TAKING A LOOK AT HARD-HEARTEDNESS
HOSEA 10
INTRODUCTION: SIMPLY DEFINED HARDHEARTEDNESS IS TO BE WITHOUT A SOFT HEART. IN THE PHYSICAL WORLD, THIS WOULD BE APPLIED TO OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS. IN THE SPIRITUAL; WORLD,, THERE IS A DIRECT APPLICATION TOWARDS GOD AND HIS PLANS AND DESIRES FOR US.
THIS CHAPTER OF HOSEA IS RICH IN TEACHING REGARDING HARDHEARTEDNESS, SPECIFICALLY ITS CAUSES, ITS CONSEQUENCES, AND HOW TO CONQUER HARDHEARTEDNESS IN OUR LIVES.
I. THE CAUSES OF HARDHEARTEDNESS IN OUR LIVES
A. INGRATITUDE -- Hosea 10:1 Israel was a spreading vine; he brought forth fruit for himself. As his fruit increased, he built more altars; as his land prospered, he adorned his sacred stones.
1. THE WORD FOR SPREADING MEANS EMPTY
2. ISRAEL WAS A SPREADING VINE THAT MISUSED THE FRUIT
3. MISUSE – ATTRIBUTING TO IDOLS WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO GOD
4. WE CAN GET CAUGHT UNAWARE OF INGRATITUDE IN OUR LIVES
5. LEVELS OF GRATITUDE
a. LEVEL ONE – BEING GRATEFUL WHEN WE ARE BLESSED
b. LEVEL TWO – BEING GRATEFUL FOR THE HOPE OF BLESSING TO COME
Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
c. LEVEL THREE – BEING GRATEFUL DURING TRIALS
Philippians 1:3-6 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
INGRATITUDE TAKES SEED WHEN WE ALLOW OURSLEVES TO EXPERIENCE IT AT ANY OT THESE THREE LEVELS
B. INSTABILITY -- Hosea 10:2 Their heart is deceitful, and now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will demolish their altars and destroy their sacred stones
1. THE WORD DECEITFUL MEANS TO BE SMOOTH OR SLICK LIKE OIL, DOUBLE-TONGUED.
2. SMOOTH OR SLICK HEARTS ARE EASY TO SIN HEARTS BECAUSE NOTHING STAYS ON THEM LONG ENOUGH TO AFFECT THEM.
3. SO FOR ISRAEL ( AND US), WE COULD GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS OF DOING ONE THING WHEN IN REALITY WE ARE INTENT ON DOING ANOTHER
4. GOD, THROUGH HIS WORD IS ALWAYS CHALLENGING US TO TO MAKE UP OUR MINDS AS TO WHO WE ARE GOING TO LIVE FOR – HIM OR SELF
Jeremiah 3:10 In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretense," declares the LORD.
1 Kings 18:21 Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said nothing.
Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
James 4:4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
Revelation 3:15-16 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
James 1:8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
5. THE MAN WITH A DIVIDED HEART LEADS A DISTRACTED, RESTLESS LIFE.
a. HIS LIFE IS NOT CONTROLLED BY THE WISDOM OF GOD.
b. SOME FOLKS WILL NOT TRUST CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOR BECAUSE THEY ARE DOUBLE-MINDED.
c. THEIR INDECISIVENESS IS IN ESSENCE A DECISION, A DECISION NOT TO TRUST IN HIM.
d. GOD WANTS US TO MAKE UP OUR MINDS, BELOVED.
e. THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS CHOOSE TO SERVE HIM.
C. INDIFFERENCE -- Hosea 10:3 Then they will say, "We have no king because we did not revere the LORD. But even if we had a king, what could he do for us?"
1. THE PEOPLE HAD NO NEED FOR GOD IN THEIR LIVES
2. THE PEOPLE MINIMIZED THEIR NEED FOR GOD IN THEIR LIVES
3. SCRIPTURE WARNS US THAT THERE IS A WAY THE SEEMS RIGHT UNTO MAN BUT THE WAYS THEREOF ARE THE WAYS OF DEATH.
4. WHEN WE BEGIN TO MINIMIZE THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN OUR LIVES, IT CANNNOT HELP BUT FLOW DOWN INTO EVERY OTHER RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE!
D. IMPOTENT PROMISES – Hosea 10:4 They make many promises, take false oaths and make agreements; therefore lawsuits spring up like poisonous weeds in a plowed field.
1. DISLOYALTY TO GOD BREEDS DISLOYALTY TO MEN
2. AFTER ALL – IF WE CAN GT AWAY WITH IT WITH GOD, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH IT WITH WHOEVER WE CHOOSE.
3. OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS OTHERS IS A REFLECTION OF OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS GOD!
4. THIS VERSE REFLECTS THREE “TUGS” ON OUR LIVES
a. OUR LOVE FOR GOD AND OUR HYPOCRISY IN OUR LIVING
b. OUR DESIRE FOR TRUTH AND OUR DEALING WITH OTHERS
c. THE CALL TO RIGHTEOUSNESS AND OUR PRACTICE OF EVIL
5. TO BE PEOPLE OF TRUTH, WE MUST BE PEOPLE OF THE BOOK – OUR BIBLES
6. HISTORY HAS REVEALED THAT WE CANNOT BE AMBIGUOUS LONG. WE WILL BE PULLED AWAY FROM GOD IF WE DO NOT CHOOSE TO LOVE, WORSHIP AND SERVE HIM
E. INVOLVEMENT IN A SINFUL LIFESTYLE – Hosea 10:9 "Since the days of Gibeah, you have sinned, O Israel, and there you have remained. Did not war overtake the evildoers in Gibeah?
1. THE DAYS OF GIBEAH WERE A TIME OF ISRAEL AT ITS LOWEST.
2. A PRIEST WAS TRAVELING WITH HIS CONCUBINE, AND NEEDED TO SPEND THE NIGHT. NO PLACE WOULD GIVE HIM LODGING. FINALLY A MAN OFFERED HIS PLACE.
3. LATER THAT EVENING, A GROUP OF YOUNG MEN APPROACHED THE HOUSE AND DEMANDED THAT THE PRIEST COME OUT. EVENTUALLY THE OWNER SENT OUR THE CONCUBINE. SHE WAS ASSAULTED AND KILLED.
4. THE PRIEST DISMEMBERED HER AND SENT A PIECE TO EVERY TRIBE, TELLING EACH TRIBE OF ISRAEL ABOUT THE INACTIVITY AND NEGLIGENCE OF THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN IN DEALING WITH THIS CRIME.
5. THE END RESULT WAS THAT THE REST OF ISRAEL RESPONDED WITH SUCH FURY THAT THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN WAS ALMOST WIPED OUT OF EXISTENCE
Judges 21:25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.
6. SO DETACHED WAS THE NATION OF ISRAEL FROM GOD THAT IT TOOK SUCH A MONUMENTAL ACTION TO BRING ABOUT RETRIBUTION FOR THE ACT AGAINST THE CONCUBINE
7. WHEN WE INVOLVE OURSELVES IN ACTIVITY GOD DECLARES TO BE SIN, AND DO NOT ALLOW THE CONVICTING POWER OF OUR CONSCIENCE AND THE HOLY SPIRIT TO EFFECT CHANGE IN OUR HEARTS, WE BECOME HARDHEARTED
F. INATTENTION TO SPIRITUAL HEALTH – Hosea 10:12 Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.
1. FALLOW/UNPLOWED GROUND IS GROUND THAT HAS BECOME HARD, CRUSTED AND CAKED
2. IT IS UNFIT FOR SEED. IT IS WASTED GROUND
3. IT IS THE HARD GROUND THE LORD SPOKE ABOUT WHERE THE SEED OF THE WORD OF GOD CANNOT FIND ROOT.
4. WE BECOME HARDHEARTED BY OUR SPIRITUAL NEGLECT AND IDLENESS. CHRISTIANS TEND TO STOP MATURING WHEN THEY RESIST AND NEGLECT TIME IN THE WORD OF GOD, IN PRAYER, AND CHURCH ATTENDANCE.
II. THE CONSEQUENCES OF HARDHEARTEDNESS
I AM NOT GOING TO ELABORATE ON THEM IN THIS MESSAGE, YET I THINK THEY ARE PLAIN TO SEE AS YOU READ HOSEA 10. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
ü CONVICTION OF OUR GUILT
ü CRASHING OF OUR DREAMS
ü CONFLICT IN OUR LIVES
ü FEAR
ü CONDEMNATION
ü CONTEMPLATION OF SUICIDE
ü CHASTISEMENT OF GOD
III. CONQUERING HARDHEARTEDNESS
Hosea 10:12 Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.
THE PEOPLE OF GOD MUST LIVE DIFFERENTLY THAT THE WORLD AROUND THEM
THE TRUE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST WILL LIVE DIFFERENTLY THAN THE WORLD AROUND THEM. NOT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO, BUT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO.
PERHAPS JOHN IN HIS FIRST LETTER SAYS IT BEST!
1 John 1:8-10 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
1 John 2:3-6 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4 The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.5 But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
A. PASS THE TEST OF PRACTICAL RIGHTEOUSNESS. ARE YOU PROGRESSING IN YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE TO BECOME MORE LIKE CHRIST? DOES YOUR CONDUCT MATCH YOUR PROFESSION?
1 John 2:7-11 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. 9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.
1 John 3:11-18 This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
B. PASS THE TEST OF BIBLICAL LOVE. ARE YOUR ACTS OF LOVE VISIBLE AND NOTICEABLE? CLAIMING TO KNOW GOD BUT FAILING TO SHOW LOVE FOR OTHERS IS EITHER SELF
1 John 4:1-6 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
C. PASS THE TEST OF TRUTH. THIS IS THE THEOLOGICAL TEST. WHAT DO YOU, SITTING IN THE PEW, BELIEVE, REALLY BELIEVE ABOUT GOD?
IN REALITY THIS ALL COMES DOWN TO EMBRACING ONE TRUTH WITH OUR WHOLE BEING:
John 15:4-5 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
HARDHEARTEDNESS CAME TO THE NATION OF ISRAEL WHEN THEY BECAME AN EMPTY SPREADING VINE. WE REMAIN FAITHFUL AND SOFT HEARTED WHEN WE EMBRACE OUR NEED, DEPENDENCY, AND RELIANCE ON CHRIST FOR OUR STRENGTH, FRUIT, LIFE, AND BLESSING
