Returning to God: Embracing His Painful Mercy
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining us today. We care deeply for local church pastors and leadership, and we are committed to providing them with the support they need. If you feel led to contribute financially, we have a table set up outside. Now, let's dive into Hosea 6:1, a passage that has profoundly impacted me, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The prophets, including Hosea, were sent to wake us up, to correct our course, and to bring us back to God. Hosea ministered in the northern kingdom under the evil King Jeroboam, a time of great prosperity but also great spiritual decline. The people had become blinded by their prosperity and had strayed from their calling to be a light unto the nations.
Hosea's life was a living parable. God instructed him to marry Gomer, a woman who repeatedly betrayed him, symbolizing Israel's unfaithfulness to God. Despite her infidelity, Hosea continued to love and pursue her, just as God continues to love and pursue us. This is a call to return to the Lord, to repent, and to seek intimacy with Him. Hosea 6:1 says, "Come, let us return to the Lord. For He has torn us, that He may heal us; He has struck us down, and He will bind us up." This duality of God's mercy—both painful and restorative—is something we must embrace.
We often hear about the need for revival in the church. Historically, revivals have been marked by repentance, led by young people who are willing to be vulnerable and honest about their sins. The Great Awakening, led by George Whitfield and Jonathan Edwards, brought national unity through personal repentance. David's words in Psalm 51 remind us that our first sin is against God, and we must come to Him for forgiveness and restoration.
Before we see revival in our churches, there must be a revival in our hearts. We need to pray more than we post, seek God more than we seek news updates, lament more than we voice our opinions, and listen more than we lecture. Jesus exemplified this by listening to those who would eventually betray Him. We need to repent more than we judge, embracing the duality of God's mercy, which is both painful and restorative.
God's mercy often involves a breaking before healing. Just as an orthopedic surgeon must re-break a bone to set it correctly, God sometimes allows us to be broken so that we can be truly healed. This is not cruelty but a profound act of love. He is jealous for us and will do whatever it takes to bring us back to Him. This is the story of my mother, who experienced deep wounds but found healing and redemption through God's love.
We are all sinners in need of a Savior. Our political views, opinions on global issues, and personal struggles are secondary to our need for Jesus. Paul in Philippians 4:7-11 speaks of knowing Christ intimately, not just intellectually. This is the essence of Yadah, the Hebrew word for knowing God deeply and intimately. It's not about head knowledge but about life transformation and union with God.
Jesus fulfills Hosea 6:1 by coming to us, living among us, and dying for our sins. He was wounded for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities. By His wounds, we are healed. This is the ultimate act of love and mercy. When we put on Christ, we see the world through His eyes, understanding that He is our hope, our joy, and our fulfillment. We need to confess our sins and embrace the painful yet beautiful mercy of God.
In conclusion, let us return to the Lord, embrace His duality of mercy, and seek intimacy with Him. This is the path to true healing and restoration. Amen.
### Key Takeaways
1. Personal Responsibility in Repentance: Each one of us will stand before God and give an account of our lives. We cannot blame others for our spiritual state. True healing begins when we stop pointing fingers and start addressing our own sins through the Spirit of God. This personal responsibility is crucial for experiencing genuine revival and intimacy with God. [50:37]
2. Historical Revivals and Personal Repentance: Revivals throughout history, such as the Great Awakening, were marked by personal repentance and a return to God. These movements were often led by young people who were willing to be vulnerable and honest about their sins. National unity and spiritual renewal followed as individuals repented and sought God's forgiveness. [52:04]
3. The Duality of God's Mercy: God's mercy is both painful and restorative. He allows us to be broken so that we can be healed. This duality is seen throughout Scripture and is essential for our spiritual growth. Embracing this painful mercy leads to deeper intimacy with God and a more profound understanding of His love and grace. [55:39]
4. The Call to Intimacy (Yadah): Knowing God (Yadah) is about intimacy and union, not just intellectual knowledge. This deep, relational knowing transforms our lives and brings us into a closer relationship with God. Hosea's call to return to the Lord is a call to this kind of intimate relationship, where we experience God's love and mercy in a profound way. [45:27]
5. Jesus as the Fulfillment of Hosea 6:1: Jesus embodies the call to return to the Lord. He came to us, lived among us, and was wounded for our transgressions. Through His death and resurrection, we are healed and restored. This ultimate act of love and mercy invites us into a deep, intimate relationship with God, fulfilling the promise of Hosea 6:1. [01:08:01]
### Youtube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[32:49] - Introduction to Hosea 6:1
[33:31] - Background on Hosea and Israel's Prosperity
[35:02] - Hosea's Marriage as a Living Parable
[36:09] - Personal Story: My Mother's Journey
[39:40] - The Call to Return Home
[41:18] - Understanding Yadah: Knowing God Intimately
[45:27] - The Essence of Intimacy with God
[50:37] - Personal Responsibility in Repentance
[52:04] - Historical Revivals and Personal Repentance
[55:39] - The Duality of God's Mercy
[57:27] - Embracing God's Painful Mercy
[01:02:36] - Living in the Tension of God's Mercy
[01:06:51] - Paul's Example of Dying to Self
[01:08:01] - Jesus as the Fulfillment of Hosea 6:1
[01:09:56] - Seeing Clearly Through Christ
[01:13:18] - Final Call to Return to the Lord
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Hosea 6:1: "Come, let us return to the Lord. For He has torn us, that He may heal us; He has struck us down, and He will bind us up."
- Psalm 51:4: "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge."
- Philippians 3:10: "I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death."
### Observation Questions
1. What was the historical context in which Hosea ministered, and how did it affect his message? ([33:31])
2. How does Hosea's marriage to Gomer serve as a living parable for Israel's relationship with God? ([35:02])
3. What does the Hebrew word "Yadah" mean, and how does it relate to our relationship with God? ([41:18])
4. According to the sermon, what are some actions we should prioritize over posting on social media? ([53:21])
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the duality of God's mercy—being both painful and restorative—manifest in our lives? ([55:39])
2. Why is personal responsibility in repentance crucial for experiencing genuine revival and intimacy with God? ([50:37])
3. How do historical revivals, such as the Great Awakening, illustrate the importance of personal repentance and vulnerability? ([52:04])
4. In what ways does Jesus fulfill the call to return to the Lord as described in Hosea 6:1? ([01:08:01])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually distant from God. What steps did you take, or can you take, to return to Him? ([46:28])
2. How can you embrace the duality of God's mercy in your own life, especially during times of personal struggle or pain? ([55:39])
3. What are some practical ways you can prioritize prayer, seeking God, and listening over posting on social media and voicing opinions? ([53:21])
4. Think about a specific area in your life where you need to take personal responsibility for repentance. How can you address this through the Spirit of God? ([50:37])
5. How can you cultivate a deeper, more intimate relationship with God (Yadah) beyond just intellectual knowledge? ([41:18])
6. Identify one person in your life who needs to experience God's love and mercy. How can you be a light to them this week?
7. Reflect on the story of Hosea and Gomer. How does this story challenge you to love and pursue others, even when it is difficult? ([35:02])
Devotional
Day 1: Personal Responsibility in Repentance
True healing begins when we stop pointing fingers and start addressing our own sins through the Spirit of God. Each one of us will stand before God and give an account of our lives. We cannot blame others for our spiritual state. This personal responsibility is crucial for experiencing genuine revival and intimacy with God. When we take ownership of our sins and seek God's forgiveness, we open the door to His transformative power in our lives. This is not just about feeling sorry for our wrongdoings but about a heartfelt return to God, seeking His mercy and grace.
In a world where it is easy to blame others for our shortcomings, God calls us to look inward and recognize our own need for repentance. This is the first step towards revival, both personally and within the church. As we confess our sins and turn back to God, we experience His healing and restoration. This process may be painful, but it is necessary for true spiritual growth and intimacy with God. [50:37]
Hosea 14:1-2 (ESV): "Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. 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 vows of our lips.'"
Reflection: What specific sins or areas of your life do you need to take responsibility for today? How can you begin to address these through prayer and seeking God's forgiveness?
Day 2: Historical Revivals and Personal Repentance
Revivals throughout history, such as the Great Awakening, were marked by personal repentance and a return to God. These movements were often led by young people who were willing to be vulnerable and honest about their sins. National unity and spiritual renewal followed as individuals repented and sought God's forgiveness. The Great Awakening, led by George Whitfield and Jonathan Edwards, brought about a profound change in society through personal repentance and a collective return to God.
This historical context reminds us that true revival begins with personal repentance. When individuals are willing to be honest about their sins and seek God's forgiveness, it can lead to a broader spiritual renewal within the community. This vulnerability and honesty before God are essential for experiencing His transformative power. As we reflect on past revivals, we are encouraged to seek a similar movement in our own lives and communities. [52:04]
Joel 2:12-13 (ESV): "Yet even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.
Reflection: Are you willing to be vulnerable and honest about your sins before God? How can you take steps towards personal repentance and contribute to a broader spiritual renewal in your community?
Day 3: The Duality of God's Mercy
God's mercy is both painful and restorative. He allows us to be broken so that we can be healed. This duality is seen throughout Scripture and is essential for our spiritual growth. Embracing this painful mercy leads to deeper intimacy with God and a more profound understanding of His love and grace. Just as an orthopedic surgeon must re-break a bone to set it correctly, God sometimes allows us to be broken so that we can be truly healed.
This process of breaking and healing is not an act of cruelty but a profound act of love. God is jealous for us and will do whatever it takes to bring us back to Him. This duality of His mercy is something we must embrace if we are to experience true spiritual growth and intimacy with Him. It is through this painful yet restorative process that we come to understand the depth of God's love and grace. [55:39]
Isaiah 57:15 (ESV): "For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.'"
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel broken? How can you embrace God's painful yet restorative mercy to experience healing and deeper intimacy with Him?
Day 4: The Call to Intimacy (Yadah)
Knowing God (Yadah) is about intimacy and union, not just intellectual knowledge. This deep, relational knowing transforms our lives and brings us into a closer relationship with God. Hosea's call to return to the Lord is a call to this kind of intimate relationship, where we experience God's love and mercy in a profound way. It is not enough to know about God intellectually; we must seek to know Him intimately and personally.
This intimacy with God is what transforms our lives and brings us into a deeper relationship with Him. It is through this relational knowing that we experience His love and mercy in a profound way. As we seek to know God intimately, we are drawn closer to Him and experience the fullness of His grace and love. This is the essence of Yadah, the Hebrew word for knowing God deeply and intimately. [45:27]
Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'"
Reflection: How can you move beyond intellectual knowledge of God to a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him? What steps can you take today to seek this kind of intimacy with God?
Day 5: Jesus as the Fulfillment of Hosea 6:1
Jesus embodies the call to return to the Lord. He came to us, lived among us, and was wounded for our transgressions. Through His death and resurrection, we are healed and restored. This ultimate act of love and mercy invites us into a deep, intimate relationship with God, fulfilling the promise of Hosea 6:1. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is the ultimate demonstration of God's love and mercy towards us.
By His wounds, we are healed, and through His resurrection, we are restored. This is the fulfillment of Hosea's call to return to the Lord. Jesus invites us into a deep, intimate relationship with God, where we experience His love and mercy in a profound way. As we put on Christ, we see the world through His eyes and understand that He is our hope, our joy, and our fulfillment. [01:08:01]
1 Peter 2:24 (ESV): "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed."
Reflection: How does understanding Jesus as the fulfillment of Hosea 6:1 impact your relationship with God? What steps can you take to embrace His love and mercy more fully in your life?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We need to pray more than we post. Posting is so easy. I bet you if you start praying, you'll stop posting as much. The Lord is going to be like, mm-mm. You see that big log in your eye? Yeah. Seek God more than we seek news updates. Some of you are being proselytized to every single day by the wrong gospel. Actually, most of what you're getting is not gospel. It's just really, really, really, really bad news that's distracting you from a good God." [54:21]
2. "We need to lament more than voice our opinions. Let your hearts break for what's happening around the world in the same way that the Lord's heart is breaking. Just lament. I know it feels like you're not doing anything. But you are. You're joining the Lord in his brokenheartedness. We need to listen more than we need to lecture. Man, doesn't it feel good to lecture, though? Doesn't it feel so good? It's like, oh, the endorphins are running. You're wrong. I'm right. Right? Oh, it feels so good." [55:01]
3. "How many of you have social media? I promise I won't ridicule you. Okay. Look how you're doing that half arm up thing. Right. It's okay. Put it up. Right. And you get these things. Right. These friend requests. Right. All these friend requests. People that want to know you. They want to know you. But they don't know you know you. They see you post things and they go, oh, I know them. But that's not real. In fact, many of you are posting things that aren't even real. hoping that people will know you for that thing. Right. But they don't know you. Know you know you." [43:01]
4. "Your health. And your wholeness. you put on Jesus, you start to realize he's the great physician. Your future. He's your hope. He's your hope. Hey, Christians, what are we so freaked out about? We die. We win. We live. We win. What are we freaked out about? What are we so nervous about? He wins. We win. That's what we're promised. That's our hope. In this world, you'll suffer. Which, by the way, is a promise. But take heart. I've overcome the world. Why? Because he loves us. He's our joy. He's our fulfillment." [01:09:56]
### Quotes for Members
1. "Let us return home. This is a corporate declaration with a personal responsibility. Because you are a part of the us. Each one of you. Will stand before God and give an account. Which means we don't have time to blame other people for what is happening in our lives. I watch so many people spend all their time going, if they would just change. You don't understand. They did me wrong. Well, guess what. You can't change them. That's a lot of work. Doing something that you can't change. Do you know who you can't change? Yourself. Through the spirit of God who is drawing you back to his heart." [50:37]
2. "We need to repent of our sins. We need to be vulnerable. I got a problem. If you're standing here and you go, I don't got a problem. I don't know why you're here. I don't know why you need Jesus. We all got problems. And we need to come and return to the Lord. I love this quote. By the way, during that time, during the great awakening, what happened as a result of people personally repenting. We got national unity. Because it was no longer about them. It was about me. And my sin. David says this in Psalms 51. Against you and you alone have I sinned, O God." [52:04]
3. "The duality of his mercy is both painful and restorative. This is where we learn and where we grow all throughout the scriptures. You're going to see the duality of this mercy of God given to us. The problem is as a society we've rejected the one. And then we point our finger to heaven when he doesn't do the other. dare you not do this? How dare you not fix this? How dare you not restore this?" [56:35]
4. "Knowing God is so much deeper. He's talking to the people of God. Let us return home. This is a corporate declaration with a personal responsibility. Because you are a part of the us. Each one of you. Will stand before God and give an account. Which means we don't have time to blame other people for what is happening in our lives. I watch so many people spend all their time going, if they would just change. You don't understand. They did me wrong. Well, guess what. You can't change them. That's a lot of work. Doing something that you can't change. Do you know who you can't change? Yourself. Through the spirit of God who is drawing you back to his heart." [50:37]
5. "You need to deal with the pain. He has not promised you comfort. Never has promised you comfort. That is Western and it is a lie from Satan. In this world you will suffer but take heart. I've overcome the world. Blessed are those who suffer for my name's sake. You will see him. You will experience. So abide in the painful mercy and the beautiful mercy of God. Live into the paradox that he has for you. The tension that will draw you into intimacy with him." [01:02:36]
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