Sermon notes from Sunday 6 January 2019
Hosea 10
"Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteouness upon you." verse 12
Whenever we turn to the book of Hosea we are looking at a category of preachers known as the Minor Prophets. Reading them we realise they are not so minor in that sense. Hosea, when he was called to the ministry and message, was involved in calling the nation of Israel back to where they should be. The Lord had not forgotten his people. They had turned away from him, rebelled against him. The thrust of Hosea`s message was the love of God. The indifference of God`s people to that love. We see that demonstrated through Hosea`s message. He was to take a wife, a wife who would walk out on him but Hosea`s love never faltered for that woman. When we look at that relationship we see reflected in it the relationship between God and his nation Israel. He doesn`t cut them off. He tells them it is "time to seek the Lord." In 2 Chronicles Solomon prayed "if this people turn their backs on you, fail you and forget about you what will you do then?" The Lord said "if my people which are called by name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7 verse 14) May that be our perogative in this new year - seeking after the Lord. We could really write John 3 verse 16 over this chapter 10 of Hosea. It doesn`t matter where people come from, even from the depravity of sin itself, even if they turn unto me, they will be saved and I will give them everlasting life. John 1 verse 11 says "he came unto his own and his own received him not." They looked at the love of God and threw it back in his face. We can have all the religiousity in the world yet not know God personally .
The love of God that is demonstrated to us here. The love of God in his heart for each one of us. He is not willing that any should perish. God`s love is demonstrated by his intervention. He doesn`t love us in distress. He sees a nation who raised up 2 golden calves to worship them and other various gods to worship too. Instead of cutting them off he gives them a warning but also an invitation. God comes and intervenes. We need an intervention by God most of all in these days. If only we could get a glimpse of the power and love of God. In 1859 God intervened in this province so much so that revival swept the land. This was real Holy Ghost power. We need that same today. We see it throughout the scriptures. King Hezekiah was going through a dark time, the Assyrian forces were at his door, ready to carry him captive. Hezekiah forgot about his planning, took the letter from the enemy and went into God`s presence and spread the letter before him. God intervened in that day and 185,000 Assyrian forces lay dead at his gates. God does not leave us to our own devices and distresses. He says simply "it is time to seek the Lord." There are people lost in this world. He tells us it is time now to seek the Lord. Not simply saying a few prayers but heartfelt repentence, sorrow and shame to seek after the Lord. Elijah felt that intervention before King Ahab and again on top of Mount Carmel. He was under attack from the enemy. We then find him sitting under a juniper tree in the wilderness. His heart is down. He asks for the Lord to take his life. God intervenes, doesn`t leave him to his distresses or devices. As we go into 2019 it is a good time to stop, to examine our lives. What does God expect of us for 2019? This is an ultimatum that comes to us. Romans 12 verse 1 "I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service." God doesn`t kidnap us, he doesn`t lift us from where we are but asks us to do it. The people of Hosea`s day felt that God would be satisfied with outward ritualism. God wants our all today. If we are God`s children we need to take heed - will you offer yourself as a living sacrifice? See that intervention in relation to the people who worship in the churches of Asia. God steps into their lives and says of them "nevertheless I have somewhat against you." Time and time again he says that to them. Is God saying that about us today? What an indictment that is. The Philadelphian church was going on so well. They were not a big congregation but because of their service God said to them "I have set before you an open door." In John 15 Jesus is speaking of the vine and branches and the relationship with Christ. We see those branches in the vine are bearing fruit. If not bearing fruit they are cast away. He prunes them that they might bring forth more fruit. The Lord wants to do even more with us today.
The love of God is demonstrated by the instruction given. There is no point sowing if the ground is not properly prepared. He says here "sow in righteousness". You are to go out and live for me, then you will reap in mercy. If we sow we reap. When you take out an invitation we are sowing a seed. The Lord is speaking of you and I today about our hearts and lives. As the word of God goes out does it find a place where it can then bring forth fruit or is there so much in our heart that there is no time for the word of God? It is choked and destroyed. We can only open our hearts and let God work in it. Moses up in the mountain heard a noice in the camp below. The Lord told him to go back down because the people had corrupted themselves. They had turned away quickly, left the way and made gods which they said had brought them out of Egypt. That brought great death in the camp that day - "they have turned aside quickly." In Acts 17 we read of Athens, a city of religion and dogma, false doctrine. They had to take everything that attached them to an old way of life and bring it out and burn it. There can be things hindering in our lives that need to be dealt with. Sometimes there are times God has to give that jolt and he was giving it here to the nation of Israel.
God`s love is shown here by the immediacy of the action. God is looking at his people. He tells them they still have time. Paul told the people of Athens God is watching them and has preserved them. With a broken heart he said "the times of this ignorance God winked at but now commandeth all men every where to repent." When we repent we have to do it with a sincere heart, let`s not be half hearted.
God`s love is demonstrated by the implication that is shown. He will "rain righteousness upon you." God says it is time to get serious - it is time to seek the Lord.
The love of God that is demonstrated to us here. The love of God in his heart for each one of us. He is not willing that any should perish. God`s love is demonstrated by his intervention. He doesn`t love us in distress. He sees a nation who raised up 2 golden calves to worship them and other various gods to worship too. Instead of cutting them off he gives them a warning but also an invitation. God comes and intervenes. We need an intervention by God most of all in these days. If only we could get a glimpse of the power and love of God. In 1859 God intervened in this province so much so that revival swept the land. This was real Holy Ghost power. We need that same today. We see it throughout the scriptures. King Hezekiah was going through a dark time, the Assyrian forces were at his door, ready to carry him captive. Hezekiah forgot about his planning, took the letter from the enemy and went into God`s presence and spread the letter before him. God intervened in that day and 185,000 Assyrian forces lay dead at his gates. God does not leave us to our own devices and distresses. He says simply "it is time to seek the Lord." There are people lost in this world. He tells us it is time now to seek the Lord. Not simply saying a few prayers but heartfelt repentence, sorrow and shame to seek after the Lord. Elijah felt that intervention before King Ahab and again on top of Mount Carmel. He was under attack from the enemy. We then find him sitting under a juniper tree in the wilderness. His heart is down. He asks for the Lord to take his life. God intervenes, doesn`t leave him to his distresses or devices. As we go into 2019 it is a good time to stop, to examine our lives. What does God expect of us for 2019? This is an ultimatum that comes to us. Romans 12 verse 1 "I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service." God doesn`t kidnap us, he doesn`t lift us from where we are but asks us to do it. The people of Hosea`s day felt that God would be satisfied with outward ritualism. God wants our all today. If we are God`s children we need to take heed - will you offer yourself as a living sacrifice? See that intervention in relation to the people who worship in the churches of Asia. God steps into their lives and says of them "nevertheless I have somewhat against you." Time and time again he says that to them. Is God saying that about us today? What an indictment that is. The Philadelphian church was going on so well. They were not a big congregation but because of their service God said to them "I have set before you an open door." In John 15 Jesus is speaking of the vine and branches and the relationship with Christ. We see those branches in the vine are bearing fruit. If not bearing fruit they are cast away. He prunes them that they might bring forth more fruit. The Lord wants to do even more with us today.
The love of God is demonstrated by the instruction given. There is no point sowing if the ground is not properly prepared. He says here "sow in righteousness". You are to go out and live for me, then you will reap in mercy. If we sow we reap. When you take out an invitation we are sowing a seed. The Lord is speaking of you and I today about our hearts and lives. As the word of God goes out does it find a place where it can then bring forth fruit or is there so much in our heart that there is no time for the word of God? It is choked and destroyed. We can only open our hearts and let God work in it. Moses up in the mountain heard a noice in the camp below. The Lord told him to go back down because the people had corrupted themselves. They had turned away quickly, left the way and made gods which they said had brought them out of Egypt. That brought great death in the camp that day - "they have turned aside quickly." In Acts 17 we read of Athens, a city of religion and dogma, false doctrine. They had to take everything that attached them to an old way of life and bring it out and burn it. There can be things hindering in our lives that need to be dealt with. Sometimes there are times God has to give that jolt and he was giving it here to the nation of Israel.
God`s love is shown here by the immediacy of the action. God is looking at his people. He tells them they still have time. Paul told the people of Athens God is watching them and has preserved them. With a broken heart he said "the times of this ignorance God winked at but now commandeth all men every where to repent." When we repent we have to do it with a sincere heart, let`s not be half hearted.
God`s love is demonstrated by the implication that is shown. He will "rain righteousness upon you." God says it is time to get serious - it is time to seek the Lord.
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