Why God Becomes A Strange Thing Hosea 4:4-10

God Became Foreign To Israel Israel ’ s changing attitude toward God ’ s word led to her destruction – Israel ’ s changing attitude toward God ’ s word led to her destruction – –Hosea 4:1, 6; 8:1, 7, 12. God ’ s word became “ strange ” God ’ s word became “ strange ” –(a stranger, foreign, & estranged from).

God ’ s Word Requires Personal Effort God ’ s Word Requires Personal Effort

Word Of God Requires Effort Requires Diligence 2 Timothy 2:15 "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Word Of God Requires Effort Requires Learning 2 Peter 3:16-17 “as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;” 2 Peter 3:16-17 “as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;”

How God ’ s Word Becomes Strange

Because Some are Untaught Hebrews 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

How God ’ s Word Becomes Strange Because of a Lack of Good Teaching Acts 8:30-31 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him

How God ’ s Word Becomes Strange Because of Unclear Teaching 1 Corinthians 14:9 “So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.” 1 Corinthians 14:9 “So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.”

How God ’ s Word Becomes Strange Because Some are Babes in Christ – Heb. 5: Peter 2:2 “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby”

How God ’ s Word Becomes Strange Because Some are Unstable in Faith Colossians 2:6-7 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. ” Colossians 2:6-7 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. ”

How God ’ s Word Becomes Strange Because Some are Unstable in Faith Ephesians 4:16 “from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

How God ’ s Word Becomes Strange Because Some are Deceived 1 Timothy 4:1-3 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

How God ’ s Word Becomes Strange Because Some have Closed Minds Jeremiah 6:16-17 Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.' Also, I set watchmen over you, saying, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But they said, 'We will not listen.'

How God ’ s Word Becomes Strange Because Some have Closed Minds Through Bias & prejudice. Acts 7:54 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.

How God ’ s Word Becomes Strange Because Some have Closed Minds Through Hardened hearts. Hebrews 3:7-8 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, Hebrews 3:7-8 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness,

How God ’ s Word Becomes Strange Because Some Love to Have it So. Jeremiah 5:30-31 "An astonishing and horrible thing Has been committed in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by their own power; And My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?

How God ’ s Word Becomes Strange Galatians 6:3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Because Some Love to Have it So.

How Strange Has God Become To You?