Articles
Words I Don't Hear Much Anymore
Words I Don’t Hear Much Anymore
Ralph L. Anderson
1. AMEN – (Strong’s Concordance) sure, truly; so be it, truth in the Old Testament
AMEN – (Strong’s Concordance) firm, trustworthy; so be it in the New Testament
This word is not heard a lot any more even after prayers in some places. When one says “AMEN”, he is agreeing with what the other person says. He is saying that the other person is true in what he has said; it is firm and trustworthy. Sometimes when Ken is preaching, I want to say out loud, “AMEN”, but I don’t want to draw attention from the lesson or violate someone’s conscience.
It is used in the Old Testament:
Note: Deuteronomy 27:11-15, “And Moses charged the people saying ‘These shall stand upon Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph and Benjamin: and these shall stand upon Mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali. And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice, ‘Cursed be the man that maketh or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place.’ And all the people shall answer and say, “AMEN”.”
It is used in the New Testament in the same manner.
Note: Matthew 6:13, “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.”
1 Corinthians 14:16-17, “Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say “AMEN” at the giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayeth? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.”
2. IF THE LORD WILLS
Note: James 4:13-15, “Go to now, ye that say, ‘To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain; whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, “IF THE LORD WILL, we shall live, and do this, or that.”
Mark 14:36, “And He said, ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible unto Thee; take away this cup from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but WHAT THOU WILT.”
Our plans should always conform with God’s will as Jesus conformed to God’s will. In all we do, we should conform our plans to God’s plan and not be ashamed to let others know this is our attitude.
