Amos 9: 11-15; Ezekiel 47:12
Introduction
We shall be dealing with sowing multiple seeds for a great harvest. A mighty harvest will always
provoke thanksgiving. Our text is Amos 9: 11 -15. Amos prophesied during the period of
national optimism in Israel. Though things looked good, below the surface greed and injustice
predominates. True worship has been replaced with hypocritical religious motions; people were
indifferent to sin, famine, plagues, destruction, death could not force them to change. Amos lashed out at sin and mobilized the nation for repentance.
His name ‘Amos’ evolved from the Hebrew root amas which means Burden Bearer; he lived his name. The section under study is the prophesy of the restoration of Israel.
We shall study the passage from two perspectives, namely,
1. Preparation for Sowing and Reaping (vv 11-12), and the process of sowing and reaping continuously.
Preparation for Sowing and Reaping
The first stage of planting is to prepare the seed to sow and prepare the ground for planting season. The farmer will remove thorns, rocks, and shrubs that may not let the seed grow. The prophet referred to the rebuilding of the Tabernacle of David which has fallen, it must be rebuilt.
Gideon destroyed the altar of Baal in Judges 6: 28-32; he built another altar to worship the living God. The people must turn to God for divine visitation; 2 Chr. 7:14. Gideon’s obedience provoked God to restore the land back to the Israelites; He turned their focus from man back to God. In Judges 7, Gideon defeated the Midianites with valiant 300 men.
Elijah rebuilt the altar of prayer; 1 Kings 18: 30-40; the fire of God fell, and all fake prophets were killed. After the victory, a rattling sound of abundance of rain began that drenched king Ahab. Adequate preparation will guarantee multiple harvests. The environment for sowing must be ready before sowing so that our seed will fall on good ground and yield 100-fold; Matt. 13:1-9.
Ezekiel prophesied bearing fruit every month; 47:12; and that is our desire this month.
Conclusion: If we prepare diligently and obey the instruction of God, we shall sow by faith in 2017 and reap every month of the year.