FAMINE IN AMERICA
INTRO: Famine…
1. The very word strikes fear…
a. Images…horrific…babies…swollen bellies…starvation
b. The images play upon our deepest inner fears…
c. Not so common today…but it will be.
d. I Kings tells us Israel experienced a famine so horrid that the people even ate their own children…Revelation tells us there will be a famine so bad that millions will die.
2. But there is another famine that is already here in America today
a. A famine that is every bit as destructive as any in history.
b. It is slowly eating away at the very fabric of our country today.
c. It is a famine of the Word of God.
Amos 8:11 - 12 (NKJV) 11 “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. 12 They shall wander from sea to sea, And from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, But shall not find it.
3. This prophecy is coming true in this, the greatest country in the free world, there is a famine concerning the Word of God.
4. The Word of God has been relegated to virtual obscurity…
a. You have to search out God’s Word in America today…you can no longer be exposed to it by accident like you used to!
TV…Gotta Search > Radio…Gotta Search
Newspaper…Gotta Search > Books…Gotta Search
Government..Gotta Search > Church…Gotta Search
2 Timothy 4:3 - 4 (NKJV) 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
5. This scripture defines most of the religions in the United States today.
6. Why is this Famine so dangerous…how does it harm America???
7. Answer…the Word of God gives us 3 things that we cannot find anywhere else.
8. Three things that are vital to our well being.
IS TRUTH
HAS POWER
BRINGS SALVATION
BODY
A. The Word of God IS TRUTH…
2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV) 16All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
1. This Word is Absolute truth.
2. Black and White
3. No shades of Gray.
4. The world says..there is no absolute truth…that everything is excusable.
5. Why do they say that…follow the logic…
a. No absolute truth = no absolute right or wrong…
b. No right or wrong = no sin…
c. No sin = everything is OK
Jeremiah 6:15 - 16 (NKJV) 15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time I punish them, They shall be cast down,” says the LORD. 16Thus says the LORD: “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
6. I want you to know that the message that needs to be preached to America today is this…
This is the inerrant, infallible Word of the Living God.
It not only DEFINES ABSOLUTE TRUTH it IS ABSOLUTE TRUTH!!!
It and it alone decries that sin is sin.
There are consequences to living contrary to God’s Word.
7. This is THE TRUTH.
a. Speaking of truth…do you know why The Ten Commandments can’t be displayed in our Government buildings and our courtrooms? Putting Thou shalt not lie and Thou shalt not steal on the wall creates a hostile work environment for the politicians and the attorneys who work there!!!
II. The Word of God HAS POWER!
1. First of all it has Healing Power…
a. It has the power to heal physically!
James 5:13 - 15 (NKJV) 13Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
I am AMAZED at how many of God’s people have physical ailments and never let anyone know about it…
I Ask You…IS THAT BIBLICAL???
We have all the power in the universe right at our fingertips and so many times it’s used as a last resort!
That’s because we as Christians fail to believe in the Power of God’s Word.
God forgive us for our unbelief.
b. God’s Word has the power to heal Spiritually.
There is nothing better than a child of God getting their heart right with the Father.
Repentance…is…spiritual healing…
Acts 3:19 - 21 (KJV) 19Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 20And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
Like the Prodigal Son, there are times when we all need to “come to ourselves” and arise and go back to our Father’s House.
There are many of us who are spiritually sick today…
Sin has entered into our lives in spite of our “trying our best”!
Trying our best sometimes gets us into trouble.
We have to repent and turn whole heartedly back to the Father.
Then will we be forgiven,
Our sins forgotten…
Our fellowship restored.
c. God’s Word has the power to heal mentally…
Luke 8:37 - 39 (NKJV) 37Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the £Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned. 38Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, 39“Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.
The word devils (KJV) is more correctly rendered as demons.
These same demons that we fight with every day.
The demons of alcoholism…
Drug abuse…
Sexual abuses…
Addictions…
WHATEVER IT IS…THE Word of God has the power to control it!
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) 13No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Physical, Spiritual, or Mental…whatever your need is today…God’s Word has the Power to Heal.
2. Secondly, God’s Word has the power to change men’s lives!
Jeremiah 23:29 (NKJV) 29 “Is not My word like a fire?” says the LORD, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces.
a. Make no mistake…God’s Word is Powerful…
b. Powerful enough to crush the strongest of wills.
c. Powerful enough to bring a giant of a man to his knees.
d. Sharper than any sword.
e. Able to pierce the toughest of hearts…
f. Nothing else can affect a man like the Word of God.
g. Wives, do you want to see a change in your husbands?
h. Husbands, do you want to see a change in your wives?
i. Start reading the Word of God together…and see the Power of The Word bring about positive change in your family.
3. Thirdly, this book has a Power unlike any other in the universe…
a. It has resurrection Power!
b. It has the Power to bring to life those who have died.
c. It has the Power to give to me eternal life.
d. Find something else that can do that!
III. The Word of God Brings Salvation to man.
1. The greatest gift that has ever been given to man is the Word of God.
2. Here is what most people fail to realize…
3. This Word is the LIVING WORD OF GOD.
John 1:1 - 4 (KJV) 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
John 1:14 (KJV) 14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
a. Jesus Christ IS the PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION of the very thoughts and ideas of the FATHER.
b. Jesus was and is the LIVING WORD OF GOD.
Hebrews 1:1 - 2 (KJV) 1God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son…
c. If you want to know what God Says…you have to read His Word…which is in fact His Son, Jesus Christ…and His Truths will be imparted to you by His Holy Spirit!!!
d. And whatever you need at that time in your life…God will illuminate in His Word and place it in your heart.
Acts 4:12 (KJV) 12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
There is no other name…there is no other way…no matter what men may say!
CONCLUSION
1. In conclusion this morning I want to ask you two simple questions followed by one simple statement.
a. Do you recognize the truth?
b. Do you want the power of God to be real in your life.
c. Then You must be saved!
2 Corinthians 6:1 - 2 (NKJV) 1We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”£ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
