I. EXORDIUM:
Do you have other relationship conflicting the LORD's?
II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:
Believers
III. OBJECTIVES:
To prove that the LORD wants heavenly relationship with us.
IV. TEXT:
Hosea 6:3 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.”
V. THESIS:
Our heavenly relationship requires us knowledge and experiences of the LORD
VI. TITLE:
Our Heavenly Relationship
VII. EXPLICATION:
A. Author: Hosea = son of Beeri, a contemporary of Isaiah and Micah
B. Spiritual Message: Apostasy from GOD is spiritual adultery
VIII. MAIN BODY:
A. What does it mean to have Heavenly Relationship with the LORD:
1. Knowledge of the LORD (Psalms 111:10, Proverbs 2:6)
They say that wisdom is application of knowledge but I say according to the Bible, true knowledge came from the LORD's mouth, His Words, and true wisdom is founded on the fear of the LORD. Without GOD's Words, there could be no real or true relationship with the LORD, because if you love someone, you strive to know him/her better.
Psalms 111:10 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever!
Proverbs 2:6 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
2. Press on to know the LORD more (Jeremiah 31:34, 2 Samuel 7:20, 1 Samuel 16:7)
The LORD knows the deep things of our hearts, in a relationship, the LORD has already done His part for us, now it's our time to reciprocate His love by knowing Him more and pressing on to know Him more, it's an endless journey of studying, researching, meditating, memorizing and loving GOD'S Words while we're here on earth.
Jeremiah 31:34 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,” says the Lord. “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”
2 Samuel 7:20 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
“What more can I say to you? You know what your servant is really like, Sovereign Lord.
1 Samuel 16:7 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
3. The LORD's response to our prayers: (Genesis 25:21, Isaiah 55:10-11, Jeremiah 33:3)
a. Surely as the arrival of dawn
b. Coming of rains in early spring
Then when you do this condition of our relationship not because you are forced to do so but you do it voluntarily out of love, because of our relationship with Him, that is to know Him and know Him better is eternal life.
Genesis 25:21 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
Isaac pleaded with the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children. The Lord answered Isaac’s prayer, and Rebekah became pregnant with twins.
Isaiah 55:10-11 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
“The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.
It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
Jeremiah 33:3 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.
IX. CONCLUSION:
Our knowledge of Him leads us to our eternal life while we're here on earth and glorified body out of this earth.
John 17:3 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.
