11 The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity--in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground--in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you. (Amen)

12 The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. (Amen)

13 The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. (Amen)

14 Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them. (Amen)”

NOTICE AGAIN:

How often “Amen” was used.

“Amen” was used after every important statement.

“Amen” was not used in the middle of a sentence.

“Amen” was used with condemnation (negatively)

“Amen” was used with blessings (positively)

“Amen” put emphasis on the sermon.

In the next passage notice that women were to say, “Amen.”

Numbers 5:22

“May this water that brings a curse enter your body so that your abdomen swells and your thigh wastes away. Then the woman is to say, ‘Amen. So be it.’”

In the next passages notice the double emphasis, “Amen, Amen”

Psalms 41:13, “Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.”

Psalms 72:19 “Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.”

Psalms 89: 52 “Praise be to the LORD forever! Amen and Amen.”

In the next passage notice “Amen” was used with prayer and with singing.

1 Corinthians 14:15-16

“So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?”

“Amen” was used with prayer and with singing. It seems that “amen” could be said about any thing that deserves emphasis and could be said about any time.

SUMMARY: Amen...

·        Was used often.

·        Was not used in the middle of a sentence.

·        Was used negatively

·        Was used positively

·        Was used to put emphasis on a sermon, even double emphasis.

·        Was used with prayer and singing.

CHURCH HISTORY

“The sound of a loud amen in the early congregation is compared to the echo of distant thunder - being the answer of the congregation to the message.”

“Amen was regarded no less important than the prayer itself.” (Justian Martyr)

WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT? WHAT DOES “AMEN” MEAN?

A. CLARKE says the word “Amen” means to give assent, states that you agree with.

CRUDEN’S says the word means “So be it, true, faithful, for certain.”

“Amen” was used in the early days of the church to give their approval of a message.

It is used to encourage people to do good works.

Romans 13:7

“Give everyone what you owe him: ...if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” (Praise, Encouragement)

1 Thessalonians 5:19 “Do not put out the Spirit's fire…”

AMEN

Shows appreciation

Motivates enthusiasm, saying amen to a preacher is like saying, “Sicum!,” to a dog.

Saying “amen” Directs the speaker. It tells him what the audience agrees with.

Saying “amen” honors God and his servants.

Mainly “Amen” means commitment. I stand behind what you are saying.

WE NEED TO BE PEOPLE THAT STAND FOR OUR CONVICTIONS.

WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO DO GOOD WORKS.

WE NEED TO MAKE “AMEN” A SUNDAY HABIT.

AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.

I’M DONE WITH THIS SERMON.

Song “Amen”

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