This message doesn’t directly apply to some of you. In fact, I am preaching to myself as much as anyone else this afternoon. And this points out the fact that there has never been, and never will be, a perfect church on earth. Certainly, if the pastor of one of the Lord’s ecclesias is less than ideal, then there is no hope for perfection in that church. And when there was a congregation shepherded by the greatest pastor of all time, even then that church had its flaws and problems.
As long as we are remain in unglorified, earthly bodies, we are going to struggle with imperfection – with sin. I don’t say that to make excuses or apologies for sin; it is just a regrettable statement of fact. That is not the way we are supposed to be. The moment we set our sights on anything less than the ideal, we are living in sin. The greatest of all time says to us, “Be ye holy, for I am holy.”
You may snicker at this, but one area of Calvary-Baptist-failure is in our use – or little use – of the word “amen.” Here in Revelation 7, the Apostle John takes us into the extremely full throne room of Jehovah. There are people from all nations, kindred, peoples and languages, all clothed with white robes. The are standing in holy joy before their Saviour, the Lamb of God. And they are uniting their voices with what would have been a deafening roar in any other circumstance, crying, “Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” They, and others, including angels and perhaps seraphims, are falling on their faces before the throne, worshipping God, and saying, “Amen; blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.” Notice that they begin their praise, and then end it, with the word “amen.”
“Amen” is Biblical word, coming up about seventy-five times, and with two thirds of them in the Old Testament. We read of that word in the house of God and also in the Biblical histories. The early church fathers speak of that word and used it themselves. Jerome, in one of his accounts, says that at the end of public prayer, there was a cascade of “amens” coming down like falling water. It may not be a serious problem that we don’t say “amen” very often, but if our neglect reflects a lack of agreement with the prayer or with the message, it may be symptomatic of serious spiritual disease.
“Amen” of course, needs to be defined. It is an amazing fact that in both testaments it is a transliteration not a translation. The Hebrew word was imported into the New Testament and was used even by the Greek believers. The Hebrew word is “amen,” and its literal translation is “true,” “truly” or “faithful.” When the Lord Jesus used the word “verily” it was really the Greek word “amen.” “Amen, amen, I say unto you except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” In fact, “amen,” is translated “verily” about 100 times and only about 50 times “amen.” When used at the beginning of a sentence it means: “Listen to this… I tell you the truth…” When listeners use it, it means “so be it,” or “I agree with what has been said.” At the end of public prayer it means, “I agree with these requests and this praise.” And in during a sermon, it means, “I believe this; preach it brother.”
Now, with this as an introduction, let me try to make a bit of application.
At the CLOSE of every PRAYER should be some sort of “AMEN.”
First, because it is scriptural. We see it in the Bible. When Jesus gave His disciples His model prayer, it concluded with… “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” Romans 15 concludes with: Pray for me “that I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. Now the God of peace be with all. Amen.” After words of praise, the very last word in Romans is “amen” – “To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.” II Corinthians concludes with the prayer, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.”
Although they aren’t prayers, the last words of Philippians and Colossians and I Thessalonians all end with the same word. And it is not just Paul, because I John also ends with “amen.” And after using it several times I Peter ends with the same word.
It is scriptural in public prayer to close with a hearty “amen” by the congregation. This is an act whereby the whole group participates in the prayer of the man who lead them. If someone doesn’t agree, then they shouldn’t say “amen.” If you do, they should declare it. Someone might reply, I say “amen” silently in my heart. That is okay. But in your silence you are refusing an opportunity to voice your testimony. It is scriptural to give an appropriate “amen” once in a while – but it may or may not be sin to omit it.
Perhaps we should use “amen” as a declaration of submission to the will of the Lord. When Jesus prayed, “Thy will be done Father, on earth as it is in heaven,” He concluded with “amen.” When Mary said to the angel, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word,” she might have more simply said, “Amen.” When we say “amen,” it should remind us of the will of Jehovah, and our submission to that will. To say“amen,” it is like signing a contract – we fully agree with the details on the page. To refuse to say “amen” could be interpreted as a refusal to make that agreement.
Not only should our prayer close with “AMEN,” so should our DAY.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to look back over the day we have just spent and be able to say, “so be it” or “I agree with how I have spent your blessings, Lord?” Can we come to the end of the day and honestly study it to find victory over our besetting sin? Did we see an unusual number of acts of love, charity and righteousness? Has the day been spent at its fulness, or have there been too many wasted hours? “Lord, I am not the least bit ashamed of the day you have given to me. Amen, Lord. Please give me another.”
How big a sin in our lives is the big word “procrastination?” “Tomorrow, I’m going to start to read my Bible more, and I am going to spend more time in prayer tomorrow.” Tomorrow may be too late; what about today? If the Book of Colossians was a reflection of your day, would you be able to put a period on the last line before adding the postscript – “amen?”
And while you are at it, remember that our scripture in Revelation 7 not only ended with “amen,” but it was with that word that it began. Those saints gave the Saviour their praise, saying, “AMEN; blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. AMEN.” Shouldn’t we start our day, feed our day and close our day with prayer and an hearty “amen?” If the Lord chooses to carry you through the day and permit you to put your head on your pillow once again, He deserves your thanksgiving. And if your day is begun with an honest “amen,” then when it concludes there will be things for which offer an “amen” of thanksgiving. “Lord, this day has been full and victorious, amen – thank you.”
If it would be good to start and finish our day with “amen,” it should be good to start every project and every act of service. That word could be used as a dedication of that service to the Lord. So much of what we do every day produces very little eternal reward or glory. Sometimes its because we aren’t giving it to the Saviour at the outset. “Lord, I say ‘amen’ not because what I have done is worthy of your name, but, nevertheless, it was done in thy name and for thy glory.” Our every work out to be bear a stamp which says, I have inspected this service, and I am shipping it out to the Lord’s address in heaven.
One more thing before I let you go.
At the close of every LIFE there ought to be an “AMEN.”
I think Moses heard it when the Lord tenderly shut down that man’s years of service. The Lord said “amen” whether many of the Israelites did or not. Enoch and Elijah heard that word, as both of them went to heaven without death. These and multitudes more had their lives pleasing to God. And to their faces, He has said and will continue to say to others, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
How was that with those people? It began with the saving grace of God. It continued with service, blessed by daily contact with the Lord.
As Paul was approaching what he thought would be the end of his earthly life and ministry, he wrote to Timothy, his son in the ministry, saying, “Watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
We need to be careful, praying for thorough honesty when it comes to self-inspection. “God, give me the ability to see myself as YOU see me.” Paul could look back on his ministry using the eye of the Lord, and say, “amen.” “I have no regrets. Sure, I’ve made mistakes and sinned many times, but generally speaking, looking at it all, I say, ‘amen.’”
May we be able to join Paul, Moses, Enoch and others in looking back and saying, “Amen, Lord, amen.”