Take It Home

Sin and Consequences

Bro. Jeff began a message entitled “Sin and Consequences” out of Hosea Chapter 8:1-14.      

Hosea 8:1-14 (NASB)
1 Put the trumpet to your lips! Like an eagle the enemy comes against the house of the Lord, Because they have transgressed My covenant And rebelled against My law. 2 They cry out to Me, “My God, we of Israel know You!” 3 Israel has rejected the good; The enemy will pursue him. 4 They have set up kings, but not by Me; They have appointed princes, but I did not know it. With their silver and gold they have made idols for themselves, That they might be cut off. 5 He has rejected your calf, O Samaria, saying, “My anger burns against them!” How long will they be incapable of innocence? 6 For from Israel is even this! A craftsman made it, so it is not God; Surely the calf of Samaria will be broken to pieces. 7 For they sow the wind And they reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads; It yields no grain. Should it yield, strangers would swallow it up. 8 Israel is swallowed up; They are now among the nations Like a vessel in which no one delights. 9 For they have gone up to Assyria, Like a wild donkey all alone; Ephraim has hired lovers. 10 Even though they hire allies among the nations, Now I will gather them up; And they will begin to diminish Because of the burden of the king of princes. 11 Since Ephraim has multiplied altars for sin, They have become altars of sinning for him. 12 Though I wrote for him ten thousand precepts of My law, They are regarded as a strange thing. 13 As for My sacrificial gifts, They sacrifice the flesh and eat it, But the Lord has taken no delight in them. Now He will remember their iniquity, And punish them for their sins; They will return to Egypt. 14 For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; And Judah has multiplied fortified cities, But I will send a fire on its cities that it may consume its palatial dwellings.
1.The Pastor mentioned Israel’s hardened course of sin made evident in verse 7.  These people had a resolute passion to disobey God’s truth while holding fast to a religious façade.  This does not represent someone who has saving faith that is in the struggle against sin.  Have you totally forsake the one true God but keep the religious garb?  What keeps you from turning back to the truth of God and turning away from the sin that so entangles you?
2.The Christian life is a fight (1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 4:7, 1 Corinthians 9:27).The fact that these Israelites have been turned over to their rebellion infers that there is no inner fight against sin going on within them.  If there was an inner fight, it would serve as an encouragement to them that they have not been given over to their sin.  Do you have that inner struggle with sin?  Do you hate the sin that you find yourself in on a daily basis?  Do you view that struggle with sin as disparaging or as an encouragement that God is still dealing with you?  Do you have the desire to have things right with God?  Are you a confessor and repenter of the sin that you are fighting against?  Are you in the fight?  What tactics are you using in your personal fight against sin? 
3.The Pastor also mentioned Israel’s empty profession that was pointed out in verse 2.  Despite their rebellion, they claimed to know God.  Do you see this parallel in your life?  These verses shed more light on this point: Matthew 7:21-23 and John 8:44.  Do you have unrepented of sin in your life and still claim to be a Christian?  Do you have a profession without possession?  If you are a Christian, you can be assured that you will be in the fight against sin.  If you are no longer in the fight, how can you have God’s Spirit within you?
4.Israel’s affections had been warped noted by verse 3.  They no longer desired the one true God but had lust for their own pleasures.  The truth was no longer attractive to them.  Do you have affections for the truth of God revealed in His Word?  Are you really drawn to faithful Bible preaching?  Does His truth stir you to faithfulness and fill you with joy?  Is the truth enough to satisfy you?  Do you find your joy in anything else?  Where do you find your greatest joy?  Would you be satisfied and content with the Church if there were no extra events or social opportunities offered?  Would you just be content with the truth?  What brings you the most pleasure?  Do you see God pulling your affections back to Him on a regular basis?  What can you do to keep your affections for Christ and to keep them off the things of this world?