Steps Back to God

Outline written by James R. Reynolds, Sr.

Hosea 14:1-9 — O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. 2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. 3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy. 4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. 5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. 6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. 7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. 8 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found. 9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

I. Return vs. 1

Hosea 14:1 — O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.

Isaiah 55:7 — Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

II. Confess vs. 2a

Hosea 14:2a — Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity …

You have to confess your sins, and not try to justify them or blame someone else.

Today everybody is playing "The Blame Game".

If you want to get right with God, confess your sins.

1 John 1:9 — If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

III. Praise vs. 2b

Hosea 14:2b — … so will we render the calves of our lips.

The O.T worship consisted of burnt offering bullocks and sheep but true worship is the worship of the heart in praise to God.

John 4:24 — God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Psalm 40:2-3 — He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

Proverbs 3:5,6 — Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

IV. Forsake vs. 8

Hosea 14:8 — Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? …

The sinner must do the forsaking.

Isaiah 55:7 — Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Cleanse the house of spiritual leprosy.

Don't turn back!

V. Follow (The Blessings of God to Follow

1. Healing v. 4, "I will heal their backslidings"
2. Love v.4, "I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him."
3. Restoration v.5, "I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily."
4. Revival v.7, "They shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine"
5. Kept v.9, "For the ways of the LORD are right, and the just ahll walk in them: but the transgressor shall fall therein"

Jude 24 — Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

You do the believing and God will do the keeping.