Amazing Grace

9 January 2011

1. Introduction

Heb. 4:16

“Let us come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and grace to help in time of need”.

“We are blessed” – in Christ every blessing and benefit we need is available to us by faith.
Our part is to believe and to come boldly to the governing throne of God for grace.
This year is a year of enlarging territory, of Kings arising to their positioning.
Whatever the failures and disappointments of last year – this is a new year.
Hosea 2:14-20 – Promises of Mercy and Blessing to God’s people.

2. Sin has consequences that are Generational

Hosea 1:1 – 3

a) Hosea was called to live out prophetically the relationship between Israel and God.

It is a prophetic picture of the Gospel of Jesus Christ – Gospel of Grace/Restoration/Hope.
Hosea = 1954 = Deliverer, Salvation, to bring victory.
Gomer = 1584 = To fail, to come to an end, completion.

Prostitute = person who trades body, talents, gifts for personal gain, money.

= promiscuous sexual intimacy, idolatry.

Diblaim = Double lump of fruit, sweetness – sweetness of sin.
Gomer had 3 children – sin always has consequences.

(i) Jezreel = place of deception and Jezebelic control.

(ii) Lo Ruhama = no mercy, harsh life, constant judgement.

(iii)Lo Ammi = Not my people, unable to enjoy identity and blessing of

being joined to Christ = rejection/orphan spirit.

b) In spite of Sin – God promises Restoration – God is a God who restores

Hosea 1:10 – 11 Restore to blessing and increase

to identity as child of God

to greatness and enlargement

c) God is willing to, and has paid the price for us to be set free

Hosea 3:1-3 Love a woman who is loved by a lover – so I bought her.

Gomer left her husband for another lover.
She could have been stoned to death for adultery.
Heart of God: Love her – pay the price emotionally and financially.

3. God’s Promises of Restoration

a) vs.14 Fresh revelation/experience of God’s love and kindness

I will allure her – speak comfort to her.
Comfort = 3820 = speak to the heart – to the inner man – fresh revelation of love of God.
God wants to draw us to be alone with us (wilderness) to reveal His love.
God loves you in spite of other lovers – Jesus was the friend of sinners.

b) Renewing of Hopes and Dreams

Vs.2:15 The Valley of Achor as a door of hope.
Achor = 5911 = trouble disturbance. Valley = low place
Achan stole what belonged to the Lord – withheld from God.

- consequences, defeat in battle, men lost lives

- sin, holding back affects the people we love.

Whatever trouble, defeat, failure, sorrow you have experienced = God offers hope.
Door of Hope: Door = entrance, new beginning

Hope = expectation of future, restored dreams

God promises removal of conflict, violence, consequences of sin and restoration of covenant of peace.

c) Renewing of Intimacy with God

v2:19 I will betroth you (3x)

Not just will I forgive, accept, receive – but I will blot out and forget failures.
You shall know me – Know = Yada = to be deeply intimate with.
God promises new level of covenant intimacy and experience of Him.
Out of intimacy and revelation comes fruitful ministry.

4. What God Requires of Us – Trust

Hosea 2:16 “You will call me my husband not my Baal”

Baal = owner/lord
Baal = (i) False Gods that Israel served – demonic powers

· Control over finances, prosperity

· Source of sexual perversion

· Destroyed next general – children

- Abortion – Goth – Vampire – Cutting – Piercing

· Source of witchcraft and occult

(ii) Wrong concepts of God as a taskmaster to be served

· Legalism – serving as a slave, duty, doing what we have to.

· God wants us to abandon the substitutes we have traded with

to believe He is a loving, generous, abundant lover

to enter into new intimacy – worship and love relationship

to believe the truth about Him and experience abundance.