PRESENTATION NAME

1
Minor Prophets  Major Lessons
Hosea  A Lesson in Spiritual Adultery
2
Hosea 12
When the Lord began to speak by Hosea, the Lord
said to Hosea "Go, take yourself a wife of
harlotry And children of harlotry, For the land
has committed great harlotry By departing from
the Lord."
3
Spiritual Adultery

• I tried to find a picture (not too graphic) of
  adultery.
• I found this one on a church website in
  California. Picture 1,000 words.

When the Lord began to speak by Hosea, the Lord
said to Hosea "Go, take yourself a wife of
harlotry And children of harlotry, For the
land has committed great harlotry By departing
from the Lord." Hosea 12 (NKJV)
4
Hosea Background

• Many misunderstand the message of Hosea.
• This book does NOT teach that harlots are OK and
  pure.
• This book is NOT teaching it is OK to marry
  anyone with any background.
• Hosea is about SPIRITUAL ADULTERY.
• For the land has committed great harlotry by
  departing from the Lord (12b)

5
Hosea Background

• God commands him to marry a prostitute named
  Gomer. (12)
• When she is not faithful to him God commands
  that he buy her back. (31-3)
• Hosea is an graphic illustration of God dealing
  with a people who are unfaithful to Him.

6
Hosea Background

• Gomer gives birth to 3 children.
• Son Jezreel God sows (scatters) This is a
  son of Hosea. (14)
• Daughter Loruhamah No mercy No affection,
  Hosea is not sure. (16)
• Son Loammi Not my people Not a son of
  Hosea. (19)

7
Hosea Outline

• Hosea's marriage and children a type of God's
  relationship to Israel (1 3)
• God's charges against Israel (41 63)
• God's decison to judge (punish) (64 1015)
• God's resolution in judgment and mercy (11
  14)

8
1 God views IDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL ADULTERY

• God views IDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL ADULTERY
• Israel was God's bride
• 216 "And it shall be, in that day," Says the
  Lord, "That you will call Me 'My Husband,' And no
  longer call Me 'My Master,'

9
1 God views IDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL ADULTERY

• Israel was God's bride
• Christians (church) are the bride of Christ
• Study these passages  Ephesians 5 Revelation
  2217 Matthew 251-13
• We MUST remain faithful to Christ

10
1 God views IDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL ADULTERY

• Israel was God's bride
• Christians (church) are the bride of Christ
• Study these passages  Ephesians 5 Revelation
  2217 Matthew 251-13
• We MUST remain faithful to Christ

11
1 God views IDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL ADULTERY

• Do Christians have an idol problem?
• The idol of Clothing shop till you drop
  Clothing can become more important than God.
• The idol of Cash The love of money is still
  causing many to commit spiritual adultery

12
1 God views IDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL ADULTERY

• Do Christians have an idol problem?
• The idol of Children love your children but not
  more than God.
• The idol of Property One lady missed church
  because she had to clean her house.

13
1 God views IDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL ADULTERY

• Do Christians have an idol problem?
• The idol of Friends Have you ever stayed home
  from church because company came?
• The idol of Possessions Many wash their car
  when they should be in church.

14
1 God views IDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL ADULTERY

• Do Christians have an idol problem?
• The idol of Pets Pets are wonderful compaions.
  Will you give your pet more than you give God?
• The idol of Career Some are married to their
  work. They make their work, their life.

15
1 God views IDOLATRY as SPIRITUAL ADULTERY

• Do Christians have an idol problem?
• The idol of Sports Some miss Bible class and
  worship so they can play some sport.
• ANYTHING, ANYONE that takes a higher place than
  God is your idol and you are comitting spiritual
  adultery.

16
2 Backsliding follows a pattern

• Rejection of the Bible (41-2)
• 1 Hear the word of the Lord, You children of
  Israel, For the Lord brings a charge against the
  inhabitants of the land "There is no truth or
  mercy Or knowledge of God in the land. 2 By
  swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and
  committing adultery,They break all restraint,
  With bloodshed upon bloodshed.

17
2 Backsliding follows a pattern

• Rejection of the Bible (46)
• My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
  Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will
  reject you from being priest for Me Because you
  have forgotten the law of your God, I also will
  forget your children.

18
2 Backsliding follows a pattern

• Rejection of the Bible
• Temptation to turn away (47-11)
• Prosperity "The more they increased, The more
  they sinned against Me I will change their glory
  into shame. (47)
• Not satisfied For they shall eat, but not have
  enough They shall commit harlotry, but not
  increase Because they have ceased obeying the
  Lord. (410)

19
2 Backsliding follows a pattern

• Rejection of the Bible
• Temptation to turn away (47-11)
• Follow after idols (412-19)
• My people ask counsel from their wooden idols,
  And their staff informs them. For the spirit of
  harlotry has caused them to stray, And they have
  played the harlot against their God. (412)

20
3 God's love is unchanging
"I will heal their backsliding, I will love them
freely, For My anger has turned away from him.
(144) Man must repent - - Take words with you,
And return to the Lord. Say to Him, "Take away
all iniquity Receive us graciously, For we will
offer the sacrifices of our lips. (142)
21
3 God's love is unchanging
God will restore - - Who is wise? Let him
understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him
know them. For the ways of the Lord are right
The righteous walk in them, But transgressors
stumble in them. (149)
22
SPIRITUAL ADULTERY?
What would Hosea say to us today? Are there
idols in your life? While God is loving you,
are you holding hands with an idol? ARE YOU
GUILTY OF SPIRITUAL ADULTERY?