The Harvest of Self-Reliance
Hosea 8

Purpose: When we, the church corporately, rely on ourselves, we foolishly set ourselves, our desires, and our wisdom up as competition for the jealous, Sovereign God of the universe.

1. Their False Reliance on God (Hosea 8:1-3)

2. Their Self-Reliance for Security (Hosea 8:4a, 8-10)

3. Their Self-reliance in Worship (Hosea 8:4b, 11-13)

4. Their Destruction by Self-Reliance (Hosea 8:7, 14)

Do You Serve the Risen Lord, Jesus Christ?

Acts 1:8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

1. Replacing Judas as an Apostle

Acts 1:22 … one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection."

2. Acts 2:14-36, Peter at Pentecost

Acts 2:24 "But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.

Acts 2:32 "This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.

3. Acts 3:12-26, Peter and the healing of the lame man at the gate called Beautiful

Acts 3:15 … the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.

Acts 3:26 "… God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways."

4. Acts 4:8-12, Peter’s defense before the rulers, elders, and scribes

Acts 4:2 … because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

Acts 4:10 … by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead -- by this name this man stands here before you in good health.

5. Acts 4:24-30, Peter and John’s Godward exaltation after their arrest

Acts 4:33 And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.

6. Acts 5:29-32Peter and the Apostles before the Council

Acts 5:30 "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross.

7. Acts 10:34-43, Peter at the house of Cornelius: Gentile Pentecost

Acts 10:40 "God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible,

8. Acts 13:14-41, Paul at Pisidian Antioch (est. of Galatian church)

Acts 13:30 "But God raised Him from the dead;

Acts 13:33 that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus

Acts 13:37 but He whom God raised did not undergo decay.

9. Acts 17:22-31, Paul in Athens, Sermon on Mars Hill

Acts 17:18 & Acts 17:32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, "We shall hear you again concerning this."

10. Paul before the Council

Acts 23:6 … Paul began crying out in the Council, "Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!"

11. Acts 24:10-21, Paul before Felix, a Roman governor

Acts 24:21 … 'For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today."'

12. Festus reporting about Paul’s claims to King Agrippa

Acts 25:19 but they simply had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive.

13. Acts 26:2-29, Paul’s defense before King Agrippa

Acts 26:8 "Why is it considered incredible among you people if God does raise the dead?

Acts 26:23 that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles." = Missions!!

Which King? Which Kingdom?
John 12:12-15; 18:33-40

Purpose: What do you mean when you call Jesus, “King?” What kingdom are
                you pledging allegiance to?

1. The King of Peace (John 12:12-15)

2. The King of Heaven (John 18:33-36)

3. The King of Truth (John 18:37-38)

4. The King of Kings (John 18:39-40)

Consider what it means for Jesus to be King.

Swear your allegiance.

Turned Away!

Hosea 7

Purpose: Which way are you facing in your relationship with God?

1. God Exposes Hidden Sin (Hosea 7:1)

          See Jeremiah 23:24

          See Luke 18:9-14

2. God Perceives the Self-Deceived (Hosea 7:2-7)

          They do not consider… that God remembers! (v. 2)

          None of them calls on the LORD (v. 7)

3. God Invites the Turned Away (Hosea 7:8-16)

          Syncretism (vv. 8-9)

          Which way do they turn? (vv. 10, 13, 14, 16)

          God Invites them back! (v. 13)

Turn Back to God!

          2 Corinthians 5:17-21

          Ezekiel 33:11

False Repentance As Continued Idolatry
Hosea 6

Purpose: The call to return to the LORD is given lip service by a people of false
                and fleeting loyalty.

1. The Restoration of the Truly Repentant (Hosea 6:1-3)

2. The Ruse of False Repentance (Hosea 4:4-6)

3. The Reality of Ultimate Rebellion (Hosea 6:7-11a)

God knows our hearts and will not be fooled by false repentance.

For the truly repentant, there is the promise in Christ of restoration and resurrection.

Pictures Of – and Punishments For – Idolatry

Hosea 5

1. The Pervasive Problem of Idolatry

          King Saul’s Unacceptable and False Worship (1 Samuel 15, esp. vv. 22-23)

            The LORD God does not accept worship that is:

Worshipping things other than God/false fods (Ex 20:1-6; Romans 1)

Worshipping the true God the wrong way (Golden Calf - Ex 32, esp. v. 4)

Worshipping the true God in a self-styled manner (Nadab & Abihu Lev 10)

Worshipping the true God in a wrong attitude or syncretism (Amos 5:21-27)

Supplanting and Subverting God’s way with man’s way (Matt 15:7-9; Is 29:13)

2. The Permeating Problem of Idolatry: Private and Public (Hosea 5:1-7)

          Though they had religious zeal, it was unacceptable to YHWH

3. The LORD’s Punishment for Israel’s Idolatrous Propensity (Hosea 5:8-15)

Follow how the LORD describes Himself here (Hosea 5:10, 12, 14)

What should their response be to the LORD’s judgment? (Hosea 5:15)

Conclusion: You’ve Been Warned! Return to God While You Can!

The Old Testament New Testament Connection:

Learn from the unfaithful ones before you, “Do not be idolaters”
           (1 Cor 10:1-12, esp. 7)

A true Christian is dead to idolatry, your life is hidden with Christ in God (Col 3:1-7)

Crucified with Christ, live by faith in the Son of God (Gal 2:20)

            KNOW the Lord! (Hos 4:1, 6, 10-12; 5:4, 15; John 17:3; 1 John 5:20) 

The Case Against Israel’s Idolatry
Hosea 4

Purpose: God details the ways in which Israel has committed idolatry and identifies those who are responsible for their unfaithfulness.

1. The Consequences of Israel’s Idolatry (Hosea 4:1-6a)

2. The Culprits of Israel’s Idolatry (Hosea 4:6b-10)

3. The Customs of Israel’s Idolatry (Hosea 4:11-14)

4. The Caution of Israel’s Idolatry (Hosea 4:15-19)

There are always consequences for our idolatry that affect others, and we will be held responsible for them. Repentance for our sins and separation from those who practice them is the command of our holy God.

What Kind of Love is God’s Love for Sinners?

Hosea 3

Purpose: biblical pictures help us understand God’s love for His wayward people

1. God’s Love Symbolized in Hosea’s Remarriage (Hosea 3:1-5)

2. God’s Love, an Old Covenant Flashback (Deuteronomy 7:1-11; 9:4-6)

God’s love toward sinners is un-earned, un-deserved, un-conditional, un-rivaled!

3. God’s Love, a New Covenant Flash-Forward (Ephesians 2:1-7; 5)

Hosea 3:5 and 2 Samuel 7 fulfilled in Jesus Christ!

This is God’s Love in Christ for You!

Crystalized in Paul’s Christ/Groom, Church/Bride language of Ephesians 5

          God’s love is a free gift (Romans 5:15-16; 6:23)

The fullest picture of God’s love is seen in the gospel of Jesus Christ to save sinners. Have you returned to God? Or do you remain wayward in your sin?

Beginning Again
Hosea 2:14-23

Purpose: God betroths himself to his people and establishes a better covenant.

1. God Wooing Israel (2:14-15)

        Restoring the affections of first love.

2. God Purifying Israel (2:16-17)

        Removing the desire for other gods.

3. God Establishing A New Covenant with Israel (2:18-23)

   Reclaiming through an unending and unbreakable vow.

The Divine Love Story

Hosea 2:1-13

Purpose: It’s the love story of all love stories: divine in nature, eternal in scope!

1. Heartbreak! (Hosea 2:1-5)

          See Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13

2. Love Not Lost (Hosea 2:6)

3. Love Remembered (Hosea 2:7)

4. Love Divine (Hosea 2:8-13)

          See 1 John 4:10, 19; 5:11; Romans 5:8, 10; Revelation 2:4

          Your gods cannot save you! Only Jesus can save you!

          Our God is a Jealous God

See Exodus 20:5; 34:14; Deuteronomy 4:24; 5:9; 6:15; Joshua 24:19

          Our God is a consuming fire

                     See Hebrews 12:25-29

Conclusion

God’s power and sufficiency provide everything people need,
worship none other!

Syncretism of culture with biblical worldview is adultery/idolatry

          See Colossians 2:1-14; Matthew 15:1-9 and Isaiah 29:13-15

A Message In A Marriage
Hosea 1:1-11

Purpose: God demands our allegiance and desires our affections

1. God Condemns Israel’s Idolatry (Hosea 1:1-2)

       The land commits flagrant harlotry

2. God Rescinds His Covenant (Hosea 1:3-9)

       Exodus 6:2-7
           An End to the Kingdom
           No Mercy
           Not My People

3. God Promises Redemption (Hosea 1:10-11)

Ezekiel 36:22-28
Romans 9:23-26
1 Peter 2:10

The Precept of Prayer

Our Sovereign God calls us to pray, so that He alone gets all the Glory!

1. The God Who Hears (Psalm 115 & 116)

2. The God Who Gives (Luke 11:1-13)

          Ask, Seek, Knock for the Father’s Gift of the Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ

3. The God Who Knows (Luke 12:1-9)

          Be about God’s Mission, confessing Christ before men!

The Practice of Prayer
1 Thessalonians 5:17, Matthew 6:5-13

          Purpose: Prayer is a continual practice of personal and corporate worship.

1. Pray Constantly (1 Thess. 5:17)

2. Pray Secretly (Matt. 6:6)

3. Pray Together (Matt. 6:9-13)