Amos 8:11-14
The present famine also produces similar results as noted in the previous portion of this lesson! Amos described a sad picture in Am 8:13-14:
1) Young people fainting from "thirst"
2) Others falling and not rising again
Doesn't this describe the daily lives of many Christians today?
1) Suffering from a lack of "spiritual food"... They are easily overcome by temptation! Even the common trials of life overwhelm them!
2) This may help us understand why some new Christians fall away. Young people often lose interest! The behavior of some elders, preachers, and teachers is what it is!
There are two things that are necessary to resist trials and temptations:
1) Faith in God: believing that He will provide a way of escape - 1 Co 10:13"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
2) Fear of God: awesome reverence that motivates us to turn from evil - Pro 16:6"By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil."
-- The Word of God is designed to impart both! - Ro 10:17"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."; Deu 17:18-19`"And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them,"; 31:10-13"And Moses commanded them, "At the end of every seven years, at the set time in the year of release, at the Feast of Booths, when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess."'
The condition of many churches today is one of "spiritual malnutrition"! Influenced by materialism, immorality, and a lack of true spirituality, by choice many people have imposed a famine on themselves for the Word of God! This helps to explain the discouragement and defeat in the lives of so many Christians today! What can be done about it? How can we end this self-imposed famine for the Word of God?
In order to end the famine we must first appreciate the power of God's word. It possesses the power of creation demonstrated with the creation of the physical realm - He 11:3"By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible."; Gen 1:3"And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light."It has similar power in the spiritual realm, producing true regeneration! - Jn 6:63"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life."; 1 Pe1:23"since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;"; Ja 1:18"Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures."
It possesses the power of sanctification as praised by David in his psalm - Ps 19:7-11"The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, 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 rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward."As mentioned by Jesus in His prayer - Jn 17:17"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth."
It possesses the power of preservation. The young are instructed to keep their ways pure by it - Psa 119:9"How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word."The elders are exhorted to keep the church pure by it - Ac 20:28-32"Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified."A lack of knowledge has always destroyed God's people - Hos 4:6"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children."
It possesses the power of salvation and condemnation. It can save our souls when properly received - Ja 1:21"Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls."It will be the standard by which we will be judged - Jn 12:48"The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day." -- Should this not motivate us to learn the Word of God? Would it not be foolish to neglect such power in our lives?
In order to end the famine we must first appreciate the power of God's word, and then we must feed upon it! Like newborn babies longing for their mothers' milk, so we need to long for the word of God! - 1 Pe 2:2"Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation". I contend that nothing less than daily reading of God's Word is necessary! We appreciate the value of daily nourishment for our bodies. Do our souls deserve any less? They were created in the image of God! They are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb! One soul is more valuable than the whole world put together! - Mt 16:26"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life?"
A simple practice of Daily Bible Reading will go a long way to ending this famine for the Word of God! A reasonable goal at first is to read a chapter a day. I recommend reading through the New Testament first and then meditating on what you read. At the rate of one chapter a day, one will easily read the NT in a year. Once the habit of daily Bible reading has been established, reading three chapters a day will enable one to read through the entire Bible once a year. That is really not too much to do, yet many Christians have never read the Bible through once! It takes the average reader only 20-30 minutes a day. The use of some sort of Bible reading chart or checklist may be helpful. As you read, make it a time for meditation and prayer. Meditating upon the Word - Psa 1:1-3"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers."Praying for wisdom and help to obey God's word - Psa 119:18 "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.",33-37"He. Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.""is desirable in order to serve God; that we may do so aright, we should seek to have our eyes opened to behold His truth, and earnestly desire fully to understand it. To encourage us in prayer for divine aid in adhering to His truth, we are permitted to believe that by His help we shall succeed. "the way of thy statutes" --that is, the way or manner of life prescribed by them. The help we hope to obtain by prayer is to be the basis on which our resolutions should rest." (JFB)
It must have been terrible for the Israelites; taken away as captives to a strange land. Unable to feed on the wonderful Word of God! But how tragic for those who impose a famine for the Word upon themselves today...! By their own neglect they languish from spiritual malnutrition. By their own neglect they remain captives to sin. Their tragedy is increased when we realize their neglect is not just one related to the Word of God as it existed in Amos' day. But they are neglecting the full and final revelation of God's Word given through Jesus and His apostles! -- By God's grace they have so much more to enjoy, yet they turn aside from this spiritual feast! I challenge everyone to make the commitment not to neglect the all-powerful Word of God! Feast daily upon that Word which can save your souls! As Paul told the Ephesian elders as he bid them farewell:
"So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified." – Ac 20:32
