A LOVE LIKE NO OTHER

GOOD MORNING CHURCH!

NEW SERIES STARTS TODAY!!!

Minor Prophets series overview:

12 Minor prophets from Hosea to Malachi

Last 12 book in the old testament leading into the Gospels of the new testament

And there is a central theme that runs throughout these 12 books

God’s people have turned away from Him to in pride and idolatry

To fulfill their flesh desires and control their own way

And it is the LORDS calling for His people to RETURN TO HIM

Over the next several weeks we are going to look at 6 of these minor prophets

And through there prophecy, here how the Lord will turn Israel back toward a relationship with Him, which He deeply desires.

Starting today as we open up…

Hosea 3

BIBLES OUT, HOSEA 3, If you dont have a bible, seat in front of you, PEW BIBLE PAGE 704

As your doing that…

Did yall read any Dr. Suess books when you were a kid???

Green eggs and ham, hop on pop, Cat in the hat, the lorax.

I loved those books when i was a kid, and my kids love them to…

you know whats interesting, have you ever had someone read you a Dr. Suess book without showing you the pictures???

I heard my wife one time reading one of our kids “green eggs and ham” and i was off to the side just listening and thinking, without seeing the pictures this make zero sense lol

Illustrations are important in a dr Suess book man…

But not just in those children's books but Illustrations are helpful in any book…

In books and even in preaching a sermon, Illustrations can be a huge help in grasping and relating the idea the author wants you to get.

This morning as we open up the first Minor prophet Hosea…

The Lord is going to give us a powerful illustration…of His faithfulness and unconditional love for us

BUT BEFORE WE GET INTO THE TEXT: HOSEA BACKGROUND

Written about 750 years before the birth of Jesus

Hosea had one of the longest ministries of all the prophets (60-70 years)

Beginning of this writing…Written during the reign of King Jeroboam 2

This was a time of peace and great prosperity for Israel

They were very prominent, they had money, stability, and security during this time

But the more prominent they became the lower their morality fell

there is “swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; dabbling in prostitution…fully breaking all of God’s laws.”

They have began to worship the false god Baal instead of the Lord

Instead of trusting God with there security they have sought foreign alliances

So basically doing everything opposite of what God has commanded them

Israel has breached its covenant with God

(Through Moses) That if they follow His law then He will be with them and bless them

But now, they are no longer worshipping Him as their Lord

And Hosea is telling the people of Israel “you have fallen away from God, you have broken the covenant with Him

And the Lord will punish you for your transgressions

And so the Lord does punish Israel

Their alliances crumble, the Kingdom falls, and they are exiled once again.

But because God’s love for and faithfulness to His people…their is hope for Israel.

The hope for Isreal is Illustrated through the commission the Lord gave to Hosea in CHAPTER 1

Hosea 1:2 ESV

When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the Lord.”

Okay so this is weird

The Lord tells Hosea to take a wife named Gomer who is a prostitute

So Hosea takes Gomer as his wife…and has three children with her

He uses this as an Illustration to compare the people of Israel to (Gomer) a prostitute…

He has taken the people of Israel as His own, blessed them in multiplication, and yet they are unfaithful…

They are an unfaithful people to a loving and faithful God

And through this union, the Lord will show us HIS LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS in Chapter three

Three points we see in this text…

Unconditional LOVE (V1)

READ V1

We see God’s faithfulness and love for Israel through the commission he has given Hosea to Return again to Gomer

He says “Go again” and love Gomer even though she has given herself to another man…Go and love her again…

Go and love her even though she doesn't deserve it…

Unconditional love

Unconditional definition: unqualified, absolute, without any parameters or conditions

NOT A LOVE THAT IS EARNED OR WORKED FOR…BUT A LOVE THAT IS CONSTANT AND UNWAVERING

God is using this to show the nation of Israel, “this is how I love my children”

cakes of Raisins or flagons of wine…used in religious rituals as offerings to pagan gods

though they have turned away from Him

God unconditionally loves His Israel

KEEP READING WITH ME V2-4

Willing SACRIFICE (V2-4)

It is apparent here that Gomer has gotten herself into some sort of prostitution/ slave agreement that she cant get out of

She owes a debt that she can not pay on her own

the silver and barley adds up to 30 sheckles (equal to amount due as compensation to the loss of a slave)

Gomer is undeserving of this, done nothing to earn it, but through the unconditional love and willing sacrifice, the debt is paid by Hosea

This shows Gods willingness to deliver us from a grave situation

I HOPE THIS IS STARTING TO SOUND FAMILIAR TO YOU!!

Keep reading with me in V5

Absolute RESTORATION (V5)

THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SHALL RETURN!!!

THEY WILL SEEK THE LORD

HE WILL RESTORE THEM AND WELCOME THEM BACK WITH OPEN ARMS!!!

THIS IS A CALL TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL TO RETURN TO HIM…TO HIS GOODNESS

The Lord is telling His people I WILL RESTORE YOU!!!

When you look at this book of Hosea as a whole…

This is what God is saying…

Even though you are sinful:

I LOVE YOU UNCONDITIONALLY…

I WILL SACRIFICE FOR YOU WILLINGLY…

AND I WILL RESTORE YOU TO ME FULLY!!!

RETURN TO ME!!!!

(PAUSE)

AND HEAR THIS CHURCH…THIS PROPHECY PREACHED 780ISH YEARS BEFORE IT WAS FULLY FULLFILLED BY JESUS CHRIST!!!

THIS IS A PROPHECY OF JESUS!!!!

This is Jesus plain as day!!!!

LOVE + SACRIFICE + RESTORATION = JESUS!

Unconditional LOVE: John 3:16 ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Willing SACRIFICE: 1 Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”

Absolute RESTORATION: Romans 5:9–10 “Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”

Hosea -> הוֹשֵׁעַ -> Hoshea = SLAVATION

If your not sure if this is Jesus that Hosea is talking about look with me at Hosea 6

Hosea 6:1–2 ““Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.”

RESURRECTION SUNDAY COMING UP- We celebrate this!!!

BIG IDEA: GOD IS FAITHFUL

Believers falling short in sin

REPENT AND RETURN TO THE LORD…He desires to walk with you

Nonbeliever-

Salvation is a free gift, not earned through works, but ONLY through FAITH in the SHED BLOOD OF JESUS!

NO MATTER HOW BAD THE SIN

NO MATTER THE PATH YOU HAVE BEEN DOWN

IN HOSEA WE SEE HIS PEOPLE COMPLETELY TURN AWAY FROM HIM, AND HE IS STILL FAITHFUL TO THEM!!!

I PLEAD WITH YOU!! PLACE YOUR FAITH IN JESUS ALONE!!! BE RECUED FROM SIN!!!

PRAY!!!