This is the Truth Network. This is the Truth Network. Welcome to the broadcast ministry of Finding Purpose with Russ Andrews, where we seek to glorify God by making Him known and guiding others towards their true purpose in life. No one is here by chance. God put us here for a reason.
And the most important thing we can do is discover his plan for us and commit ourselves to it. Keep listening as we learn from the Bible how to live wisely in God's world. which is the first step towards finding your purpose. All right, if you will, take your Bibles and turn to Hosea chapter 5. I've entitled this, The Consequences of Disobedience.
So we're going to be looking at chapter 5, verse 1 through chapter 6, verse 3. In John 14, 21, Jesus says, Whoever has my commands and obeys them He is the one who loves me. And then in verse 23 of that same chapter, he says again, if any man loves me, He will obey my teaching.
So here's a biblical truth that we all need to understand. And this is convicting to me. The measure of our obedience. reflects our measure. of our love for the Lord.
So how you doing? It took me a long time to learn this truth, men. God can only bless a man and use him. when he walks in obedience to his word. In the time of Isaiah, Israel had lost its First love of God.
This is why they disobeyed His word and rejected Him, because they really didn't love God. In Revelation chapter 2, verses 4 through 5, Jesus said to the church in Ephesus, I hold this against you. Again, he's speaking to the church, okay? I hold this against you. You have forsaken your first love.
Remember the height from which you have fallen. Repent. And do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. And he will do that to any church, and he will do that to any minister.
And I pray that he never has reason to do that. To you or me. Then let me ask you a personal question. How are you doing spiritually? Would you say that your life is characterized It's one of obedience to God's Word.
See, if you're living a life of disobedience, The very first word that Jesus would speak to you is what word? He would say, repent. Turn from your wicked ways and walk in obedience to my word. And the reason that he wants us to walk in obedience to him is for what reason?
so that we will experience joy. To the full. Uh Ongoing disobedience in the life of any Christian without true repentance always brings God's discipline.
So take your Bible now and turn with me to Hebrews chapter 12. This is a very important chapter on the discipline of God towards those He loves.
So it's addressed to His true sons. Are you a true son of God? Hope so.
So, this is addressed to you and me. Look at verse 4. Hebrews chapter 12, verse 4. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. You see, we're in a battle with sin.
Do y'all feel that battle raging within you? Often I do. And you have forgotten the word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses you as sons. And then listen to what he says. Don't you like to hear that from God, my son?
My son. Do not make light of the Lord's discipline. And do not lose heart when he rebukes you. Because the Lord disciplines the one he loves. and he chastens every one he accepts as his son.
Have you ever been through God's decimal before? Yeah. And it is painful. And I hope I never experience it again. He goes on to say, Endure hardship as discipline.
God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined, and everyone undergoes discipline, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, We have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live?
Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best. But God disciplines us for our good. And here's the reason why. In order that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.
Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness. And get this, and peace. You won't have things. for those who've been trained by Here's another biblical truth. You ready?
Hollowness. is where you discover joy. Peace and contentment. It took me a long time to discover that man.
So if you're young, Don't wait as long as I did. If you want to have joy in this life and peace, then obey the Lord.
So in this text, 10 times we see the word discipline. This is what awaited the Israelites who lived both in the northern kingdom, which was called Israel, and the Judaites who lived in the southern kingdom of Judah. See, God was preparing to discipline the people that he called his treasured possession. His chosen people, the Jews.
So, from these, from chapter 5, beginning with verse 1, and going through chapter 6, verse 3, I'm going to share with you tonight three truths concerning God's judgment. And then I think you'll like this part. His path to his forgiveness. Here's the first truth. And guess what?
What a pastor is supposed to do is you go back and you look at what Hosea was speaking to the Israelites back in the 8th century BC. And you bring that forward and make it contemporary.
So that's what you're going to hear. This is, and you want to have a, you want these truths to be something that is a full sentence. That's a universal truth. A spiritual truth that can be applied to anybody in the world at any period in history. And so here's the truth that I want you to take.
to heart. When number one, when religious leaders and the people who follow them reject God and disobey His Word. Judgment is coming. And you can bank on it. Look at verses 1 through 7.
Listen, here's what Hosea writes: Hear this, you priests. Pay attention, you Israelites. Listen, O royal house. This judgment is against you. You have been a snare at mitzvah, a net spread out on Tabor.
The rebels are deep in slaughter. The NSB says, the rebels are deep in depravity. That's probably a better translation. Depravity. I will discipline all of them.
In other words, God is going to discipline all the rebels. By the way, the rebels, as I was saying, I mentioned, it refers to the priests. I know all about Ephraim. Ephraim was the largest tribe of the 12 tribes. It was in the northern kingdom of Israel.
And so when it says Ephraim, it's a synonym really of Israel. A from I know all about you. Israel is not hidden from thee. Ephraim, you've now turned to prostitution. Israel is corrupt.
Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart. They do not acknowledge the Lord. Israel's arrogance testifies against them. The Israelites, even Ephraim, stumble in their sin.
Judah also stumbles with them. When they go with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord, they will not find him. He's withdrawn himself from them. They are unfaithful to the Lord. They give birth to illegitimate children.
When they celebrate their new moon feast, He will devour their fields.
So, the first thing I want you to see again is the great judgment and condemnation that awaits. False religious leaders. Did you think you were going to get by with another teaching light without me bringing that subject up? All right, guys, just for the record, it's in the text. Have y'all noticed that?
Yeah. in every chapter.
So who were the rabbits? Look at verse 1. Hosea calls attention to the priests, the kings, and the people.
So his judgment is coming against all three. He says, Pay attention to what I'm about to say. The judgment of God is coming against you. And then look at verse 2: The rebels are deep in slaughter and depravity. I will discipline all of them.
So who were the rebels? They were the false priests. and the false prophets. God was preparing to punish these rebellious leaders who had descended into egregious moral depravity. They were spiritually slaughtering the people.
So listen. When religious leaders turn away from God's word, in reality, what they're doing is they're rejecting God. Moreover, They're spiritually slaughtering their followers and leading vast numbers of them into spiritual darkness. That's what false teachers do. They slaughter their The people followed them.
Spiritually, and they lead them into spiritual darkness. Many years ago, I heard Dr. David Jeremiah, y'all familiar with him? He's getting a little old now. But he was always one of my favorite preachers.
He's a biblical preacher and has a huge following, really, worldwide. And he said this, I'll never forget it. He said the vast majority of churches in America are leading the masses down the wide road. Grille. Do you know where the white road leads?
At least directly to health. In Matthew 7, 13 and 14, Jesus says, And by the way, these are two verses you should memorize. Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate, and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Let me ask you something. Which road are you on? Which one is easier to be on? Why? Why is it easier to be on the wide road?
Well if there's no resistance, that's where everybody's going. You just line up with the crowd. Where are most of your friends, do you think? Or the narrow road or the wide road? The water.
Another great biblical pastor, have you heard of Paul Washer? If you think sometimes I'm tough, you ought to hear this guy. I listened to the other day on We're not X, okay. He said this, on the day of judgment, Do not fear for the atheist so much. or the thief or the murderer.
If you want to be afraid for someone on the day of judgment, Be afraid for those who carried the title of pastor. I would also add: be afraid for the people who follow these false teachers to their eternal detriment, because that's what they're doing. It's the blind leading to blind. Jude. Was a half-brother of who?
Jesus. In the short letter of Jude, which is in the very back of the Bible, just before Revelation. He writes in verses 12 and 13. These men are shepherds who feed themselves. They are clouds without rain.
Have you ever heard the expression, big cloud, no rain?
Well that's what gets a lot of these sayings come from the Bible, back to Jude 12 and 13. They are clouds without rain. Autumn trees without fruit and uprooted. Twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming of their shame, wandering stars.
You catch this. For whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. Did you hear that? For whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. False shepherds who've got flocks following them will face the stiffest judgment.
I believe of anybody. That stands at the great white throne judgment. The prophets, priests, and even the kings of Hosea's day were snares and nets who drug the people of Israel away from God into the worship of false idols and lascivious. You know what that word means? Sexually explicit.
Forms of worship. Y'all have heard of Queen Jezebel, the wicked witch of the West. Yes, she was married to King Ahab, and they were both so evil. Jezebel brought with her from Sidon, she was a Sidonian. in this marriage Worship of false idols.
She encouraged the Israelites to compromise and prostitute themselves by worshiping Bales. The eating of food that had been sacrificed to idols, that was part of their worship. Was participation in the, what it was, it represented participation in the idolatrous aspects of the world in which they lived. And God witnessed. Everything.
Look at verse 3. I know all about Ephraim. Israel is not hidden from me. Proverbs 15.3 says, The eyes of the Lord are everywhere keeping watch on the wicked and the good. Jeremiah 16, 17 says, My eyes are on all their ways, they are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes.
Y'all think he sees everything that we're doing. He knows everything we're thinking. Just as none of the sin of the Israelites was hidden from God. None of our sin, men, is hidden from God. The royal and religious leaders of Hosea's day were corrupt.
Their hearts had become hardened. by the depravity of their sin, such that they could no longer return to God. Can you believe that? The day of grace was over for them. Just as God shut the door to Noah's ark so that no one else could enter, the door of heaven was shut to these false priests and kings.
Profits. Repentance wouldn't do them any good at this point. God had. Seal their judgment. Look at verse 4.
Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart. They do not acknowledge the Lord. This is what eventually happens when a man lives his life, men, in total rejection of God and his word. His heart becomes so hardened.
that at some point God hardens his heart, just like he did Pharaoh, to the point where it is extremely difficult for him to return to God. You can read about this in Hebrews 6. I don't have time to read that tonight. And this is why so many old people Remain hardened in their resistance to the gospel because they have heard the gospel over and over again. Yeah, they just harden their hearts to it.
See, it's never too late. But it becomes very difficult. Listen to what Jesus said about the religious leaders of his day in Matthew 13, verses 13 and 15. Though seeing they do not see, though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah.
You will be ever hearing but never understanding. You will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused. They hardly hear with their ears and they have closed their eyes. I've seen, now listen, I've been, I started Bible study, BSF when I was like 28.
I'm 70 now. Is that 42 years? I've seen countless men come through Bible studies just like this. And they hear it. But you never see any change in their lives.
I'm not their judge. But you don't but The evidence of Salvation is a changed life. Look at verse 5. Visual's arrogance. testifies against them.
Prod. Is the chief sin of the human heart. In our pride, we in essence say to God, I can get to heaven another way. Really? Maybe that explains why we've got hundreds, if not thousands, of religions all around the world.
And that's why, you know. You have never mind. Here's another biblical truth. The heart of the problem is the problem of what? The heart.
Prod was the sin of the Israelites. and their arrogance testified against him because of their pride they were blind. They stumbled around in the darkness as they were led by prophets and priests who were also stumbling around in the darkness.
So, what was the consequence, man? What was it? It's the worst thing that can happen to anyone. God withdrew from them. Nothing worse can happen to a nation or a church or an individual man.
They for God to withdraw himself. As it says in Romans chapter 1, Three times, God does what? He gives them over first to natural sin, that's in verses 24-25, and then to unnatural sin, that's in verses 26 and 27, and then to what? Total. Depravity.
That's where we're on America. That's when you can no longer distinguish between good and evil.
Now look at verse 6. When they go with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord, they will not find him. Why? because he has withdrawn himself from them. With a priest Led the Israelites.
to the top of those mountains, all the high places where they have these false idols. Was God there? He was nowhere to be found. He had left them.
Now, I hate to have to say this, but this is what God has done with many churches in Europe. England Scotland in America. He's withdrawn. That's why, I don't know if you know this, but in Europe, in England, in Scotland, I think the statistics show that only about 2 to 3% of people. Go to church.
When my wife and I were traveling through Germany, we went to some of these massive cathedrals on Sundays. And they were empty. They were just museums. Jim told me that he went to Scotland and went into a church that had a statue of Frankenstein in it. That's probably, I mean, how do you say anything about that?
Well, look, John, I said, here's the deal. Why don't you take your Bible and turn to Revelation chapter One, okay? We're going to end up in chapter three. But I want you to understand something. In chapter one, Well, first of all, in Revelation chapter 3, 20.
Jesus is found standing on the outside of a church. I'll get back to that in a minute. But in chapter 1, we see that Jesus has appeared to John, and where is he? He's on the island of Patmos. If you look at Revelation chapter 2 and 3, you'll see that Jesus tells John to write down what has been, what is, and what will be.
And he addresses seven letters to seven churches. Those churches are Ephesus, Smyrna, Perth. Pergamon, Vyatara, Sardis, Philadelphia. In Laodicea.
So, John was on the island of Patmos. I've had the privilege. With my wife, I've gone to Patmos. I've also gone to all seven of those churches. Guess what?
Remains of all those churches. Ruins. Why is that? Because after Paul left, he warned them about savage wolves that were coming from among your own number. And that's what happened.
And so God left them. And now they're in ruins in a Muslim country. You'll turn with me now. to chapter 3.
Now I want you to look carefully at verses 14 through 20. This is the Church of Laodicea. By the way, a lot of theologians believe that these seven churches represent. different eras of church history.
So that when you get to Laodicea, it's the church of the last days, the church of the Western world. That's what David Jeremiah believes. I don't know if that's correct, but I do think that the church of Laodicea represents the church of our day. Listen to what he says: to the angel of the church in Laodicea. Write.
Now, who's the angel? That's the pastor.
So this letter is addressed to the pastor of the church at Laodicea. Imagine you get this letter. These are the words of the amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. Who was that? Jesus, he says, I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.
I wish you were either one or the other.
So, because you're lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I'm about to spit you out of my mouth. What does that mean? It means that the church of Laodicea makes God so sick he wants to throw up. Do you see that? I want to spit you out of my mouth.
You say, I am rich. I've acquired wealth and do not need a thing. But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you.
So this is Jesus giving counsel to this pastor. That he should give to the church. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined into fire so you can become rich and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shapeful nakedness and salve to put on your eyes so you can see.
Now, let me ask you a question. The words wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. Are they words that mark a non-believer or a believer? Non-believer. Why is that?
Because a non-believer should be pitied. We should pity those that we know that don't know the Lord. Why? Because they are poor. Without Christ, you are poor.
Without Christ, you are spiritually blind. Without Christ, you are spiritually naked. Why are you naked? Because your sins have not been covered by the blood of the Lamb.
So, if you sit here tonight and you're not sure that you know the Lord, if you're not sure that you were to die tonight, you go to heaven, what should you do? You know what you should do? You should buy gold. has been refined by fire. What does this mean?
Jesus is trying to get the Laodician church members to to recognize their spiritual poverty. They need to see the gospel as the great treasure that it is and do everything possible to possess it. That's the way we should view the gospel. It's a great treasure. And listen, if you possess it, You're rich.
In Matthew 13, 44, Jesus said, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, when you found the gospel, he went and hid it again. And then his joy, he sold all he had and bought that field. What does it profit a man if he gains the entire world but loses a soul? There will be a lot of billionaires.
Who right now are riding around on their 300-foot yachts in the Mediterranean, St. Bart's, and all those places. They better enjoy it while they can. That's the closest they'll get to heaven. Nothing against a three-foot yacht if you own one.
Isaiah 61.10 says, Let me back up here. When a man hears the gospel and believes it, He becomes rich in Christ. in that moment. The Lord gives him white clothes to wear, which are symbolic of his righteousness, covering our shameful neckedness. Do you see that picture?
Isaiah 61:10 says, I delight greatly in the Lord. Gosh, I'll tell you, this is me. I delight greatly in the Lord. My soul rejoices in my God. Do you know why?
Because I know how filthy I've been. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness. Listen, the fact that God can look at me and say I'm righteous is an absolute miracle. It is. Jesus wants to cover our nakedness, man.
And this is what he does the moment we place our trust in him and in his word, the Bible. In that moment of true faith, this is what he does. He takes salve and he puts it on your spiritual eyes so you can see. 2 Corinthians 4:4, it says, The God of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel. the glory of Christ.
2 Corinthians 3, 15 and 16 says, Today, when Moses read, a veil covers their eyes. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, what happens to that veil? It's taken away. In other words, all of a sudden you can see.
Now look at verses 19 and 20. Jesus, look, Jesus says this, those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.
So be earnest and do what? Repent. Repent. Here I am. I stand at the door and knock.
If anyone hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person and they with me.
Now a lot of people use this as an evangelistic Versus there's nothing wrong with that. But that's not really what his intent is. Where is Jesus standing? At the door of the church. He's outside the church.
Standing at the door, pounding on the door. It may be just a gentle knock. It may not be pound, but he's knocking at the door. Yeah, always I pray it is that someone will hear his voice. Believe.
And open the door, and he would come in. And then they would experience real fellowship with God. Let me ask you a question. Where does Jesus stand today in relation to so many churches? He stands outside the front door knocking.
Again, hoping that someone will hear his voice, repent, and turn to him. And then he promises to come up and take up residence within that man or that church. That's what he wants. He wants so desperately to come into some of these churches. But sadly, I think many of them have gone beyond the point of no return.
And this brings us to the second truth. When a nation or an individual refuses to repent, God's judgment will be certain and imminent. Imminent. What's that name? Coming soon.
Look at verses 8, 9, 10, and 14. I don't have time to go over all these in detail. Verse 8 says, Sound the trumpet in Gibeon, the horn in Ramah. Raised a battle cry in Beth Avon. Lean on Benjamin.
See, God has given them a warning, which is a sign of mercy. African will be but it's too late. For individuals, it's not too late. If there were individual Israelites who would hear that warning from Mosaic and believe, they would have been saved. But for the nation of Israel, it was history.
How do we know? Look, Ephraim will be laid waste on the day of reckoning. Among the tribes of Israel, I proclaim what is certain. Judah's leaders are like those who move boundary stones. You know what that means?
The boundary stones are like the guidelines that Paul, excuse me, that God gave to Moses when he was on Mount Sinai. And you see those guidelines in Exodus. In Leviticus. And in Deuteronomy, about, you know, the priests must all come from the line of Levi. The high priest must come from Aaron.
They had to, you know, the high priest had to be cleansed with blood before the day ofonement. He could go behind the Holy of Holies. All kinds of stipulations and guidelines.
So, what these priests did, they came along and they just threw out those guidelines. In other words, they moved the boundary lines.
Now you could worship any way you wanted to, basically. And we've done the same thing in America today. He says, I will pour up my wrath on them like a flood of water. Then, verse 14, for I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a great lion to Judah. Judah's going to be judged too.
I will tear them to pieces and go away. I will carry them off with no one to rescue them. Did you not know? Do you know what lion? I look this up.
A lot of these countries, like even today, we're represented by what? Bird. An eagle. A lot of these like you know Babylon and The Persians And the Assyrians, they were represented by animal figures. Do you know what the Assyrians were represented by?
A lion. Think about that. God says, I will be a lion. to Gizra. Who was the lion?
In God's hand. The Assyrians. In 722 BC, the capital city Samaria was overtaken by the Assyrians following a three-year siege in the ninth year of King Hosea, who was the last king of Israel. Samaria was captured and the Israelites were taken away to Assyria, where they disappeared from history. They resurface.
In the New Testament period, at the time of Christ. It's Samaria. The woman at the well. They were half Jewish and half Gentiles.
So what is the lesson we should take away from this? Let me tell you what the lesson is. Hebrews 10.31 says, it is a dreadful, a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Just like God gave a warning to Israel and Judah. This is what pastors should be doing in America every Sunday, is giving warnings, or warnings designed to make people feel mad or to wake them up.
Do you think we need a wicked call in America? You ought to be kidding me.
So mirror. If you don't know Jesus tonight, I want to give you a warning, okay? This comes in love. If you don't know Jesus, then one day You will discover that it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. who will judge you will have no choice.
You'll be summoned to the great white throne judgment of Revelation 20, and you'll stand before Jesus who will be the judge. And all you'll be doing is waiting for the books to be opened up that record all of your deeds, words, and thoughts. And you will be judged with justice. But Jesus. And you'll be s all you're waiting for is the condemnation.
The punishment. What are the what happened to all of ours, if you're in Christ, to all of our books, with our thoughts, words and deeds. They were nailed to the cross. And Jesus was judged in our place.
So you've got a choice, man. You can either be judged at the cross. Oh, you'll be judged at the Great Wall of Whitefield Judgment. Where do you want to be judged, Thomas? At the cross.
It's God's grace. Revelation 20, 15 says, If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Now, I don't know if that's a literal lake of fire, but whatever it is, it's going to be a place of torment, a place of darkness, a place where there'll be no love, joy, peace. happiness. There'll be no light. This is God's light will be in heaven. Do you want this to be your destiny?
So if you're unsure of your salvation, what should you do? And I'm sorry I'm going over tonight, but this is too important, guys. Here's the third truth. When a nation or man seeks God with a repentant heart, God will forgive and bring healing to his soul. Look at verse 15 of Hosea 5 and 6:1 through 3.
Then I'll go back to my place. Until they admit their guilt and seek my face. In their misery, they will earnestly seek me. You think that's a sign of hope right there? It is, as a sound of hope.
God is a God of mercy. He delights in showing mercy, according to Micah 7:18 and 19. Then it says, Look, 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.
And then it says, After two days he will revive us, or the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. You want to live in God's presence. I do. And you can experience that in the here and now. Let us acknowledge the Lord.
Let us press on to acknowledge him. As short as the sun rises, he will appear. Listen, he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth. Look at verse 17. The Spirit and the Bride say, Come.
Let him who Here's say come. Who is thirsty? Let him come. And whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. That's bright.
You've been listening to Finding Purpose with Russ Andrews. This broadcast is made possible because of the prayers and financial gifts of listeners like you. If you want to learn more about our ministry or support us as we reach others with God-centered Bible teaching, please visit us at findingpurpose.net. You're listening to the Truth Network and TruthNetwork.com. Yeah.
