Zechariah 1:3,14-17 - Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty…Then the angel who was speaking to me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, and I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they went too far with the punishment.’ “Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem,’ declares the LORD Almighty. “Proclaim further: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘My towns will again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.’”
Jeremiah 25:9 - I will summon all the peoples of the north and my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,” declares the LORD, “and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy them and make them an object of horror and scorn, and an everlasting ruin.
Zechariah 2:12 - The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem.
Application:
· Is God angry with me?
· Have I changed my course? Have I gone in the opposite direction of my forefathers? Has the Lord returned to me with blessings, or curses?
· Have I come to worship the Lord? Am I one of His chosen?
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Jealous
Zechariah 1:14-15 - Then the angel who was speaking to me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, and I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they went too far with the punishment.’
Joel 2:18 - Then the LORD was jealous for his land and took pity on his people.
Exodus 20:5-6 - You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
James 4:4 - You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
Application:
· Is the Lord jealous for me? Is He showing His love for me?
· Has the Lord intervened in my life? Has He saved me for the sake of His own glory?
· Am I devoted exclusively to God? Have I rrejected Him, or am I loyal to Him?
· Am I unfaithful to God? Do I try to satisfy the expectations of unbelievers and at the same time please God?
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Joel 2:18 - Then the LORD was jealous for his land and took pity on his people.
Exodus 20:5-6 - You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
James 4:4 - You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
Application:
· Is the Lord jealous for me? Is He showing His love for me?
· Has the Lord intervened in my life? Has He saved me for the sake of His own glory?
· Am I devoted exclusively to God? Have I rrejected Him, or am I loyal to Him?
· Am I unfaithful to God? Do I try to satisfy the expectations of unbelievers and at the same time please God?
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Thursday, July 14, 2011
I Am The Lord
Hosea 13:3-4 - Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears, like chaff swirling from a threshing floor, like smoke escaping through a window. “But I have been the LORD your God ever since you came out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me.
Hosea 6:4 - “What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.
Jeremiah 2:6 - They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness, through a land of deserts and ravines, a land of drought and utter darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?’
Exodus 20:3 - “You shall have no other gods before me.
Psalm 18:46 - The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!
Hosea 4:1 - Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites, because the LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: “There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land.
Hosea 8:2 - Israel cries out to me, ‘Our God, we acknowledge you!’
Application:
· Is my repentance superficial?
· Have I forgotten who saves and sustains me?
· Do I have real or imagined gods who rival the one true God in my heart and life?
· Have God's interventions and blessings in my behalf shown Him to be the living God?
· Am I loyal to the Lord? Do I deal rightly with men?
· Is my worship of the Lord corrupted by pagan notions and practices?
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Hosea 6:4 - “What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.
Jeremiah 2:6 - They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness, through a land of deserts and ravines, a land of drought and utter darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?’
Exodus 20:3 - “You shall have no other gods before me.
Psalm 18:46 - The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!
Hosea 4:1 - Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites, because the LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: “There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land.
Hosea 8:2 - Israel cries out to me, ‘Our God, we acknowledge you!’
Application:
· Is my repentance superficial?
· Have I forgotten who saves and sustains me?
· Do I have real or imagined gods who rival the one true God in my heart and life?
· Have God's interventions and blessings in my behalf shown Him to be the living God?
· Am I loyal to the Lord? Do I deal rightly with men?
· Is my worship of the Lord corrupted by pagan notions and practices?
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
When Ephrain Spoke
Hosea 13:1-2 - When Ephraim spoke, people trembled; he was exalted in Israel. But he became guilty of Baal worship and died. Now they sin more and more; they make idols for themselves from their silver, cleverly fashioned images, all of them the work of craftsmen. It is said of these people, “They offer human sacrifices! They kiss calf-idols!”
Judges 8:3 - God gave Oreb and Zeeb, the Midianite leaders, into your hands. What was I able to do compared to you?” At this, their resentment against him subsided.
1 Samuel 1:4 - Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.
1 Kings 19:18 - Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
Isaiah 44:17-19 - From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, “Save me! You are my god!” They know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds closed so they cannot understand. No one stops to think, no one has the knowledge or understanding to say, “Half of it I used for fuel; I even baked bread over its coals, I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?
Hosea 8:6 - They are from Israel! This calf—a metalworker has made it; it is not God. It will be broken in pieces, that calf of Samaria.
Ezekiel 20:26 - I defiled them through their gifts—the sacrifice of every firstborn—that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the LORD.’
1 Kings 12:30 - And this thing became a sin; the people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other.
Application:
· A gentle answer turns away wrath!!!
· Do I have fellowship and communion with the Lord? Do I gratefully acknowledge His mercies?
· Am I remaining faithful?
· My idolatry is totally irrational!!!
· Are my eyes plastered? Is my mind closed?
· Am I detestable because of my idol worship?
· Do I continue to sin more and more?
· God will go to any length to get His people to acknowledge Him!!!
· Do I foolishly abandon religious principle for expediency (financial, material, immoral)?
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Judges 8:3 - God gave Oreb and Zeeb, the Midianite leaders, into your hands. What was I able to do compared to you?” At this, their resentment against him subsided.
1 Samuel 1:4 - Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.
1 Kings 19:18 - Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
Isaiah 44:17-19 - From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, “Save me! You are my god!” They know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds closed so they cannot understand. No one stops to think, no one has the knowledge or understanding to say, “Half of it I used for fuel; I even baked bread over its coals, I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?
Hosea 8:6 - They are from Israel! This calf—a metalworker has made it; it is not God. It will be broken in pieces, that calf of Samaria.
Ezekiel 20:26 - I defiled them through their gifts—the sacrifice of every firstborn—that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the LORD.’
1 Kings 12:30 - And this thing became a sin; the people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other.
Application:
· A gentle answer turns away wrath!!!
· Do I have fellowship and communion with the Lord? Do I gratefully acknowledge His mercies?
· Am I remaining faithful?
· My idolatry is totally irrational!!!
· Are my eyes plastered? Is my mind closed?
· Am I detestable because of my idol worship?
· Do I continue to sin more and more?
· God will go to any length to get His people to acknowledge Him!!!
· Do I foolishly abandon religious principle for expediency (financial, material, immoral)?
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Bloodshed
Hosea 12:14 - But Ephraim has aroused his bitter anger; his Lord will leave on him the guilt of his bloodshed and will repay him for his contempt.
Ezekiel 18:13 - He lends at interest and takes a profit. Will such a man live? He will not! Because he has done all these detestable things, he is to be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.
Hosea 4:2 - There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
Hosea 5:2 - The rebels are knee-deep in slaughter. I will discipline all of them.
Application:
· Am I held responsible for my own sin?
· Where God is not acknowledged, moral uprightness disappears.
· Have I provoked God to anger?
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Ezekiel 18:13 - He lends at interest and takes a profit. Will such a man live? He will not! Because he has done all these detestable things, he is to be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.
Hosea 4:2 - There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
Hosea 5:2 - The rebels are knee-deep in slaughter. I will discipline all of them.
Application:
· Am I held responsible for my own sin?
· Where God is not acknowledged, moral uprightness disappears.
· Have I provoked God to anger?
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Friday, July 8, 2011
Tents
Hosea 12:9-10 - “I have been the LORD your God ever since you came out of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, as in the days of your appointed festivals. I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions and told parables through them.”
Hosea 11:1 - “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.
Hosea 2:14 - “Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her.
2 Kings 17:13 - The LORD warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: “Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your ancestors to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.”
Jeremiah 7:25 - From the time your ancestors left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again I sent you my servants the prophets.
Amos 2:11 - “I also raised up prophets from among your children and Nazirites from among your youths. Is this not true, people of Israel?” declares the LORD.
Application:
· Do I see God's love as the basis for my election?
· Have I been brought to repentance?
· Have I violated God's covenant? Have I spurned the words of people the Lord has graciously sent to me?
· Do I serve the Lord faithfully?
· Am I dedicated to God? Am I a gift to God's people? Am I used by God through word and example?
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Hosea 11:1 - “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.
Hosea 2:14 - “Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her.
2 Kings 17:13 - The LORD warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: “Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your ancestors to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.”
Jeremiah 7:25 - From the time your ancestors left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again I sent you my servants the prophets.
Amos 2:11 - “I also raised up prophets from among your children and Nazirites from among your youths. Is this not true, people of Israel?” declares the LORD.
Application:
· Do I see God's love as the basis for my election?
· Have I been brought to repentance?
· Have I violated God's covenant? Have I spurned the words of people the Lord has graciously sent to me?
· Do I serve the Lord faithfully?
· Am I dedicated to God? Am I a gift to God's people? Am I used by God through word and example?
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Merchant
Hosea 12:2,7-8 - The LORD has a charge to bring against Judah; he will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds…The merchant uses dishonest scales and loves to defraud. Ephraim boasts, “I am very rich; I have become wealthy. With all my wealth they will not find in me any iniquity or sin.”
Psalm 62:10 - Do not trust in extortion or put vain hope in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.
Hosea 10:13-14 - But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors, the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be devastated—as Shalman devastated Beth Arbel on the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to the ground with their children.
Application:
· Am I deceitful?
· Do I trust in my own devices to get what I want? Or, do I trust in God to sustain me?
· Am I living a lie? Do I live by lies?
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Psalm 62:10 - Do not trust in extortion or put vain hope in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.
Hosea 10:13-14 - But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors, the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be devastated—as Shalman devastated Beth Arbel on the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to the ground with their children.
Application:
· Am I deceitful?
· Do I trust in my own devices to get what I want? Or, do I trust in God to sustain me?
· Am I living a lie? Do I live by lies?
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Love
Hosea 12:4-6 - He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and begged for his favor. He found him at Bethel and talked with him there—the LORD God Almighty, the LORD is his name! But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.
Hosea 6:1,6 - “Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds…For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
Hosea 10:12 - Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.
Micah 6:8 - He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Application:
· Do I humbly submit to the Almighty's discipline? Is my repentance shallow?
· Do I do what is right? Am I blessed by God? Am I unproductive? Am I repentant? Am I loyal to Him?
· Is my conduct right toward others? Do my sacrifices include faithfulness to His will?
· Am I just? Am I merciful? Am I faithful? Am I obedient?
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Hosea 6:1,6 - “Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds…For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
Hosea 10:12 - Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.
Micah 6:8 - He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Application:
· Do I humbly submit to the Almighty's discipline? Is my repentance shallow?
· Do I do what is right? Am I blessed by God? Am I unproductive? Am I repentant? Am I loyal to Him?
· Is my conduct right toward others? Do my sacrifices include faithfulness to His will?
· Am I just? Am I merciful? Am I faithful? Am I obedient?
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Struggled With An Angel
Hosea 12:4-5 - He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and begged for his favor. He found him at Bethel and talked with him there—the LORD God Almighty, the LORD is his name!
Genesis 32:24,26,28 - So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak…Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”… Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
Genesis 28:12,15 - He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it…I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Application:
· Am I convinced that my opponent is God Himself? Do I struggle to prevail? Do I wrestle with God?
· Am I determined to be blessed? Am I reluctant to release God? Am I persistent? Do I acknowledge that my blessings come from God?
· Do I strive with God? Do I struggle with others? Do I realize the importance of being blessed by God?
· Jesus is the bridge between heaven and earth, the only Mediator between God and man!!!
· God will always be with me wherever I go!!!
ll Scripture verses taken from NIV
Genesis 32:24,26,28 - So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak…Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”… Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
Genesis 28:12,15 - He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it…I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Application:
· Am I convinced that my opponent is God Himself? Do I struggle to prevail? Do I wrestle with God?
· Am I determined to be blessed? Am I reluctant to release God? Am I persistent? Do I acknowledge that my blessings come from God?
· Do I strive with God? Do I struggle with others? Do I realize the importance of being blessed by God?
· Jesus is the bridge between heaven and earth, the only Mediator between God and man!!!
· God will always be with me wherever I go!!!
ll Scripture verses taken from NIV
Sunday, July 3, 2011
West
Hosea 11:10-11 - They will follow the LORD; he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west. They will come from Egypt, trembling like sparrows, from Assyria, fluttering like doves. I will settle them in their homes,” declares the LORD.
Hosea 3:5 - Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to his blessings in the last days.
Hosea 6:1 - “Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.
Ezekiel 34:25-26 - “‘I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of savage beasts so that they may live in the wilderness and sleep in the forests in safety. I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing.
Application:
· Does God have a glorious future in store for me?
· Do I humbly submit to the Almighty's discipline?
· Do I enjoy fullness of life? Am I completely secure in the Lord?
· Has God showered blessings upon me?
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Hosea 3:5 - Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to his blessings in the last days.
Hosea 6:1 - “Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.
Ezekiel 34:25-26 - “‘I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of savage beasts so that they may live in the wilderness and sleep in the forests in safety. I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing.
Application:
· Does God have a glorious future in store for me?
· Do I humbly submit to the Almighty's discipline?
· Do I enjoy fullness of life? Am I completely secure in the Lord?
· Has God showered blessings upon me?
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
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