MESSAGES
Following on to Know the Lord (Hosea 6:3)
Hosea 6:6 “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”
In the book of the prophet Hosea, God strongly expressed his will: that we KNOW HIM DEEPLY.
To God, superficiality, mere ritual, or simple theory have no value at all.
He doesn't want people who only know him by hearsay, but people who know him by walking with Him. Job is a great example of this, when he joyfully declared his experiences with God.
Job 42:5 “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you.”
Knowing God — His character, His power, His greatness, His mercy, His love, His justice, His will, and His Word — is an essential foundation for the Christian life. The more we know God, the less vulnerable we are to the devil's lies. With biblical discernment, we won't be fooled by everyday situations that arise to confuse or harm us.
After all, what seems good isn't always good, and what seems bad isn't always bad.
Jesus used the Word of God to defeat the devil when he was tempted in the wilderness (read Matthew 4), always answering with: “IT IS WRITTEN...”
In the book of Ephesians, Paul makes it clear that our weapon of attack against the devil is the Word of God.
Ephesians 6:17 “and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Without knowing the Word of God, a Christian becomes an easy target for Satan.
Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you...”
Hosea 5:4 “Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. For the spirit of whoredom is within them, and they know not the LORD.”
Press on to know God: read the Bible more, pray more, worship more. Knowledge will generate wisdom to discern the devil's lies, who tries to deceive, make you sin, and make mistakes.
The knowledge of God will produce faith, power, and conviction so that you can practice the attitudes He desires.
As a result, you WILL SANCTIFY YOURSELF AND HAVE COMMUNION WITH GOD, experiencing the peace and joy that come from Him.
Hosea 6:3 “Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.”
