LOVE ENDURES: Reviving Righteousness

Hosea 11:1 CSB

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.

INTRO—

God’s Love Endures (Hosea 1-3)...

…Despite Disobedience (Hosea 4-7)...

…Demanding Discipline (Hosea 8-10)...

…REVIVING RIGHTEOUSNESS (Hosea 11-14)!

The message of this (minor) prophet…because God is who He is, He reveals himself to his creation—namely people—as the one true God…calling people (his people) to holiness/righteousness…AND he will continually work in his peoples’ lives to bring them back from straying ‘allegiances’ to the renewed life of righteousness bringing honor to Himself and blessings (joy, peace, hope, assurance) to His people.

We could say that Hosea shows us that God’s love is a LOVE THAT DOES NOT LET GO!

…As we conclude our time in our study of the life and message of Hosea, let’s find the encouragement revealed as to why, even when we disobey and find ourselves disciplined by our Heavenly Father, we can (may…will) know that God is able to Revive a Christ-exalting Righteousness in our lives!

[Hosea 11.1, 7-11] Renewal Possible: Restoring Heart

The heart of restoration & renewal…is GOD’S HEART!

…Always has been...Check out Hosea 11.1!

Matthew 2:15 CSB

He stayed there until Herod’s death, so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled: Out of Egypt I called my Son.

…other evidence of God’s heart:

Zechariah 8:8 CSB

I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their faithful and righteous God.”

Have we seen the restoring heart of God in our lives?

[Hosea 12.5-11; 13.10-15] Renewal Possible: Pitfalls to Avoid

“I can do whatever I want.” (Hosea 12.5-11)

“How rich I have become, I made it all myself.” (12.7)

“But you must return to your God.” (12.6)

“Maintain love and justice, and always put your hope in God.”

“We’ve got this. We’ll be okay.” (Hosea 13.10-15)

“Although he flourishes among his brothers...”

“…an east wind will come…His water source will fail...”

Check out Hosea 13.14:

1 Corinthians 15:55 CSB

Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting?

[Hosea 14.1-9] Renewal Possible: Repentant Hearts

Repentant hearts are OUR hearts!

Returning…Repentance (“return to the Lord your God”; 14.1-3)…a MUST!

“Take words of repentance with you and return to the Lord.”

“Say to him, ‘Forgive all our iniquity.’”

“Assyria will not save us…we will no longer proclaim, ‘Our Gods!’ to the work of our hands.”

Resulting RENEWAL (“I will heal...”; 14.4-8)

“I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for my anger will have turned from him.”

Flourishing, et al.

CONCL—

HOSEA 14.9 is THE Bottom Line!

Hosea 14:9 CSB

Let whoever is wise understand these things, and whoever is insightful recognize them. For the ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.

Hosea 14:9 CSB

Let whoever is wise understand these things, and whoever is insightful recognize them. For the ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.