"A Famine In The Land"

On Thursday evening, April 7th, Ronny's text reading was Amos 8:11, 12.

Running out of food was a fear among ancient people. Famine was a dreaded catastrophe. However, the text speaks of a different type of famine - a spiritual famine. In the days of Amos men were without spiritual guidance. Today, we have a self-imposed spiritual famine. Men choose not to listen to God.

2 Kings 22 tells us about the days when the rennovation of the temple ocurred. After a 57 year absence, the book of the law was discovered. We don't know how the law was lost, but during this 57 year period people had forgotten God's word. They were in a spiritual famine.

What are the evidences of today's self-imposed spiritual famine?

1. People have no delight in God's Word (Jer. 6:10).

Denominationalism has become the norm, and even crept into the Lord's Church. People concern themselves more with what they want to do to serve God. They're far less interested in what God's Word declares.

Psalms 1 tells us to meditate on God's Word day and night.

2. There is a failure to recognize error when it's preached or practiced.

Jeremiah 6 shows us how a time existed when God's people were destroyed for a lack of knowledge. It was a time when men cried peace when there was no peace. People saw good in things rather than seeing if a thing was spiritually "right" in the eyes of God.

Too often the standard for people is whether or not they deem something "good." Abraham Lincoln made a statement on September 7, 1864 that "but for it (God's Word) we wouldn't know right from wrong." He was correct. Yet, too frequently people don't lean on the word of God to determine if a thing is right or not.

Too often error goes unchallenged. If religious error it taught - we must oppose it. We need to stand up for what's right based on God's standard.

3. There is a lack of spiritual consecration.

1 John 4:4 We ought to display our differences to the world. As God's children we should be willing to set ourselves apart from the world through righteous living.

4. There is a lack of shame.

Jer. 6:15 speaks of a time when people were unable to blush - that is, they could no longer feel shame. What causes people to lose their shame?

a) They become too familiar with sinful behavior. It becomes too routine.
b) They accept that sinful behavior they've continually been exposed to.
c) They begin to practice the sin they first tolerated, then accepted.

Hebrews 3:13 Ephesians 5:11, 12

Sin is deceitful. Sometimes we're overcome by false impressions.

How can we reclaim our shame?

- Reformation is the only way. We have to reform ourselves by compliance with the will of God.
- We must distance ourselves from sin and those who are devoted to sin.

5. There is a lack of respect in the church.

There is a lack of respect for God and His Word. Exodus 20:7 Isaiah 17:7

There is a lack of respect in dealings with others. Romans 14:1 Romans 12:10 Ephesians 6:1,2

Every child should be taught proper respect.

1 Timothy 5:2 instructs us not to rebuke an older man - not to treat him harshly. We need more respect among brethren.

Self-imposed spiritual famine has only one remedy - obedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.