L.I.F.E.W.O.R.D. TODAY, Jan 15,2023

“K.N.O.W. THE LORD”

Hosea 6:1-3

“Come, and let us return unto the Lord: For he hath torn, and he will heal us; He hath smitten, and he will bind us up. 2 After two days will he revive us: In the third day he will raise us up, And we shall live in his sight. 3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; And he shall come unto us as the rain, As the latter and former rain unto the earth.”

“RETURN 23”

Tommorrow, on Jan 15th, Lord willing, I intend to embark on a mission to Preach through the entire Word of God , in a chronological pattern, Beginning at the Beginning, in Genesis. The messages will be done to highlight or survey certain passages and themes, and will not be a verse by verse study. My guide will be a daily Bible reading through the entire Word in one year. I will try to post the Bible reading for each day, so that you can follow along if you do not have a Bible reading plan. It will also help you to keep a Journal of your Journey through the Scriptures and take notes and maybe questions you might have. The first Sunday Sermon will be a highlights of Genesis 1-11. As we go through these messages, we will refer to them as a series, “Biblical Foundations 101”. . In the Sunday Night message, we will start in the Gospel of John. I believe John is the foundation for all of the Gospels, as its theme AND KEY POINT is...... “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ , the Son of God, and that believing, you might have LIFE in his NAME.” JOHN 20:31

So , Genesis on Sunday Morning, John in the evening. I plan to keep the messages to 30 minutes or less, on Sundays with a live video. Each day, I will do a short 5 minute devotional mentioning key WORDS in the study, and key thoughts as I read each day.

Next week, we will look at L.I.F.E.W.O.R.D., which is the name of our broadcast. This is an acronym to help us remember what this study is all about and will keep us on track. I will also begin highlighting the book of ACTS on Wednesday evenings. During the messages in this first phase of our study we will be laying a lot of ground work and will show the CONNECTION in the 3 books. That WORD, IS LIFE. !

“L.ife I.n F.aith.E.ternally in the W.ord O.f R.edemption D.ivine.”

Today, I just wanted to paste and copy a message from a commentary that explains very well my motive for my mission this year. It reflects the desires of my heart and the burning of my spirit for the past 3 years. It is take from Hosea 6:1-3.

It is my desire to encourage you to RETURN TO THE LORD, so that you may KNOW HIM, AND KNOW HIM MORE AND MORE EVERYDAY!

ATTENTION:

Todays L.I.F.E.W.O.R.D. TODAY IS MUCH LONGER THAN NORMAL, BUT PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ IT A PRAY OVER IT, AND ASK THE LORD , “DO I NEED TO RETURN TO THE LORD?”

Your servant for Christ’s Sake,

David L. Hollowell

“K.nowledge begins with the fear (reverence) of the Lord, and is N. ecessary to O.btain the W.ord of God, (Jesus Christ), so that we KNOW HIS WAY, HIS WILL, HIS WORK, AND WORSHIP HIM in our every day LIFE for ETERNITY” DLH

PROVERBS 1:1-7 “The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; To know wisdom and instruction; To perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; And a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; The words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The following is COPIED FROM THE PREACHERS COMPLETE HOMILETICAL COMMENTARY:

CRITICAL NOTES.—

Hosea 6:1.] Contains an appeal addressed by Israelites one to another. Some, as spoken by the prophet to the exiled and smitten people.

Hosea 6:2. Two days.] A proverbial way of expressing the certainty of an event in the time specitied: primarily applied to the conversion of Is: in fulness only realized in the resurrection of Christ.

Hosea 6:3. Then] i.e. the consequence of following, hunting and zealous seeking after, would be knowledge in its practical results (ch. Hosea 4:16; Jeremiah 22:15-16). Going forth] Heb. rising, applied to the sun (Psalms 19:2-3; Genesis 19:23); setting forth transition from night to day; the dawn of salvation before the orbed glory of heaven (Isaiah 53:8; Isaiah 60:2). Prepared] Lit. fixed, certain as the morning, an established law of nature, a special appointment of God (Genesis 8:22). The rain] Reviving and refreshing blessings (Deuteronomy 32:2; Isaiah 55:10). The latter] Lit. the crop-rain which fell in the middle of March or April to ripen the grain for harvest. Former] Spring rain, which fell from middle of Oct. to middle of Dec. Rain generally, and these two specially, promised by God (Deuteronomy 11:14); great blessings, without which would happen the greatest calamity in Pal. The blessings of Messiah are compared to rain (Psalms 72:6; 2 Samuel 23:4).

HOMILETICS

NATIONAL AMENDMENT.—Hosea 6:1-3

Man’s miseries are often messengers of mercy. When mild measures did not move Israel, God tried severe. Vengeance came at length, and they were carried captives by a cruel people, brought to a penitent state of mind, and they resolve to return to God.

I. Return to God is a necessity. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” An intimate acquaintance and fellowship with God are a moral necessity. Man cries for God as Father, Friend, and Helper.

1. Man has capacity to turn to God and enjoy him. He has power to discern right and wrong; to recognize the character and appreciate the claims of God. We have reason, conscience, and a moral nature. Though fallen and sinful, we have not lost our religious cravings and necessities. “The notion of a God,” says Tillotson, “is so inseparable from human nature, that to obliterate the one you must destroy the other.” The word of God appeals to our helpless condition, and invites us to return to God. The grace and the Spirit of God are promised to aid us in returning. Our life and enjoyment consist in friendship with God. “This is life eternal, that they might know thee.”

2. Man lines in distance from God. Not a mere natural, but moral distance; an alienation of heart and life from God. In affection and purpose, in thought and deed, man is at variance with his Maker. To be absent from a friend is grief; to be without food and shelter is sad; but to be without God is the greatest infelicity. “Having no hope and without God in the world.”

3. Man suffers in distance from God. Sin wounds the spirit and brings judgments upon the life. It vexes and enslaves; torments the conscience, and exposes to condemnation and death. Like Ezekiel’s roll, within and without it has written, “Lamentation and mourning and woe.” From its guilt springs fear; shame from its defilement; and destruction from its punishment. “It is that which puts thee out of the possession and enjoyment of thyself, which doth alienate and separate thee from God, the fountain of bliss and happiness, which provokes him to be thine enemy, and lays thee open every moment to the fierce revenge of his justice” Man has felt his distance and his misery, but could not heal his diseases and restore himself to God. Bleeding and burdened, the soul longs for restoration to its centre. “Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!”

II. Return to God is encouraged. “Come, and let us return,” says the prophet.

1. Mercy is held out. “He will heal us” and “he will bind us up.” The Assyrian could not heal, but they are persuaded that God who had smitten them could. He was Israel’s physician in the time of Moses, and preserved them from the diseases of Egypt, the death of the first-born, and the destruction which overtook Pharaoh. No sickness baffles his skill. He gives efficacy to medicine for the body, and his grace renews and sanctifies the soul. As Christ drove out demons and diseases from men, so God heals all our infirmities of body, mind, and heart, until sin is eradicated, and “the inhabitants shall no more say, I am sick.”

2. The certainty of this merry is relied upon. “After two days will he revive us.” The time is short, but God who promises will fulfil the promise. None need hesitate or despair of God’s mercy. It is offered to all, and may be received with faith. A firm persuasion of mercy will draw the penitent to God; without this he would despair or go from him. But the torn shall be healed, the dead quickened, and the humble and contrite received. “We shall live in his sight.” His face will no longer be turned away in displeasure nor anger. The returning sinner, who seeks his face, shall know God’s will, feel his love, and rejoice in the light of his countenance. “For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee.”

III. Return to God should be urged as a social duty. “Come, and let us return.” We should not only seek God ourselves, but try to induce others; in times of sorrow urge repentance, and of revival incite to duty. The sympathy of numbers is great. “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” In business and common themes men unite and take counsel; should not Christians aid and mutually cheer each other? Sin has separated men or debases their intercourse; but religion unites them in love and confidence. Jewish doctors say that men are to go in haste and with speed together to the synagogue, but return very leisurely. So we should “walk in company,” and with enthusiasm to God, but never forsake him. This duty is urged for many reasons.

1. All have need to be stirred up. The careless and impenitent must be roused from slumber, the inquirer directed, and Christians excited to greater love and activity. “That they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.”

2. As social creatures we can influence one another for good. Example is most potent. Precept points out the way, but example carries us along. Great is the power of goodness to charm and command. The pious man is a king, drawing all hearts after him. We all love the brave and the magnanimous; derive inspiration from them; and incited to action by them. “We live in an age that hath more need of good examples than precepts,” said George Herbert. And entering upon the duties of life he resolved: “Above all, I will be sure to live well, because the virtuous life of a clergyman is the most powerful eloquence, to persuade all who see it to reverence and love, and at least to desire to live like him.”

3. It should be our aim to stir up others to do good. The humblest and most obscure may do this. Wealth and position are not necessary. A warm heart will create and communicate enthusiasm, energy and zeal will evoke courage and devotion in the cause of God. If we return to God others will follow our example. By prayer and holy life we may persuade men and help on that happy time when “the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of Hosts; I will go also” (Zechariah 8:21).

IV. Return to God will result in great blessings to a people. “Bliss from the Creator and duty from the creature answer to one another,” says a writer. We live in love, action, and God. Life is a delight and success in the degree in which it is consecrated to God. The greatest happiness is found in God’s presence and service.

1. Quickened life. He “will revive us.” “He will raise us up.” Spiritual death is overcome by God’s grace. The sinner is raised from a death of trespasses and sins; the saint is revived in heart, hope, and duty. Action begets strength, and faith leads to conversion from sin and deliverance in trouble. Spiritual life is first imparted, then supported and increased. “For in him we live, and move, and have our being.”

2. Practical knowledge. “Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord.” True knowledge is obtained by experiment. Experiment is a test of scientific truth. In Chemistry it is a guide, discoverer, and test. The existence of light, heat, and electricity is indebted to it. Christianity claims to be tested by experiment, and when thus tested it is found to be true. No learning and wealth are required. Love, and you shall know God; believe, and you shall feel. “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God.” This know is (a) experimental, (b) practical, and (c) progressive; beginning in the heart, manifest in the life, seen in duty and daily progress.

3. Constant fertility. “He shall come unto us as the rain;” in its refreshing fertilizing showers. The early and latter rain, beginning the good work in the heart, carrying it on in the Christian Church, and reviving it in the nation. Both are required and given; rain from the first to the last; one shower falling after another upon thirsty pastures and desert ground, filling the pools and clothing the hills with verdure. “He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.”

MAN’S HIGHEST SOCIAL ACTION.—Hosea 6:1

Man as a member of society has much to do with his fellow-men; he should contribute to the advancement of general knowledge, to the progress of political purity and freedom, and to the augmentation of the general health and comfort of the kingdom. But there is a higher work than this for him in society: it is that of stimulating the community to which he belongs “to return unto the Lord.” Taking the words in this application they imply—I. That society is away from God. Not locally, for the Great Spirit is with all and in all, but morally. Away from him in its thoughts; it practically ignores his existence and claims. Away from him in its sympathies: its heart is on those things which are repugnant to his holy nature. Away from him in its pursuits: its pursuits are selfish and carnal gratifications and aggrandizements. Far gone, in truth, is society from its centre—God. It is like the prodigal in “a far country.” II. That estrangement from God is the source of all its trials. Because the prodigal left his father’s home he was reduced to the utmost infamy and wretchedness. Moral separation from God is ruin. Cut the branch from the root, and it withers; the river from its source, and it dries up; the planet from the sun, and it rushes to ruin. Society has left God, its root, source, centre,—hence the terrible evil with which he by his government “hath torn” it. Nothing will remove its evils but a return to God. Legislation, commerce, science, literature, art, none of these will help it so long as it continues from him. III. That return to Him is a possible work. Were it not there would be no meaning in the language, “Come and let us,” &c. With some estranged spirits in the universe a return may be impossible for ever; not so with human spirits on earth. There is a way, a true and living way, by which all may return; repentance towards God and faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Conclusion. Who are the greatest social benefactors? Those who are the most successful in exciting and stimulating their fellow-men to come back to God, the Great Father of love who awaits their return. He says, “Come now, let us reason together,” &c. To bring society back to God is pre-eminently the work of the gospel minister; to this he consecrates his power, his time, his all [The Homilist].

PLEASE PRAY A PRAYER OF REPENTANCE AND RETURN TO THE LORD, AND JOIN ME IN A RETURN TO THE BOOK FOR 2023, AND SEEK THE LORD FOR REVIVAL IN OUR HEARTS, LIVES, FAMILIES, FRIENDS, CHURCHES, COMMUNITIES. I NEED REVIVAL, YOU NEED REVIVAL, WE NEED EACH OTHER TO ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER TO “RETURN TO THE LORD”.

Prayerfully submitted, +

Your servant for Christ’s sake

David L. Hollowell