The Presence Famine

Famine usually refers to the absence of rain leading to the lack of vegetation and for that matter food. This results in starvation and death. The inception of famine has devastating effects on people. A more serious form of famine is famine involving spiritual things like the Word of God.

"And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision" (1 Samuel 3:1, KJV).

Before Samuel came on the scene as a prophet there was a famine of the word of the Lord in Israel. The word "precious" in the above verse is rightly translated "very rare" in modern translations of the Bible; prophecies were not frequent.

Daniel served as an administrator in the king's palace. He was not a full time pastor and yet he shut the mouths of lions. I am challenged by his faith seeing that I am a "full time Reverend Minister" who is struggling to shut the mouths of african mosquitoes.

Daniel faced persecution from the palace of the King because of his insistence on praying. One of the reasons for the declining intensity in our pursuit of God is the absence of persecution. Most Christians live in the free world so they have time for all kinds of activities that have nothing to do with their spiritual development.

Like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego had a unique encounter with God. When they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace the "fourth man" who represented the presence of God appeared. "He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God" (Daniel 3:25, KJV). This divine presence destroyed the power of fire over the bodies of the Hebrew boys. Their clothing could not even be affected by the fire.

Paul and Silas encountered the presence of God when they were cast into prison. This comfort seeking generation will find it difficult to see God's presence because of our fear of persecution. We compromise our principles and dance to the music of the world.

Persecution often generates prayer, which in turn activates the presence of God.

Sometimes I have a feeling that if the Church were doing the right thing we might have witnessed more persecution. I don't enjoy persecution but the little persecution I have personally received in life and ministry drove me to God. Believers in parts of the world where Christianity is banned are often stronger in the faith than the believers in the free world.