A FAMINE OF HEARING THE WORDS OF THE LORD
“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."
Amos 8:11 (NKJV)
Comment: In this passage, God said the days are coming when there would be a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. Not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing God's words. People would wander, seeking for the Word but they shall not find it (Amos 8:11,12). The Word being talked about here that the Israelites would be starved of is prophetic words. In other words, God would no longer send His prophets with authentic messages from Him to them again.
This same thing could happen to a believer in Christ Jesus, even now that we have the written Word. If you heard any message or received a revelation, It was given to you by God through the Holy Spirit. The written Word would be like any other book If It was not inspired or illuminated by the Holy Spirit. The breath of God, the opening of a believer's eyes of understanding is done by the Holy Spirit, and that makes the written Word has power (Ephesians 1:17,18).
So, a believer who erred, who is under God's discipline, could also experience the famine of the Word of God.
a. There would be no fresh revelations when such a person reads the Bible.
b. Messages would no longer be sent through the hands of any believers or God's ministers to such. Such a believer might be hearing messages, quite all right, being preached and taught by different ministers but he or she would not be able to discern, decipher, and derive whatever message that is being spoken to him or her specifically in such messages.
When there is a famine of the Word of God there would be a spiritual drought, ministers and believers through whom such a person is usually fed with with the Word of God, their messages would no longer be meaningful to him or her again. Because It is divinely ochestrated—God knows about it.
Famine of the Word of God usually occurs:
a. When a believer is indifferent to the direct instructions or commands given to him or her by God—when this has been for a period of time.
b. When such a believer begins to despise the words being impressed on his or her heart, by the Holy Spirit, to do.
c. When such is not prompt in carrying out specific and urgent instructions given or sent to him or her.
d. When such is being headstrong, wanting to have his or her way. And a number of other things that showed the rebellious heart of the person.
If you did find yourself in this state, I want to enjoin you to go back to God and plead for mercy (1 John 1:9). Then, endeavour to take a step on the last instruction given to you by God and do whatever is said to be done.
Peace.