The Famine of the Word

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The Famine of the Word

By Keith Calvert

In past years I have heard it preached and would occasionally speculate about the coming "famine of the word". The scripture that was used as proof is found in Amos 8: 11-12 "Behold the days are coming says the Lord God, that I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeding the word of the Lord, but shall not find it." In Amos 3:7 " Surely the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servant the prophets."

Throughout the history of man Christ dealt directly only with a few individuals at a time until His coming as The Messiah. He Dealt with the whole nation of ancient Israel only through the, prophets, levitical priesthood and judges. But since then He deals directly with each person individually. Hebrews 1:1-2, " God, who at various times , and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;" Scripture seems to indicate that He gave His Spirit to only a few individuals until His death and resurrection. Since that time there seems to be more in number but minuscule as compared to the worlds population.

The book of Amos dealt with the coming punishment on Judah, Israel and the surrounding nations at that time. God was telling them that if they did not repent and turn from their sins that their sins would separate them from Him and there would be no more messages from him to them through the prophets or any other intermediary. This prophesy was fulfilled. However, He also promised a future restoration of Israel and Judah when He would establish with them an eternal covenant.

The good news is that God has been creating man in his spiritual image from the beginning (Gen. 1:26). He makes an eternal covenant with those whom He calls and gives His Spirit and thereby gives eternal life. (Jer. 32:46) " And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn from doing them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from me." Ezekiel 37: 26 "Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore."

God is not referring to physical Israel but to those who become spiritual Israel. Romans 9:6-8 " But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are seed of Abraham; but, " In Isaac your seed shall be called." That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed."

The point is that if we have Gods Spirit there never has to be a famine of His word. 1John 2:27, " But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him." 1John 5:20, "And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life." John 16:13-15, "However, when He, the

spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you."

God has bound Himself to us with an unbreakable eternal covenant. The only way that bond can be severed or impaired in anyway is if we so choose. We must always be careful not to place anyone or anything such as an organization, a man or a group of men who claim to have dominion over our belief and faith , between us and Jesus Christ our Savior. With the Spirit of Christ, the Word, in us there is no way that He will cause us to suffer a famine of His word. Our mortal bodies will fail but with His Spirit to guide and teach us we need never thirst or hunger spiritually eternally.