Who is wise? Who is prudent?

Text: Hosea 14
28 October 2007

(I) AN APPEAL TO BE WISE AND PRUDENT

“Who is wise?Let him understand these things.Who is prudent? Let him know them.For the ways of the LORD are right;The righteous walk in them, But transgressors stumble in them.” Hosea 14:9

1. Appeal for Understanding

2. Appeal for Prudence

3. Appeal to walk in the ways of the Lord

(II) THE ROAD TO WISDOM AND PRUDENCE

1. Returning to the Lord

“O Israel, return to the LORD your God…” Hosea 14:1a

2. Acknowledging of iniquity

“…For you have stumbled because of your iniquity” Hosea 14:1b

3. Pleading with the Lord humbly

“Take words with you, And return to the LORD.Say to Him, ‘Take away all iniquity;Receive us graciously,For we will offer the sacrifices of our lips.’ ” Hosea 14:2

“…For in You the fatherless finds mercy.” Hosea 14:3f

4. Rejection of human precepts

“Assyria shall not save us,We will not ride on horses.Nor will we say anymore to the work of our hands,‘You are our gods’…” Hosea 14:3

(II) WONDERFUL PROMISES FROM GOD

1. Backsliding problem healed

“I will heal their backsliding…” Hosea 14:4a

2. Full love

“…I will love them freely…” Hosea 14:4b

3. No more anger

“…For My anger has turned away from him” Hosea 14:4c

4. New beginning

“I will be like the dew to Israel;He shall grow up like the lily,And lengthen his roots like Lebanon.” Hosea 14:5

5. New Hope

“His branches shall spread;His beauty shall be like an olive tree,And His fragrance like Lebanon.” Hosea 14:6

BILINGUAL WORSHIP 7 October 2007

Title: “Serve the Lord with gladness”

Text: Psalm 100

A GREAT CHALLENGE- GENERAL

1. To make a joyful shout to the Lord Psalm 100:1

2. To serve the Lord with gladness Psalm 100:2a

3. To come before His presence with singing Psalm 100:2b

4. To enter into His gates with thanksgiving Psalm 100:4a

5. To be thankful to Him Psalm 100:5a

6. To bless His name Psalm 100:5b

A GREAT CHALLENGE- PERSONAL

1. To serve the Lord

2. To serve the Lord with gladness

3. To serve the Lord with thanksgiving

A GREAT MANY LESSONS LEARNED ALONG THE WAY

1. Knowledge of the Lord as God

“Know that the LORD, He is God…” Psalm 100:3a

2. Knowledge of the Lord as Creator

“It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves” Psalm 100:3b

3. Knowledge of self… discovered along the way

“It is He who has made us…” Psalm 100:3b

4. Knowledge of God’s relationship with us

“We are His people and the sheep of His pasture” Psalm 100:3c

5. Knowledge of special attributes of the Lord

a) “For the LORD is good” Psalm 100:5a

b) “His mercy is everlasting” Psalm 100:5b

c) “His truth endures to all generations” Psalm 100:5c

BILINGUAL WORSHIP 21 October 2007

Title: “I will behave wisely”

Text: Psalm 101

THE WORK OF KING

1. To govern the land

2. To establish law and order

3. To lead by example

(BASIC RULES FOR KINGS- Deuteronomy 17:14-21)

THE CHALLENGE OF BEING A GOOD KING

“I will behave wisely in a perfect way” Psalm 101:2a

1. In his household

“I will walk within my house with a perfect heart” Psalm 101:2b

2. With reference to those who are bad:-

a) The wicked

“I will set nothing wicked before my eyes” Psalm 101:3a

b) Those who fall away

“I hate the work of those who fall away” Psalm 101:3b

c) Perversity

“A perverse heart shall depart from me” Psalm 101:4a

d) Slanderers

“Whoever secretly slanders his neighbour, him I will destroy” Psalm 101:5a

e) Haughty and Proud

“The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, him I will not endure” Psalm 101:5b

f) The deceitful

“He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house” Psalm 101:7a

g) The liars

“He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence” Psalm 101:7b

3. With reference to those who are good:-

a) The faithful

“My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me” Psalm 101:6a

b) The perfect (mature)

“He who walks in a perfect way, He shall serve me” Psalm 101:6

4. Necessary action to be taken against the wicked

“Early I will destroy all the wicked of the land,That I may cut off all the evildoers from the city of the Lord” Psalm 101:8