Forgetful Faith, Hosea 8

Hosea 8

June 29, 2006

Intro: The latest list on the New York best seller lists of self help

          books.

Hardcover Advice

          A- The problem with these books, is the problem common

               to man,: We so soon forget and revert to our old ways.

                   1- Remember our cross-reference from last week:

James 1:22, But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

                             a- We are a people who so conveniently forget the

                                things that we consider important BUT go against

                                the desires of our flesh.

                                      - The problem with Israel at this time is the

                                          same problem with the church:

Hosea 8:14, “For Israel has forgotten his Maker, ...

                                      - This is NOT an intellectual

                                          forgetness, it is a MORAL forgetness.

                                                * And in reality it’s not even forgetting it

                                                 is ignoring.

> Again something Israel was warned about early and the

    church reminded of regularly.

Deuteronomy 4:23, Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which the Lord your God has forbidden you.

Deuteronomy 6:10-12

Deuteronomy 8:10-20

          B- The best book in order to help self = THE BIBLE

                   1- The word that transforms so we’ll have a spirit to

                        conform.

                             a- The best thing is, the bible is not about self help,

                                 but God who helps me daily.

John 14:26, But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

> BUT as far as the forgetful or purposefully ignorant        (Look at

   Verse 1).

Hosea 8:1, “Set the trumpet to your mouth!

          A- The Jews used trumpets to announce special occasions

               and to sound alarms, to gather assemblies and to

               proclaim war.

                   1- The Idea to Israel is what follows is a warning:

                   2- The idea to the church:

1 Peter 4:17, For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

> Chapter 8 = 5 sins that result from a people who forget (ignore)

   the living God.

          A- A people, although they know God, but decide to ignore

              God,  will:

#1- Ignore God’s word

#2- Will heap up for themselves leaders after their own lust, 

      kings to fill their desires.

#3- Idolatry will reign.

#4- They will be unequally yoked.

#5- They will worship the worthless.

Read Verses 1-3

          A- The whole point the prophet is making here is:

                   1- Israel says they have a relationship with God (V:2),

                       BUT they don’t keep God’s word.

                             a- The idea here is a relationship in which one

                                 person refuses to listen is not much of a

                                 relationship.

                   2- We are all set up to listen to day:

                             a- e-mail, phone, cell phone, blueberry, test

                                message, voice mail.

                                      - But they seem to be more a means of

                                        speaking than elements of a lifestyle of

                                        listening.

          B- SEE GOD is not jealous of you BUT FOR YOU.

                   1- He is not mad at man but madly in love with man.

                             a- BUT if we don’t listen He’ll get our attention.

Read Jeremiah 13:15-17

Revelation 2-3 7X’s: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

Revelation 13:9, If anyone has an ear, let him hear. (People of the church age who did not have an ear to hear)

                   2- If THE LORD is your lord you’ll hear him.

Luke 6:46, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?

#2- Those who ignore God will: Will heap up for themselves

       leaders after their own lust,  kings to fill their desires.

Hosea 8:4, “They set up kings, but not by Me; They made princes, but I did not acknowledge them. From their silver and gold They made idols for themselves— That they might be cut off.

          A- We setup our politicians as gods and are disappointed

              with they can’t deliver.

                   1- What ever the platform of the next election is, Dem or

                       Rep. they will not be able to make good.

                             a- It’s the disadvantage that the incumbent has.

                                      - BUT ISN’T IT GOD WHO SETS LEADERS

                                        IN OFFICE?

Romans 13:1, Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

                   2- REMEMBER from one of our 1st studies in Hosea:

                       Sometimes God’s punishment is Him allowing us our

                       desires.

> Combining Point 1 with point 2

2 Timothy 4:3-5, 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. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

                             - In order to avoid the conviction of the Word

                              man chooses leaders who are not convicted by

                              the Word.

#3- Those who ignore God will: Replace God with that which is

       not God.

Joshua 24:15, And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,...

Read Verses 4b – 6

          A- Notice that these 5 points are not so much a list but

              points on a circle that feed off of one another.

Turn to 1 Kings 12:25-33

                   1- The bible tells us “faith comes by hearing and hearing

                                                       by the Word of God”.

                             a- It also says that “we walk by faith and not by

                                                              sight”.

                                      - No Word = No faith = the need for that

                                                                             which you see.

Read Exodus 32:1-6, 19-24

                   2- We’re no different today:

                             a- Has something come between you and your

                                relationship with God?

                                      - What popped up in your life: relationship,

                                         job, ...

#4- Those who ignore God will: Become unequally yoked with

       the ungodly.

Read Verses 8-10

          A- The separation of state from church,  the division of

               apostate and faithful, the gulf between pretender and

               contender.

                   1- Their should be a definite divide here BUT INSTEAD

                       the line has been blurred.

                             a- With the intent of harmony, toleration, and

                                 eclimincalism we’ve established fellowship with

                                 those who have doctrinal differences.

                                      - BUT we’ve caused division between the Lord

                                        and His church (guess you moved away).

Read 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1

#5- Those who ignore God will: Worship the worthless.

Read Verses 11-13

          A- The God who took them out of the world can put them

               back.

                   1- What can your god replacement do FOR YOU???
Read Isaiah 44:6-20

Close: A parallel observation by God that ties in Hosea’s times

             with ours.

Hosea 8:14, “For Israel has forgotten his Maker, And has built (Big) temples; Judah also has multiplied fortified cities; But I will send fire upon his cities, And it shall devour his palaces.”

Luke 12:18-21, So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’, “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Hosea 8

June 29, 2006

James 1:22

Deuteronomy 4:23

Deuteronomy 6:10-12

Deuteronomy 8:10-20

John 14:26

1 Peter 4:17

Jeremiah 13:15-17

 Revelation 13:9

Luke 6:46

Romans 13:1

2 Timothy 4:3-5

Joshua 24:15

1 Kings 12:25-33

 Exodus 32:1-6, 19-24

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1

Isaiah 44:6-20

Luke 12:18-21