Living Under the Influence Hosea 4:1-19
Living Under the InfluenceHosea 4:1-19
A life lived under the influence of IDOLS brings us shame.
Introduction
• “lack of understanding”– not just cognitive information– personal application of truth to
everyday life
• “playing the whore”– unfaithful, dismissive response to
God– flirtatious, familiar involvement
with other gods
A life lived under the influence of IDOLS brings us shame.
Lack of understanding
GOD godadultery
winenew wine
drugs
alcohol
media
workleisureboat
housecar
healthcomfort
sex
Lack of understanding
• We forfeit a spirit of wisdom for a spirit of whoredom.
• To leave the God we love to follow idols is “playing the whore”.
gods
Playing the whore
• contending with God• rejecting or ignoring Biblical
truth• neglecting spiritual leadership
responsibilities• exchanging glorifying for
shameful
Playing the whore
• cherishing wine more than God• asking your crutch what the
future holds • resisting the direct prodding of
God/ sliding intentionally back into old patterns
• ignoring God’s instructions and hiding in the bottle
Addicted to my idols
• What are you wrestling with?• What do you feel God calling you
to break off the relationship with?
• What are you unwilling to give up to pursue righteousness?
• “How can I give you up?”
Addicted to my idols
= all of the things that you used to do with God, you now do with your idol.
• If you do not reject these idols, you will have severe consequences.
idols
Painful consequences
• Guilt before God (vv.1-2)
• Instability (v.5)
• Destruction (v.6)
• Shame (vv. 7, 18-19)
• Punishment (vv.9, 14)
• Confusion (v.12)
• Ruin (v.14)
The whirlwind
• What has you all wrapped up?• Are you being sucked into more
idolatry or drawn closer to God?• Who or what have you given
yourself to? Who has your heart?• Does the worship that you are
offering mean anything anymore?
A life lived under the influence of IDOLS brings us shame.
A life lived under the influence of GOD brings Him GLORY.