GOD’S INVITATION TO THE BACKSLIDER

HOSEA 14:1-6

By: Dr. Robert F. Toney

     1. There is a most beautiful word here in verse one.

        a. that would bring a change to the Nation of Israel.

        b. Yes, this beautiful word, if obeyed; will bring a change to America.

        c. and Yes, again, this word will bring a change to the individual and to the Church, if obeyed !

     2. That beautiful word is "Return". "Return unto the Lord thy God, "For thou hast fallen by thine iniquity." [sin]

     3. Israel would not have received an invitation to return to God... If Israel had not gone away...

     4. Why would Israel or anyone here want to turn away from God...? - from the church...since God has been so good to them?

     5. The Nation Israel who was unfaithful and unrepentant, was called by Hosea The Prophet...

        a. to come home to the Faithful God.

        b. who would provide restoration, and healing to them.

        c. Forgiveness and full salvation, or deliverance.

     6. Hosea points out the essentials of True Religion in his writings.

     7. Hosea, as any flaming evangelist or pastor knew his people.

     8. Hosea knew what it was to sob his heart out for his unfaithful wife, who goes further on into sin.

     9. And he is aware of the sacred love in the heart of God.

   10. Through the Prophet and the local pastor, God calls his wandering people home, he was divinely chosen of God for this purpose.

   11. God has Mercy, and Pardon, and Plenteous Grace waiting...

   12. Israel had seen God lay His Mighty Arm to bring them out of Egyptian Bondage, and:

        a. divide the sea, and Jordan, so they could cross over..

        b. rain down Manna from Heaven, and feed them...

        c. make them clothes and shoes to last them for forty years...

        d. God put shoes on a 2 year old baby and that baby was still wearing that shoe up until the end of the forty year period.

[can you prove to me that He didn’t?]

    13. May I remind you, as I am reminded, God has been so good to you.

    14. Aren’t you glad that there is a way back, from your backsliding?

    15. And that God extends to everyone of you, His divine personal invitation to Return--- "For thou hast fallen by thine iniquity." [sins]

    16. Also, Hosea says this:

"Take with you words, and turn to the Lord..."

"Say unto Him, Take away all iniquity."

"And receive us graciously."

‘So that we render the calves [fruit] of our lips."Note: 10. You do this, and you can expect to rejoice, and enjoy, some great responses from God. !

    17. Here they are: The Bible names them for you, in verse 4 - 5. In His "I wills"

I.  "I WILL HEAL THY BACKSLIDING." VS. 4 A.

     A. Backsliding is a serious, spiritual sickness.

        1. Backsliders are spiritually sick people.

     B. your return will be "sudden healing."

        1. You Want be like Waiting in the E.R. for the doctors report when some one is seriously sick physically.

        2. There will be no life support needed, no needles, no long waiting periods.

        3. It will be sudden healing. Friends.

     C. It will be Sovereign Rulership.

        1. 1 b "for thou hast fallen."

        2. It is not the fault of someone else. "For thou hast fallen, by thine iniquities."

        3. Look at the second response from God:

        4. Praise the Lord ! When you return: God says this:

II. I WILL LOVE THEM FREELY Vs. 4 b

     A. Read On ! "for mine anger is turned away from him." Praise The Lord !!

        1. No one twists God’s arm to get Him to act in your behalf.

        2. God loves everyone the same way...

        3. He says: "I will love them freely."

Freely: = spontaneous, voluntarily, and willingly love them. Ain’t God good!

        4. You are one whom God loves, "freely" bless your heart.

        5. Next, God says this:

III. "I WILL" BE AS THE DEW UNTO ISRAEL. Verse. 5 a.

     A. "He shall grow as the lily."

     B. "And cast forth his roots as Lebanon."

       1. He will blossom and take roots."

     C. Vs. 6 "His branches shall spread [grow] and his beauty, shall be as the Olive tree, and his smell [fragrance] as Lebanon. Praise God, what an Offer God gives to the backslider who will "Return".

     D. Notice the "Dew".

        1. Dew represents the character of God..

        2. Dew is REAL 3. Dew forms at night. And refreshes, and revives life

        4. Dew forms the heaviest in the valley...

     A. aren’t you glad that like the dew, God comes to us in the valley of back- sliding, to love us, refresh and revive us when we return, he is real.

     B. and He invites us to return from our iniquity for spiritual refreshing, and reviving.5. Dew forms in the stillness:

            1. God spoke to Elijah in the still small voice.

            2. Psa. 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God..."

       Dew falls when the conditions are right.

Conclusion: