November 8, 2015 January 17, 2016

November 8, 2015 January 17, 2016 God’s Microscope

NATIONAL - PROPHETIC

God wanted to forgive the sins of His people and restore their fellowship with Him, but they weren’t ready. They not only would not repent, they wouldn’t even admit that they had sinned! So god conducted a trial and brought them to the bar of justice.

It’s a basic spiritual principle that until people experience the guilt of conviction, they cannot enjoy the glory of conversion. W. Wiersbe

God is going to bring them into court, Out of the heartbreaking experience in his own home, Hosea now comes to speak to the nation—and he knows how God feels about them. God is going to bring them into court, spell out certain charges against them, and prove those charges.

Israel’s Sins Denounced Ignorance – 4:1-11 Idolatry – 4:12-5:15 Insincerity – 6:1-7:16

As one, the people said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do!” The basis for judgment was the covenant God made with Israel at Mt. Sinai. As one, the people said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do!” That promise was soon broken – many time over.

no kindness, no knowledge of God Ignorance Chapter 4 – God convenes His court 1Hear the word of the Lord, O people of Israel! The Lord has brought charges against you, saying: “There is no faithfulness, no kindness, no knowledge of God in your land.

[blood toucheth blood - KJV]. Ignorance 2 You make vows and break them; you kill and steal and commit adultery. There is violence everywhere— one murder after another [blood toucheth blood - KJV].

Ignorance 3 That is why your land is in mourning,     and everyone is wasting away. Even the wild animals, the birds of the sky,     and the fish of the sea are disappearing.

Ignorance 2nd January 2016 - 40,000 cattle killed in storm in Texas and New Mexico, America. 2nd January 2016 - Hundreds of dead starfish wash ashore on a beach in Portsmouth, England. 2nd January 2016 - Thousands of fish dead in a river due to pollution in Pelalawan Regency, Indonesia.

Ignorance 5th January 2016 - Hundreds of dead fish found along a river in Gebeng, Malaysia. 5th January 2016 - Massive die off of fish in a lake in Marica, Brazil.

Ignorance 6th January 2016 - Thousands of dead sea birds found along a beach in Prince William Sound, Alaska, America. 6th January 2016 - 100+ TONS of fish die, in a river in Dong Nai Province, Vietnam. 6th January 2016 - Hundreds of dead birds found in Cueramaro, Mexico. 6th January 2016 - 25,000 birds killed due to avian flu in Accra, Ghana.

Ignorance 7th January 2016 - Tens of thousands of birds killed due to avian flu in various areas of Taiwan. 7th January 2016 - 2,000 dead fish found along the banks of a river in Amalfi, Colombia.

Ignorance 8th January 2016 - Thousands of dead fish wash up in Gulfport, Florida, America. 8th January 2016 - 330,000+ birds killed due to avian flu in Kano and Delta regions, Nigeria. 8th January 2016 - Tens of thousands of dead starfish and jellyfish wash up along Sussex and Hampshire, England.

Ignorance 9th January 2016 - 4,000+ cattle dead due to drought in Huila, Colombia. 10th January 2016 - Hundreds of dead fish and eels found in a lake in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.

Ignorance 3 That is why your land is in mourning,     and everyone is wasting away. Even the wild animals, the birds of the sky,     and the fish of the sea are disappearing.

Are you prepared to accept the possibility that God is sending a warning message to His people today?

Ignorance My complaint, you priests, is with you. 5 So you will stumble in broad daylight,     and your false prophets will fall with you in the night. And I will destroy Israel, your mother. 6 My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me.

Ignorance 7 The more priests there are, the more they sin against me. They have exchanged the glory of God for the shame of idols. 8 “When the people bring their sin offerings, the priests get fed. So the priests are glad when the people sin! 9 ‘And what the priests do, the people also do.’

“Wine has robbed my people of their understanding… Ignorance     …So now I will punish both priests and people for their wicked deeds…they have deserted the Lord 11to worship other gods. “Wine has robbed my people of their understanding…

Idolatry 12 They ask a piece of wood for advice!     They think a stick can tell them the future! Longing after idols has made them foolish. They have played the prostitute,     serving other gods and deserting their God.

Idolatry …They love shame more than honour. 19 So a mighty wind will sweep them away.     Their sacrifices to idols will bring them shame.

Idolatry Chapter 5 – Charges and sentence against the priests …you are utterly defiled. 4 Your deeds won’t let you return to your God.  You are a prostitute through and through, and you do not know the Lord. 5 “The arrogance of Israel testifies against her; Israel and Ephraim will stumble under their load of guilt.     Judah, too, will fall with them.

Idolatry 6 When they come with their flocks and herds to offer sacrifices to the Lord, they will not find Him, because He has withdrawn from them. 7 They have betrayed the honour of the Lord,     bearing children that are not His. Now their false religion will devour them     along with their wealth.

earnestly search for me.” Idolatry 14 I will be like a lion to Israel, like a strong young lion to Judah. I will tear them to pieces! I will carry them off, and no one will be left to rescue them. 15 Then I will return to My place     until they admit their guilt and turn to Me. For as soon as trouble comes, they will earnestly search for me.”

Insincerity Chapter 6 – False Repentance 1“Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces; now He will heal us. He has injured us; now He will bandage our wounds. 2 In just a short time He will restore us, so that we may live in His presence.

Insincerity 3 Oh, that we might know the Lord!     Let us press on to know Him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn     or the coming of rains in early spring.”

Insincerity 6 I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know Me more than I want burnt offerings. 7 But like Adam, you broke My covenant and betrayed my trust. 8 “Gilead is a city of sinners, tracked with footprints of blood.

Insincerity Chapter 7 – God rejects the appeal 11 “The people of Israel have become like silly, witless doves, first calling to Egypt, then flying to Assyria for help…14 They do not cry out to Me with sincere hearts. Instead, they sit on their couches and wail. They cut themselves, begging foreign gods for grain and new wine, and they turn away from Me…

Insincerity 15 I trained them and made them strong,     yet now they plot evil against Me. 16 They look everywhere except to the Most High. They are as useless as a crooked bow. Their leaders will be killed by their enemies because of their insolence toward Me. Then the people of Egypt     will laugh at them. Hosea 4-7 (NLT)

Ignorance Idolatry Insincerity

Are you prepared to accept the possibility that God What Next? Are you prepared to accept the possibility that God is sending a warning message to His people today?

What Next? 30 …do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, He has identified you as His own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behaviour. Ephesians 4:30-31

said. Hold on to what is good. 22 Stay away from every kind of evil. What Next? 19 Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. 20 Do not scoff at prophecies, 21 but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. 22 Stay away from every kind of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

What Next? W a k e u p!

…now our salvation is nearer than of darkness, and let us put on What Next? …now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk properly… Romans 13:11-13

What Next? How does our own devotion to the Lord measure up?

What Next? How does our own devotion to the Lord measure up? How deep is it?

What Next? How does our own devotion to the Lord measure up? How deep is it? How strong is it?

What Next? How does our own devotion to the Lord measure up? How deep is it? How strong is it? How serious is it?

What Next? How does our own devotion to the Lord measure up? How deep is it? How strong is it? How serious is it? How dependable is it?

Are we grieving the heart of our heavenly Father? What Next? Are we grieving the heart of our heavenly Father?

What Next? Are we grieving the heart of our heavenly Father? Are we quenching His Spirit?

What Next? Are we grieving the heart of our heavenly Father? Are we quenching His Spirit? Are our words and deeds stumbling blocks to those without Christ as they look at our “walk”?

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