COMING SOUL FAMINE

AMOS 8:1

A. WARNING BY GOD
  1. Directed, not to Heathen lands, but to the land unappreciative and backsliding -- Israel:
    1. A people professing to be God's children - Isa. 29:13, 14
    2. The people that have the form of godliness but deny the power thereof - 2 Tim. 3:5; Rom. 2:20
  2. It is, without doubt, a prophecy for the last days:
    1. Note, please, Paul's predictions in 2 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Thess. 2:10
    2. We are living in these days - 2 Tim. 3:1-9
  3. The prediction of a coming soul famine shows:
    1. That the present privileges to hear the word of God will not continue forever.
    2. We have been forewarned of the conditions in the last days - 1 Pet. 3:20; Gen. 6:1-3; Luke 17:26-28
B. SOUL FAMINE IS THE WORST OF ALL FAMINES
  1. Israel experienced such famines:
    1. In the days of the judges - 1 Sam. 3:1; Ps. 106:15
    2. When they rejected the Messiah of Bible prophecy - Luke 19:41-44
  2. A soul famine implies:
    1. A cutting off of all communications with God - 1 Sam. 28:6; Deut. 28:3
    2. That will happen to humanity when the door of mercy will be closed forever - Rev. 22:10, 11; Luke 13:25-28
  3. This prediction shows the word of God in its true perspective:
    1. Food for the soul - Matt. 4:3; Ps. 106:15; Jer. 15:17
    2. Blueprint for a happy, godly life - Ps. 119:105; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; John 5:39
    3. The divine source for saving faith - Rom. 10:17; John 7:37, 38
C. THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT PROVOKE IT
  1. Extreme and inexcusable sins:
    1. Inversion of character - Isa. 5:20
    2. Relegating the word of God into silence by substituting it with the vain teachings of men - Jer. 3:11-13; 2 Tim. 4:4-6
    3. Rejecting God's final appeal of mercy - 2 Thess. 2:10, 11; 1 Sam. 15:22, 23
  2. Effect of this terrible soul famine:
    1. Spiritual darkness will cover the earth and gross darkness the people - Isa. 60:2; Matt. 25:1-12
    2. A vain search for light. Think, dear reader, what went on in Russia during and after the revolution - when the Bible was so precious to the people that they actually memorized any portion of the Bible they could find.
  3. Why this condition?
    1. To understand the main reason for the coming soul famine, we must take into consideration present day conditions.
    2. Even God's professed people seem destitute of the divine power at a time when we should reveal it in our lives - Rev. 3:14-19
    3. But look into the world of today and behold a pleasure mad race seeking, not to nourish their souls, but rather to satisfy human passions - Luke 17:26-29
  4. Why this strong message?
    1. God loves us and does not want us to perish in sin.
    2. There is still time for us to turn to the study of the word of God.
    3. The Spirit of God is still calling to lead us into all truth.


Design © John Bryant 2011