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If you have your Bibles, we are going to cover Hosea 13 this morning.

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I'm not going to lie to you, this is a hard one. It's a tough one.

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This is a graphic chapter in regards to how God views sin.

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We were joking the other day at lunch with the staff that maybe we should skip this chapter and just head to chapter 14.

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It would have been easier. It would have been less cringy, I don't know if that's a word or not.

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But the benefit of going through a book is that it forces us to look at hard texts.

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We can't just skip over the parts that we don't like.

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So let's summarize real quickly where we've been throughout the book of Hosea up until this point.

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It starts off with God telling Hosea to marry a whore named Gomer.

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And that is going to be a living example of the relationship between God and His people Israel.

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Hosea remains faithful to Gomer while Gomer is consistently chasing other people.

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She's consistently chasing other experiences.

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His children are given names to represent the future judgment of God on the people of Israel.

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Every day of Hosea's life, he is reminded that his wife is a whore.

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His children might not even be his and God is unhappy with his people.

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That is his reality.

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Chapter after chapter we see Israel choosing idolatry.

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Failing to recognize God for who he is.

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Refusing to repent and continuously trying to get themselves out of their own situation

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with their own power and their own creativity.

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All the while God is sending warning after warning after warning.

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God is long suffering.

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He is faithful. He is loving.

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The people kind of come to their senses for a short time.

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They give themselves a little speech and they say, hey, come let us return to the Lord.

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Let's get back on track here, but it doesn't last for long.

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They are never in a place of submission, but just keep going through the motions of church

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and it not affecting their day to day life.

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If you have seen anything in this book, if you have learned anything from this book,

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I hope that you have seen the love that God has for his people, even in the midst of complete disloyalty.

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So now we're in chapter 13 and we're going to see what the future of God's wrath has in store

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for the people of Israel.

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As we read, I want to remind us that the people of Israel are no different than the people of today.

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They get a bad rap because we can see the progression.

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We can see the warnings. We can see the history.

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But the truth is, every generation since has had the same issues.

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We think we're smarter than God.

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We go through the motions of religion.

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We try to appease God by doing good things.

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So before we jump into Hosea, I want to read a well-known passage in Galatians to set the tone.

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And I'll just read in Galatians chapter 6 verse 7 that says,

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Do not be deceived.

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God is not mocked.

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For whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

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For the one who sows to his own flesh will also reap the flesh of corruption.

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But the one who sows to the spirit will reap the eternal life.

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At our last house in La Mesa, we had this big tree in our backyard.

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It's called a fruitless mulberry tree.

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I don't know if they have those here or not.

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Those trees are popular in that part of the country because they grow real fast and they don't need a lot of rain.

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Now the problem with them though is because they don't need a lot of rain, their roots don't go very deep.

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They're really shallow and cause a lot of damage to sidewalks and things like that.

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In our case at our house, it provided a lot of shade, but it had destroyed our back patio because the roots were barely under the surface.

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In order to fix the patio where it was flat and smooth and not like humpy,

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we would have had to taken down the tree and got rid of it,

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which would have eliminated a ton of shade in our backyard, which is not a good idea if you live in Texas.

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So we just kind of lived with it.

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The people that planted that tree years before we owned it probably did not care about the future of the patio.

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They just wanted shade, not thinking about the destruction that that tree would cause.

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And as we turn to Hosea, we will see that Ephraim has sowed without giving much consideration to the destruction that it's going to cause.

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We have to be aware of the seeds that we are planting.

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And so Hosea 13, starting in verse 1, it says,

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When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling.

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He was exalted in Israel, but he incurred guilt through bail and died.

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And now they sin more and more and make for themselves metal images.

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Idols skillfully made of their silver.

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All of them the work of craftsmen.

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It is said of them, those who offer human sacrifice kiss calves.

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Therefore they shall be like the morning mist or like the dew that goes away early away.

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Like the shaft that swirls from the threshing floor or like smoke from a window.

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I'm going to stop right there.

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Did you see how all of this started, what we're about to read?

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In verse 1, it says that Ephraim was exalted in Israel.

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That tribe was feared because of the power and the influence that they had.

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This is where things start.

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This is where it begins.

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We start thinking more highly of ourselves than we are.

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People start puffing us up so you begin to think that you are better than you are.

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So notice the progression.

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It starts with exaltation.

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Then it leads to sin. Then it leads to death.

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This is not always immediate, but you can take a look at people and even nations and see the progression.

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Outside of the Bible, they call this the law of returns.

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We use phrases like what goes around comes around.

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Garbage in, garbage out.

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There's this idea of karma.

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No pain, no gain.

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You can take something as small as a seed.

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Over time, it can turn into a tree or it can turn into a full-on harvest.

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As we study history, we can see how people came into power.

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How they were celebrated.

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Then the spiral begins.

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Do you think Hitler rose to power by campaigning on the idea of exterminating the Jews?

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Of abolishing their democratic institutions.

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By running on the fact that he said, I want total control.

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No, he didn't run on that, right?

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But it ended badly for him and the Germans.

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Exaltation can happen in many ways.

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Ephraim was the strongest and largest of the tribes.

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Everyone looked to them for an example.

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When good is going on around you and things are thriving.

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And you're starting to see success.

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People will begin to celebrate you.

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They'll begin to praise you.

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You'll realize that everything you touch is gold.

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And when that happens, it's easy to forget the Lord.

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I got that race.

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I bought that house.

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I won that race.

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I was the star of that game.

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We become exalted.

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We become prideful.

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Then in verse 2 it says, and now they sin more and more.

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They're exalted and then they sin more and more.

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Think about that phrase.

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They sin more and more.

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Once you get away with one sin, it's easy to get away with the next one.

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Once you start down that path the first time, the second time is easier.

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You might even up your game and start to test the boundaries

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to see what you can get away with.

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I don't know anyone who woke up one day

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and decided to have an affair on their spouse.

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It starts with little things that get us there.

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Maybe it starts by seeing someone on the cover of a magazine.

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Then it leads to pornography.

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Then it leads to starting to skip time with your family.

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Which leads to isolation and the feeling that nobody cares about you.

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Then you start looking for affection.

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You start flirting with someone at work.

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The next thing you know, your family is broken and your kids have two Christmases.

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It starts with one thing that leads to another.

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It starts with thinking that we know better.

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We become prideful in our thinking.

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Everyone around us starts feeding into us

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and makes us think that we are doing really well.

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Our sinful nature is constantly trying to win a battle.

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Think about how valuable your soul is.

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The enemy is willing to steal, kill, and destroy for it.

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He's willing to use any means necessary to keep you on the path of destruction.

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He will lie to you constantly.

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He will distract you.

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He will make you think you're awesome.

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He will make you think that you have no need for God whatsoever.

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Your soul is his mission field and he's desperate for it.

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That's how valuable you are.

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And because Ephraim bought into the sly,

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the Scripture says that he sinned more and more.

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He sowed a seed of destruction.

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He just wasn't aware of how much destruction it was going to cause,

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even though he was warned time and time again.

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So then God reminds the people of who he is.

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In verse 4 it says,

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But I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt.

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You knew no God but me.

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And besides me, there is no Savior.

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It was I who knew you in the wilderness in the land of drought.

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For those of you unaware,

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ministry can be heartbreaking at times.

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It can be difficult at times.

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There are times where there is an attitude from people that you minister to

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of what have you done for me lately?

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There was this couple at our previous church that Sina and I put a lot of time and energy into.

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We met them at a party that we had for our neighborhood and they came.

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We heard their story.

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We got to know them.

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They started coming to church.

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They grew up in church but hadn't been in church in a very long time.

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As we got to know them,

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we began to be aware of some issues that they had.

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They had some marriage issues.

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They had some addictions that they needed to deal with.

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They didn't have many friends.

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And so we pour into them.

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I met with him almost every week.

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Sina would meet with her pretty often.

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And we started to see some things change for the better.

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It was to the point where he would have called me his best friend

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and she would have called Sina her best friend.

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Then Satan came in and he started lying to them.

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That they would become offended at things that I would say.

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They'd become offended at the tone in which I might say them.

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They would make up things and then tell anybody that would listen to them.

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It was like, forget all the help that you've given us.

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Forget all the time that you've poured into us.

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We don't like the way the church is spending money.

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We don't like how you say those things.

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So they left.

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No explanation.

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They just left.

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And I just wanted to grab them and shake them

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and remind them that a couple years before

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where they were desperate for anyone to listen,

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for anyone to help them.

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And I feel like that is what God is saying in this text.

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He's like, hey, I'm the God that brought you out of Egypt.

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I'm the one that walked you through the wilderness.

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If it wasn't for me, you'd still be in slavery.

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I led you. I helped you overcome these massive armies.

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But this whole book of Hosea seems to be from the people.

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What have you done for me lately?

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What have you done for me lately?

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Because it says in verse 6,

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they grazed and became full.

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They were filled and their heart was loaded up.

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And therefore they forgot me.

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Translation.

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They needed me when they were desperate.

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But once their spirits were lifted,

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once they were in a good spot,

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they didn't need me anymore.

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Is that you?

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Are you filled and content

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that you have forgotten all that God has done for you?

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From there, God is going to paint a picture

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of just how bad things are going to get.

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The results of sin are ugly.

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They're not pleasant.

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Now keep in mind that there have been warnings.

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There's been warnings throughout generations.

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This isn't a situation where the people of God

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messed up once and God's just raining down judgment on them.

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They have sowed seeds in sin.

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And now they're going to reap the harvest.

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Verse 7.

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So I am to them like a lion.

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Like a leopard I will lurk beside the way.

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I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs.

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I will tear open their breasts.

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And there I will devour them like a lion.

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As a wild beast would rip them open.

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How angry does God get when we forget Him?

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Like an angry bear who's had her cubs taken away from her.

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Like a lion who hasn't eaten in days.

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Think about that.

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Think about how your instincts would kick in

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if someone were to take your child

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or take your grandchild from you.

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There are many of us in this room

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who would not think twice about going to jail in that moment.

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If you were trying to hurt or take my children,

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Sina would not just be giving you a lecture.

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She would rip your face off.

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There would be no mercy.

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God has to be that way because He's holy.

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His people have been filled with sin.

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They have forgotten about Him.

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If you take the cubs of a mama bear,

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she has every right to be angry.

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Those are hers.

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She knows how to care for them.

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She knows what they need.

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And anything that can keep them from loving on those cubs

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has to be destroyed so that her cubs can be protected.

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Things are going to go badly for Ephraim.

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Now God in His sovereignty knew that this would go badly for Him.

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His wrath was shown when He let them do things on their own way.

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God reminds them in verses 10 and 11,

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you wanted a king when I wasn't enough.

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Think back to Saul.

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You wanted this king because I wasn't enough for you.

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How's that going for you?

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Where is the king that you wanted to protect and lead you?

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I wasn't good enough to lead,

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so I gave you a king in my anger.

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How's that working out for you?

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Look at where you are.

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Bad decision after bad decision.

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Then in verse 13, He basically calls them a bunch of idiots.

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Because as childbirth comes,

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they can't even find the opening to come out.

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As the pain of sin comes,

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they still don't see that God is their redeemer.

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They still don't see it.

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Now I don't know if this is a reference to see section babies,

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and they might not be the brightest bulbs in the lamp.

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I'm not saying it's a reference, I'm saying.

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But the point is,

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the way that we think is right and good usually isn't.

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So because they have failed to acknowledge God,

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because of their unwillingness to repent and humble themselves,

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God says compassion is hidden from His eyes.

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They're going to continue to flourish in their own eyes.

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They will continue to be exalted amongst themselves and other tribes.

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But a time is coming when God's going to take all of that away.

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They might appear that things are going well,

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00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:58,000
but there's coming a time when God's going to take those things away.

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In verse 15, it says that the wind of the Lord shall come,

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and dry up the water, and the land will be parched.

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00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:09,000
God is going to allow the Assyrians to come

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and take everything away that is precious to them.

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Then they're going to face the brutality of the Assyrian army.

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They will be killed by the sword.

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Women will have their babies cut out of them.

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Children will be slaughtered in the streets.

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And from what we know about history,

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and how the Assyrians functioned,

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all this came to pass.

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They were ruthless.

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Sin is detrimental and takes no prisoners.

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The enemy will not stop until he has killed

301
00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:51,000
and destroyed everything in you that's from God.

302
00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:56,000
So what seeds are you sowing?

303
00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:59,000
Destruction doesn't happen overnight.

304
00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:01,000
You don't plant a seed in the morning

305
00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:05,000
and get ready to harvest it at dinner time.

306
00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:10,000
How is the law of returns affecting your life?

307
00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:14,000
Leslie Jameson wrote a book about recovery.

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In that book she states that addiction is the human condition.

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We are addicted people.

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00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:26,000
Now, it might not be addicted to drugs or alcohol,

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00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:29,000
but we are addicted to lots of other things.

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00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:31,000
Now, we call it addiction.

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00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:34,000
Jesus calls it slavery.

314
00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:38,000
We are addicted to success.

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00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:40,000
Money.

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00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:43,000
We're addicted to what people think about us.

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00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:47,000
We're addicted to sex and pornography.

318
00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:49,000
Pride.

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00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:51,000
Some of us are workaholics.

320
00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:54,000
Some of us are addicted to our kids' athletic careers.

321
00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:56,000
We're addicted to hobbies.

322
00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:59,000
We're addicted to saving for retirement and many other things.

323
00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:01,000
The truth of the matter is that none of us

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00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:03,000
can overcome any addiction by ourselves.

325
00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:05,000
We need help.

326
00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:07,000
We need support.

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00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:09,000
Every single one of us in this room

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00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:12,000
could benefit from life recovery.

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00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:16,000
Ephraim was exalted because of their power and their status.

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00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:20,000
And every day they themselves or those around them

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00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:23,000
were continuously sowing seeds

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00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:27,000
that led to a harvest of destruction.

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00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:32,000
Studies show that over 50% of us in this room,

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00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:35,000
men and women,

335
00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:41,000
50% are addicted to pornography.

336
00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:44,000
That is a seed of destruction.

337
00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:47,000
And the enemy will lie to you and say,

338
00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:50,000
if you confess that, if you try to get help for that,

339
00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:55,000
it will bring shame upon shame on you and your family.

340
00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:58,000
So instead, you'll let your marriage or your future marriage

341
00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:01,000
implode because you exalt yourself

342
00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:04,000
and you think, no, I can overcome it.

343
00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:08,000
Church attendance across the country is down significantly.

344
00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:12,000
And it starts with the little seed of,

345
00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:14,000
I'm tired today.

346
00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:16,000
I'll go next week.

347
00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:18,000
And the next thing you know,

348
00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:21,000
you're only coming to church when you have nothing else going on.

349
00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:23,000
When nothing better is going on on a Sunday,

350
00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:25,000
then you'll come to church.

351
00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:28,000
We are losing a generation of young adults

352
00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:33,000
because we have made church a suggestion.

353
00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:35,000
Instead of, like Hebrew says,

354
00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:38,000
do not neglect the gathering of the saints.

355
00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:41,000
Marriages are crumbling

356
00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:44,000
because we don't make room for date night.

357
00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:48,000
Because we let things fester

358
00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:50,000
and we fail to communicate

359
00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:55,000
because we aren't giving the Lord space in our homes.

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00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:59,000
We are a people who are satisfied.

361
00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:02,000
And therefore, we have forgotten God.

362
00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:05,000
Now, maybe we still do religious things.

363
00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:09,000
Maybe we still serve the Lord because it's expected of us.

364
00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:12,000
But we have failed to submit.

365
00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:14,000
We have failed to repent.

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00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:19,000
We have failed to remember all that He has done for us.

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00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:23,000
So my plea this morning

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00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:26,000
is that we will till up some ground of our hearts

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00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:29,000
and begin to plant new seeds.

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00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:32,000
This is one of those texts

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00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:37,000
that should get our attention in a significant way.

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00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:40,000
You know that feeling when you're a kid

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and you've got busted doing something?

374
00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:46,000
You get sent to your room.

375
00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:49,000
You get told just wait till your dad gets home

376
00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:52,000
or whatever it was for. You know that feeling?

377
00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:57,000
You're sitting there in remorse for all that you've done wrong.

378
00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:59,000
When I was growing up,

379
00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:04,000
my mom had a 1994 Honda Civic.

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00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:06,000
It was sweet.

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00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:10,000
Not really, it's a Civic.

382
00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:14,000
No offense to no offense.

383
00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:16,000
When I was 14 or 15 years old,

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00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:21,000
I thought I should be able to drive that thing whenever I want.

385
00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:23,000
So I did.

386
00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:26,000
I would sneak it out, drive around the neighborhood,

387
00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:30,000
drive by my friend's house and honk so they thought I was cool,

388
00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:33,000
and then sneak it back into the garage before anyone knew.

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00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:37,000
I started off just driving around the block.

390
00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:40,000
I got away with it. Nobody knew.

391
00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:43,000
Next time I'd go a little bit further.

392
00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:45,000
Didn't get caught again.

393
00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:50,000
Next thing you know, I'm making runs to the store and nobody knows.

394
00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:55,000
That's when I was making runs to the store after picking up my other dumb friends.

395
00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:59,000
Well, my parents went away for the weekend and left me with my grandparents.

396
00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:04,000
Now, grandparents, listen.

397
00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:09,000
As a grandchild, I knew that I could get away with anything I told them

398
00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:15,000
because they thought that I could do no wrong.

399
00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:17,000
Parents are different.

400
00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:24,000
So I convinced my grandparents to leave me at home by myself for the afternoon.

401
00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:26,000
Now, parents are not that trusting.

402
00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:30,000
My parents are gone. My dad knew what I was going to do.

403
00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:33,000
So he parked a truck behind the garage of the car.

404
00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:36,000
And it was a manual. And at the time I couldn't drive a manual.

405
00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:43,000
He marked the tires. He checked the odometer.

406
00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:47,000
And I was unaware of all of this.

407
00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:50,000
So I'm home alone. I put the truck in neutral. I could do that.

408
00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:54,000
I backed it up far enough where I could get the Civic out of the garage.

409
00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:57,000
I'll just push that truck back up later.

410
00:24:57,000 --> 00:25:00,000
I get the car out, swing by and pick up my friends.

411
00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:04,000
And we are just going to joy ride around El Paso.

412
00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:09,000
I didn't have to rush back. My parents were gone for the weekend.

413
00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:14,000
Long story short, I rear end a car about 15 miles from home.

414
00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:16,000
Police get involved.

415
00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:21,000
Grandparents are called to come get me home.

416
00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:23,000
We get the car parked back in the garage.

417
00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:26,000
I push the truck up to back where it was and I just wait.

418
00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:29,000
My parents get home. The first thing my dad does,

419
00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:34,000
hey Daniel, goes right to the garage because he's checking the odometer.

420
00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:38,000
He knows nothing of the severity in which I'm in trouble.

421
00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:41,000
But he did know that I took the car.

422
00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:50,000
I will never forget that moment I rear ended that car and knew I was busted.

423
00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:58,000
What started off as a drive around the block ended with a bunch of fines,

424
00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:01,000
a bunch of lectures and a whole lot of punishment.

425
00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:06,000
One seed grew into a harvest of destruction.

426
00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:12,000
What seeds are you planting?

427
00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:15,000
What seeds need replaced?

428
00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:21,000
Will you be reminded today of all that God has done for you?

429
00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:26,000
Your soul is valuable.

430
00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:30,000
The enemy will do anything that he can for it.

431
00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:33,000
But so will God.

432
00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:38,000
Your soul is so valuable that he sent his son to redeem it.

433
00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:43,000
He sacrificed his own son to redeem it.

434
00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:45,000
So you are not worthless.

435
00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:47,000
You have purpose.

436
00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:50,000
You are loved by the Creator of the world.

437
00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:58,000
He placed you on this earth to reflect his glory to everyone around you.

438
00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:06,000
When your life is complete, what returns will people see?

439
00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:09,000
Every month I get a statement.

440
00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:15,000
Every month I get a statement to show how my money has grown in various accounts.

441
00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:20,000
I see a return on what I have invested.

442
00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:26,000
Are you investing in eternal things or temporary things?

443
00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:29,000
Are you feeding into your pride?

444
00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:38,000
And it is causing you to sin more and more to the point where God is an afterthought in your day to day life.

445
00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:47,000
Are you sowing seeds of joy and thanksgiving even in difficult times?

446
00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:57,000
Are you sowing seeds into your children that other things are more important on Sundays than worshiping the Lord?

447
00:27:57,000 --> 00:28:04,000
Are you sowing seeds of contentment in what you have?

448
00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:10,000
Or are you always looking for the next thing?

449
00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:18,000
What is your soul at stake?

450
00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:21,000
Don't let him.

451
00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:31,000
Make a commitment today to remember the Lord and his faithfulness to you in your life.

452
00:28:31,000 --> 00:28:35,000
What have you been putting off that God is calling you to?

453
00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:37,000
What have you been ignoring?

454
00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:39,000
What lies are you believing?

455
00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:42,000
What is your soul at stake to walk more closely with him?

456
00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:48,000
Let today be the day that you remember.

457
00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:54,000
Let today be the day that you return.

458
00:28:54,000 --> 00:29:00,000
Warning after warning after warning the people heard it and they failed to return.

459
00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:02,000
They failed to remember.

460
00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:08,000
They continuously walked in their pride.

461
00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:12,000
What people follow them because so many people are boasting them up.

462
00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:18,000
Whatever the reason is they continue to exalt themselves and walk in their own pride.

463
00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:25,000
And because of that they sinned more and more and more.

464
00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:27,000
We need to return.

465
00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:31,000
We need to remember.

466
00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:37,000
So I'm going to pray for us and we'll sing another song like we will have time to respond.

467
00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:42,000
This is not church.

468
00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:47,000
Don't play church.

469
00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:49,000
Don't look at your watch.

470
00:29:49,000 --> 00:29:56,000
I think, okay, we're going to sing one more song and then I'm going to hit the donuts hard.

471
00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:58,000
Don't let the enemy win.

472
00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:01,000
Don't let the enemy distract you.

473
00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:03,000
What is he calling you to do?

474
00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:05,000
How is he calling you to repent?

475
00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:08,000
How is he calling you to return?

476
00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:11,000
And just walk in obedience.

477
00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:13,000
Let's pray.

478
00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:15,000
Father God, I pray.

479
00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:23,000
I pray for the hearts of our people.

480
00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:34,000
I pray, Father, that you will surround and protect every single mind and heart in this place right now.

481
00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:46,000
I pray that you will free us from distraction right now.

482
00:30:46,000 --> 00:30:58,000
I pray that your Holy Spirit will fill this room to guide and lead to help us remember all that you've done for us.

483
00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:08,000
Help us see the severity of our sin.

484
00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:14,000
Help us see how offensive it is to you.

485
00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:22,000
So Father, I pray that you will lead us to return.

486
00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:29,000
This won't be about going through motions. This won't be about just getting through the next 10 minutes.

487
00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:40,000
This will be about a time, a stake in the ground saying today I remember.

488
00:31:40,000 --> 00:31:44,000
So Father, I pray that you'll meet us here.

489
00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:48,000
That's probably the same as your name.

490
00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:52,000
I pray that your text should affect every one of us.

491
00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:57,000
And one of my greatest concerns every single week is how do I lead in this?

492
00:31:57,000 --> 00:32:02,000
I don't ever want to appear that I have everything figured out and y'all need to be like me.

493
00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:04,000
That's the last thing I want.

494
00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:10,000
How do I communicate this in a way that people will understand?

495
00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:17,000
And I don't know the answer today except to say that I am just as broken as every single one of us.

496
00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:20,000
And I don't have all of need to return.

497
00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:22,000
And so the altar is open.

498
00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:29,000
I'm going to ask the prayer team and elders and whoever wants to be available take that step of obedience today.

499
00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:48,000
And I'm going to call on the Lord today as we sit.