Hosea 5:4
"Their actions do not allow them
to return to their God, for a spirit of promiscuity is among them, and they do not know the Lord."
They've been acting like whores. They've substituted the work and power of the Holy Spirit for the wisdom of men. And they've kept up their game. They're trusting in their judgment which is the judgment of men. And because of this spiritual adultery they've given birth to strange children and cause many to stumble. So their spirituality is like a rot, like decay, like a hollowed out tree it weakens them.
Is all lost? Can they survive without the Holy Spirit? Will they save themselves with all their money and academic resources?
They had a form of worship without the essence. No vital relationship with God. And God remarks that this crime stands before his face.
Hosea 7:2
"But they never consider that I remember all their evil.
Now their actions are all around them; they are right in front of my face."
You see, God takes these things personally. Why? Because these things are done in his name.
They were refusing to truly trust in God's wisdom, they never sought his wisdom and grace. The kings and princes were seeking help from the wicked pagan forces surrounding them. They courted the Assyrians and the Egyptians. And I don't think it really ever occurs to them that they are doing these things to God. I don't think they realize that God truly takes this spiritual adultery personally.
The Lord laments for them. He trained them. He strengthened them. He searched for them and rescued them. He protected them and guarded their families. And what does God see?
"they speak lies against me."
"They do not cry to me from their hearts"
"They slash themselves for grain and new wine"
They were practicing pagan rituals, cutting themselves and eating the blood. They joined in the worship of many gods and followed fallen angels. Anything they could do, they did. But one thing they did not do. They "do not return to the Lord their God".
Oh sure...they come in the semblance of worship, and call out in his name, but they mingle God's words with the worship of worthless idols. And so they've substituted the Holy Spirit with pagan idols. Astrology, psychology, mythology, Scientology, secularism, witchcraft, "doctrines of demons". They've chased after all these things time after time. They are children of the god of this age, and he has blinded their minds, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel.
Imagine a blind mind.
No discernment.
How can they know? Well they can't of course. They've been blinded by the ways of the world. And they can't hear The Holy Spirit. Or they won't.
And so Jesus comes into the world trying desperately to help the people see and hear The Holy Spirit. Because he knows that the only hope they have is to listen and follow the Spirit and his work. And for a very good reason...
"...that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs." (2 Corinthians 2:11)
...Satan’s design is to choke off the faith of people who have heard the word of God. And the Devil isn't limited to schemes of false teaching. The devil often oppresses people with physical illness, or familiar spirits of mental illness, this too is one of his designs. Honestly, I believe the recent pandemic is a Devil-born plandemic scheme cooked up using the science of human wisdom to blind the minds of the world. And it's working. Satan comes up against the world of men so that he might destroy life wherever he can and in the end make it eternally miserable. Satan hinders spiritual development, he hates evangelism and discipleship, and he'll throw every sort of adulteration he can in the way of missionaries. Satan will tear apart and tear down any remaining faith he can find. And if he cannot destroy it, he'll block it.
Stumbling blocks like concerns about family and finances, happiness and contentment, prestige and self esteem. Every sort of human interaction is an avenue for Satan to prowl through. And for this reason, throughout the ages, many have separated themselves in a monastic way. Secluded, regimented, austere, and Satan loves it.
If Satan can shut you up, even in a spiritual society, and keep you from spreading out with God's word, he's very much pleased by your monastic-like personal religion. And he's laughing at you. He's stopped up the river of life in you. Whatever living water is in you is like a well for you, not flowing out at all. And this isn't just about monks in robes.
Think about the church that looks only inwardly. The church that isn't impacting its community. The church that feeds the personal needs of a few families and isn't actively involved in outreach. How are they any different than a cloistered groups of monks? Satan has built many dams on the rivers of life, he constructs cisterns where people pour in all their living water and store it up for something. What thing? No one knows. Just do it...it's "church".
It's funny you know...for all the effort to be secluded from temporal worldly concerns and devoted to religious austerity, somehow humanity still creeps in.
Hmmm...maybe you can't escape yourself.
And that's the truth of it...you can't escape the Devils schemes.
God calls everyone to his service, like he did with Gideon. And like Gideon, most folks question the Lord's ways and his calls to service. They challenge his commands and look for any way around Gods will. The test God's word. They put God to the test. And in doing this they grieve the Spirit that comes to instruct them.
Conclusion:
There is ALWAYS a reason for what is going on in your life. Whether it be because you are doing evil in the sight of the Lord, God is teaching you something, maybe you haven’t been obedient in doing what He’s asked you to do, or any number of other things. God never does anything without a reason. The problem is never with God, the problem is always us. God doesn't need you to improve upon his work. You’re going to have to tear down some strongholds in your life and replace them with God’s word. You need to get clear of the stumbling blocks.
Are you going to trust God?
Or are you going to pull a Gideon?
Judges 6-7
Gideon says to God, “Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more..."
"Pick your battles" they say.
You'd better fight that battle, or you'll be overrun and undone by it. Stop waiting on the perfect circumstances to make things right, seek God NOW! And follow his instructions.