Comparisons, Hosea 4
Hosea 4
May 25, 2006
Intro: How have you been considered, I mean, either favorably or
unfavorably.
A- Thinking on this I’ve looked back at some of the
comparisons in my life.
1- As a pastor:
a- unfavorable: He’s ok but no David Rosales.
b- Favorable: He’s a lot better Pastor than my old
one.
2- As a husband:
a- Mostly favorable because she hasn’t another to
compare me to.
b- The only unfavorable is a generalization: “all me
are jerks”.
3- As an Electrician:
a- Unfavorable, Why would they let someone like
that in here.
b- Favorable, Little Caesars Pizza.
4- As a father:
a- Again mostly favorable because they haven’t
anyone else to compare me to.
b- Unfavorable: All fathers are jerks.
5- As a Christian man:
a- Gracious & godly
b- People like you give Christianity a bad name (Pharisee)
B- My point is; a lot of how you are perceived is based
upon the image you project.
1- In our society it’s even been said “image is
everything”.
a- Look how we long for logos (how a name brand
can change the cost of clothing).
- The failure to recognize this has caused me
to become a jerk in eyes of those who’s
cloths I wouldn’t buy.
2- See today: who you are is based upon:
a- A swish on your shoes, A label on your lapel, or
even an emblem on you glasses.
- Jeff and Oakley
b- When it comes to fashion YOU’RE THINKING
Pastor Mike is the Man.
- Shirt = Clearance rack, Pants = On sale at
Mervyns, Shoes ( I was going to spend
100.00 walked out with 9.99).
> We are a society that has bought into “the image is everything
attitude”.
A- BUT what happens when all of the LOGOS, LABELS,
and LETTERS are stripped away?
1- Image is gone, this tells me there is really no
substance to these images we project.
a- Movies stars, Athletes, Photo.
- Ever see Ophra without her makeup.
B- What it all boils down to is: There is only one acceptable
image in which man can project which has substance.
1- It’s God’s image, in which you were created, for the
purpose of projecting the image of Christ.
Genesis 1:27, So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Romans 8:29, For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
> Now Israel, who should be projecting the image of the living
God IS NOT DOING SO.
A- How do we know? = Here in Hosea they are compared to a
prostitute.
1- When it comes to a godly image: Each of us is a
package of potential and possibility.
a- BUT prostitute yourself to the idols of the land
and you project an unclean,
undesirable, and unbridled image.
B- So it’s hear that this nation with the image:
1- The label = Israel (governed by God)
2- The logo = The holy temple
3- The letter = God’s world.
a- Is being examined for who she truly is
- The charge is Spiritual Prostitution.
* Here is where God presents the
evidence.
* Does this evidence apply to you
What is Grissom always saying: What to know the truth follow the evidence, the evidence doesn’t lie.
Hosea 4:1, Hear the word of the Lord, You children of Israel, For the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land:
A- This is the “hear ye, hear ye the court is now in session
the honorable God presiding”.
1- The 1st thing to do is for the prosecution to present his
case REALLY for the charges to be read.
a- The charges are 3
Hosea 4:1, ... “There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land.
#1- Truth = Faithfulness to ones word.
A- The meaning has its roots to personal integrity before
God.
1- This is an attribute that God so abundantly shows
toward us.
a- If God not faithful = ...
2- This is the firmness and reliability of a person
whose word to another is as good as his bond to
that person.
a- Israel’s service and devotion to God is that of the
lip and NOT of the hand.
#2- Mercy = Devotion
A- The idea here is to be obedient and Godlike in your
dealings and in your commission.
1- Dealings = Ministry to others.
2- Commission = Follow through in what God has called
you to do.
#3- There is no knowledge of God:
A- Intimacy with your savior, the reason we read and study
the bible, WHY WE consume communion, WHY WE
preach a personal relationship (in religion He always
seemed so far off).
1- It’s what God desires from His people:
Hosea 6:6, For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
2- It’s what God even commands:
Hosea 13:4, “Yet I am the Lord your God Ever since the land of Egypt, And you shall know no God but Me; For there is no savior besides Me.
3- It’s what Israel says they are doing:
Hosea 6:3, Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth.
4- It’s what God know that they aren’t doing:
Hosea 5:4, “They do not direct their deeds Toward turning to their God, For the spirit of harlotry is in their midst, And they do not know the Lord.
5- It’s what’s happening today:
Romans 1:21, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
> SO what is the evidence of a society that has rejected God
#1- A moral depravity will prevail:
Hosea 4:2, By swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and committing adultery, They break all restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed.
A- For the past ? years we seen these things represented
in those we chose to represent us. ELECTED
OFFICIALS.
1- The moral character of a man no longer matters in
electing him into office.
a- WHY: because it no longer matters in so many
households (churches).
Judges 21:25, In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
#2- Another evidence of a society that has rejected God is
ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION:
Hosea 4:3, Therefore the land will mourn; And everyone who dwells there will waste away With the beasts of the field And the birds of the air; Even the fish of the sea will be taken away.
A- It’s definitely in the total disregard of environment
because of selfishness.
1- But also as natural resources are a gift from God, this
is God holding back His gifting.
a- Global warming = A result of the heat
generated from God’s anger.
- Katrina, fishing, oil (gas), cancer
2- Me wanting to complain to God about my tooth.
#3- Another evidence of a society that has rejected God is
DEBASEMENT OF LEADERSHIP:
Read Verses 4-9
A- The more the number of churches and the ideas in how
to run a church increase it seems the further they get
form God.
1- The only reason God blessed Calvary Chapel is
because it came back to the pure milk of the word.
a- Why would hippies of the 60’s come a listen to a,
full figured, balding, middle aged preacher???
2- Where are people at with God: look who they support
in the pulpit.
2 Timothy 4:3-4, For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
#4- Another evidence of a society that has rejected God is
PERSONAL EMPTYNESS:
Read Verse 10-12
A- Gomer left Hosea for Things and Pleasures.
Hosea 2:11, I will also cause all her mirth to cease, Her feast days, Her New Moons, Her Sabbaths— All her appointed feasts.
1- There will always be that emptiness that every worldly
successful person complains about.
a- Ever notice a common thing with popular people
= Excess.
- More luxurious, more marriages, more
money
#5- The last evidence of a society that has rejected God is
RUIN ON A NATIONSIDE SCALE:
Read Verses 13-14
A- Why does God NOT JUDGE AMERICA, as we have gotten
our own way it has become its own punishment.
1- The punishment my kid’s have received from doing
what they want.
a- Wrecked marriages, abandoned kids, corruption
in all areas of life.
- ENRON, Aids, Steroids,
* Look at the headlines:
'Smiling' driver runs over 3 toddlers, 2 adults
Malvo: Muhammad was sniper in first 6 killings
Dog fed beer, doughnuts too fat to walk
Homeless men die and 2 women get rich
b- A nations depravity becomes its own punishment.
> 7x’s In the book of Revelation is the saying
Revelation , “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
A- Here the godly are warned.
Read Verses 15-19
Hosea 4
May 25, 2006
Genesis 1:27
Romans 8:29
Hosea 6:6
Hosea 13:4
Hosea 6:3
Hosea 5:4
Romans 1:21
Judges 21:25
2 Timothy 4:3-4
Hosea 2:11