Sermon Central
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Return For Revival
Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jun 14, 2024 (message contributor)
Summary: The invitation was to live in the ways of God. It was an invitation to come back to the ways that the people knew were right. When Hosea uses the words “let us”, he speaks in clear terms here to communicate that those who needed to return to the LORD were not alone.
• One of the few court cases that was actually brought before a judge was unusual. The defendant came into the court and admitted his guilt, the judge led the man to Christ and the jury closed the case by singing a hymn.
4. LIVING IN GOD’S PRESENCE (v. 2c)
The objective of God's healing and restoration is that we may ‘live in His presence.’ It speaks to the intimacy and communion with God that is made available to us through Christ. Our restoration is not just about being patched up and sent on our way; it is about being fully embraced into the divine presence of our loving and merciful Creator.
God's ultimate desire is for us to live in His presence, to walk closely with Him and experience His love and provision each day. When we press on to acknowledge the Lord and seek Him wholeheartedly, He promises to come to us like the refreshing rains, nourishing our souls and bringing forth spiritual growth and fruitfulness in our lives.
Living in His presence is not just a fleeting moment, but a lifelong journey of communion and intimacy with our Creator. It is through His presence that we find purpose, peace, and joy.
So, what happens when we LIVE IN HIS PRESENCE?
Verse 3 tells us that God will come …
The promise is that God will appear to us when we genuinely seek Him out. This means that whenever we are real in desiring God, He will show Himself to us. Hosea affirms this promise through the description of the promise. Look at what Hosea says there: as surely as the sun rises. Hosea is making it clear that if we seek God, He will appear. This is a fixed fact of life. It is something that we can count on just like the rising of the sun.
He will come to us like the winter rains (FORMER RAIN)
The winter rains played a vital role in Israel’s agricultural economy. The winter rains washed away the remnants of the previous season. For example, the rains would wash away the chaff from wheat left in the harvesting areas. They served as a way to clear the fields of anything left over from the harvest season and then prepared the fields for planting.
The ‘FORMER RAIN’ is the impartation of God’s GRACE that SOFTENS THE SOIL OF OUR HEARTS.
So how does this affect us? Before we do anything for God we must first be in a right position with Him. This means that there must be a cleansing in our lives. God does this in two distinct ways. The first is through the work of Jesus on the cross giving us the opportunity for salvation. Salvation cleanses us from the effects of sin. Just as the winter rains cleansed the fields of harvest.
He will come to us like the spring rains (LATTER RAIN)
The spring rains played a different role in Israel’s agriculture. The spring rains watered the ground for the planting season. This made the springs rains vital for the coming of new life. These rains were the renewing of the land for a new season of life. Spring rains made it possible the seeds to take on a new cycle of life and brought growth to the new plants. Without a good season of rain in the spring there would not be a good harvest. The second is the ‘LATTER RAIN’ through the OUTPOURING of the HOLY SPIRIT on God’s people by preparing His Church for the harvest through renewal and revival.
