Spiritual Famine: The Urgency of Turning Back to God

 

Summary

In the book of Amos, chapter 8, verses 9 to 12, God delivers a profound warning to the people of Israel, particularly the Northern Kingdom. This warning is not about a physical famine of bread or water but a spiritual famine—a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. This message is a final warning to a people who have persistently ignored God's word, choosing instead to follow their own ways. The prophecy was fulfilled historically, as both the Northern Kingdom and Judah faced calamity and were left without God's word. This pattern of divine communication and human rebellion is not unique to Israel; it is a universal principle of God's dealings with humanity.

God's dealings with Israel serve as a pattern for His interactions with all of humanity. He begins by sending His word, offering guidance and blessings for obedience, and warnings of curses for disobedience. Despite this clear communication, humanity often chooses to ignore God's word, thinking they know better or because they dislike the moral demands it places on them. This rebellion leads to God's chastisement, which is meant to bring people back to Him. However, if people persist in ignoring God, He eventually allows them to face the consequences of their choices, culminating in a spiritual famine where they are left without His word.

This spiritual famine is the most severe punishment because it affects the soul, leaving individuals without hope, comfort, or understanding. It is a state of being utterly alone, without the guidance or presence of God. Yet, the message of hope remains: it is not too late to turn back to God. The day of salvation is still at hand, and God offers forgiveness and new life through Jesus Christ. This is the essence of the gospel, a call to repentance and faith, promising eternal life and reconciliation with God.

Key Takeaways:

- God's Word as the Starting Point: God's communication with humanity begins with His word, offering guidance and blessings for obedience and warnings of curses for disobedience. This pattern is evident throughout the Bible, from the story of creation to the history of Israel. God's word is the foundation for understanding our purpose and the nature of our relationship with Him. [09:03]

- Human Rebellion and Ignorance: Despite the clarity of God's word, humanity often chooses to ignore it, thinking they know better or disliking the moral demands it places on them. This rebellion is rooted in pride and a desire for autonomy, leading to a rejection of God's authority and wisdom. [22:15]

- Divine Chastisement as a Call to Repentance: God's chastisement is not immediate but follows persistent disobedience. It serves as a call to repentance, using various means to draw people back to Him. This can include personal trials, societal upheavals, or natural disasters, all designed to awaken a sense of spiritual need. [31:35]

- The Severity of Spiritual Famine: The ultimate consequence of ignoring God's word is a spiritual famine, where individuals are left without hope, comfort, or understanding. This state is more severe than any physical deprivation because it affects the soul and eternal destiny. [38:23]

- The Urgency of Salvation: Despite the dire warnings, the message of hope remains. It is not too late to turn back to God, as the day of salvation is still at hand. Through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, individuals can receive forgiveness, new life, and the promise of eternal fellowship with God. [51:12]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to Amos 8:9-12
- [01:30] - God's Final Warning to Israel
- [03:14] - Historical Fulfillment of Prophecy
- [05:44] - Israel as a Pattern for Humanity
- [07:51] - God's Consistent Principles
- [09:03] - The Beginning with God's Word
- [12:13] - The Problem of Human Rebellion
- [20:03] - The Consequences of Ignoring God
- [31:35] - Divine Chastisement and Repentance
- [36:22] - Final Punishment for Persistent Rebellion
- [38:23] - The Severity of Spiritual Famine
- [46:26] - The Hopelessness of Life Without God
- [51:12] - The Urgency of Salvation
- [54:23] - Closing Remarks

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Amos 8:9-12

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Observation Questions:

1. What specific warning does God give to the Northern Kingdom of Israel in Amos 8:9-12, and how is it described in the sermon? [01:30]

2. According to the sermon, how did the prophecy in Amos 8:9-12 historically come to pass for both the Northern Kingdom and Judah? [03:14]

3. What does the sermon suggest is the ultimate consequence of ignoring God's word, as described in Amos 8:11? [38:23]

4. How does the sermon describe the pattern of God's communication and human rebellion, and how is this pattern evident in the history of Israel? [06:38]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon explain the concept of a "spiritual famine," and why is it considered more severe than a physical famine? [38:23]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that God's dealings with Israel serve as a pattern for His interactions with all of humanity? [06:38]

3. What reasons does the sermon give for why humanity often chooses to ignore God's word, and how does this relate to the concept of human pride and autonomy? [22:15]

4. How does the sermon describe the role of divine chastisement, and what is its intended purpose according to the sermon? [31:35]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God's word. What steps can you take to prevent a "spiritual famine" in your own life? [38:23]

2. The sermon emphasizes the urgency of salvation. How can you actively share the message of hope and salvation with someone in your life this week? [51:12]

3. Consider the ways in which you might be ignoring God's word in your daily life. What practical changes can you make to align more closely with His teachings? [22:15]

4. How can you recognize and respond to God's chastisement in your life as a call to repentance and spiritual growth? [31:35]

5. The sermon highlights the importance of God's word as the foundation for understanding our purpose. How can you prioritize time in scripture to deepen your relationship with God? [09:03]

6. Reflect on the concept of human rebellion against God's authority. In what areas of your life do you struggle with pride or a desire for autonomy, and how can you surrender these to God? [22:15]

7. The sermon describes the dire consequences of a life without God's word. How can you ensure that you are consistently seeking and applying God's guidance in your decisions and actions? [38:23]

Devotional

Day 1: The Foundation of God's Word
God's communication with humanity begins with His word, offering guidance and blessings for obedience and warnings of curses for disobedience. This pattern is evident throughout the Bible, from the story of creation to the history of Israel. God's word is the foundation for understanding our purpose and the nature of our relationship with Him. The people of Israel were given clear instructions and promises, yet they often chose to ignore them, leading to their downfall. This serves as a reminder that God's word is not just a historical document but a living guide for our lives today. [09:03]

"For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord." (Psalm 33:4-5, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you prioritize listening to God's word in your daily routine this week?


Day 2: The Pride of Human Rebellion
Despite the clarity of God's word, humanity often chooses to ignore it, thinking they know better or disliking the moral demands it places on them. This rebellion is rooted in pride and a desire for autonomy, leading to a rejection of God's authority and wisdom. The Israelites' persistent disobedience serves as a cautionary tale of how pride can blind us to the truth and lead us away from God's intended path. It is crucial to recognize the areas in our lives where we might be resisting God's guidance and to humbly submit to His will. [22:15]

"Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered." (Proverbs 28:26, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a specific area in your life where you have been resisting God's guidance. How can you begin to surrender this to Him today?


Day 3: Chastisement as a Loving Call
God's chastisement is not immediate but follows persistent disobedience. It serves as a call to repentance, using various means to draw people back to Him. This can include personal trials, societal upheavals, or natural disasters, all designed to awaken a sense of spiritual need. The purpose of divine chastisement is not to punish but to restore and bring individuals back into a right relationship with God. Understanding this can help us view our challenges as opportunities for growth and transformation. [31:35]

"My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights." (Proverbs 3:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent challenge you faced. How might God be using this situation to draw you closer to Him?


Day 4: The Depth of Spiritual Famine
The ultimate consequence of ignoring God's word is a spiritual famine, where individuals are left without hope, comfort, or understanding. This state is more severe than any physical deprivation because it affects the soul and eternal destiny. The absence of God's word leaves a void that cannot be filled by worldly pursuits or achievements. Recognizing the severity of spiritual famine should motivate us to seek God's presence and guidance earnestly. [38:23]

"Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord God, when 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." (Amos 8:11, ESV)

Reflection: Consider your spiritual diet. Are you nourishing your soul with God's word, or are you experiencing a spiritual famine?


Day 5: The Urgency of Salvation
Despite the dire warnings, the message of hope remains. It is not too late to turn back to God, as the day of salvation is still at hand. Through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, individuals can receive forgiveness, new life, and the promise of eternal fellowship with God. This is the essence of the gospel, a call to repentance and faith, promising eternal life and reconciliation with God. The urgency of salvation is a reminder that God's grace is available to all who seek it. [51:12]

"Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take today to deepen your relationship with God and embrace the salvation He offers?

Quotes



"God sends his word to men that's always the beginning we start by being confronted by the Word of God now the children of Israel well you remember how God constantly addressed take for instance the most striking example and illustration of it when God in His mercy took them out of the bondage and the captivity of Egypt he tells them that he was going to take them into this promised land of Canaan and then he began to address them through Moses and he told them very plainly and very clearly exactly what the position was." [00:08:56]

"God gave His Word he addressed them and it was made perfectly plain and clear there was no uncertainty about it whatsoever the various child could see it and could understand it that's how he began and you remember that he continued to address them they began to forget him and to rebel against him God spoke to them through Moses later through Joshua and then when they've been in the land for some time he raised the mighty succession of prophets and he sent them one after another to speak to these people to remind them of the original statements." [00:10:48]

"God sends his work and my dear friends that is this true of you and me this evening as it was of the children of Israel any one of us who's ever heard this word a reserved looked at the Bible and as ever read it has come face to face with the Word of God now here we are in this great world in the midst of life oh we are talking about our difficulties and our problem quite right it's very right that we should do so." [00:12:57]

"Man ignores and turns his back upon the Word of God because he thinks he knows better it's Dale vet you see the devil came to even said hath God said did you think that's right he sowed the seeds of doubt he put up other possibilities and she said on well this is all right if we that we shall become as God's the devil's perfectly right and so they listened they thought they knew better God had said no oh they said I wonder whether this is right they thought they knew better." [00:22:12]

"Man doesn't like the Word of God he doesn't like the 10 commandments he wants to kill him various ways he wants to steal he wants to commit adultery why shouldn't he says why shouldn't I should I be held down by this myth Victorianism why should I be governed by an old book like that I believe in self expressions as the modern men and your Bible with its Vitas and prohibitions and restraints I don't like it I hate it I dislike it so did the children of Israel that's why they turned their back upon this word." [00:24:59]

"God doesn't give men at the moment he sins of course he doesn't the whole story of the Bible is here to tell us that he doesn't do that what does he do well God just dies his God visits the people God punishes us he does it in various ways the way that he adopted so frequently was the very one that was that is mentioned here negatively God chastises and punishes and calls us back to himself how well by sending Hammond's having a breath shortage of water now that was the common way in those ancient times." [00:31:30]

"God always sends his warming's before he sent doom upon the people isn't that the story of the flood the people destroyed that the flood had been born for 120 years by now God won't wasn't there warning before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah wasn't there centuries of warning to these children of Israel to this Northern Kingdom and again to the other Kingdom even the Sun that come as a warning before they were finally smitten God always warns before he strikes is this principle still true ask someone well my friend I ask you to consider very seriously the world in which you are living at this present moment." [00:34:10]

"God always chastises and warns and as it where does all that even he can do before he does the last and the last thing is the thing that is mentioned here particularly which is this that if man persists in ignoring utterly all that God does he then pronounces and announces final punishment final punishment oh my dear friend it's because it's in the Bible I'm preaching it I'd much sooner not preach it I don't like it myself in a sense I know it's not popular I know I'm saying something that the modern men of dominates but that's not the question it's here it's here from beginning to end." [00:36:02]

"Behold the days come saith the Lord God that I will send a famine in the land not a famine of bread nor a thirst for water but of hearing the words of the Lord did you know that that is the final calamity that is the worst thing of all there is nothing which is conceivable which is worse than this what is this well let me put it like this to you this is a picture of the final misery of the in penitent the ungodly the man was not a crystal now you say there is nothing worse than this for this good reason this is worse than a famine of bread and a famine of water why well because those only affect my body this affects my soul." [00:38:19]

"Fear not them that destroy the body but uh but after that have nothing that they can do if you are him rather that is able after he is destroyed the body to destroy both soul and body in hell yay I say unto you fear him don't be afraid of men's as our Lord though they invent these marvellous things and can blow you to nothing don't be afraid of them they can only destroy your body don't even be afraid of the devil and of hell they can only do temporary things to you the only one to fear is the guardian whose hands your soul is and who determines your everlasting and eternal destiny." [00:39:42]

"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life whosoever believeth in him shall not die but you see the man who doesn't believe shall perish the most glorious stateand you say in the Bible John 3:16 I agree but it tells you that that if you don't believe this word you shall perish he that believeth not is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God and this is the condemnation that light has come into the world and Men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil." [00:49:12]

"Behold now is the accepted time behold now is the day of salvation thank God I'm not a messiah not sent with the word of a final calamity which is inevitable I'm here still in the day of grace and I say to you if you believe this word now it's all right I want you to say this today today by in mercy calls me to wash away my sin however great my Christmas whatever I may have been however long from mercy I may have turned away my blood oh Christ can cleanse me and make me white today believe it my dear friend today while there is your time behold now is the accepted time behold now is the day of salvation today if you will hear his voice or I primi hear it consider that all full picture of the state of those who are left without the word and left without it to all eternity with the dogs and the sauces and the adulterers and the vileness and the filthiness of it all he that is unjust let him be unjust still he that is filthy let him be filthy still an eternity of that oh I say as realize that there is the truth of God's proclaimed word turn away from it and turn back to him for the word of grace is still here it is still offered it is not too late today if you will hear his word his vice repent believe you will have the experience given in the hymn that we sang before this sermon of mine about that word of God and all the endless glories that shine in it the word that tells of pardon a piece of power of reconciliation of a joy that is never ending of a love which cannot cease here the world receive it believe it accepted yield to it he will receive you and then take up your cross and follow him and he will lead you all the way whatever may happen in the world round and about you hear him." [00:51:12]

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Transcript
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