“The Motivation for Change”

Ben Bailey

Intro:

Text: Hosea 4:6, 5:10, 8:7

 

1.      The element of God’s people who have no Bible knowledge, are the same ones who are removing Bible landmarks, and ultimately they will receive divine destruction.

 

2.      Change is one of the main problems that devastated Israel and it is also one of the main problems facing you and I.

 

3.      The verses I have been assigned present three truths about change.

 

I.                  The Reason For Change—Bible Ignorance (Hosea 4:6).

 

A.    One of the major reasons people are destroyed is because they do not study to seek who God really is and what He requires of them (Isa 5:13, Jer 4:22, Rom 10:4).

 

B.     Knowledge of God is one of the most important things that we must have (Hosea 6:6, Jn 8:32, Eph 5:17)

 

C.     The only way to get knowledge is to put out heads in the Book (2 Tim 2:15; Isa 55:6, Hosea 10:12, Prov 15:28).

 

D.    The word of God is that which keeps us from being destroyed (Matt 24:35, I Pet 1:25, James 1:21).

 

II.               The Realization of Change—Removing Bible Landmarks (Hosea 5:10; Prov 22:28; 24:21).

 

A.    The landmarks in this verse may be the memorials set up by the people of Israel in Josh 4 & Deut 27:2.

 

B.     The landmarks were in essence a reminder of God’s laws.  They were not following the laws as they should (Jer 6:16).

 

C.     What Bible landmarks had they removed? 

 

1.      They weren’t giving their best to God (Mal 3:8-10).

2.      They weren’t folowing marriage laws (Mal 2:16, Gen 2:24).

 

D.    You and I are also commanded not to remove God’s landmarks (I Cor 4:6, Prov 30:6, 2 Jn 9, Rev 22;18).

1.      Instrumental Music

2.      Baptism

3.      Lord’s Supper

 

 

III.           The Recompense for Change—Divine Destruction (Hosea 8:7).

 

A.    The Jews received Bablyonian Captivity as physical destruction (Jer 25:9-10, 29:11-12).

 

B.     Under the New Testament the unfaithful will receive eternal punishment (Matt 25:46,  Rev 20:14-15).

 

C.     Therefore, let us preach and teach God’s word faithfully that people may gain knowledge of God and His ways so that they may not be utterly destroyed (Jonah 3:2, Amos 7:14, 2 Tim 4:2, I Pet 4:11).