CCF Weekly Services Podcast

Hosea's prophecy continues by drawing Gomer's motivations for cheating on him as Israel's for abandoning God. The bad news is their actions had consequences. The good news is that God enforcing these consequences was only because they still belonged to Him.

1. God is emotionally invested in the decisions you make in life.

2. Actions have consequences, even when the ultimate result is restoration.

3. There is no greater assurance of salvation than when God corrects you.

Paul and Luke are put in the midst of an incredible storm. As in any trial, they prepared accordingly by fellowshipping with God's people and remembering His promises.

1. Faith means trust with reason.

2. Do not neglect fellowship with God's people, especially when you want to.

3. God's Word informs us of the promises God has actually made and the reasons to trust them."

Hosea's prophecy begins with his family as an illustration of Northern Israel's fractured relationship with God. Yet in spite of their gruesome sins, God's promises to them were still going to be kept.

1. God uses Hosea's family and ours as a living message to His people.

2. Salvation is based on what we do with Jesus.

3. God is the only one worth trusting to keep His promises.

The Arm of the Lord is an Old Testament title for Jesus in the Old Testament. The reason we recognize this is because the Arm of the Lord is distinguished from the Father the same way Jesus is, does the things only God can do, and is directly identified by the New Testament authors as who the prophets were referring to when this title came up.

1. The Arm of the Lord is distinguished from the Father the same way Jesus is.

2. The Arm of the Lord is equal to the Father the same way Jesus is.

3. The Arm of the Lord is described doing all of the things Jesus is credited for.

The Song of Solomon ends with the Shulamite in a place of peace and security in her relationship with Solomon. Solomon himself is in a place of security and contentment where he can simply listen to and minister to his bride. The Shulamite has come to the kind of peace only God can provide regardless of and in light of her past and future.

1. People can't be Jesus. But Jesus can be Himself through us.

2. Don't ignore your past. Learn from it in light of what God has done.

3. The perfect marriage in this life is merely foreshadowing eternal life with Jesus.

Paul shares the gospel with Herod Agrippa II. He serves as an example of someone who had every reason to believe but didn't. He had all the knowledge of scripture and it didn't amount to anything. He had an opportunity to receive Jesus and ultimately said no.

1. No one comes to salvation unless the Holy Spirit draws them.

2. God is directly involved in every heart drawing them to salvation.

3. There is no more tragic a term in all eternity than “almost” saved.

The Shulamite makes an observation about love that parallels with Paul's definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13. With seven points of comparison, she emphasizes all of its aspects with direct parallels to the power and nature of God. Apart from God, love is impossible. The best we can do apart from Him are the feelings that come and go without understanding their purpose.

1. Love comes from God.

2. Love lasts because of God.

3. Love is based on the nature of God.

Paul is kept under house arrest for 2 years before another leader hears his case. Despite the fact that they couldn't prove any of their accusations, Paul is still kept in prison and potentially put in a situation where he'd be set up to be killed. In response, Paul exercises his rights to appeal his botched trial before Caesar. In the midst of this example of the government abusing its power, God is still in control and fulfilling His promises to the letter.

1. Government can get things right.

2. If you have rights, use them.

3. God is in control.

Clearly the Resurrection of Jesus is the most significant evidence for the truth of the Christian faith. So significant and foundational that the Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote to the Church in Corinth that if Jesus was not raised, our gospel is empty, our faith is empty or without any foundation and futile, we are made out to be liars, and are still lost in our sins. We are all the most pitiable. However, before Jesus ever showed up on the scene, God spoke through his prophets predicting what was to take place.  

1. Predictive Prophecy is distinctive of God alone

2. Predictive Prophecy is an identifier of the Messiah

3. Predictive Prophecy is powerful apologetic for the Christian Faith

During difficult times and seasons we need courage to be able to step out in faith. Like Jeremiah, we too, might feel inadequate for preaching and proclaiming the Good News of Jesus. We might have come across those that are hardheaded and have a hatred towards the Christian message. But we are called and equipped by God to press on.

1. Knowing who you are in Christ is the first step to moving out in evangelism.

2. Confidence comes not in ourselves, but in a God who loves us and has promised to give us strength when we need it in impacting our world for the better.

3. As God loves us, so we love others and are compelled to reach out.