021305

GOD'S TOUGH LOVE
HOW MUCH DOES SIN COST?

Hosea 4:1b-3
“"There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Because of this the land mourns, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the fish of the sea are dying.” (NIV)
1) God has entered the book of Hosea as Israel’s Judge and accuses Israel of 3 major sins. What are they? God points out the progression to their sin. What is it?
2) How does our relationship or faithfulness to God spill over into our relationship with our fellowman?
3) Have you noticed areas in your own life that started out as a “little thing” but lead to further and even greater sin(s)?
4) What does God mean by the comment that there is “no knowledge of God?”
5) Can you name any sins that might result in the suffering of our environment? even to animal life? Why do you think this also grieves God’s heart?
Hosea 4:4-9
“But let no man bring a charge, let no man accuse another, for your people are like those who bring charges against a priest. You stumble day and night, and the prophets stumble with you. So I will destroy your mother-- my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. "Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children. The more the priests increased, the more they sinned against me; they exchanged their Glory for something disgraceful. They feed on the sins of my people and relish their wickedness. And it will be: Like people, like priests. I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.” (NIV)
1) The priests were suppose to lead the nation into a right relationship with God--rightfully interpreting God’s truth in His law, intercession, service. Here we find God voicing His righteous anger against them. Yet, what does verse 7 tells us was taking place during this period in Israel’s history? Why do you think this was so? Was this a sign of greater spirituality or moral decay? Explain.
2) Spiritual leadership carries a heavy responsibility (James 3:1.) Why do you think leaders are held to a higher accountability with God?
3) What sins does God say the priests were guilty of?
4) Hosea 4:6 in the NIV is translated as, “my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.” The KJV says, “my people perish.” Is it possible to have an abundance of godly knowledge, yet still not “know” God? It’s interesting to note that when Jesus came to earth some 700 years after Hosea, He accused the Pharisees and Scribes of this same sin. He called them hypocrites! See Matthew 15:1-9.
Hosea 5:13-15
“When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his sores, then Ephraim turned to Assyria, and sent to the great king for help. But he is not able to cure you, not able to heal your sores. For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a great lion to Judah. I will tear them to pieces and go away; I will carry them off, with no one to rescue them. Then I will go back to my place until they admit their guilt. And they will seek my face; in their misery they will earnestly seek me.” (NIV)
1) Here we finally see the divided nations of Israel and Judah acknowledging the sickness of their souls. But, where do they go to for healing? They turn to a great world power—politics and treaties—with a pagan nation no less! What is this act further evidence of?
2) In the midst of God’s anger we again witness to His great mercy! What is the promise given to these wayward nations in verse 15?
James 4:1-10
“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (NIV)
1) James gets right to the source of our sins—our own desires! What sins does James mention that are the direct result of our selfish desires. Sin is again shown as being progressive. What is the root sin?
2) Desires are not wrong! That is not the message here. God has promised to give us the desires of our hearts (Psalms 37:4). James clearly indicates in verse 2 that we don’t have our desires because we don’t ask God for them and when we do we ask with wrong motives. So, will we receive everything we want? How is God’s promise fulfilled in our lives?
3) No wonder people were fighting and quarreling! They had their eyes on things! How can things make us adulterers? Is this idolatry?
4) How do we resist the devil? (See Matthew 4:1-11)
5) List some ways we can draw closer to God.
6) What promises do we have from God in acknowledging our sin and humbling ourselves before Him? See verses 8 and 10.