If any man speak, let him speak as the Oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. .. 1 Peter 4: 11
(Copyright Biblically Speaking, Karl
Thompson 1997. This page updated 3 August 1997)
And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. Deuteronomy 8: 3
Food is the most important thing to man. We cannot live without it; without it we will certainly die. We take it for granted as it is such a basic fact of reality. The God who created us has put that law into the nature of all living things - that they must eat to survive. There is food for both aspects of man's existence - our bodies and our souls. We must get our priorities right so that while we are preoccupied with the need to keep our temporary bodies alive we do not neglect even more importantly the need to keep alive our spiritual eternal souls. When we eat we need to eat the right diet - a diet appropriate to our souls. Not all diets are appropriate and the wrong diet can make us ill or poison us to death. The Word of God is the diet for the soul.
Food is eaten to satisfy appetite, for growth, to maintain all body processes, and to supply energy to maintain body temperature and activity - in short to keep alive. Care must be taken about the type and nature of diet since not all foods are suitable and some may be deadly harmful. What is your diet like ? Is it harmful or wholesome ? What is the Christian's diet ? The Christian's diet is physical and spiritual - Spiritually it is the Word of God. A Christian cannot survive without the nutrients of God's Word, nor can there be any growth of virtues or protection from the virus and disease of sin without a well balanced diet from the Book of Books. The good news is God provides food enough for all His children and He even provides for unbelievers despite their rebellion against a loving God. Are you a rebel against God ? Do you despise the teachings of the Bible ? Is the Word of God to you as idle tales or is it food and sustenance for survival in a barren world that is like Egypt during its seven years famine ? The spiritual famine that now wreaks havoc in a world antagonistic to God can only be overcome by knowing Jesus Christ Who is called 'the Living Bread' and the 'Water of Life'. The Messiah gave His body as a sacrifice for those who will be sorry for their sins and turn back to Him. He gave His blood upon the Cross to provide life for anaemic dying sinners. Today, whether you are a believer or an unbeliever, a true Christian or an infidel/ hypocrite you must have Jesus Christ or face an eternity of starvation in the ultimate barren, lifeless, desert of hell.
Here is a selection of passages from the Authorised Version of the Bible - They are all food for thought !
Lessons About Food From Genesis to Revelation
The Wrong Diet Caused Mankind to Die
Food for the Ark of Deliverance
Wise Counsel to Avoid Lean Years of Famine - Joseph
Heavenly Food in a Desert Wilderness
Importance of Spiritual Food - The Duty to Feed (Food for Life)
Provision for God's Servants and the Needy
True Believers Regard God's Word more than their necessary (physical) Food
Food in The Psalms
Man's Ingratitude Despite God's Provisions
How Food is Gathered - The Ant and the Sluggard
Failure to Feed - Negligent Shepherds
A Fasting Christ Defeats an Opulent Devil
What is Food ? - The Water and the Bread
Eat or Die ! - A Sacrificed Christ is the Only Way to Eternal Life
Blessings for Mournings - Corn, Wine and Oil
The Madness of the Starving Rebel
Jesus Makes a Little go a Long Way
Genesis 2: 9
And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
The Wrong Diet Caused Mankind to Die
Genesis 3: 6
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Food for the Ark that saved Noah and his family from the Flood
Genesis 6: 21
And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.
Genesis 41: 35
And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.
Wise Counsel to avoid seven years of famine from an abandoned Jew - Joseph to an anxious Pharaoh
Genesis 41: 36
And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine. Genesis 41: 37 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. Genesis 41: 38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is (i.e. Joseph) ?
Heavenly Food in a Desert Wilderness
Exodus 16: 31
And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. Exodus 16: 32 And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commandeth, Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations; that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.
And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
Provisions for God's Servants and the Needy
Deuteronomy 14: 29
And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.
Kings I 18: 1
And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth. Kings I 18: 2 And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria. Kings I 18: 3 And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly: Kings I 18: 4 For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)
True Believers Regard God's Word More than their Necessary Food
Job 23: 10
But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Job 23: 11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Job 23: 12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
Food in the Psalms - Food for the Meek and Trusting
Psalms 22: 26
The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
Psalms 37: 3
Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Mankind's Ingratitude For God's Constant Provisions
Psalms 69: 21 - Concerning the Crucifixion of Christ
They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
Matthew 27: 33
And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, Matthew 27: 34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
Psalms 78: 22 Concerning God's Earthly Provision
Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation: Psalms 78: 23 Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, Psalms 78: 24 And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. Psalms 78: 25 Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full.
Psalms 146: 7
Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:
The Wisdom of Being an Ant and not a Sluggard
Proverbs 6: 6
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Proverbs 6: 7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Proverbs 6: 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
Proverbs 27: 27
And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.
Ezekiel 34: 8
As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; Ezekiel 34: 9 Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; Ezekiel 34: 10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.
The Importance of Spiritual Food
Matthew 4: 2
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. Matthew 4: 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. Matthew 4: 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
What is Food ? - Bread and Water
John 6: 31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. John 6: 32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. John 6: 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. John 6: 34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. John 6: 35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Eat or Die - A Sacrificed Christ is the Only Way to Eternal Life
John 6: 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. John 6: 52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? John 6: 53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. John 6: 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6: 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
Mournful Desire for Revival and God's Glory Brings Many Blessings
Joel 2: 17
Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? Joel 2: 18 Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. Joel 2: 19 Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:
Joel 2: 26
And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
The Madness and Unreasonableness of Rebellion
Amos 4: 9
I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
Providing You Care - Accepted or Rejected on Your Attitude To Christ and His People
Matthew 25: 34
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: Matthew 25: 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? Matthew 25: 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Matthew 25: 41
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: Matthew 25: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
Matthew 27: 33
And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, Matthew 27: 34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
With Jesus a Little Goes a Long Way : Real Satisfaction comes from Christ the Miraculous Provider
John 6: 5
When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
John 6: 13
Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
Acts, The 14: 17
Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
Corinthians II 9: 9
(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Corinthians II 9: 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for [your] food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Corinthians II 9: 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
Enough is Enough ! - Godliness with Contentment Great Gain
Timothy I 6: 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. Timothy I 6: 7 For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out. Timothy I 6: 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. Timothy I 6: 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and [into] many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. Timothy I 6: 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Working Faith Feeds - The Practicality of Faith
James 2: 14
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? James 2: 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, James 2: 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? James 2: 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Revelation 19: 9
And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.