Rev. J. Howell- “Experiencing hunger”

Brother Howell delivers a powerful message about spiritual hunger in today's churches, drawing from the book of Amos to show how God sends a famine "not of bread or water but of hearing the words of the Lord." He passionately addresses the problem of churches substituting entertainment for anointing and delivering shallow spiritual nourishment that leaves God's people starving.

• The prophet Amos, a humble shepherd and fruit-grower, exemplifies speaking truth to spiritually complacent people
• Modern churches often promise spiritual fruit but deliver only leaves, like the fig tree Jesus cursed
• True spiritual hunger pains are a sign of malnourishment, not a character flaw
• Jesus himself experienced hunger and fully understands our spiritual cravings
• God's "lion cubs" will never ultimately lack – He will always provide genuine spiritual food
• The difference between counterfeit religious experiences and true anointing is discernible
• Every believer deserves fresh bread, not reheated or stale spiritual nourishment
• When churches stop responding to God's word, they experience spiritual famine
• The solution to spiritual hunger is coming to Jesus' table – "Come and dine"

Chapters

• 0:00 Prophets Who Longed for This Day
• 5:17 Brother Jesse's Encounter in Louisville
• 10:31 Scripture Reading and Golden Text
• 18:32 Amos: A Shepherd Called to Speak
• 26:49 Modern Churches Lacking True Bread
• 36:21 The Young Lions Do Lack and Suffer
• 47:36 Jesus Understands Our Spiritual Hunger
• 59:13 Altar Call and Closing Prayer

Transcript

Speaker 1: 1:10

To live in our day, to see what we're seeing and to know what we know. My Isaiah would have loved to been here, amen. Jeremiah would have loved to been here. Elijah would have thundered from pulpit so loud they would have thought the earth had quaked. To live in this day, amen, amen. They prophesied of it. They longed to look into it, but it was a closed book to them. It's an open book to us. We're seeing more than any other generation has ever seen.

Speaker 2: 1:59

Oh God, oh God. And a voice spoke to Ezekiel and said son of man, can these bones live again? Oh, that's what I'm asking you tonight. Can our holiness churches have the demonstration of the spirit and the power back in them again? Can our sick still come? Amen to our churches and find deliverance? Amen through the power of the stripes that was laid upon Jesus back. Oh, I know we don't like that doctrine, but it's in the Bible anyhow. They've been cancer home a sinner friends can come and walk through the doors and say I'm either gotta get in or get out the spirits to go to powerful. There was a day, neighbor, when the sinners could not come and sleep on our pews like they do today, because we have life in us. I think one of the greatest disappointments is to invite a sinner from the congregation of the dead and take him to the church where the church is dead. Oh, what a disappointment.

Speaker 3: 3:25

And I want to tell you so it is in life, when you're going to heaven, amen. Don't fly so low that the world has an attraction and a pull on you. If you are flying, come on here, amen. To where the pleasures of this world are pulling at you, amen. You're flying too low. You need to get up higher. Amen. Fly high, children.

Speaker 4: 4:07

Hello, this is your host, Brother Dylan. Thank you for tuning in to the Holiness Reaching Online Podcast. We pray that this sermon that is about to play encourages your heart, puts a fire down in your soul and strengthens your walk with God. Thank you for tuning in to Holiness Reaching Online Now. Enjoy, God bless.

Speaker 5: 4:31

Again. Oh, how we miss Brother Jesse tonight Again. Oh how we miss Brother Jesse tonight. The absence of his presence can be felt tremendously over here on my left, Praise the Lord. I'd appreciate it if Brother Roebkat would ease over there and sit in Brother Jesse's seat. That way maybe I'd feel like somebody's just sitting there. It looks so vacant, like a vacuum, Just Brother Jesse and his little tribe being gone. If you have your Bibles with you I trust that you do. If you happen to not have it, there should be one nearby. Would you take it in your hands and would you put your fingers on those golden leaves and turn with me to the book of Amos? May I direct your attention to the 8th chapter and the 11th verse. Brother Nathaniel Hebrews, chapter number 4, verse number 14 and 15. And Brother Jonathan, Psalm, chapter number 34 and verse number 10.

Speaker 5: 5:30

How many of you believe it's important how you live your life. Not only is it important for you and your family, your spouse, your community, your church, family, corporately, concerning the kingdom, the people of God, it's important how you live your life. It matters. Brother Richard, jacob, I want to speak of you for a minute.

Speaker 5: 5:55

Brother Jesse is in Louisville, kentucky, on business. Last night after he went out to eat at the Outback, he said he was in his street clothes and he said that he just took his family to a holiness church that was having service on Tuesday night midweek service. He eased in there and church had just started and at the end of the service there was a group of 16 people that approached him and greeted him and they just loved meeting one another. And after the introduction and after the conversation, after some span of time, one of the people said who's your daddy now? And he said Jeremy Howell. And they said he's in South Florida and they said yes, that's where our church is at.

Speaker 5: 6:42

And they said you know, we're part of the Shady Springs Fellowship and said a dear, dear saint of God, a friend of ours years ago, told all of us he heard from God and he was moving to south florida to attend. Hey, sister vicki, I just saw you back there, so good to see you and other visitor, good to see y'all. But he said, they said, wow, sister vicki, you done threw me off here. That's so good to see you, so good to see you. But brother, uh rich see you. But brother Richard Jacob, brother Jesse said they said you mean to tell me Richard Jacob goes to church with you.

Speaker 5: 7:23

And brother Jesse said yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. We are that church family that brother, richard Jacob, left Indiana for the wife. She spoke up, the wife of the pastor and she said all of them, jacob brothers, are just wonderful, sweet, great men of God. And she said every one of them are hard workers, every one of them are men of excellence. And I thought to myself wow, she is literally echoing what we've been saying over the last two and a half to three weeks and just saying a big, hearty amen, praise God, so it matters. So Brother Jacob has left a mark in Indiana and northern Kentucky. For the glory of God, he has made an impact. Not only has he done that in northern Kentucky and lower Indiana, he's doing that now in south Florida. Aren't you thankful for a man of his capacity and caliber being here tonight? I thank God for Brother Jacob being here tonight. I thank God for Brother Jacob. Alright, brother Nathaniel Hebrews. Chapter number 4, verses number 14 and 15.

Speaker 7: 8:42

Seeing, then, that we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession of faith, for we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with a feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted.

Speaker 5: 9:03

Amen. I'm so thankful that our Lord can feel what we're feeling. I'm glad that he empathizes with His people. Brother Jonathan's Psalm, chapter number 34 and verse number 10. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger, but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. Amen.

Speaker 5: 9:23

Let's stand for the reading of our golden text, amos, chapter number 8 and verse number 11, beloved. The Bible says 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. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for the opportunity to be in your house, this place that has been designated for worship Lord, not just worshiping any God, but to worship you, almighty God. You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and we desire to worship you In spirit and in truth, and I pray that you would anoint this Thy servant To guard up my mouth and help me to say the things. You would anoint this thy servant set a guard at my mouth and help me to say the things you would have me to say, nothing more less. And anoint the ears of this thy people that they might hear what the spirit of God says unto the church tonight. Let the sayings go below the shoulders, let them saturate the spirit, the mind, the soul, the being. Don't let them just go in one ear and out the other. God, I pray, help them to be able to hear the Word of God, to be able to hear the Word of God. There's no famine here, and for that I thank you. There's no famine here, and for that I thank you and I praise you In Jesus' name. The church said Amen. As you're being seated, say hey, neighbor, are you hungry? Amen.

Speaker 5: 11:01

Our text is found in an Old Testament book of the Holy Bible. The book of Amos is comforting to those who read it, especially those who feel as though they weren't born with a silver spoon in their mouth. After reading the writing of this wonderful man of God, amos, brother Jacob, it has been clear for me to see that he did not live a life of luxury and ease. This man of God knew about hardships and struggles. I'm sure he was very well acquainted with working hard on a daily basis in order to obtain basic necessities.

Speaker 5: 11:42

In this sacred writing of nine chapters there's some very explicit information about this man and his people. In the first verse of his writing, he references his occupation. He worked amongst the herdmen of Tekoa. He wasn't everyone's favorite person because of his spiritual office. However, I'm sure he was a favorite person to many because of his natural or carnal occupation, that being a shepherd. There is no doubt he provided meat for those that were hungry, for those that were searching for food. This man provided a resource that was reliable and stable, source that was reliable and stable. There is no doubt whatsoever in my mind that this man had a burden for the common people.

Speaker 5: 12:42

As you read his writings, you will see that he wants everyone to know and understand clearly that he isn't one of many in a long line of prophets. His family tree isn't leaning heavily due to many mighty and noble men of God clinging to his branches. In fact, when it came to his very own personal ministry, he didn't feel it to be appropriate to wear the label and hold the title of an oracle of God. This man did not have false humility.

Speaker 5: 13:20

This man was a very humble and sincere individual, one that the Lord had no problem whatsoever calling into ministry. The reason why the Lord called this man into ministry is because the Lord knew he could command this man in that calling or in that ministry. And so this man. He was not looking for a label, nor was he looking for a title, and he wasn't necessarily looking for a spiritual office. He had focused upon a natural office and that was as working as a shepherd and also a grower of sycamore fruit. We find here in this book of the bible, brother tyler, that this man had a major beef with the rich and famous people of Israel. He is like our Lord.

Speaker 5: 14:21

Jesus he seems to have a problem with those that are together in the matter of worship during a service was disinterested in offering a pure blood sacrifice. He wanted to offer a sacrifice that was polluted and tainted in some way, and God was sorely displeased with that offering. But God was very pleased with Abel and during that service it was evident to whoever was in attendance we know Cain and Abel were certainly there, but it was evident that God rejected the offering of Cain and he accepted the offering of Abel. The end result was, in jealousy and in pride, cain took the life of his brother Abel. At the end of the day, cain looked at God and Cain asked God this question Am I my brother's keeper?

Speaker 5: 15:41

We see it to be true today that very few people are selfless. They're selfish, even preachers that are preaching on a weekly basis, sometimes multiple times a week. As you sit under that ministry you can tell that it's all about them. It's about their pension, their paycheck, their parsonage. It's all about them. But you know Amos and our Savior Jesus Christ, when they ministered it was all about the Father and it was always about the other person. They were their brother's keeper.

Speaker 5: 16:23

And so in these short nine chapters you'll find that the prophet Amos. He is very upset with the way the rich and famous are treating these other Israelites that are less fortunate. In fact, the book itself, for the most part, is strong condemnation concerning the actions and the misdoings of such people. Only towards the very end of this book is there any offer of comfort and consolation. Some of the other biblical writers, like Isaiah and Jeremiah. They spent a lot of time talking about the redemptive power of God and God's earnest desire to restore people that have fallen away. But you can tell that Amos he is so disgusted with these people there's very few words concerning it turning around. I don't feel like Amos had a vendetta against the rich and the famous. I don't feel like he woke up every morning with a heart full of bitterness.

Speaker 5: 17:41

I feel like he realized that these people were past, feeling that these people's consciences had been seared and that they had no love in their heart whatsoever for their God or for their brother. It sounds like the conscience of Cain, doesn't it? And so we find that Amos, he's like a Lord Jesus, and that he showed a contentment to labor in the fields of his own people, as this Lord did. Many years later, scripture shows Amos being a voice for his people. Apparently, this shepherd and grower of pigs enjoyed growing and working amongst his own people. In fact, when it came to his very own personal ministry, sister Howell spent countless hours talking to people About what was going to happen because of the spiritual famine that was in the land.

Speaker 5: 18:52

As a shepherd and as a farmer, this prophet Amos he would have known the importance of having plenty of food for his people. He would have looked around and realized that it's true that people become what they eat. These people, like the dignitaries of the pagans, had become fat and sassy. They were rich and increased with goods. It's a time of prosperity. Seemingly, they need nothing, including the word of God. It's like a lot of churches today. They've only got about 20 minutes for preaching and 30 minutes for singing, and we better be out of there in an hour, but there are people sitting on those pews.

Speaker 2: 19:44

that are experiencing hunger pains.

Speaker 5: 19:46

I let you know several days ago, god stirred me as I was on my bed during the night and he spoke to me concerning tonight's service. He said somebody will be there and they're experiencing hunger pains. I'm going to preach tonight a sermon, the Holy Ghost, titled Hunger Pains. It's not P-A-I-N-S, it's hunger pains P-A-N-G-S, but I want you to know, along with hunger pains, there is pain.

Speaker 5: 20:27

It's a painful thing For somebody to sit In what's supposed to be the ice of pain and not even smell the bakers on it Baking bread. Thank you, peaceful gifts, this whole spiritual. It's so special they don't even need to eat for the bread of life.

Speaker 6: 20:58

It's so special.

Speaker 5: 21:00

One hour of time is too long.

Speaker 6: 21:03

It's so crowded, it's just the only other things in this world that ain't got time for the bread of life.

Speaker 5: 21:15

So, as a shepherd and, as a farmer, this prophet Amos. He knew these people have to have bread and they have to have fruit. They have to have living water, they have to receive nourishment. My people will die for a lack of knowledge. My people will perish for malnourishment. Unbalanced, lopsided preaching will cause saints to fall away. If people follow blind leaders blindly, everybody will end up in the ditch. Wouldn't it be great if somebody received spiritual sight tonight and realized I'm calling a blind leader and I don't want to end up in the ditch. Friend, I want you to know I've never seen anybody plant a garden in a ditch. You know why? Because the waste products end up in the ditch.

Speaker 2: 22:17

I said anything, but food ends up in the ditch.

Speaker 5: 22:22

And if your food's in the ditch, you don't want it anyway, I'm calling us here tonight.

Speaker 5: 22:27

I'm preaching to somebody that's experiencing hunger and pain. At some point this natural and spiritual provider became disgusted with the way some of the Israelites were treating their less fortunate brothers and sisters. When he looked around, he saw a selfish people. Not a selfless people, but selfish people sistering people who were not at all concerned about the overall well-being of their fellow brothers and sisters. Now I don't know about you all, but the Bible said a wise man, he looketh well to the state of his furthest flocks. And you know, as a leader, as a spiritual leader, I will look to see if somebody's getting a little read around the jar bowl.

Speaker 5: 23:27

If somebody's getting a little horridness around the eyes, then it's my priority my responsibility my prerogative, my objective to make sure that whenever they get their beating they look like real fatty cats of a stall. I'm telling us here and now there is never a good reason at all for any child of God to say.

Speaker 6: 23:56

I'm hungry. If you're hungry, then there's a problem with the Father.

Speaker 5: 24:06

He is a problem with the Father. It's not that the Word of God was not available, it's not that a prophet was not available. This man who considered himself not worthy I'm unworthy he would have thought to do what God needs me to do, but I'm willing. I'm willing to feed these people spiritually. And brother Nathaniel, he realized that some churches are just going to do like those who stole Stephen would do. They're going to take their index finger on their left hand and they're going to take their index finger on their left hand and they're going to stick it in their ear and get it in there real tight and good. Then they're going to take their index finger on their right hand and stick it in there real tight and good, and they're going to say you can say whatever you want to say, you can preach whatever you want to preach. You can say the self-card, you can preach whatever you want to preach. You can say the same with God. You can get an edit, but we are not going to hear.

Speaker 6: 25:09

We don't want to hear. And if you're not going to hear, then you're not going to heed.

Speaker 8: 25:16

And that's what Amos was saying In this situation.

Speaker 6: 25:20

God's not going to around because they weren't turned around. Come on now if you've got to have revival, the leadership and the loyalty of the Lord for me.

Speaker 5: 25:39

This great man of God certainly believed that revival was possible, but you'll find he understood it's highly unlikely. Until these selfish people become selfless. Amos refused to overlook this gross situation. The carelessness of these prospering Israelites and their nation being on a collision course with disaster, amos was not going to just sit there and die. Do you remember the case of the very sick individuals, were they lepers, that were sitting outside the gate of a city that had been overthrown, an army that had been defeated? The men said how?

Speaker 2: 26:31

can I sit here in a condition like this until I die? In fact, he said you're going to die. There's a reason for it. Come to paint.

Speaker 5: 26:38

And when you're experiencing it come to paint.

Speaker 8: 26:41

You're only a few days Come to paint.

Speaker 5: 26:43

I said you're only hunger and pain.

Speaker 8: 26:44

You're only a few days from being dead. I said it You're only a few days from being dead.

Speaker 5: 26:52

God gave us these involuntary muscles and organs that do what they're supposed to do, naturally, because Almighty God said so. And the same thing can be said about the empty stomach. When it is empty, you will experience symptoms that can only be satisfied with bread, come on, or something to eat. And this man knew these people are being preached to. They've heard some of the finest preaching over the years, but Amos wasn't going to remain silent. He spoke up and attempted to do something. And can I tell you, if you're not a preacher, sometimes the only thing you can do is put your foot on a brake pedal, grab a hold of a shifter and put it in drive, and drive past the breakfast bakery and go somewhere where death is really nothing.

Speaker 6: 27:57

I'm going to help to the spiritual virtue. I expect enemy matter from heaven. I should expect enemy matter from heaven, not every once in a while, not during a spiritual revival, but every single service. I expect enemy matter to fall out of heaven.

Speaker 5: 28:24

In the first three verses of the eighth chapter of Amos, we read of the end of the prosperity of Israel. Brother Ashley Gensley got by with it for a while, but judgment came. Some of these churches. They are rich and increased for goods. All that matters is how many logs they're getting on Facebook. All that matters is how many followers they've got on Facebook and how many broadcasts that they've got. Come on, that's all that matters. The anointing has been traded for Advertisement. Oh, come on. The energy of the Holy Ghost has been substituted with a silly substitute called entertainment.

Speaker 5: 29:11

In these first three verses of the eighth chapter we find Amos talking about the end of their prosperity. It's represented by a basket of summer fruit. But if we know what that means, the time was up, as the rapid summer fruit would last long. Neither would they if they didn't change the situation. And friends, if there isn't fruit available on a weekly basis, if there isn't fruit available on a weekly basis, then it's not too long before the ripe and fruit more should the rotten fruit. Oh, come on. Now I'm telling you. There should be a regular occurrence and instances of fruit. And if it's ripe and it'll be rotten before too long. It's got to be regular fresh bread, regular fresh fruit is rotten fruit.

Speaker 5: 30:18

I've seen it before. They expect us to sit there and enjoy them, buying ripe tomatoes, and we do. But we know, boys, if you don't go out there and plant some seed and tend to some plants and bring forth some more big boys, beefy boys and all these other types of tomatoes, all we're going to end up is rotten tomatoes in hand, A couple of ripe and fruit. Brother Jonathan, you know a little bit about chickens and you know that at a chicken house they don't have a very long lifespan.

Speaker 5: 30:57

You know why that is Because somebody is going to eat it. And, preacher, I'm sick and tired of hearing your rewrites and you're literally not going to make a mess. You preach year after year after year after year. Somebody breaks the press for you.

Speaker 8: 31:19

Somebody breaks the press for you this rap and pruta is about to be rotten.

Speaker 5: 31:27

I'm sick of when I hear them talk about Smith Wigglesworth, this, john G Wright, this Charles Spurgeon, this, that was great paper that day, but what about this day?

Speaker 6: 31:42

Tell me what they say of God and what they say of John G Lake hunger pains.

Speaker 5: 31:54

I love the writings of John G Lake. I enjoy the writings of Charles Spurgeon. I enjoy the writings of Matthew Henry probably my favorite. I enjoy the writings of Brother John Wesley and Brother Charles Spurgeon. But when it comes to matter for my soul, there is nothing like sitting in a recliner grabbing a warm cup of coffee and holding that blessed book in the lap and reading. Did y'all hear what Sister Hannah said two and a half weeks ago? She said I got in five chapters deep and I'm learning more.

Speaker 5: 32:31

I say tonight bread of heaven, feed me till I'm no longer anymore, so Amos presents this basket Of summer fruit, fresh fruit, roughing fruit but it's about to be rotten and God's telling them your end is up. That church is about to close its doors. There's no anointing there. There's nothing new under the sun, the wise man said. The biblical writer said Are y'all listening to me right here? There's nothing new under the sun.

Speaker 5: 33:13

Do y'all remember whenever there was a certain group of people that had the Spirit of God? They harbored it. It helped them when they did right. It hurt them when they did wrong and they let the Spirit of God lead the building. And those that were hungry, those that needed more? Eli was fat naturally. He was sassy naturally, but spiritually he was hungry. And when he heard that the Spirit had left, the Bible said he fell over backwards and broke his neck. That was a high priest, folks. I said that was a high priest and a person, no matter how saved, strengthened of God and Holy Ghost spirit, they will die in a house where there's no bread.

Speaker 6: 33:59

They will die in a house where there's no ark of the covenant. They will die in a house where there's no spirit.

Speaker 2: 34:08

For his words are spirit and they are life. If you feel like it's dead and dry, it's not His words being promoted.

Speaker 5: 34:20

Friends, if there isn't any fresh fruit available on a weekly basis, then it's not too long before the ripened fruit becomes rotten fruit. Who enjoys eating as much as me and Brother Chip or Roy? Just about everybody in this house. If you don't enjoy eating, I guarantee you you eat enough to stay alive. All of us in this building, we eat enough to stay alive. Notice our golden text, 8 and 11 of Amos. 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 of water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. Are y'all listening to me? There's churches on every street corner. There's false prophets on every head. Even at this time, during the days of Amos, even in this time, it ain't that Christian television isn't present, so call Christian television. It ain't that preachers aren't preaching Instead of hearing the words of the Lord. You know why God stopped moving there? Because when God did speak, nobody wanted to hear it. That's the same thing with Eli.

Speaker 5: 35:37

God had to speak the same way the young man, because God had tried to speak to Eli and Eli's sons, but they did not want to hear what the Spirit says over the churches. The truth is sometimes, when there's bread, there's going to be pain.

Speaker 6: 35:56

I said the truth is sometimes the Word of God, which is quick and powerful.

Speaker 5: 36:02

It will dissolve things that need to be done away with in order to make room for the bread.

Speaker 5: 36:14

It wasn't Amos that sent the famine, it wasn't a church deacon, it wasn't somebody of laity, it wasn't the mayor of the town or the king of Israel. The Lord sent the famine. How many of you have ever been in a house of worship, a place that called itself the house of God? On their marquee it might have said assembly of God, holiness, house of God, first church of God, baptist house of God. On the marquee it claimed to be house of God.

Speaker 5: 36:46

Nobody's going to take a can of orange spray paint and graffiti that marquee or sign and write Ichabod on it. But I can tell you this in the spiritual realm how do you know, by divine assignment, that one of them, angela Beans, hasn't already taken a finger and scribed Ichabod on the marquee? Oh, come on now, nats, when the devil comes in with seven others. He finds the devil comes in with seven others. He finds the house swept in darkness and says they're looking for a tongue, they're looking for a shout, they're looking for something. I'm going to give them counterfeit bread. I'm going to give them fake bread. I'm going to give them a fake experience. I'm going to give them a counterfeit food for pride. You better get out of there before the counterfeit comes.

Speaker 6: 37:37

You better get out of there before the counterfeit comes.

Speaker 5: 37:47

The Bible said a little leaven leavened, the whole lump. All it takes is one preacher to transform himself into an angel like a messenger and to slide a toxic leaven into the bed that he is feeding these people and in time the entire lump and lump is corrupted. They've got to the place now, pentecostal churches where they are now saying I don't believe the speaking of other tongues is the initial evidence. I don't believe that that's relevant to the church today. I don't believe that healing is for this generation. That's called cessationist. Cessationist. They believe that after the apostles left and went up to glory, that there was no longer healings available. That is a lie from the pits of hell. You know what happens when they get done parenting John G Lake and they're not able to have the miracles that John G Lake did. He had the miracles because men like him and William Seymour they prize sanctification and separation. You know what happens when they don't get the results. It's some of their heroes that they're emulating and parodying and copycatting. They go counterfeit.

Speaker 5: 39:11

Oh, come on now they're just like the false prophets of Jezebel you're willing to have conferences, you're willing to have commissions, you're willing to have UKs, you're willing to go all day long. Preacher after preacher, they got a form of godliness but where's the power?

Speaker 3: 39:30

where's the power? Where's the sign of power? Where's the picture of that's?

Speaker 2: 39:32

the pain.

Speaker 6: 39:32

Where's the sign fire? Where's the picture lack?

Speaker 2: 39:35

of.

Speaker 5: 39:35

I'm going to hear the lack of.

Speaker 6: 39:37

There's a reason for those on their page.

Speaker 5: 39:45

I thank God tonight that my soul is well fed by His Word and by these great preacher, brethren of Bethel. I don't know how many of them there are About 14 of them, probably, plus If you count the ones that's overseas, maybe more. And you know what, brother Rocaf? Every single service we hear from three of them. My soul feasted tonight, oh, what Brother Samuel said. My soul feasted tonight on what Brother Samuel said. My soul feasted tonight on what Brother Nathaniel said. I still feasted on what Brother Caleb said about a week and a half ago. Brother Caleb said I got rooted and grounded when I prayed it through that this holiness way is my lifestyle, this is my life and I'm going to be condemned as a man of God.

Speaker 2: 40:40

I'm still preaching on the preacher's words, because God is fire.

Speaker 5: 40:50

Hunger pains. Verse number 10,. The verse before our golden text tells us that the Lord calls their feasting to cease. The party's over Belshazzar would know something about that. The party's over Darius would know something about that. Verse number 12, tell us that whoever they go to will be able to provide nourishment and satisfaction. Sister Wooten has said in verse number 12 that no matter where they go, they will be unable to find nourishment and satisfaction.

Speaker 5: 41:30

I'm glad that about 10 years ago, Sister Helen and I said you know what, If we need to, we're going to move to LaBelle. But you know before that, 18 years ago, we said, if it's going to come to this, to get food for our boys and our daughters sold five boys and one daughter we're going to drive two hours each way. And we did that for six years, Sometimes two, three, five, six times a week. Two hours each way. That's when diesel fuel was $5 a gallon. It cost us to come to church. Oh, come on now. I don't believe in cheesy, greasy or cheap grace. I do believe that sometimes, in order to eat a premium entree, you're going to have to pay a premium. Come on now. As if you just got the real Holy Ghost. You've only been coming easy.

Speaker 6: 42:24

It ain't a greasy Holy Ghost, it ain't a cheesy, it ain't a cheesy Holy Ghost.

Speaker 5: 42:29

It costs you something you don't want to eat it. When it costs you something you buy you a door, you treasure it better.

Speaker 6: 42:38

Oh, come on now.

Speaker 5: 42:41

I remember I was around the age of 31 years old when I first started feeling this spiritual hunger pain.

Speaker 6: 42:50

I told Sister.

Speaker 5: 42:51

Hal, I said I don't know what's going on, but my soul, my entire being, is hungry, hungry. How many in this building are familiar with hunger pains? You skip a meal or two and your bodily response to that empty stomach is hunger pains. You skip a meal or two and your bodily response to that empty stomach is hunger pains. Before I come down here to pastor, before 18 years ago I had the boys and my daughter and my wife on the lake, sometimes two to three times a week I'm being honest concerning that and I was not one to eat too much while I fished.

Speaker 5: 43:33

And on the way to the fishing hole, sister Ruth and I stopped by the McDonald's there in Fort Meade, florida, and get a couple of cheap cheeseburgers and feed them. I said this is a supplement until we eat the meal after we've caught the fish. And the Four Seasons restaurant was over there near Crossbrook. I love to eat the Four Seasons restaurant that was over there near Crossbrook. I love to eat at Four Seasons. And so I would make us wait and I'd say I'll give you a little bit to hold you over. Oh, come on now. That's just how. After about three hours she'd say Jeremy, are you getting hungry? I'd say not yet, not so hungry that I need to stop fishing. After about five hours she'd pat her belly and say that cheeseburger's gone. How many of you have a kid? Remember your mama saying that All of her life she has told me when she's hungry that biscuit's gone. Oh, come on now. I want you to know.

Speaker 2: 44:30

It's okay for you to realize somebody's been serving you, some strong man. Somebody's been serving you, little person.

Speaker 5: 44:42

It's okay for you to tell that preacher you're not just one dog, it's one dog.

Speaker 6: 44:48

It's one person. It's one person. It's one person. It's one person. It's one person. It's one person. It's one person. It's long past satisfied. It's long past satisfied. It's long past satisfied. That sermon you preached ten times is long gone.

Speaker 5: 45:16

I'm not going to sit here and die. I don't have to feel hunger, pain and death.

Speaker 6: 45:18

Lately I don't have to sit here and die. I said I don't have to sit here and die Preacher, so all those sermons, those re-write sermons.

Speaker 5: 45:36

They are as sustaining as cotton candy. They're as appetizing and satisfying to us as a garden salad used to a hungry lion. May that preacher let you ask that question why am I so hungry? Why do I have such an appetite? Why am I not satisfied? He knows he's trying to feed a lion's cub. A golden side. Yes, some of us, we know what good anointed preaching is, and better our young men are highly anointed.

Speaker 6: 46:17

Oh, come on now.

Speaker 5: 46:19

The men I was raised under in that old church of God. They told us what good preaching is. Don't shove a bottle in my mouth and make me say it's a longhorn steak. Don't shove a squirrel story nothing about Zacchaeus, brother Chip. Don't shove a rabbit story down my gullet and tell me that's like a lamb, sweet lamb of God. Can I preach just a little longer before we go to the house? I said that garden salad has got satisfying to a lion's cub. In Psalm chapter number 34 and verse number 10, the psalmist said the young lions do lack and suffer hunger, but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. I'll seek my way right out of that thing. I'll seek my way right out of that church. I'll seek my way right out of where there's crumbs on the floor and find out all you can eat buffet Come on.

Speaker 5: 47:24

The young lives do lack a supper hunger, but that secret of the truth that secret of the Lord, that secret of my child, will not lack any good thing. Are you getting it?

Speaker 2: 47:34

That's why you're here Because, just for a secret, you don't like anything.

Speaker 5: 47:45

Jesus is the ancient, no, the ageless lion of Judah. His lion cubs will find food one way or another. I said I'm a lion, cub of the lion of Judah.

Speaker 6: 48:04

And the lions of this world may be with.

Speaker 5: 48:07

I but the lion of Judah and his offspring they will never suffer and be with I.

Speaker 5: 48:17

You know why? Because Jesus understands these hunger pains. We're here today because some elders down in this area they prayed for years. God, we need somebody to come be our pastor. God, we need somebody to come be our pastor. God, we need somebody to feed us spiritually. When I got here, there was about four to six of them. Are you all listening to me? Now there's 80. And people say, well, that's easy to have church where there's 80. Let me take you back 18 years ago. Let me take you back 15 years ago. Sister Vicki, you're here. You would remember the storefront 12 years ago. Let me take you back 15 years ago, Sister Vicki, you're here. You would remember the storefront 12 years ago. There was only 30 or 40 of us in there. We had church. I want y'all to know these little lion cubs of God.

Speaker 5: 49:02

We didn't have hunger pains very much over there in the storefront and when we grow into that big sanctuary that God's got for us, we're coming down. We ain't going to be eating garden salads. I said we're not going to be eating cotton candy.

Speaker 2: 49:17

We're not going to be eating sugar cookies. We're going to be eating the bread of God Jesus understands these hunger pains.

Speaker 5: 49:28

In Mark's Gospel, john Mark wrote in the 11th chapter, in the 12th verse, and we read it, concerning Jesus. And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry. Jesus was hungry as a God-man, 100% God and 100% man at the same time. God incarnate, that man inside of God, was hungry and he looked at a fig tree and in context, to kind of move on here, the reason why Jesus cursed that fig tree, brother Jim, for that fig tree represented kind of like the basket of summer fruit, so much it represented the scribes and the pharisees looked apart. They had the church, they had the religious duties, functions, activities, but they had denied the power of god.

Speaker 5: 50:22

And so, sister howell, when he came, he noticed that that big tree was promising fruit. That big tree was promising fruit. Are y'all with me? That big tree was promising fruit. It had the leaves on it, it had the sprigs, but upon closer observation there was no fruit on it. And so when Jesus pulled back the leaves it should have had fruit, but for some reason it was fruitless. Do y'all know? It's okay with me when somebody shows up here and they say I'm sick and tired of finding a church that promised fruit.

Speaker 6: 51:02

But I need more than spread you better give me some beds.

Speaker 5: 51:10

Jesus' indictment and curse to the big tree was because it promised something it did not have. When I put my blinker on and I pulled into a church tri-play, I expect the Spirit of God to be there. I expect the preacher to have paid in basket till God gives us something to eat. That tree was cursed by the road cap, but you know what Jesus he's going to see to it that His offspring doesn't lack and perish for hunger. Even the prodigal son knows in the father's house there's bread enough in the spare. Come go with me. Come go with me, You'll find out. There's enough bread for 10,000, if they just come, Because the multiplier's there, Because the provider's there. Oh, come on now. Hebrews 4, 14 and 15,. Seeing then that we have a great high priest that is passed unto the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession Verse number 15, For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted, like as we are, yet without sin. First, let me say when a person is starving spiritually, it's easy for them to eat anything. Starving spiritually, it's easy for them to eat anything, and it's easy for them to think no one understands what they're going through. I've seen the look in some of your eyes when you got here and you thought surely nobody would know how to feed you, that nobody would want to feed you. But it didn't take long until you realized it's our pleasure to feed you, to feed you. But it didn't take long when you realized it's our pleasure to feed you. So the Lord and Amos knew what was happening to those that were less fortunate, the ones who lived in Amos' time Sister Howell, Amos was a shepherd and a provider of fruit those that lived in Jesus' time, the sick, the blind, the withered, the poor. They had the gospel preached to them, Brother Rokap. He didn't look to go into Caiaphas' house, Pilate's palace. He wanted to minister to those that needed it. They that are whole need not a physician for they that are sick. You know why you're hungry Because you haven't been fed. You know why you're experiencing hunger pains Because you're malnourished. But you know what? I can already see you recovering strength and all you've had is the appetizer, Hallelujah. You remember when Saul, he charged his young men, including his own son, a valiant warrior. He said don't you eat anything? And Jonathan knew that charge is too severe. The men are going to be famished, malnourished and they're going to fall into the hands of the enemy. And Jonathan took his sword and dipped it in the honey. And then they call you and say I hear you've been going to that preacher's church. I got to dip my sword in some honey. That's like.

Speaker 5: 54:26

That good brother from California, they told me, said he's been listening. He said I'm an executive, a high level, upper level executive, for a share of some kind of company out in California. He said I've been listening to you for about a year and a half, I believe. He said sometime now. He said I've been listening to your messages. He said I go to a church of God that is very worldly and he said I'm the only holiness person there and I'm surviving on your sermons, Brother Bill Houston's sermons and Brother Benny Sutherland's sermons and Brother Chip Roy, he told me. He said we have a sister company in Miami. I didn't put words in his mouth but he said I hope to see y'all very soon. Wouldn't it be an indictment to that pastor of that world, the church, to corner him and say I heard you've been listening to them, holiness, preachers, preach. You've been tuning into that podcast and listening online. I'm upset because you dipped your sword in some honey when, when you walked in, your eyes were lit up. Come tomorrow morning, your eyes are going to be glowing.

Speaker 9: 55:33

Come tomorrow morning, you're going to say I tasted of love and, just like I always thought, he still is good.

Speaker 6: 55:41

As he said, with me, come over and face him and you'll know him and see that he is good, he's good like this every time Amen.

Speaker 5: 55:58

Should I keep preaching or should we go to the house? I'm not going to be content to eat whatever's thrown my way. You can settle for the bone, but I'll take the rib. You can settle for the trimmings of fat left on the table, but I'll take the porterhouse baby, come on now. The Lord in Amos knew what was happening to those less fortunate. Do you hear me? And I'm going to tell you.

Speaker 5: 56:28

About a week ago, god dealt with me and this has been eating me up. I told Sister Hal. I said I don't know how I can preach. She's never known what I'm going to preach In 18 years. I've never told her what I'm preaching on and never told her a title. How about Sister Hal? Never. And I didn't tell her. Tonight I said, honey, I've been preferring my brothers for about two and a half weeks now. I'm not a bull pit hog. Oh, brother Chip, you preach. Great too, by the way. And I said but I've got so much inside I don't know how I can preach all of it in less than an hour and 15 minutes. And y'all are telling me to keep preaching. I'm not going to just sit there in starvation mode and gulp down anything and everything. Somebody ain't going to feed me hog slop and tell me it's soup out of the Father's house. Somebody's not going to toss me corn husk and tell me that it's bread out of Mama's house. I can tell the difference.

Speaker 5: 57:25

A sweet sister years ago that attended our church over there at the storefront. She had went off to some camp meetings and she had heard some preachers preach and she'd come back and she said well, I went looking for something just you know, just something different. She said I'm satisfied with our church, I'm satisfied with your preaching. She said I just wanted to go out and see my brothers and sisters. And she said you know, I've just never been to a camp meeting. I've heard you talk about it. I just wanted to go experience it. And she said I'm glad to be home. She said you can tell the difference. She said you can tell the difference in the atmosphere because of the anointing. You can tell who's warming up a sermon book. You can tell who's reading off an outline. This girl hadn't even been saved, but about a year and a half, two years. And she said but I know to tell the difference. Come on, I can taste the difference between mama's baked ham on Christmas morning and what comes out of a spam can. Amen, ha, ha, ha ha ha. They like to do right. Amen, ha, ha, ha, ha ha. They like to do right. Sweet Lamb of God. I want to stay sweet right here, right now.

Speaker 5: 58:35

Brother Jeremiah Amos and the Lord. They saw what their people needed and I have seen it and I have felt it. All I can say is the gate's open, there's green pastures, there's a still water source. Jesus empathizes with those that are here tonight experiencing hunger pains. He knows, he knew what it was to feel hungry. He knew what it was to experience thirst. Jesus knows about all the needs of the people of humanity. Let's stand tonight. Jesus knows about all the needs of the people of humanity. Let's stand tonight. Jesus knows and Jesus understands exactly what you are feeling and what you are thinking, and Jesus knows why you're here and what I want to tell you before you go. Come and dine. Come and dine at His table In John, chapter number 6 and verse number 35.

Speaker 5: 59:29

And Jesus said unto them I am the bread of life. And here's what I felt like. The Lord spoke in my heart says to Janet Hill I love it and I don't want to ever forget it. He said my lion cubs never lack nor do without. Amen, brother Caleb, would you come to the piano tonight, brother? God was letting them know that there would come a time when His Word would be absent from their lives because people had allowed their ears to become dull of hearing Brother Richard Jacob to be without food and starving to death is a horrible thing, and so, with a burden, I open the altar. For any brother or sister, friend in Christ, family member, anybody here, any visitor, with a burden and love for my heart, I open the altar and say come and die. Jesus is going to reach you around here tonight.

Speaker 5: 1:00:40

Some have resisted hearing God's word, but there's people in this building tonight. You're not resisting, I can tell you have that. Look in your eyes. You're hungry. You're thankful to hear God's words. You're thankful that God's word came to you. In the case of Amos' people, they rebelled against Scripture and God could no longer send it. You know why it dries up. You know why there's a famine in various places throughout time. Do you know why? That is Because they rebelled against Scripture. And then God sees no need to send the seed of the rain. And then God sees no need to send the seed of the rain. If you feel led to pray with somebody tonight, would you pray with them? If you feel impressed of the Lord to be your brother's keeper and to help them bear their burden and to help usher them to the storehouse where they can receive manna for their soul, which you turned to them tonight Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more. Somebody came to church tonight experiencing hunger and pain.

Speaker 8: 1:02:19

What would I do without Jesus, the shepherd of my love? I couldn't make it without Jesus. What would I do? And when I need someone to talk to, I need someone to talk to. He's always there to listen. With all his hope around me, he rocks me in his bosom. What would I do without Jesus, the shepherd of my life? I couldn't make it Without you, jesus. What would I do? What would I do Without Jesus, the shepherd of my valley, lord? I just couldn't walk this road alone. When I'm hungry, he feeds me. When I'm thirsty, he's my water. He feeds me. When I'm thirsty, my water. I couldn't make it without you, jesus. What would I do? Wondering if I need someone to talk to. He's always there to listen, with arms cold and round me, he rocks me in his bosom.

Speaker 8: 1:04:17

What would I do without Jesus, the shepherd of my body? I couldn't make it without you, jesus. What would I do? Like a river, and my burdens Are high as mountains and the ones I counted on have let me down. That's when I go To Jesus. He's the one that I can count on. I couldn't make it without you, jesus. What would I do? And when I need someone to talk to. He's always there to listen. With arms holding round me, he rocks me in His bosom. What would I do without Jesus, the shepherd of my body? I couldn't make it. Without you, jesus, what would I do? What would I do without Jesus, the shepherd of my valley? Lord, I just couldn't walk this road alone.

Speaker 8: 1:06:18

When I'm hungry, he bakes me. When I'm thirsty, he's my water. Oh, I couldn't make it Without you, jesus, what would I need? Oh, when I need Someone to talk to, he's always there to listen. We all know that around me, he rocks me in his bosom. What would I do without Jesus, the shepherd of my life? I'm turning making. Without you, jesus, what good I do? Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, amen.

Speaker 6: 1:07:18

Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, amen Amen.

Speaker 9: 1:07:46

Amen. Hello, this is Brother Dylan, the podcast administrator of Holiness Preaching Online. Thank you for listening to this sermon today. We hope it encouraged you. If you'd like to contact us, please send us an email at hplministries at gmailcom. Have a blessed day.