Sow To Yourselves In Righteousness

Hosea 10 v. 1 - 15 v. 12 "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you."

Note The :-

1. CHALLENGE OF GOD - ch 10 v. 1 "Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images."

She had:-

(a) Material Prosperity - v. 1 "Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images."

(b) Idolatrous Profanity - v. 1 according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images"

(c) Spiritual Poverty - "an empty vine"

2. CHASTENING OF GOD - v. 2 "Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images."

Note:-

(a) The Reason for his Chastening - "Their heart is divided"

(b) The Resolve of his Chastening - "he shall break down their altars"

(c) The Rigour of his Chastening - he shall spoil their images."

(d) The Result of his Chastening - v. 12 "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy;

3. CHARGE OF GOD - v. 12 "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you." Note:-

(a) The Possibility of Salvation - "sow to yourselves" - They:- may change

(b) The Preparation for Salvation - "break up your fallow ground"

There must be:-

(1) A Sorrowing for Sin

(2) A Softening of Heart

(3) A Seeking of God

(4) A Separating from Evil 2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

(c) The Priority in Salvation "For it is time to seek the Lord" IT IS TIME:- I. SEEK HIM IN TIMES OF DELIGHT 1 Chronicles 22:17-19 David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, 18 Is not the LORD your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side? for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD, and before his people. 19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD. A. When the presence of God is felt "Is not the LORD your God with you?" B. When peace surrounds you "and hath he not given you rest on every side?" C. When prosperity comes to you "the land is subdued before the Lord and before his people." II. SEEK HIM IN TIMES OF DIFFICULTY God spoke of times when the Israelites would be in captivity: Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. A. Struggles will come; seek HIM! B. Separation will come; seek HIM! if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, C. Searching will come; seek HIM! if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. III. SEEK HIM IN TIMES OF DISCOURAGEMENT, 1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. IV. SEEK HIM IN TIMES OF DISASTER, DESOLATION, DANGER, AND DISAPPOINTMENT 2 Chronicles 20:1-3 It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. 2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi. 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. Child in jail, Divorce, Medical calamity, Loss of job V. SEEK HIM IN TIMES OF DEDICATION Ezra 6:21 And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat, The children of Israel sought God at the dedicaton of the house of God under the rule of King Darius. A. When dedicating to the will of God, seek Him B. When dedicating to the work of God, seek Him C. When dedicating to the witness of God, seek Him VI. SEEK HIM IN TIMES OF DECISION Luke 6:12-13 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; A. About a mate, B. About money, C. About a ministry VII. SEEK HIM IN TIMES OF DEVELOPMENT (YOUTH) 2 Chronicles 34:3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he (Josiah) was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images. Josiah was only 16 when he began to seek God. VIII. SEEK HIM IN TIMES OF DEFILEMENT 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. A. Seek Him Directly (1Chronicles 16:11) Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. B. Seek Him Urgently – “for it is time” C. Seek Him Continually – “till he come” D. Seek Him Expectantly – “and rain righteousness” E. Seek Him Personally – “upon you” 4. THE CHANGE OF GOD v 12 "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you." (d) The Power of Salvation - He brings:- (1) Pardon, (2) Peace, (3) Purpose, (4) Provision, (5) Promise of life eternal