#thetrinity

In Paul's time there were now as many non-Jews as there were Gentiles. This sparked a huge debate (please read Acts 15).

Acts 15: 1 ''Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers, "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved."

Historically, God's covenant people were of one ethnic group-the Jews. Jewish people were set apart by the practices commanded in the Torah. An example would be, by observing the Sabbath. When the Gentiles became saved, many Messianic Jews were meeting in churches in Galatia and commanding the Gentiles to obey the Torah. They argued that in order for the Gentiles to be accepted into God's family, they needed to be circumcised.

Paul was deeply saddened upon hearing this. He wrote that the Gospel could not be altered and those who were infiltrating the Gospel, would be under God's curse. Paul spoke of how the Gospel that the Jews received had not been perverted!

Do you remember the story of Acts 16? Paul and Silas were in prison praying and singing hymns; suddenly, there was a great earthquake and all the prisoner's chains became loose. What astonished me about this chapter is that the jailer wanted to commit suicide. He knew that he would eventually be killed if there were no prisoners inside the jail cells! It would have been extremely hard to prove to the Council and the Chief Magistrates that the gates of the prison cell flew open because of a 'violent earthquake'. What also astonishes me is that after Paul shouted in v.28 "Don't harm yourself, we are all here!" the jailer knew that a Miraculous Power had done this. He fell trembling at their feet and said "What must i do to be saved?"

Acts 16:31

They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved- you and all your household."

This is the same Gospel that was preached to the Gentiles, firstly to the Jews. Therefore gospels of Inclusion, Prosperity, Works and other beliefs that do not align with the above, are sent from Satan.

Hosea 9:2

Threshing-floors and winepresses will not feed the people; the new wine will fail them.

-          If you are somebody who believes that their problems in life will be solved if they had money, then you are wrong! Those problems will still be there! Yes, you may be taken care of financially, but money cannot fill the void that is deep within your heart, only the blood of Jesus can! He can purify you from the calamities of LIFE.

Hosea 9:7

The days of punishment are coming, the days of reckoning are at hand. Let Israel know this. Because your sins are so many and your hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool, the inspired person a maniac.

-          Because people in the world refuse to see the light of God, men of God are ridiculed and therefore, not taken seriously. In today’s world people would rather glorify a celebrity atheist, such as Richard Dawkins, than hear the Word of the Living God. Think about it! How did these persons become celebrities in the first place? Wasn’t it by gaining popularity and thousands of supporters for their views that slandered the existence of Jesus?

Hosea 9:8- speaks about how the prophet has been anointed and appointed by God as a watchman. This reminds me of Ezekiel chapter 3, when God says to him, “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel…” (v.17.) In the Old Testament, when a prophet would arrive in town, people will tremble with fear out of reverence for him because they knew that he carried God’s message (1 Samuel 16:4). Today, the beliefs of the man of God are disregarded or seen as ancient or even ungodly. In fact, many people would go as far to say that God brings calamity because of all the disasters that have taken place in the world. As a result of this, God was saying that the Israelites would not be acknowledged before Him. They were starting to give into the world and listen to teachings that clearly contrasted with His righteousness. They followed gods made of human hands and stone, practiced sexual immorality and thus, sunk deeper and deeper into sin, making God turn his head.

(I think just like the last chapter has a theme of ‘you will reap what you sow’) this chapter continues that theme, and even goes farther to show how a separation from God will ruin your life. The dark imagery is seen throughout this chapter, especially verse 14, when it says ‘…Give them wombs that miscarry and breasts that are dry.’ Just like God offers us the wine  of everlasting righteousness, the world offers us a temporary new wine. Perhaps that is why in v.2, it says the new wine will fail them, and in verse 4, it says how God will be displeased with this offering. Perhaps the new wine offerings that were presented to the Lord by the Israelites, were done in vain and only because they wanted God’s supply, not knowing that if they sought Him, they would have everything they need because He is Our bountiful supply. He supplies all of our needs, and gives us a better option than what we had in mind. We too can fall into the trap of relying on God only when we need something. Of course, God will always come through for us, but it is much better to commune with God, to talk to Him, to read His Word because if you do all these things, you would know the great supplies He has in store for you. You would know that even if your life does not reflect good things, God’s Word stands firm in the heavens forever (Psalm 119:89) and so, if He says He has great plans for you to prosper and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future, then that is what it means!

---

Give Jesus a try! He wants a relationship with you, not a religion!