Can I Get An Amen, Somebody?

2 Cor 1:18-22 But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.  19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.  20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.  21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;  22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 

2 Cor 1:18-22 But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. NIV

Rev 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;  KJV

I. Amen is an untranslated AMEN

AMEN (Heb. ‘amen; Greek amen, “true, faithful”). A word used to affirm and confirm a statement. Used at the beginning of a sentence, it emphasizes what is about to be said. Used at the end of a sentence, it signifies agreement with and affirmation for a statement.

The Jews needed to hear God speak by the voice of the prophet and say Amen to their decisions. 1 Kings 1:36 “And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too.”

A woman accused of adultery and denied the charge was made to drink the waters of jealousy. She had to say Amen, Amen as a personal confirmation to her denial.

Amen was attesting the praise of God in response to doctrine. For instance, when the priest of God declared a truth about God, the people had to say, Amen. It meant, I agree, or I concur.

• Psalm 41:13. Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.
• Psalm 72:19. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.
• Psalm 89:52. Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.
• Psalm 106:48. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD.

II. What do you mean when you say Yes?

• Will you marry me? What does it mean when a woman says Yes?
• Do you agree to buy this house? What does it mean to sign on the dotted line?
• Do you accept this job? What does it mean to go to a new job?
• Will you agree to this surgery? What does it mean to sign for an operation?
• Saying yes gives power and permission.
• It means I accept all of the terms, conditions, costs, responsibilities and risks that go along with this agreement. It means that I affirm you and I confirm my acceptance of this proposal.

III. Human beings have a difficult time trusting one another.

Our conversation is filled with words that continually validate our position.  I’m not kidding; I’m positive; Really?; You don’t mean it; I don’t believe it; I’m telling you the truth; Get outta here!; You’re lying to me!; Stop it!  We say yes with conditions attached.  We sometimes give emotional yeses.  We reserve the right to give a temporary yes. 

IV. What do you mean when you say Amen to God?

It means that whenever we hear praise and glory and honor going up to God, we say Amen, I am in full agreement with what has just been said.

1 Cor 14:13-16 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.  14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.  15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.  16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

Rev 5:11-14 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;  12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.  13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.  14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

V. The distinction between Yes and Amen.

John 3:3-5 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?  5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 

Verily, twice repeated, meant that a statement was both accepted and affirmed.  It signified the complete and official establishment of the terms.  The first “verily” is God’s pronouncement. the second “verily” is man’s affirmation.

Yes is the DIVINE INITIATIVE. “Let there be…”  Amen is the HUMAN RESPONSE. “So be it…”  In Jesus, we see both the divine initiative and the human response.  When God spoke the need for a savior, Jesus became the human response.  It was like Jesus was both the Yes and the Amen.  Jesus was both the source and the response.

2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

God is still saying yes.  But the bodily presence of Jesus is no longer here to respond.  That leaves us—-the church.  The church is now the answer to the divine yes.

Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Rev 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

VI. God is now saying, Can I Get An Amen, Somebody?

Amen: I agree, I believe, I trust, I commit.

Matt 9:27-30 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.  28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.  29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.  30 And their eyes were opened;

God wants your unconditional, eternal, irreversible amen.  Amen to the Holy Ghost; amen to service to Him; amen to consecration.

Come up to the altar. It’s time to give the human response to God’s divine yes.

• Hear O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord.(Response: Amen!)
• I am God; I change not. (Response: Amen!)
• For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. (Response: Amen!)
• I am the Lord that healeth thee. (Response: Amen!)
• And by his stripes ye are healed. (Response: Amen!)
• Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever. (Response: Amen!)
• My God shall supply all your needs according to his riches… (Response: Amen!)
• Behold, I come quickly and my reward is with me. (Response: Amen!)
• I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending. (Response: Amen!)
• Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. (Response: Amen!)
• Be ye holy for I am holy. (Response: Amen!)
• Pray without ceasing. (Response: Amen!)
• Be filled with the Spirit. (Response: Amen!)
• I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Response: Amen!)
• Unto him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly… (Response: Amen!)
• I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. (Response: Amen!)
• For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout… (Response: Amen!)
• Delight thyself also in the Lord and he shall give thee… (Response: Amen!)
• Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to… (Response: Amen!)
• He that goeth forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless… (Response: Amen!)
• Ask and ye shall receive… (Response: Amen!)
• Seek and ye shall find… (Response: Amen!)
• Knock and it shall be opened unto you. (Response: Amen!)

Amen. Amen. Amen, amen, amen.

Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen Sing it over Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen

See the little baby

Wrapped in a manger

On Christmas morning

Singing in the temple
Talking with the elders
Tomorrow there’s wisdom

Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen
Hallelujah
Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen

Down at the Jordan
John was baptizing and saving all sinners
See him at the seaside
Talking with the fisherman
And made them disciples

Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen
Keep on pushin now
Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen

Hallelujah now
Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen