"Amen" -- A Word of Power

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

1.       Common, but sacred Hebrew/Greek/English word -- AMEN.

 

2.       Used 188 times in LXX and NT: Of superlative importance.

 

3.       power and richness of "amen" seen in its definition.

 

          Lexicons: "Of a truth; Truly; Most assuredly; Faithful; Firm; Certain; As an assertion: SO IT IS."

 

G281 -  ἀμήν - amēn

Thayer Definition:

1) firm

1a) metaphorically faithful

2) verily, amen

2a) at the beginning of a discourse - surely, truly, of a truth

2b) at the end - so it is, so be it, may it be fulfilled.

 

Thayer:  It was a custom, which passed over from the synagogues to the Christian assemblies, that when he who had read or discoursed, had offered up solemn prayer to God, the others responded Amen, and thus made the substance of what was uttered their own.

 

H543 -  אמן - 'âmên - aw-mane'

 

sure; abstractly faithfulness; adverbially truly: - Amen, so be it, truth

 

AMEN – In the Word of God

 

1.       AMEN of AFFIRMATION: Says what is spoken is infalli­bly   certain, absolutely true and unshakable

 

2 Cor. 1:20  For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen [ἀμήν - amēn] to the glory of God through us.

 

John 3:3  Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, [ἀμήν - amēn] [ἀμήν - amēn]  I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."

 

Rom 11:36  For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. [ἀμήν - amēn]

 

2.       AMEN Of AGREEMENT to truth

 

1 Chron. 16:8-36 (8-9, 29, 36)

 

Deut 27:9-26 (12 times);

 

Neh 5:13  I also shook out the front of my garment and said, "Thus may God shake out every man from his house and from his possessions who does not fulfill this promise; even thus may he be shaken out and emptied." And all the assembly said, "Amen!" [-  אמן - 'âmên - aw-mane']  And they praised the LORD. Then the people did according to this promise.

 

1 Cor 14:16  Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?

 

3.       AMEN of personal COMMITMENT

 

Jer. 11:1-5  The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,  "Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;  and say to them, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, "Cursed is the man who does not heed the words of this covenant  which I commanded your forefathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, 'Listen to My voice, and do according to all which I command you; so you shall be My people, and I will be your God,'  in order to confirm the oath which I swore to your forefathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day."'" Then I said, "Amen, O LORD." [-  אמן - 'âmên - aw-mane'] 

 

Psa 106:48  Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, From everlasting even to everlasting. And let all the people say, "Amen." [-  אמן - 'âmên - aw-mane']   Praise the LORD!

 

4.       AMEN of one's FAITH/CONFIDENCE

 

Psa 41:13,  Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, From everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen. [-  אמן - 'âmên - aw-mane']   

 

Eph 3:21  to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. [-  אמן - 'âmên - aw-mane']   

 

5.       AMEN of HOPE (anticipation of future good for self and for       others)

 

Psa 72:18-19  Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, Who alone works wonders.  And blessed be His glorious name forever; And may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen. [-  אמן - 'âmên - aw-mane']   

 

Rev 22:20  He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. [  ἀμήν - amēn]

 

ITS USE IN DESCRIBING DEITY SHOWS GREAT SIGNIFICANCE

 

1.       JEHOVAH never changes

 

Psa 111:7-8  The works of His hands are truth and justice; All His precepts are sure. [-  אמן - 'âmên - aw-mane']   They are upheld forever and ever; They are performed in truth and uprightness.

 

Isa 49:7  Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel and its Holy One, To the despised One, To the One abhorred by the nation, To the Servant of rulers, "Kings will see and arise, Princes will also bow down, Because of the LORD who is faithful, [-  אמן - 'âmên - aw-mane']    the Holy One of Israel who has chosen You."

 

Isa 65:16  "Because he who is blessed in the earth Will be blessed by the God of truth; [-  אמן - 'âmên - aw-mane']     And he who swears in the earth Will swear by the God of truth; [-  אמן - 'âmên - aw-mane']     Because the former troubles are forgotten, And because they are hidden from My sight!

 

Deu 7:9  "Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful [-  אמן - 'âmên - aw-mane']     God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments;

 

NOTE:  Deu 32:4  "The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.

 

He is CERTAIN/SURE. Act 27:24-25  saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.'  "Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told.

 

2.       CHRIST is the very essence of truth

 

Rev 3:14  "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, [  ἀμήν - amēn] the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:

 

NOTE:  John 1:14  And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

 

John14:6  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

 

He can be DEPENDED ON - 2Tim 1:12.

2 Tim. 1:12  For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

 

3.       SPIRIT means what He says

 

John 16:13  "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

 

His Word is ABSOLUTELY TRUSTWORTHY

 

Gal 1:8-9,  But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!  As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

 

1 Pet 1:23, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

 

ALSO -- Confidence in ALL the Word says –

 

Psa 19:7-11  The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, [-  אמן - 'âmên - aw-mane']    making wise the simple.   The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.  The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.   They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.   Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.

 

The sum: Heaven's WORD is AMEN

 

John 17:17  "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

 

2 Tim 3:16-17  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;  so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

         

Therefore, ALL God has done for us is complete and certain forever –

 

1 Thess 5:24,    Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.

 

PERSONAL APPLICATION OF “AMEN”

 

1.       Can see its use in the PAST: O.T. –

 

Neh 8:5-6  Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.  Then Ezra blessed the LORD the great God. And all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" [-  אמן - 'âmên - aw-mane']      while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

 

2.       And in the FUTURE: Heaven –

 

Rev 7:11-12  And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,   saying, "Amen [  ἀμήν - amēn], blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen." [  ἀμήν - amēn]

 

3.       Also in PRESENT era: N.T. church -

 

1 Cor. 14:16-17  Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the "Amen" [  ἀμήν - amēn] at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?  For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified.

 

          a.       Thus the words of another are made ours:     Approval.

 

          b.       Out of place for skeptical, thoughtless, irrever­ent,

                   apathetic, formal; Only the holy say "AMEN."

 

4.       IN WORSHIP: Have we become cold?

 

(NOTE: No record was used to interrupt speaker frequently –

1 Cor. 14:33  for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.)

 

WHEN HEAR TEACHING OF HEAVEN'S TRUTH –

                  

Phi 1:18  What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,

 

1.       Great speakers can move people with most any idea.

 

2.       Powerful TRUTH moves without eloquence –

 

1 Cor. 2:1-5  And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.     For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.   I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling,     and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,  so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.                            

 

3.       Early saints in unsophisticated society; We buttoned down by restraints: "Good taste;" Sit on our hands.

 

4.       Not willing to get involved? -- To commit ourselves?

 

5.       May be in thought;  Eventually expressed in word or action.

 

PERSONAL LIFE: Totally committed, with full confidence and outspoken conviction –

 

Rev 12:11  "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

 

1.       In practical everyday living - Tit 2:12; 2Cor 5:9.

 

Tit 2:12  instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,

 

2 Cor. 5:9  Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.

 

 

2.       Not waiver: Firm; Settled; Certain; Sure and unfailing -     

 

1 Cor. 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

 

 (Is it true of ME?)

 

CONCLUSION:

 

1.       He seeks our faith, our love, and our obedience.

          But, have we yielded soul to Him?

 

2.       Stand upon rock of truth now –

 

1 Pet 1:22  Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,

 

Act 2:38  Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 

Act 2:47  praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.