Hosea 6:6 – I Delight in Loyalty Rather Than Sacrifice

2004062

Subject: 0688 (Hosea)

Introduction:

A.     Ever received an apology that wasn’t sincere?

1.      Hurt by someone & in effort to win you back, they apologize?

2.      Words sound good, but you can just tell that they don’t mean it.

a)     you know by tone of voice, look in eyes that insincere

b)     You know deep down they do not wish to change behavior.

3.      Wouldn’t you agree that these kind of apologies hurt just as bad or more than what they did to you in first place?

4.      Now…place yourself in God’s shoes & imagine the pain He experiences when we do it to Him.

B.     Israel was a land full of ungodliness & people who turned their heart away from God.

1.      4:1b-2a

2.      They are corrupt, filled w/idolatry.

3.      All while still maintaining outward appearance of worship.

a)     All the religious festivals according to law were practiced.

b)     Brought proper sacrifices according to law.

C.    5:1-3 – the appearance of loyalty did not fool God.

1.      5:3 – God was aware of their sins.

2.      5:6 – even though they approached Him to sacrifice – it would not be accepted.

3.      5:14-15 – God would punish them for their unfaithfulness.

D.    6:1-3 – Here’s where they try to tell God of their sorrow. On surface..Good.

1.      But…empty – as God speaks in 6:4-5.

2.      6:6

E.     What is there in 6:6 that is important for us?

1.      even though written to people 750 before Jesus, …important to understand

2.      What God desired from them is what He desires from us today!

a)     God desires man respond to Him from the heart with steadfast love & warmth of heart.

b)     If we fail to realize this principle…we will be hopelessly lost.

 

I.  Our understanding of God can be flawed.

A.     6:1-3 – Israel’s was.

1.      Treated God as a machine.

a)     Put in your quarter & out comes forgiveness.

b)     They threw out offerings, sacrifices, or dropped a few coins in the plate & felt God would be satisfied.

2.      They wanted God to act according to their expectations, but they weren’t willing to act according to His.

3.      God was looking for a change of heart & got “lip service.”

B.     Do we treat God the same way?

1.      Throw a few dollars in plate; attend a few worship services; eliminate a few bad habits; and then expect salvation? Forgiveness?

2.      We expect salvation while not fully surrendering self.

C.    God expects a relationship with us not just ritualistic involvement.

1.      It’s more than just fulfilling a few commands!

2.      He wants us to praise Him by a sanctified relationship with Him.

a)     Our life is to be the evidence!

b)     Rom. 12:1-2 – we offer God ourselves for use for His purposes.

3.      Is impossible to compartmentalize our Christianity & be pleasing to God.

 

II. Religion must not be viewed as an obligation to be fulfilled, but as a relationship with the living God.

A.     We can be highly critical of Israelites.

B.     We can be guilty of the same.

1.      Come to worship; meet basic requirements, then..Get back to our lives. Often, we can’t be bothered by God!

2.      We must not turn our worship & attendance practices into something we can “check-off.”

3.      We’ve been commanded to partake of LS; sing; give; pray; preach.

4.      Are we guilty of just coming together to meet a listing of commandments?

C.    Do we just halfway listen/consider what is being said in prayer?

1.      What did _________ pray about in the opening prayer this morning?

2.      Do we focus on the words we sing? (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16) What 3 hymns did we sing this morning? What were they about?

3.      Do we discern the Lord’s body as we partake of the Lord’s Supper? (1 Cor. 11:28)

4.      Do we plan ahead as to what we’re going to give or as we fumbling for change at last minute? (1 Cor 16:1-2)

5.      Do we count down minutes & complain if preacher cuts into “my time” by preaching too long? Do we countdown the outline to see how close to the end?

D.    For those who grow up in church…do you approach baptism as something that automatically entitles you to heaven?

1.      Do you realize it’s significance to everyday life?

2.      Do you realize it involves a promise to remain faithful, promising to stand up against the devil & His ways?

 

III. God desires an emotional connection with our religion.

A.     For far too long…we’ve found ourselves afraid to express any emotion in our religion…to our detriment.

1.      We don’t want to appear charismatic.

2.      We don’t want to appear to have let emotions go out of control.

B.     We are emotional beings! Who won’t be emotional standing face to face w/Jesus on judgment?

1.      There is a connection between expressing our emotions & proper worship.

2.      Not talking about letting emotion dictate everything.  Extreme we wish to avoid.

C.    John 4:23-24

1.      Worship in truth? Certainly! That involves commandments; following the pattern.

2.      But…in spirit. In other words, our heart needs to be in it! Heart the dwelling place of our emotions.

D.    We offer God our praise, prayer, and thanksgiving in worship. Must come from the heart. God demands it.

1.      This is why cold, calculated, law keeping just will not cut it with God.

 

IV. There should be an emotional attachment with our salvation.

A.     Been in a situation where you’ve been caught red handed?

1.      Done something wrong & all evidence points to you?

2.      no excuses; no mitigating circumstances

3.      No one to speak in your defense. You’ve broken the law & only punishment to face.

4.      All you can do is plead for mercy & hope your accuser has it in His heart to forgive you.

B.     Hosea knew about this from experience.

1.      Took a wife who committed adultery.  She left him.

a)     Even God’s law had provision for adultery.

2.      Hosea 3 – God told Hosea to take her back & love her…even if he had to buy her back!

a)     That’s mercy!

3.      That’s the way God loves each & every one of us!

a)     God is always loving & merciful even if it causes Him pain.

b)     Even if it cost Him the blood of His Son…

C.    Where were you headed w/o God?

1.      Alone? W/o Defense? Looking forward to only punishment? Death? Rom. 6:23-24

2.      When we realize where we’d be w/o Him – we can’t help but be emotionally attached to God!

D.    Rom. 12:1 – living sacrifices.

1.      We serve God out of love & appreciation for Him.

2.      We must serve Him w/o a 2^nd thought.

a)     Mt. 9:9 – Matthew immediately left w/o a word or 2^nd thought.

b)     Did he think of it as a sacrifice? A chore? A bother?

3.      Not so…when compared to the mercy that Jesus first showed Him in lovingly accepting Him as one of His own.

E.     Let’s serve God from the heart!

1.      Serve Him passionately w/enthusiasm & humble adoration!

2.      Raise the singing up notch or two. No one in this room who shouldn’t be singing b/c of what you have in God!

3.      Instead of letting minds wander – let’s get connected to public prayers that lifted up before God!

4.      Let enthusiasm be seen in ALL aspects of worship!

F.     Be enthusiastic about your Christianity! God has given us a new lease on life!

1.      Fresh air!

2.      New opportunities to serve Him

3.      New opportunities to make a difference in the life of others.

 

Conclusion:

A.     Don’t treat God as a machine…putting in a few things & out comes forgiveness & salvation.

B.     Give yourself to Him!

1.      Hosea 2:19-20

2.      Do you have an intimate relationship with God?

C.    If not, why not?

D.    I N V I T A T I O N