Browsed by
Month: September 2020

The book of Hosea ends with a rich gospel message: repent and turn to the Lord for healing. There was still time for Israel to find forgiveness in Him and to rejoice in His mercy. There is still time for us too!

The book of Hosea ends with a rich gospel message: repent and turn to the Lord for healing. There was still time for Israel to find forgiveness in Him and to rejoice in His mercy. There is still time for us too!

BibleGateway: Hosea 14:1-9 ESV Text: Hosea 14:1-9 Hosea 14 (Listen) A Plea to Return to the Lord 14:1   Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God,    for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.2   Take with you words    and return to the LORD;  say to him,    “Take away all iniquity;  accept what is good,    and we will pay with bulls    the vows1 of our lips.3   Assyria shall not save us;    we will not ride on horses;  and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’    to the work of our hands.  In you the orphan…

Read More Read More

Two encouraging promises here for a church that kept Jesus’ word: unbelievers would come to faith through their ministry and the Lord would bring them through tribulation.

Two encouraging promises here for a church that kept Jesus’ word: unbelievers would come to faith through their ministry and the Lord would bring them through tribulation.

BibleGateway: Revelation 3:7-13 ESV Text: Revelation 3:7-13 Revelation 3:7–13 (Listen) To the Church in Philadelphia 7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. 8 “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little…

Read More Read More

Here is a church that had become spiritually dead. They went through the motions, but did not give real evidence of their faith in their lives. They needed to wake up and be alert to the gospel again.

Here is a church that had become spiritually dead. They went through the motions, but did not give real evidence of their faith in their lives. They needed to wake up and be alert to the gospel again.

BibleGateway: Revelation 3:1-6 ESV Text: Revelation 3:1-6 Revelation 3:1–6 (Listen) To the Church in Sardis 3:1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God….

Read More Read More

It’s striking that in these chapters of warning and judgment against Israel the gospel is still woven throughout. Here it’s in verses 4, 5, and 14. Always God provides promises capable of bringing back the erring and encouraging the faithful.

It’s striking that in these chapters of warning and judgment against Israel the gospel is still woven throughout. Here it’s in verses 4, 5, and 14. Always God provides promises capable of bringing back the erring and encouraging the faithful.

BibleGateway: Hosea 13:1-16 ESV Text: Hosea 13:1-16 Hosea 13 (Listen) The Lord’s Relentless Judgment on Israel 13:1   When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling;    he was exalted in Israel,    but he incurred guilt through Baal and died.2   And now they sin more and more,    and make for themselves metal images,  idols skillfully made of their silver,    all of them the work of craftsmen.  It is said of them,    “Those who offer human sacrifice kiss calves!”3   Therefore they shall be like the morning mist    or like the dew that goes early away,  like the…

Read More Read More

Jacob once wrestled for God’s blessings, but his descendants had lost the desire to cling to the Lord. Yet God still invited them to hold onto Him and put their hope in Him.

Jacob once wrestled for God’s blessings, but his descendants had lost the desire to cling to the Lord. Yet God still invited them to hold onto Him and put their hope in Him.

BibleGateway: Hosea 11:12-12:14 ESV Text: Hosea 11:12-12:14 Hosea 11:12–12:14 (Listen) 12   1 Ephraim has surrounded me with lies,    and the house of Israel with deceit,  but Judah still walks with God    and is faithful to the Holy One.12:1   Ephraim feeds on the wind    and pursues the east wind all day long;  they multiply falsehood and violence;    they make a covenant with Assyria,    and oil is carried to Egypt. The Lord’s Indictment of Israel and Judah 2   The LORD has an indictment against Judah    and will punish Jacob according to his ways;    he…

Read More Read More

Here we see God’s beautiful and loving heart, a heart that does not want any soul to be lost. It’s a window into the heart of Jesus too. “How can I give you up?” Christ says to you. Think of that.

Here we see God’s beautiful and loving heart, a heart that does not want any soul to be lost. It’s a window into the heart of Jesus too. “How can I give you up?” Christ says to you. Think of that.

BibleGateway: Hosea 11:1-11 ESV Text: Hosea 11:1-11 Hosea 11:1–11 (Listen) The Lord’s Love for Israel 11:1   When Israel was a child, I loved him,    and out of Egypt I called my son.2   The more they were called,    the more they went away;  they kept sacrificing to the Baals    and burning offerings to idols. 3   Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk;    I took them up by their arms,    but they did not know that I healed them.4   I led them with cords of kindness,1    with the bands of love,  and…

Read More Read More

The church needed to separate itself from the false prophetess Jezebel, for those who followed her would come under certain and severe judgment. Repent and believe, for the believers will rule with Christ!

The church needed to separate itself from the false prophetess Jezebel, for those who followed her would come under certain and severe judgment. Repent and believe, for the believers will rule with Christ!

BibleGateway: Revelation 2:18-29 ESV Text: Revelation 2:18-29 Revelation 2:18–29 (Listen) To the Church in Thyatira 18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel,…

Read More Read More

The church in Pergamum had held to the Lord but was tempted by sexual immorality. Jesus urged them to repentance and held the gospel before them: To those who conquer there awaits a heavenly feast.

The church in Pergamum had held to the Lord but was tempted by sexual immorality. Jesus urged them to repentance and held the gospel before them: To those who conquer there awaits a heavenly feast.

BibleGateway: Revelation 2:12-17 ESV Text: Revelation 2:12-17 Revelation 2:12–17 (Listen) To the Church in Pergamum 12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. 13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith1 even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things…

Read More Read More

The more success Israel had as a nation, the more they relied on themselves and turned from God. It is no different today. Many turn from God when times are good, thinking they don’t need Him.

The more success Israel had as a nation, the more they relied on themselves and turned from God. It is no different today. Many turn from God when times are good, thinking they don’t need Him.

BibleGateway: Hosea 9:17-10:15 ESV Text: Hosea 9:17-10:15 Hosea 9:17–10:15 (Listen) 17   My God will reject them    because they have not listened to him;    they shall be wanderers among the nations. 10:1   Israel is a luxuriant vine    that yields its fruit.  The more his fruit increased,    the more altars he built;  as his country improved,    he improved his pillars.2   Their heart is false;    now they must bear their guilt.  The LORD1 will break down their altars    and destroy their pillars. 3   For now they will say:    “We have no king,  for we do not fear the LORD;    and…

Read More Read More

A sad end would come to the northern kingdom of Israel. This is what sin does. It destroys and ruins everything. Look to your Savior for safety and healing from sin; and turn away from evil!

A sad end would come to the northern kingdom of Israel. This is what sin does. It destroys and ruins everything. Look to your Savior for safety and healing from sin; and turn away from evil!

BibleGateway: Hosea 9:1-16 ESV Text: Hosea 9:1-16 Hosea 9:1–16 (Listen) The Lord Will Punish Israel 9:1   Rejoice not, O Israel!    Exult not like the peoples;  for you have played the whore, forsaking your God.    You have loved a prostitute’s wages    on all threshing floors.2   Threshing floor and wine vat shall not feed them,    and the new wine shall fail them.3   They shall not remain in the land of the LORD,    but Ephraim shall return to Egypt,    and they shall eat unclean food in Assyria. 4   They shall not pour drink offerings…

Read More Read More