THE MERRY-GO-ROUND OF SHORT-SIGHTED SPIRITUALITY
HOSEA 5:1-15
INTRODUCTION: AS WE CONTINUE IN OUR STUDY OF HOSEA WE COME TO CHAPTER 5. THIS CHAPTER IN ITS ENTIRETY SEEKS TO EDUCATE US TO SOME OF THE DYNAMICS INVOLVED IN OUR LIVES, BOTH PERSONALLY, AND THROUGH DIVINE INTERVENTION THAT HAPPEN AS WE CONTINUE TO LIVE A SHALLOW RELATIONSHIP PERSONALLY WITH GOD; HAVING NO REGARD TO THE IDOLATRY OR CARNALITY IN OUR LIVES, WHILE ALL THE TIME PRESENTING OURSELVES A “SPIRITUAL” TO THOSE WHO SEE US IN PUBLIC.
HOSEA SPEAKS TO THOSE THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO US BECAUSE OF THESE ACTIONS, AND THOSE THINGS THAT HAPPEN AS GOD WORKS IN OUR LIVES TO SOFTEN OUR HARDNESS TO HIM, AND CORRECT US SO AS TO RETURN US TO A POSITIVE, MATURE, AND LOVING WALK WITH HIM.
I. SHORT-SIGHTED SATISFACTION – 5:1
A. SATISFACTION IN BEING OVERLOOKED
1. SOMETIMES WE LOOK AROUND AND SEE THAT THINGS DO NOT SEEM TO BE SO BAD
2. GOD HAS OVERLOOKED US FOR BIGGER FISH.
B. NOTICE THE TEXT
1. GOD SINGLES OUT THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS FOR JUDGMENT
2. GOD SINGLES OUT THE POLITICAL LEADERS FOR JUDGMENT
3. GOD SINGLES OUT THE ENTIRE NATION FOR JUDGMENT
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE NEVER FLYING UNDER THE RADAR OF GOD!
THERE IS NO TIME GOD IS NOT INTIMATELY AWARE OF OUR POSITIONAL RIGHTEOUSNESS TO HIM
C. SATISFACTION IN OUR PLACE
1. WERE A SNARED AND NETTED
2. BOTH ARE TERMS USED OF HUNTERS CATCHING A PREY.
3. BOTH A NET AND SNARE REQUIRE SOME SORT OF BAIT IN ORDER TO LURE A PREY TO IT
4. FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE PREY, THE BAIT IS A FREE MEAL, OR SOMETHING ELSE IT DESIRES.
5. THEY MOVE INSTINCTIVELY TO IT AND ARE CAUGHT.
6. GOD SAYS WE ARE THE PREY WHO HAS BEEN CAUGHT IN A NET OR SNARE.
7. THE END RESULT IS THE SAME WE ARE CAUGHT WHERE WE DO NOT WANT TO BE ONCE WE REALIZE WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
MAKE NO MISTAKE; WE ARE ALL GUILTY OF BEING IN SOME SORT OF TRAP OR SNARE.
NO ONE IS INNOCENT OR IMMUNE TO CAPTURE
WE ALL HAVE SOUGHT SOMETHING WE THOUGHT WOULD BE US PLEASURE, OR RELIEF, OR GAIN.
ANGER AGAINST ANOTHER
SIN NOT CONFESSED
PRIORITIES STACKED AGAINST GOD
WE HAVE ALL FOLLOWED OUR NATURE – WHICH WITHOUT TEMPERANCE WILL ALWAYS SEEK TO TURN US FROM GOD AND TO IDOLS.
BRETHREN, UNDERSTAND THAT GOD KNOWS, AND THAT HIS REFUSAL TO ACT IS NOT HIS SHORT-SIGHTEDNESS, BUT YOURS. HE KNOWS, HE IS AWARE, AND HIS LONGSUFFERING TOWARDS YOU IS AN ACT OF GRACE, NOT A SYMPTOM OF SPIRITUAL ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE!
AS I ASK YOU THESE QUESTIONS FILL THE BLANK IN WITH THE APPROPRIATE ANSWER
I TOLD(WITNESSED) _____ PEOPLE THIS WEEK ABOUT JESUS.
I PRAY FOR _____ PEOPLE THIS WEEK WHO ARE OUTSIDE MY CHURCH.
I INVITED _____ PEOPLE TO A CHURCH EVENT OR GATHERING THIS WEEK.
I INVITED _____ PEOPLE TO ATTEND A SERVICE WITH ME THIS WEEK.
I VISITED _____ PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL OR SHUT-IN THIS WEEK.
I READ MY BIBLE AND HAD PERSONAL PRAYER _____ DAYS THIS WEEK.
I ATTENDED _____ SERVICES THIS WEEK.
I ATTENDED PRAYER MEETING THIS WEEK.
II. SHORT-SIGHTED SPIRITUALITY – 5:6-7
A. GOD DEPLORES A “GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS” RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
1. THE NATURE OF THE ACTIVITY IS UNFULFILLING TO GOD – GOD DESIRES OBEDIENCE, NOT SACRIFICE
2. THE INTENSITY OF THE ACTIVITY IS UNFULFILLING TO GOD – THEY WERE COMING WITH A WHOLE HERD OF ANIMALS TO SACRIFICE.
3. THE DEPTH OF THE ACTIVITY IS UNFULFILLING TO GOD -- ISRAEL WAS SEEKING WITH AN IMPURE HEART/DESIRE.
B. GOD UNDERSTANDS THE REAL NATURE OF THEIR SPIRITUALITY
1. THE BIBLE SAYS THEY/WE ARE UNFAITHFUL TO HIM
2. MEANS WE HAVE FAILED IN FULFILLING OUR RESPONSIBILITIES IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
3. UNFAITHFUL IS ALSO USED OF SOMEONE WHO IS A TRAITOR.
BRETHREN, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT OUR UNFAITHFULNESS TOWARDS GOD, AND HIS WILL IS SPIRITUALLY TRAITOROUS. ANY PAST OBEDIENCE DOES NOT EXCUSE PRESENT DISOBEDIENCE
ONCE AGAIN, HOW DO YOU ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS:
I TOLD(WITNESSED) _____ PEOPLE THIS WEEK ABOUT JESUS.
I PRAY FOR _____ PEOPLE THIS WEEK WHO ARE OUTSIDE MY CHURCH.
I INVITED _____ PEOPLE TO A CHURCH EVENT OR GATHERING THIS WEEK.
I INVITED _____ PEOPLE TO ATTEND A SERVICE WITH ME THIS WEEK.
I VISITED _____ PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL OR SHUT-IN THIS WEEK.
I READ MY BIBLE AND HAD PERSONAL PRAYER _____ DAYS THIS WEEK.
I ATTENDED _____ SERVICES THIS WEEK.
I ATTENDED PRAYER MEETING THIS WEEK.
III. SHORT-SIGHTED ACTIVITY – 5:10
A. SHORT-SIGHTED SATISFACTION AND SPIRITUALITY LEAD US TO DO THINGS SHORTSIGHTEDLY – WITHOUT THOUGHT TO THE CONSEQUENCES OF UR ACTIONS
B. WE MOVE THE BOUNDARY STONES
1. THIS WAS AN ACTIVITY FORBIDDEN BY THE LAW
2. THIS WAS AN ACTIVITY THAT CARRIED A CURSE
3. THIS WAS AN ACTIVITY CONSIDERED THEFT
C. HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT YOU HAVE MOVED YOUR SPIRITUAL BOUNDARIES?
1. ONCE AGAIN, HOW ABOUT THOSE QUESTIONS
2. HAVE YOU PERMITTED THOUGHTS ACTIVITIES INTO YOUR LIFE THAT YOU WOULD NEVER HAVE DONE BEFORE?
3. HAVE YOU STOPPED ACTIVITIES YOU SHOULD BE DOING?
4. IF YOU HAVE, YOU NEED TO CHANGE –
a. TWO OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT AREAS WE HAVE CHANGED IS IN THE AREA OF GIVING AND CORPORATE PRAYER.
b. I CANNOT HELP BUT SEE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO
GOD CANNOT BURDEN OUR HEARTS IF WE ARE NOT IN PRAYER TOGETHER.
1) PRAYER MEETING IS NOT IN DANGER OF DYING FROM INACTIVITY – THERE IS THE ACTIVITY OF CORPORATE PRAYER HERE EVERY WEDNESDAY
2) PRAYER MEETING IS IN DANGER OF DYING FROM OLD AGE.
3) CORPORATE PRAYER IS WHAT OPEN PRISON DOORS, BROUGHT GOD’S BLESSING AND CONVICTED THE HEARTS OF BELIEVERS.
d. UNBURDENED HEARTS WILL NEVER EXPEND RESOURCES GOD HAS ENTRUSTED TO US AS STEWARDS.
IV. SHORT-SIGHTED KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S RESOLVE – 5:10-15
A. GOD TAKES PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE DISCIPLINE OF HIS CHILDREN
1. NOTICE ALL THE “I”’s
2. GOD DOES NOT LEAVE OUR SPIRITUAL WELFARE TO OTHERS
B. GOD REVEALS HIS PROCESS OF RETURNING US TO HIM THROUGH DISCIPLINE
1. GOD FIRST INTERCEDES LIKE A MOTH/ OR ROT (PROGRESSIVE DECAY)
a. MOTHS DISTRACT AND DESTROY
b. LOST OPPORTUNITIES
c. LOST BLESSINGS
d. WASTED EFFORTS
e. LACK OF PEACE
f. LACK OF HELP FROM GOD
g. LACK OF PROTECTION FROM GOD
2. GOD SECOND INTERCEDES LIKE A LION (FIERCE DESTRUCTION)
a. HISTORICALLY ISRAEL AND JUDAH WOULD BE TAKEN INTO CAPTIVITY, AND EXILED, UNTIL REVIVAL WOULD COME, AND THEIR SINS WOULD BE PAID FOR.
C. THE ULTIMATE REASON FOR JUDGMENT AND DISCIPLINE IS CLEAR
1. GOD KNOWS RIGHT NOW IF WE ARE SEEKING HIM
2. GOD KNOWS RIGHT NOW THAT WHAT WE SEEK APART FROM HIM WILL NEVER SATISFY US
3. GOD KNOWS OUR HYPOCRISY. FOR JUST AS ISRAEL DID, WE WILL DO
a. IN THE FACE OF EVERYTHING GOD HAD DONE, INSTEAD OF SEEKING HIM, THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH SOUGHT ASSYRIA
b. GOD’S PEOPLE SOUGHT FALSE GODS, FALSE NATIONS, FALSE WEALTH, AND FALSE PLANS.
c. IN THE END, GOD LEFT THEM TO THEIR DEVICES AND VICES
V. LONG TERM RELIEF – 5:15
A. HOW DO WE AVOID THIS SITUATION
Isaiah 55:6 (NIV) 6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
B. GOD WAITS FOR US TO:
1. ADMIT OUR GUILT
2. EARNESTLY SEEK HIM
ARE WE GUILTY TODAY?
ONCE AGAIN I ASK YOU THESE SAME QUESTIONS, ….
I TOLD(WITNESSED) _____ PEOPLE THIS WEEK ABOUT JESUS.
I PRAY FOR _____ PEOPLE THIS WEEK WHO ARE OUTSIDE MY CHURCH.
I INVITED _____ PEOPLE TO A CHURCH EVENT OR GATHERING THIS WEEK.
I INVITED _____ PEOPLE TO ATTEND A SERVICE WITH ME THIS WEEK.
I VISITED _____ PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL OR SHUT-IN THIS WEEK.
I READ MY BIBLE AND HAD PERSONAL PRAYER _____ DAYS THIS WEEK.
I ATTENDED _____ SERVICES THIS WEEK.
I ATTENDED PRAYER MEETING THIS WEEK.
