God's Messengers

04/29/2019 God's Messengers

Series: The Story Of The Bible 

https://vimeo.com/326499685

What Does The Bible Say?

Hosea

2 When the Lord first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, he said to him, “Go and marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the Lord and worshiping other gods.”  (Hosea 1:2 NLT) 

Your life is to be a reflection of God. 

Then the Lord said to me, “Go and love your wife again, even though she commits adultery with another lover. This will illustrate that the Lord still loves Israel, even though the people have turned to other gods and love to worship them.” (Hosea 3:1 NLT) 

Our God is the God of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th…chances!

2 So I bought her back for fifteen pieces of silver and five bushels of barley and a measure of wine. (Hosea 3:2–3 NLT) 

God bought us back with a price.

3 Then I said to her, “You must live in my house for many days and stop your prostitution. During this time, you will not have sexual relations with anyone, not even with me.” (Hosea 3:3 NLT)

God always commands us to be holy.

1 Hear the word of the Lord, O people of Israel! The Lord has brought charges against you, saying:“There is no faithfulness, no kindness, no knowledge of God in your land. 2 You make vows and break them; you kill and steal and commit adultery. There is violence everywhere— one murder after another. (Hosea 4:1–2 NLT)

Your deeds won’t let you return to your God. You are a prostitute through and through, and you do not know the Lord.  (Hosea 5:4 NLT)

1  Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for your sins have brought you down. 2 Bring your confessions, and return to the Lord. Say to him,“Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer you our praises.  (Hosea 14:1–2 NLT)

As God called Israel to repent, He calls us to repent. 

How Can You Obey:

Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. (James 1:8 NLT)

Let our life be a reflection of God.

Question 1 of 5

Name some ways God posts a warning sign in the middle of the road as we travel through life.

Question 2 of 5

How do our attitudes and lives change when we are not walking closely with Jesus?

Question 3 of 5

How does reading and following the Bible keep us connected to God and guard our hearts against the kind of complacency that Israel experienced?

Question 4 of 5

What are some ways that we can deepen our commitment to study and obey God's Word?

Question 5 of 5 

God used Hosea’s life as an illustration of how He loves us even though we continually sin. How can we allow our lives to be an illustration for God to reach other people?