Feasting At The Lord’s Table When There’s Famine In The Land

Champion of the Gospel with Jonathan Heng

In the book of Amos, God called Amos as a prophet to Judah and Israel. Yet, Amos considered himself as no prophet. In the eyes of men, Amos was relatively uneducated. His occupation as a herdman and gatherer of sycamore fruit may be modest and unassuming. Yet, God anointed him as a prophetic voice to speak to His people. At that time, Israel and Judah were prosperous and wealthy. Outwardly, they were far from showing any signs of decline. But sin was infecting the land, and the people refused to repent. Israel was on its path to destruction, and would soon be carried off to captivity in a heathen land. The people were given ample warning and yet, they would not heed. When God’s Word is rejected, there will be a spiritual famine.

Even though Amos spoke to Israel at that time, the message has relevance to our day and age. Today, there is also a famine in the land and a famine in the church. I say this with heaviness and sadness. Many nations of the world and segments of the Body of Christ have forsaken the Word of God and the ways of God. We have lost our moral compass. God has ordained three great institutions: the home, the church and the state to be pillars of light and liberty, to stand for righteousness and truth.

There is a rising tide of darkness and sin in the nations of the world. Regrettably, in parts of the Body of Christ, there is lukewarmness and even apostasy. Man-centred, self-help psychology has infiltrated our Bible Colleges and churches. We have added to, or subtracted from the message of the cross. We have quenched and grieved the Holy Spirit. We have mixtures in our lives – we claim to follow God and yet, remain worldly and carnal. We have committed spiritual adultery and idolatry. Most, if not all of us, like to hear words of comfort, peace and prosperity. To be sure, there are times that we need to receive such positive messages. On the other hand, there are occasions when prophetic warnings to nations and churches are necessary to bring us back to the right path.

In every generation, God has voices and vessels whose lips and lives are touched with burning coals from the fire of His altar. These messengers are not always popular. In fact, often, they are despised and opposed by most of the world and even segments of the church. In the face of hostility and tribulation from the world, where evil is called good, and good is called evil, we need preachers to blow the trumpet of God’s righteousness, to sound the alarm that He will judge evil. Yes, God is full of love and grace, but it is His goodness and kindness that leads us to repentance. We need the pure unadulterated and uncompromised Word of God, preached under the power of the Holy Spirit, to speak to the hearts of people. We need Holy Ghost filled preachers who are moved by the fear of the Lord, not the fear and favour of people.

In the wisdom of the world, the preaching of the cross is perceived as foolish. Yet, it is the power of God unto salvation. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important message on the face of the earth. It can change the destiny of individuals. The world is getting worse and worse, and evil will intensify. Yet, as witnesses and representatives of Jesus Christ, we are called to reach out to our community, to bring the good news to the lost. Today, we have an abundance of Christian churches, books, videos, television and internet programs but regrettably, much of these are hype. We lack preachers who are delivering the true Word of God. In the midst of spiritual scarcity, we must repent and return to the Lord’s table, take time to dwell in His Presence and feast on His Word. We need manna from on high, the Bread who satisfies us completely.

Spiritually, are we hungry and thirsty enough to sit at the Lord’s table in the heavenly places?

In times like these, when there’s a spiritual famine in the land, we can still feast at the Lord’s table. Let’s take time to wait upon the Lord in His Presence. Let’s hunger for the Bread of life, the Word of God and thirst for the living waters of the Holy Spirit. We want to study the Bible, the authoritative, infallible and inspired written Word, which will draw us near to the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.