Where is our Daily Bread?

1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

God’s judgment of the unfaithfulness of His people is a famine. At the Word of the Prophet he now controls the weather in Israel for 3 years!

Famine is often used by God to punish and disciple unfaithfulness - and the church, in my opinion, has been very unfaithful. The church of today would be unrecognisable by christians of just 100 years ago. The preaching of today would be considered hearsay by the puratins. The standard of holiness in the church today would have cause Jesus to pick up a whip and chase the Christians out of their comfort.

And so, in His discipline, God has one again sent a famine.

Amos 8:11–13 KJV 1900

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: 12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, They shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it. 13 In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.

Where did we go wrong?

In a sense, we didn't go wrong. A falling away was promised in scriptures.

1 Timothy 4:1 KJV 1900

1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

This falling away has created a circle of tragedy that has caused the prophets words to be fulfilled.

How can there be a famine of the Word of God when the bible is the best selling book of all time?

Well a couple of things: Owning a bible does not mean anything. Own a bible does not feed you, reading and meditating on it does. In the same way as owning a Cow does feed you, eating one does.

But there is a far more devastating cause:

A desperate shortage of preachers and Pastors.

Luke 10:2 KJV 1900

2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

The list of church’s on call, just within the FGC is staggering. The church needs pastors - a church without pastors is like a well without a bucket.

Acts 8:30–31 KJV 1900

30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

Romans 10:14–15 KJV 1900

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

So where are the preachers?

Well honestly thats the wrong question, the real questing is where are the hearers?

Ill tell you.

2 Timothy 4:3–4 KJV 1900

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

And so the small local church, has been replaced by mass gatherings of unspiritual people.

Charles Spurgion clows quote

Pulpit changed into a stage.

And the local church, in many situation now becomes unable to support the preachers (the real preachers) and he retires or quits the ministry.

And now instead of shepherds leading God people, you have:

2 Corinthians 2:17 NIV84

17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.

But what about the sincere christian? Well during the famine what happend to Elija?

1 Kings 17:2–7 KJV 1900

2 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, 3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. 5 So he went and did according unto the word of the Lord: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. 7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

God hid the prophet in a safe place and fed him during the famine - and God does the same today.

But look how how the food came - By a Raven. God provided a balanced and regular meal for the man of God, but it came by a Raven.

Of all the birds - A raven.

Scripture always mentions 2 birds. one is always seen as a symbol of peace and holiness, the other is unclean and foul.

Doves are clean, they sing, they are beautiful.

Raven are ugly, they are not graceful, their squawk is jarring and piercing.

Anyone would would prefer a dove over a raven. But there is just one problem - a dove cannot carry any weight, its feet are not made to carry things but just for perching. Its bill is made for picking up the smallest of seeds, not large peaces of food.

The inoffensive, sweet and charming dove CANNOT feed God’s people.

The harsh and ugly Raven can!

False teachers are the dove.

Romans 16:18 KJV 1900

18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Faithful preachers are the Raven:

1 Corinthians 1:17 KJV 1900

17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

Example:

The sweet tender, but empty words of a dove:

The harsh, hard but powerful words of a Raven.

I am a Raven.

Related Media

Related Sermons