The document discusses a present-day famine for the word of God that is similar to one prophesied by Amos. It says this famine is self-imposed rather than sent by God, as people today have more access to scripture than ever before. However, due to increased materialism, moral corruption, and religious apathy, many people do not take time to read or study the Bible. As a result, they lack spiritual nourishment and are unable to withstand life's trials, just as Amos foretold people would faint from thirst. Regular intake of God's word through faith and fear of the Lord is necessary to resist temptation and stand firm in difficult times.

1. A FAMINE FOR THE WORD
INTRODUCTION
 About 750 B.C., Amos, an obscure farmer and shepherdwas calledby
God to be a prophet...
His mission was to warn Israel of God's coming judgment if they did not
repent!
The nation did not heed the call to repent and were led into Assyrian
captivity.
Part of Amos' prophecy that was fulfilled concerned an unusual
famine that would come upon the people:
A FAMINE FOR THE WORD OF GOD!
Amos 8
11 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:
 Today, there is also a famine for the Word of God...
 Differentin some ways
 Yet similar in other ways, and producingsimilar results!
[We will compare the present-dayfamine with the one foretold by Amos...]
I. THE PRESENT DAY FAMINE
A. HOW IT IS "DIFFERENT"...
1. The present famine for the Word of God was not sent by God
2. On the contrary, God has providedfor a "feast", not a "famine"!

2. a. We enjoy an abundanceof Bibles
b. Never before in the history of mankind has the worldenjoyed such
free access to God's Word
3. Today's famine for the Word of God is SELF-IMPOSED!
THE TRANSLATORS TO THE READER
Now the Church of Rome would seem at the length to bear a
motherly affection towards her children, and to allow them the
Scriptures in their mother tongue: but indeed it is a gift, not
deserving to be called a gift, an unprofitable gift: they must first
get a licence in writing before they may use them; and to get that,
they must approve themselves to their Confessor, that is, to be
such as are, if notfrozen in the dregs, yet soured with the leaven of
their superstition.
"Diary Of The Bible"
January:
A busy time for me. Most of the familydecided to readme through this
year. They kept me busy for the first two weeks. I'm now forgotten.
February:
My owner used me for a few minutes last week. He had an argument and
was checkingreferences.
March:
Grandpa visited us. He kept me on his lap for an hour, reading1 Cor 13
April:
I had a busy day. My owner was appointeda leader of something and used
me. I got to go to church the first time this year...Easter Sunday
May:

3. I have a few grass stains on my pages. Had some earlyspring flowers
pressed in me.
June:
I look like a scrapbook. They have stuffed me full of clippings. One of the
girls got married.
July:
They put me in a suitcase today. I guess we're off on a vacation. I wish I
could stay at home, as I will have to stay in this thing for a month.
August:
Still in the suitcase.
September:
Back home again, and in my old place. I have lots of company. Two "True
Stories “and four "Funny Books" are on top of me. I wish I could be read as
much as they are.
October:
They used me a little today. One of them is sick. Right now I'm all shinedup
and in the center of the table...I think the preacher is coming.
November:
Back in my old place.
December:
They are getting ready for Christmas. I'll be covered under wrappingpapers
and packages…
Why is there a present-dayfamine for the Word of God?
The answer is found as we compare our famine with the one foretold by
Amos.
B. HOW IT IS "SIMILAR"...

4. 1. The present famine is the result of similar causes
a. Material luxury
1) In Amos' day, this became the cause of pride which God
hated –
Amos 6:1-8 1 Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the
mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the
house of Israel came!
2 Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the
great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these
kingdoms? or their border greater than your border?
3 Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come
near;
4 That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches,
and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the
stall;
5 That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments
of musick, like David;
6 That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief
ointments: but they are not grievedfor the affliction of Joseph.
7 Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the
banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed.
8 The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself, saith the LORD the God of hosts, I
abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I
deliver up the city with all that is therein.
a) Their luxuryprompted them to "put far off the day of
doom" in their minds (i.e., they did not want to
think about the future)
b) God had warnedIsrael that it might cause some to
forget God –
Deut 8:11-14 11 Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not
keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I
command thee this day:

5. 12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses,
and dwelt therein;
13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold
is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;
14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God,
which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of
bondage;
Deut 8:17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine
hand hath gotten me this wealth.
2) Jesus warnedthat riches could choke the Word.
Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they
have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures
of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
a) Today, many in their search for wealth forget about
God
b) Others have so filledtheir time enjoyingtheir
luxuries,they have no time for the Word of God
b. Moral corruption
1) The people in Amos day become corrupt.
Amos 2:6 6 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for
four, I will not turn away the punishmentthereof; because they sold the
righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;
The world's morals often become the standard of those in the church.
When this happens, people will not want to feed upon
the Word of God
Because it would make them uncomfortable and offended because of its
ability to reveal sin.
Heb 4:12-13 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper
than any twoedged sword, piercingeven to the dividingasunder of soul
and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart.

6. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all
things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to
do.
c. Religious corruption
1) The people of Israel couldn't wait for religious days to be over –
Amos 8:4-10 4 Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make
the poor of the land to fail, 5 Saying, When will the new moon be gone,
that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat,
making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifyingthe balances
by deceit? 6 That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair
of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat? 7 The LORD hath sworn by
the excellencyof Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works. 8 Shall
not the landtremble for this, and every one mourn that dwelleth therein?
and it shall rise up whollyas a flood; and it shall be cast out and drowned,
as by the flood of Egypt. 9 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the
Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken
the earth in the clear day: 10 And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and
all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins,
and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourningof an
only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.
2) Today, many people can't wait for services to be over so
they can work or play
If they are unwillingto spend time in church with other Christians, being
spoon feed God’s word, it is easy to see why they won’t take time to study
God’s word on their own.
2. The present famine also producessimilar results!
a. Amos describeda sad picture in
Amos 8:13-14 13 In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for
thirst.

7. 14 They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, Thy god, O Dan, liveth;
and, The manner of Beersheba liveth; even they shall fall, and never rise up
again.
1) Young people faintingfrom "thirst"
2) Others fallingand not risingagain
b. Doesn't this describe the dailylives of many Christians
today?
1) Sufferingfrom a lack of "spiritual food"...
a) They are easily overcome by temptation!
b) Even the common trials of life overwhelmthem!
2) This may help us understandwhy...
a) Some new Christians fall away
b) Young people often lose interest
c) The behavior of some preachers, andteachers
is what it is!
c. There are two things that are necessaryto resist trials
and temptations...
1) Faith in God: believingthat He will provide a way of
escape –
1Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to
man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that
ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye
may be able to bear it.
2) Fear of God: motivates us to turn from evil –
Prov 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquityis purged: and by the fear of the
LORD men depart from evil.
-- The Word of God is designed to impart both! –
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearingby the word of
God.

8. Deut 17:18-19 18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his
kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that
which is before the priests the Levites:
19 And it shall be with him, and he shall readtherein all the days of his life:
that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this
law and these statutes, to do them:
Deut 31:10-13 10 And Moses commandedthem, saying, At the end of
every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of
tabernacles,
11 When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place
which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their
hearing.
12 Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy
stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they
may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words
of this law:
13 And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear,
and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land
whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.
The condition of many churches today is one of "spiritual malnutrition"!
Influencedby materialism, immorality, and a lack of true spirituality.
By CHOICE many have imposed a famine for the Word of God upon
themselves!
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-imposedfamine for the Word of God?
II. ENDING THE FAMINE

9. A. FIRST, WE MUST APPRECIATE THE "POWER" OF GOD'S WORD...
1. It possesses the power of CREATION
a. Demonstrated with the original creation
Heb 11:3 Through faith we understandthat the worlds were framed by
the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things
which do appear.
Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
b. It has power in the spiritual realm, producingregeneration and
repentance.
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the
words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
1Pet 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible,
by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Jas 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we
should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
2. It possesses the power of SANCTIFICATION
a. As praisedby David in his psalm –
Ps 19:7-8 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the
testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the
commandment of the LORD is pure, enlighteningthe eyes.
b. As mentioned by Jesus in His prayer –
John 17:17 Sanctifythem through thy truth: thy word is truth.
3. It possesses the power of PRESERVATION
a. The young are instructedto keep their ways pure by it
Ps 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed
thereto according to thy word.

10. b. The elders are exhortedto keep the church pure by it
Acts 20:28-32 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the
flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the
church of God, which he hath purchasedwith his own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in
among you, not sparingthe flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to
draw awaydisciples after them.
31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I
ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his
grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among
all them which are sanctified.
4. It possesses the power of SALVATION and CONDEMNATION
a. It can save our testimony when properly received –
Jas 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluityof naughtiness,
and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your
souls.
b. It is the standardby which we are judged
John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one
that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him
in the last day.
-- This Shouldmotivate us to learn the Word of God.
It Would be foolish to neglect its supernatural powerin our lives?
B. BUT THEN, WE MUST "FEED" UPON IT...
1. We need to long for the word of God! –
1Pet 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye
may grow thereby:

11. 2. It is necessary to have daily readingof God's Word (and probably
multiple times a day).
a. We need daily nourishmentfor our bodies
b. Does your soul deserve any less?
3. A practice of DAILY BIBLE READING will go a long way to
ending this famine for the Word of God!
Pray for wisdom and help to obey God's word -
Ps 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out
of thy law.
Ps 119:33-37 33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall
keep it unto the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it
with my whole heart.
35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I
delight.
36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
37 Turn away mine eyes from beholdingvanity; and quicken thou me in
thy way.
CONCLUSION
It must have been terrible for the Israelites; taken away as captives
and slaves to a strange land. Unable to receive instruction, hope and
spiritual power from the Word of God. Their curse has lasted now for 2,000
years.
But even more tragic now for those who impose a famine for the
Word upon themselves.
As Paul told the Ephesian elders when he bid them farewell:

12. Acts 20
32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his
grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritanceamong
all them which are sanctified.