Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Hosea 1:1-9


Hosea 1:1-9


The Cast of Characters

** Each of the Characters” in the narrative have a spiritual significance in God’s relationship with his people.

1. Hosea – The Man – Hosea 1:1

“The word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel.”

  • Name from Hebrew – yesha = “Salvation” or “Deliverance”
  • The “LORD” gives the “word” - establishment that God is the main character 
Uzziah king of Judah for 52 years starting in 783BC. Jeroboam (northern king) reigned though 753BC.
This makes Hosea’s prophetic ministry about 30 years.
Hosea is symbolic of the “Faithful Remnant” (See: Romans 11:1-6) 

2. Gomer 
– The “Adulterous Wife” (v. 2)
  • Symbol of an Unfaithful Israel

“Gomer” means, “Complete”...as in, Israel’s sin is mature, no more room to grow or decline

3. “Children of Unfaithfulness” (v. 2)

  • born to Gomer before marrying Hosea
  • possible symbolic foreshadowing to the inclusion of gentiles into the covenant

4. The Offspring of Unfaithfulness

  • Son #1 – “Jezreel” = “God sows”

Gateway city located in Jezreel Valley near Megiddo.

Known as one of the bloodiest locations in the ancient land – due to its strategy importance of converging highways.

Megiddo has eschatological significance in New Testament...as the gathering/staging place of armies of the nations before they lay siege to Jerusalem - see Revelation 16:16

Perhaps God’s way of foretelling their future... as in, “Just as you massacred others, so will you be massacred.” In other words, “you reap what you sow.”

v. 3 - “So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.”

Point: In a real sense, this is the indictment against Israel!

  • Lo-Ruhamah = “Not loved” (i.e.: “No compassion”)
    • This is the fruit of unrepented unfaithfulness to God: no compassion
    • Does this negate the covenant?

▪ No...Judah remains (see verse 7) and all Israel will eventually be restored... ▪ ...but, first, comes judgment.

  • Lo-Ammi = “Not my People”

    God gives some “time” for repentance...but none happens
    This action by God seems to contradict his previous statements/promises.

    • ▪  See Exodus 6:7 – “I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.”

      Leviticus 26:12 – “I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.” But this is the nature of the covenant...the Maker controls the conditions.

Application

Application 1 – The godly can fulfill God’s will even in the midst of the most ungodly situations.

** The keys:

1. Live by faith that God is with you.

a. ...even when he asks you to do “strange” things – like marry a prostitute

2. Let God live/speak/work “through” (verse 2) you.

a. We don’t know how old Hosea was when “the LORD began to speak through” him...

...but we know that Hosea was faithful to the calling WHEN the LORD decided it was time.

Application 2 – Rebellion has its necessary response from God.

** God responds “because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the LORD.”     (v. 2)

Application 3 – God’s compassion is great...but not inexhaustible.

Lamentations 3:22-24 – “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

...and with the realization that God’s faithfulness is new every morning, Jeremiah concludes - 24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”


** Listen to the Message Here ** 

Maximizing your Future

“Maximizing Your Future”

Colossians 4:1-6 (NLT)

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
- prayer by Thomas Merton (Thoughts in Solitude)

“Hope is hearing the melody of the future. Faith is to dance to it.”

- Rubem Alves (Brazilian Theologian)

I. Traits of a Future Maximizer” 

Trait #1 – Treat others Masterfully.

Corrie Ten Boom - “The most important question is not how much work is being done but how much Jesus is doing through you. Look up; God’s ceiling is unlimited.”

Second Great Commandment - “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31)

2 Corinthians 1:12 - “Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God

Colossians 4:1 – Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master - in heaven.

Idea: We live in such a way as to attract others to Jesus.

Quote: Dr. Edwin Louis Cole - “Wouldn’t it be something if that donkey thought all that applause was for him.”

Point: Maximizers draw others to God by the way they live.

Trait #2 - Practice powerful prayer.

** Examples of Less-Potent Prayers

  • Convenience Prayers
  • Panic Prayers
  • Ritual Prayers
  • Forgetful Prayers 

Psalm 27:4 - “The one thing I ask of the LORD -- the thing I seek most -- is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.” (NLT)

Colossians 4:2 – “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.” Notes: “Devote” = perseverance or vigilance...

Alert Mind” = stay awake ...refers to an attitude of being spiritually alert.

“Thankful Heart” = no doubt when prayer is offered in faith 

Application: Prayer empowers the Maximizer to have the spiritual strength to complete the task.

Trait #3 – Expectantly engage.

Colossians 4:5 – “Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.

How? see: v. 6 - Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. (NLT)

...better translation from ESV – “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

...or see 1 Peter 3:15 - Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

Francois Fenelon – “Dont worry about the future. Worry quenches the work of grace within you. The future belongs to God. He is in charge of all things. Never second-guess him."

NOTE: Questions about Preparation:

Question #1 – Does God make witnessing easy? 

Question #2 – Does God open the door for us to speak for him? Question #3 – Does God expect us to be ready for the open door?

Application: Maximizers live to attract others to God.

** Listen to Message Here **

Thursday, March 10, 2022

Maximizing your Relationships

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“Maximizing your Relationships”

John 15:9-13

“As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.”

- John 15:9

“Few things are as hollow as a relationship intended for passion that instead is marked by mere duty.”

- Maxie Dunnam

Jesus said, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” 

John 13:35 (NLT)

“Be not angry that you cannot make others as you want them to be, since you cannot make 
yourself as you wish to be.”
- Thomas a Kempis

I. The Key to Maximizing your Relationships

The Key - “Abiding” in Jesus Christ.

John 15:9 - Jesus said, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.” 

Note: Abiding = staying connected.

The Idea: Abiding is more than just believing in Jesus ... it means drawing life from Christ. 

Application: Because Jesus is in us and we in him, fruit-bearing is guaranteed.

John 15:5 – “I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” (NLT)

Note: 2 Hindrances to Fruit-bearing: Disease and Disorder.

John 15:2 - “He [God] removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit.”

“Removes” = Disease control.

“Prunes” = Discipline/Shapes - so it won’t be wild. 

II. God’s Guarantees for Maximized Relationships 

Guarantee #1 - Obedience leads to fulfillment of God’s plan.

John 15:10, 12 - “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Fathers commandments and abide in his love. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

Note: Maximizing your Relationship does not guarantee a particular human outcome.

Application: To kick-start a wayward relationship...unconditional and sacrificial love.

John 15:13 - “The greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends. (NLT)

Mark Twain – “Forgiveness is the fragrance that the flower leaves on the heel of the one who crushed it.”

William Stoddard - “Forgiving the unforgivable is hard. So was the cross: hard words, hard wood, hard nails.”

Guarantee #2 - Joy is the fruit of being connected.

John 15:11 - “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”

Observation: Unforgiving people are miserable and bitter... forgiving people are joyful.

Application: If you are having problems maximizing a relationship, someone is not abiding in Christ.

“In Jesus’ righteousness the unrighteous are granted, as a gift, relationship with God: a free gift. Mercy took a human face.”
- Walter Wangerin






Saturday, March 5, 2022

Maximizing your Resources

“Maximizing your Resources”

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

I. Three Models of Managing your Resources

A. The Secular Model

 Personal Philosophy: I give what I can afford. Underlying Motivation: My benefit.

James 5:1,3 - “Look here, you rich people, weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh in hell. This treasure you have accumulated will stand as evidence against you on the day of judgment.” (NLT)

Proverbs 11:24 – “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.”

B. The Old Testament Model

 

Malachi 3:10 - “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.”

 Personal Philosophy:  God deserves my first fruits.

 

Underlying Motivation: Obedience to God


C. The New Testament Model

 

                                                                                                 

Personal Philosophy:  I cannot out-give God.   

 

2 Corinthians 9:8 - “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

 

Presupposition:  The Old Testament Model is only the beginning.

 

Underlying Motivation: Faith in God’s ability to provide…and love for others.

 

II. The Benefits of Maximizing your Resources 

Benefit #1 - Needs are met.

2 Corinthians 9:12 - “So two good things will happen – the needs of the Christians in Jerusalem will be met,...” (NLT)

Benefit #2 - God is glorified.

2 Corinthians 9:12 -“...and they will joyfully express their thanksgiving to God. (NLT)

Benefit #3 – You will be blessed in unexpected ways.

2 Corinthians 9:11 – “Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous.” (NLT) 

Proverbs 11:25 – “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” 

Proverbs 22:9 – “A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.”

2 Essential Questions:

1. If you follow the Secular Model, who exempted you? 

2. How much of a “Kingdom” impact do I want to have?


For Discussion and Meditation

  1. The Model I follow is...
    The Model I’d like to achieve is...

  2. To make it to my desired model I will...

  3. The hardest part of trusting God with ALL of my resources is...

  4. The impact I would like to make for the “Kingdom” is...

  5. To make this impact, with the help of God, I will...





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