FHBC Sermon Notes

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Scripture: Hosea 8:1-14 - Listen

1. The biblical principle that genrally accounts for our life situations: You reap what you sew. (8:7)
• The wind in scripture often is a metaphor for fickleness.
• Galations 6:7-8 - Do not be deceived, God is not mocked... you reap what you sow. When people say, where is God, these are promises that God's sovereignty is complete and that in the end all will reap what they sow.
• The seed of the flesh vs. the seeds of the Spirit which reaps eternal life.
• So what kind of seed was it that Israel sowed?
2. The primary cause for the difficulty of man's condition is a disregard for God. (8:1-6,9-10,11,14)
• v.14 "For Israel has forgotten his Maker" 
• Jim says is one of the most important because it explains the nature and origin for all sin. We truly are lost without God, so in our forgetfulness all manner of pride and sin takes his place. 
• This is not simply passive forgetfulness. We know that He has been revealed to us, and that he is who he says he is, yet, we reject that, and we forget.
• Proverbs 9:10 - If we place God first and foremost, he will care for us.
• How is it that Israel forget God? What did they do?
1. The broken covenant - v. 1 "They have transgressed my covenant" Covenant means to shackle together. Covenant is a relationship where two parties gives themselves over to the other.  Israel (and ourselves as well) have broken this promise.
• This covenant is maintained by what the O.T. calls steadfast love. A singular focused, everlasting love.  "The steadfast love of the Lord endures forever."  - The Hallel Psalms. God showed his love by caring for them. Israel showed they love by showing fidelity before God. 
• The good seed that we sow, is maintaining ongoing relationship with God. We are shackled to God by the blood of Christ. 
• The relationship is maintained by abiding with Christ.  We stay with Christ, we walk with Christ, we remain with Christ.
• John 15:4-5, Colossians 3:3, 1 Corinthians 
• -----To be continued
3. The harvest we reap can be broadly categorized in three ways (8:1,5-6,8,10,13-14)
1. We experience
2. We miss the 
3. We realize the value of our