LESSONS FROM HOSEA

 

Lessons From Hosea  - Hos 10:12 – May 3, 2009

 

Intro:  I love how the Bible is so applicable for today.  Israel like our nation was in spiritual decline and Hosea comes along with a message of hope.  We need Hosea types today who will plead for and plead with this nation.  As Hosea was so we must be committed to the task of saving a sinful nation.  Canada needs salvation and it is the responsibility of the Canadian church to do this task.

 

Background.

 

-  Hosea was the son of Beeri.  Hosea was from the Northern Kingdom and was familiar

    With the evil condition existing in Israel at the time.  He was a contemporary of Amos

    A man who strongly influenced his life and Isaiah.  The book is written between 781

    And 740 B.C.  He ministered during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah and

    Jeroboam II.

-  Hosea married a woman named Gomer who turned out to be unfaithful.  They had three

    Children each named for a particular spiritual condition Israel suffered from.  God uses

    Hosea as a personal example.  Through his life and marriage God’s attitude is vividly

    Portrayed, 

 

1.  Sow for yourself righteousness.  Hosea pleads with his readers to turn from their

     Sinful ways and sow righteousness.  Israel during Hosea’s life was in a time of

     Economic and social stability which actually breeds apostasy, lethargy, and

     Complacency.  Hosea told Israel she was dying for lack of knowledge.  (4:6)

 

a.  Amos in his book tells us that Israel suffered from three sins.  Idolatry, lack of mercy

     And a corrupt justice system.     

b.  Hosea as a true evangelist with a burden of souls on his heart gives them God’s

     Formula and method of restoration and healing.  Change you ways and sow

     Righteousness.  Be a right thinking, living and talking person.  God wants his people

     to come home, away from sin and find love, forgiveness and repentance for these

     are the essentials of true religion.

c.  Reap the fruit of unfailing love.  Hosea reveals that God’s full forgiveness to all who

     Truly want it and find His love.  John 3 !6, powerfully states this.  God is merciful

      And grace runs plenty.  He works in every area where we hear the call.

d.  The problem is that sin and lack of knowledge about God has destroy many people’s

      Ability to hear God.  Self reliance, focus and selfishness has dimmed our ability to

      Hear God’s voice.  It has been drowned out by wealth, material possession, business,

      Idolatry, pleasure and so many other distractions. 

e.  Hosea says you must repent to find real joy.

 

2.  Hosea then says, “Break up your fallow ground.   Hosea was exposing a spiritual

     Problem in Israel., their prosperity and materialism made then lazy and complacent.

     They loved the bountiful harvests they were having but they hated to work or break

     Up the dirt lumps or clods necessary to have a good soil.

 

 

a.  The principle of sowing and reaping runs through out the Bible.  What you sow is       

     What you reap.  Sow righteous and you reap it.  Sow love you reap love.  Sow sin

     And you reap sin.  J. Vernon McGee wrote. “You cannot sow by the devil standards

     And then expect to reap a reward from God.

b.  In the book of Hosea, Israel is portrayed as an adulterous wife that needs redemption.

c.  As we learned from our outline.  Hosea’s creative and artistic mind is used by God to

     Illustrate 8 evil conditions of Israel.

 

1.  Joined to idols. 4:17

2.  Mixes with nations, they are no longer a separated and holy nation.  7:8

3.  A flat caked not turned over.  Dough on one side expressing half heartedness.

4.  Foreigners have sap their strength.  Weakened by evil association.  7:9

5.  Hair is sprinkled with grey.  Pre-mature old age and unconscious deterioration.  7:9

6.  Israel is swallowed up.  They have lost their national identity.  We learned that from

     Mike Warnke last week.  8:8

7.  The worthless thing.  Israel had become a marred and useless vessel to the Lord. 

     8:8

8.  Loves o defraud.  Dishonesty in business.  That is so prevalent today.  12:7

 

3.  For it is time to seek the Lord.  Hosea in a creative way uses the Valley of Achor as a

     Door of hope.  Hosea says, “It is time to seek the Lord.  Don’t wait, come now.  Hosea

     Is pleading with Israel, to not think that they have all the time in the world.  As the

     Poignant pleader he says, “Now is the time to seek the Lord.”  Heb 11:6 & Matt 6:33

     Are two scriptures that strongly advise this.  The blessing revealed in them is the Lord

     Rewards and adds all things to the sincere seeker. 

 

a.  Until He comes and showers righteousness on you.  Hosea tells his readers that the

     Results or consequences of seeking the Lord is Showers of righteousness.  God will

     Bestow and impart his righteousness on you.  Hosea writes in this book that where

     There is true repentance and penitence is blessing.  God loves to reward sincerity and

     Wholeheartness.  Jesus reminded us that we cannot serve two masters.  Love of

     Money, riches, fame, popularity etc and God do not mix.  This was Israel’s problem

     They thought they could mix with the world.  The results was spiritual adultery, no

     Longer a separate and holy nation, half heartedness, weak because of evil associations,

     They had lost their national identity and had become marred and useless to the Lord.

b.  There is a powerful illustration in 3:1-3 that shows God’s love.  Hosea’s wife Gomer

     Had left him for another man.  He abandoned her and she found herself on the slave

     Block about to be sold.  Hosea comes along and buys her off the slave block for 15

     Shekels.  He takes her home and tells her that if she is faithful to him, he would live

     With her.  This illustration and example shows if Israel returns to the Lord, He would

     Be faithful and restore her.

 

 

 

 

 

QUOTES FOR JULY 11, 2026

 

BELIEVE

 

Mark 9:23 -  Dec 13, 2009

 

Intro:  This morning we are looking at the book of Mark and the lessons we can learn from it.  I love the book of Mark because it is quick in movement, active and impulsive in its main characteristics.  A little like me. 

 

Background

 

1.  The book of Mark was written by Mark who was the cousin of Barnabus and an associate of Paul and Peter.  Most say that Peter was his mentor.  It was written somewhere between 50 and 70 a.d.  Most scholars believe it was the first gospel written.

 

2.  One day I will share the life story of John Mark.  He is a story of failure and restoration.  But that is for another time.  Mark wrote his gospel to a Roman audience so it is fast pace and active.  Jesus is portrayed as the mighty God, the worker of miracles.

 

a.  Mark writes an account that moves from one event to another.  It is a moving picture

     Of Jesus’ ministry.  Mark takes time to explain Jewish customs but omits Jesus’

     Genealogy and childhood. 

b.  Description is one feature and action is the other.  Mark gives considerable attention to

     Jesus’ looks and gestures.  Mark is a master story teller.  You feel that you are right

     There as part of the audience.  You can see yourself as part of the story.

c.  The Romans were more interested in power so we find in Mark’s gospel  Jesus as the

     Conqueror of everything.  He is first the conquering servant but He is also the

     Triumphant servant in His resurrection.   

 

Mark Emphasizes

 

1.  The deity of Jesus Christ is constantly shown.  He is the Son of Man the Messiah and he gave his life for a ransom.  Like John, Mark opens his book with a declaration of the divinity of Jesus Christ but unlike John he does not explain it.  It is apparent that Mark’s aim here is to allow the reader to make up his own mind by the wonderful deeds Jesus does to show His divinity.

 

a.  Jesus for example in Northern Galilee heals a main of being deaf and dumb in Mark 7:30-37.  Have someone read.

b.  Jesus also proved this when he fed the 5000 and 4000.  In this cased he was Jesus the

Provider and the one who can meet any physical need.

 

2.  This is a gospel of Jesus Christ showing his power and glory.  The good news of salvation through His atoning death.

 

 

 

 

 

a.  Mark records 19 miracles and 4 parables.  The book is condensed but these miracles

     Are very dramatic.  Jesus also responded to needs quickly and efficiently.  The word

     Immediate is repeated over and over again.,  Mark gives a vivid, straight forward

     Description of the final hours of Christ.  He then closes with a powerful account of the

     Death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

b.  Mark at the end of his book then gives the believer what the resurrection has

     Accomplished.  The Christian has the same resurrection power available and a

     Mandate from Jesus Himself to carry on His work  

 

In His Name we are to:

 

1.  Bring the good news to all creation.

2.  Those that believe will be saved.

3.  Help others to realize the significance of water baptism

4.  Know that signs and wonders will follow us when we believe.

5.  We can drive out demons.

6.  Speak in new tongues.

7.  Protection from harmful animals, substances and situations.

8.  See the sick healed by the practice of the laying on of hands.

(Mark 16:15-18

 

c.  Jesus’ miracles show his power over all opposition.   Eight of his miracles show His

     Power over disease.  Five show his power over nature.  Four show His power over

    Demons.  Two show His conquest of death.

 

3.  Our scripture shows us that if you can believe, all things are possible.   Faith has been

     Described as knowing something exists or can be done without seeing it.  Faith is also

     Simple trust.  Jesus is the greatest man who ever lived and will ever live and He wants

     To help you and I.  He was also the tireless servant of God and man.  Jesus knew He

     Had a limited time to make an impact so he used His time wisely.  I am reminded of

    This everyday as I get older. 

 

a.  I am also reminded of the Lord continuous word of recognizing the time of our

    Visitation and Paul’s exhortation in Ephesians about redeeming the time.  I do not be-

    lieve we have a lot of time left.  So I want to make the maximum impact for Christ in

    The minimum of time. 

b.  Jesus seemed to have perpetual calls for service which He answered because he knew

     He would only make three ministry tours of Galilee, one tour of Perea, one in Tyre

     And Sidon and three short appearances in Judah. 

c.  Jesus was a man who walk in faith and trust in God.  He knew what His Father could

     Do and what He could do for Him.  Do you?  H.B. London wrote, “I want to live so

     Close to God that people will have confidence to ask me to pray for them to receive a

     Miracle.”  Jesus stated , “Everything is possible for him who believe.” 

 

lessons from proverbs

 

Lessons From Proverbs – What you need to Survive Bad Times

 

Intro:  First, thank you for your patience and allowing me to skip ahead and preach those two messages on Isaiah.  This morning I am going to share six short principles on what you need to survive in bad times.

 

1. Humility and fear of the Lord bring, wealth, honor and life.  Pr 22:4

    There is a song that says, “Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and he will lift

    you up.”  Humility is the opposite of pride.  Humility means to allow the needs wishes

    and desires of others to be your top priority.  Humbling oneself is one of the qualities

    that bring revival. 

    

a.  The statement the fear of the Lord is mentioned 14 times in Proverbs.  It is having a

     healthy respect for God.  To be in awe of.  It begins with seeking first the Kingdom of

     God as Jesus stated in Matt 6:33.  Then all things will be added unto you.    

b.  Solomon states that if you are humble and have a healthy respect for God, you will

     have wealth, honor and life.  Solomon learned that first hand at the beginning of his

     life.  This is a cornerstone truth for surviving bad times.

 

2.  He who pursues righteousness and love, finds life, prosperity and honor.  Solomon

     Is very clear in Prov 21;21, the person who runs after, chases with all their heart and

     Pursues righteousness.  (Right living, thinking, attitudes and speech) and love of the

     Agape type.  Love that gives with no strings attached or any thoughts of it

     Reciprocated, will find life, prosperity and honor. 

 

a.  John wrote in 3 John 2  that prosperity begins when your soul prospers.  You will

     survive abundantly when you read and live your bible, pray and obey God, when you

     make His house a priority as and share your life with others.     

b. Honor comes because people respect and trust.  These two virtues are earned not

    demanded. 

 

3.  A generous man will himself be blessed for he shares his food with the poor.  22:9 

     Solomon then counsels his readers that generous people will in turn be blessed

     Because they share their food with the poor.  It is the principle of sowing and reaping.

 

a.  Jesus calls this storing up treasures in heaven.  James pounded this truth home in

     James 1:27, & 2:1-7.  Jesus taught in the Mt 25:34-45 about this truth.  It is one of

     Things we will be judged upon.

b.  Solomon knew personally the incredible feeling of satisfaction and reward that comes

     when you help someone especially if they don’t know who their benefactor is.

 

4.   He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.  In today’s

      Words, Solomon simply says, engage brain before you open your mouth.  Think

      before you talk.  Simple but effective.  Pr 21:23

 

 

a.  So many situations could be avoided if we thought things through.  James calls the

     tongue a instruments capable of great evil.  With it we can praise God and mock or

     curse man created in His image.  We can tame horses with bits, drive large ships with

     a small rudder.  James says, but who can tame the tongue.  Only the Holy Spirit and

     conscious action on our part.

b.  David asks the Lord to put a watchman on the door of his mouth so he would not sin

     against God.  Solomon says a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of

     silver.  I have many blunders in my life.  But wisdom teaches us that we can reverse

     that too.  James writes the way to control this problem is be quick to hear, slow to

     speak and slow to anger.  James 1:19   

 

5. He who loves a pure heart and who speech is gracious will have the king for his

    Friend.  Pr 22:11  Solomon states his own view here.  He loves people of a pure

    Heart.  This gives them the ability to control and make their speech gracious.  Paul

    Wrote in 1 Cor 13:4-8, that loves is patient, kind, not envious, does not boast, or proud,

     Not rude, self seeking, or easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight

     In evil but rejoices in truth, always protects, trust, hopes and perseveres.  Love never

     Fails.

 

a.  Those who love purity and want a pure heart will watch their thoughts, attitudes,

     speech and actions.  They will guard it with constant prayer, reading of the word and

     attendance to God’s house. 

b.  Solomon says he whose speech is gracious will have his friendship.  Are those the

     type of friends you seek?

 

6.  Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it.

     That is why I am so glad I got to do these baby dedications  You as parents get to

      Pass this advice on to your children.  That is why I am so glad I

      Got saved.  I stopped the ungodly heritage of my family and started a new heritage.

 

a.  We must pass this on to the next generation.  That is why Sunday School, youth, kids

      clubs is so important.  That is why we must get the children, 90% of all conversions

      come before the age of 18.  That is we must pray and work.  We must refuse to allow

      apathy, the so called times or video games to have our kids. 

b.  That is why I loved that word last week.  It is like Carmen’s song, “It’s our turn now.”

     Church are you going to allow the devil to have the kids of Hay River and the north or

     Are we going to start praying and working for them.  I have shared six principles

     About how to not only survive but prosper in bad times.  Now let us share them with

     The younger generations.  That is what Solomon wish was. 

 

 

      

LETTERS TO A FRIEND

 

Letter to a Friend – Philemon – 6-7

 

Intro:  The letter of Philemon is a story of two friends.  This letter was written by the Apostle Paul was in was in prison in Rome.  Col 4:7-9.  It probably the most personal of Paul’s letter and we see his heart in the area of restoration. 

 

Facts about Philemon:  He was a member of the church at Colossae.  This church met in his house.  He was generous and benevolent.  Vs 5-7.  He was a man of some means Vs 22.  He was also a convert of Paul, Vs 19.

 

Facts about Onesimus:  He was a runaway slave of Philemon.  Rebelled against his master and ran to Rome.  He came under the influence of Paul and became converted.  Vs 10.  The lesson we learn from his life is that you can’t run away from God

-  Onesimus became a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ.  Col 4:9.  Paul wanted to keep him as a helper this becomes a wonderful lesson of discipleship. 

-  Paul felt he should send Onesimus back and this letter is Paul pleading with Philemon to forgive, reconcile and restore Onesimus.

 

Vs 6 -  I pray that you will be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.

 

1. Paul prays that Philemon would be active in sharing his faith.  Paul knew what was at stake, an entire generation needed to hear about Christ.  One of the goals you should have as a Christian is this very thing. 
2. Philemon that you would have a full understanding of every good thing you have in Christ.  You have redemption, forgiveness, peace, love, joy and gifts of the Holy Spirit.  Many writers of the Bible call it full salvation. 
3.  

Vs 7 – Your love has given great joy and encouragement, because you brother have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

 

1. Philemon’s love for Christ had given Paul great joy and encouragement.  Live a life of joy and be an encouragement and example. 
2. Refresh the hearts of the saints.  Be a role model, mentor and example.  Demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit. 
3. Paul uses Onesimus as an example of a changed life.  He makes an appeal for forgiveness.  We are to do this for each other. 

 

 

 

The lessons we can learn from Paul in this letter.

 

1. It is important to appeal on behalf of others and the unfortunate
2. Importance of being obedient to the law.  Onesimus had to be returned to Philemon. 
3. Being brothers in Christ destroys all social and class distinctions. 

QUOTES FOR JULY 11, 2026

 

LESSONS FROM ISAIAH

 

Life Lessons of Isaiah – Is 59:20-21 – Jan 4, 2009

 

Intro:  One thing I love about the New Year is being able to set a course for the following year.  This year by God’s grace we will finish the Old Testament in our Walk Thru the Bible.  The in the fall we will begin the New Testament.  Today we are finishing our series on the Book of Isaiah by looking at the Life of Isaiah.

 

1.  From your outline we learn that Isaiah ministered through the reign of four kings.

     He was the son of Amoz.  He was married to a prophetess and had two sons named

     Shear Jushub and Maher Shalal Hesh.  He was a living lesson by walking around

     Naked and barefoot for three years.

 

a.  Isaiah was called the prophet of redemption and the messianic prophet.  He saw

     Jesus’, virgin birth, His ministry, suffering, death and His reign on earth.  He saw John

     The Baptist’s life and ministry. 

b.  Isaiah was a statesman and  poet.  He told kings not to fear on occasions.  His

     Greatest time of influence was during the reign of Hezekiah.  He was the steady voice

     Of God through the attack of the Assyrians.  He told Hezekiah not to fear the

     Assyrians, when a letter came from the Assyrians mocking God, Hezekiah sent a

     Letter telling Hezekiah the Lord would deal with the Assyrians.  An angel of the Lord

     Came and killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers.  He told of the death of Hezekiah but when

     Hezekiah repented; Isaiah told him God gave him another 15 years.  Through the two

     Miracles of the Poultice of Figs and his shadow going back 10 steps, Hezekiah saw

     God work. 

c.   He saw further Kingdom’s and their leaders.   When emissaries from Babylon came

      To see Hezekiah.  Isaiah told him that one day they would take the treasures of Judah

      To Babylon.  He saw Babylon’s destruction under Darius, the rise of Cyrus to help

      Facilitate Judah’s return after 70 years of captivity. 

 

2.  Isaiah was known as a man who had an incredible relationship with God.  He was

     A man of prayer and a scholar of the word.  An entire version of his book is on display

     In Jerusalem.

 

a.  When King Uzziah died Isaiah saw the Lord, high and lifted up and His train filled the

     Temple.  It was then he saw he was a man of unclean lips and dwelt in a land of

     People with unclean lips.  He repented of this and had coals off the altar of God that

     Cleansed of that.  He volunteered at that time to speak to the people on God’s behalf. 

     Which he did for decades until his death at the hands of King Manasseh.

b.  This relationship now brings us to our scripture today.  This is a promise given to

      Israel but has application for us today.

 

3.   The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins declares

      The Lord. Is 59:20  Isaiah sees a time when the Lord will come to Zion which s the

      Place where the glory of God is.  Zion refers to the place where David built his home,

      The tabernacle and then where Solomon built the temple.  In most references is means

      The place where God is worshipped.

a.  Isaiah also saw it as a place where those in Jacob would repent of their sins.  A

     Place where forgiveness would be asked and received.  Today we live in a time where

     As Jesus describes in John 4:24, where we can worship the Lord in Spirit and truth.  A

     Place as Paul says, in Rom 10:9-10, believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths.

     Location is not as important as confessing our sins and knowing that God will forgive

     Us as John states in 1 John 1:9

b.  I love the time period we live in.  Repentance is so easy, yet powerful and effective.

     Believe, confess, renounce you sins and receive forgiveness.  It amazes me that   

     Mankind refuses it, complicates it or procrastinates when t comes to this wonderful

     Gift.  Or that His church finds it so hard to share it with others.   As the temple of the

     Holy Spirit this next verse is so wonderful.

 

4.  “As for me this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord.  God makes an agreement

      Promise or a covenant with His people.  When God makes a covenant with someone

      He will keep it and will never break it.  It is a binding contract with the God of the

      Universe who will always honor it and make sure it is kept on His part.

 

a.  “My Spirit who is on you.”  Isaiah saw 700 years before it happen the realm and time

      Of the Holy Spirit.  It was time he could only dream of.  In the O.T. the Holy Spirit

      Came upon God’s people.  In our time period, He lives in God’s people.  In Isaiah’s

      Time the Spirit when He came upon people they did exploits.  Today with the Holy

      Spirit in us, we have resurrection power, (Rom 8:11), the resources of heaven at our

      Disposal.  We have communication with heaven through the Spirit.  We have the fruit,

      Gifts and life of the Holy Spirit.  We have what only Isaiah dreamed of.  Let us use it

      This year for His glory. 

b.  And my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth. 

      Isaiah was a lover of God’s word, he spoke extensively about it.  He like all prophets

      Believe that the writings of scripture were literally God’s word for mankind.  Isaiah

      Saw a time when the people of God will have the word in their mouths and it would

      Not depart from them.  That happens by the Holy Spirit and also by studying and

      Memorization of God’s word.  2 Tim 2:15

       

c.    Or from the mouths of your children or from the mouths of their descendents.

       What a promise.  The Spirit and the words of God is in the mouths of our children

       And their descendents.  Don’t you see the effects of future generations of what we

       Are doing right now.  What you do today, tomorrow and this year will effect the

       Destiny, future and impact of your children and future generations of descendents.

       Walk in the Spirit church, pray, live, exercise His gifts and the fruit

       Of His lifestyle.  Be a person of the Word and give that to your children.  Your

       Daily example will impact according to this verse & will effect future generations.

       Maybe millions will be touch through one of your descendents. 

 

 

 

 

d.   From this time on and forever says the Lord.  This is God’s sure word.