n our text, Paul talks about a commitment to moving forward. He acknowledges the past, but he looks to the future. He said that his focus was forward. Life is before us. He defines words of faith. We don't have to be unhappy, we don't have to be chained to our past and can move ahead to a future that has promise and possibilities. Paul writes words of improvement, growth, and progress. The words reveal the subtle secret that progress in life is not defined by gifts and talent, but by purpose. Our gifts are not equal. If progress in life were determined by gifts, many would have an advantage. Progress in life is determined by our our desire because our desire can overcome our limitations. Paul tells us that no matter what we may have in our past, it does not determine our future.

n our text, Paul talks about a commitment to moving forward. He acknowledges the past, but he looks to the future. He said that his focus was forward. Life is before us. He defines words of faith. We don't have to be unhappy, we don't have to be chained to our past and can move ahead to a future that has promise and possibilities. Paul writes words of improvement, growth, and progress. The words reveal the subtle secret that progress in life is not defined by gifts and talent, but by purpose. Our gifts are not equal. If progress in life were determined by gifts, many would have an advantage. Progress in life is determined by our our desire because our desire can overcome our limitations. Paul tells us that no matter what we may have in our past, it does not determine our future.

Many people try to climb Mt. Everest every year. They train for years of their life for this event. Some lose finger tips. Some suffer injuries. Some die. What is it about this challenge that causes people to take such a risk? Mountain biking, snow boarding and other sports are being taken to the extreme and to higher levels of risk. The two most risky endeavors in the world today are the arm chair olympics and the couch potato playoffs. These participatns have clogged artires and poor health. Compared to the extreme athletes who are in the best physical shape they can be, these sedentary "athletes" take bigger risks with their lives. There is no such thing as a risk free life. Life without risk is simply existing. To play it safe is often the bigger risk. Just getting to church is risky: a 1:2,000,000 chance of falling out of bed; A 1:7000 chance of a shaving accident. Driving can be fatal. Risks are part of life. It is the same with a spiritual life: There is a risk of being misunderstood or maligned by living a life for God. God has not called us to play it safe, but to live life in the faith zone. Those who risk nothing actually risk everything. In the story of the disciples in the boat where Peter walks on water, Jesus told Peter to do the impossible. God expects us to do the possible, but in the midst of the storm, He wants us to do the impossible. He wants us to take risks and depend upon Him. God will make us feel uncomfortable and task us to take a risk that will test our faith. Risk takers keep climbing. Risk takers keep walking away from the boat. Risk takers refuse to bow to false gods. Risk takers climb past dead bodies. We cannot quit living for God because others have fallen away and failed. We must be risk takers!

Many people try to climb Mt. Everest every year. They train for years of their life for this event. Some lose finger tips. Some suffer injuries. Some die. What is it about this challenge that causes people to take such a risk? Mountain biking, snow boarding and other sports are being taken to the extreme and to higher levels of risk. The two most risky endeavors in the world today are the arm chair olympics and the couch potato playoffs. These participatns have clogged artires and poor health. Compared to the extreme athletes who are in the best physical shape they can be, these sedentary "athletes" take bigger risks with their lives. There is no such thing as a risk free life. Life without risk is simply existing. To play it safe is often the bigger risk. Just getting to church is risky: a 1:2,000,000 chance of falling out of bed; A 1:7000 chance of a shaving accident. Driving can be fatal. Risks are part of life. It is the same with a spiritual life: There is a risk of being misunderstood or maligned by living a life for God. God has not called us to play it safe, but to live life in the faith zone. Those who risk nothing actually risk everything. In the story of the disciples in the boat where Peter walks on water, Jesus told Peter to do the impossible. God expects us to do the possible, but in the midst of the storm, He wants us to do the impossible. He wants us to take risks and depend upon Him. God will make us feel uncomfortable and task us to take a risk that will test our faith. Risk takers keep climbing. Risk takers keep walking away from the boat. Risk takers refuse to bow to false gods. Risk takers climb past dead bodies. We cannot quit living for God because others have fallen away and failed. We must be risk takers!

To the Jews, words were powerful. Their language only had 10,000 words. Greek has over 200,000. Once a word is spoken, it cannot be taken back. When we are filled with the Holy Ghost, the evidence of this is speaking in other tongues. We do not utter these words, but they are given by God's spirit. God actually begins to speak through us. John tells us that trough the death, burial, and resurrection process of water baptism and speaking in tongues, we become sons of God. This relationship gives us great power and privilege. Dr. Hughes provides great insight to the power of the word and uses a powerful story from his life to demonstrate the power of God’s word and what it can do in our life.

To the Jews, words were powerful. Their language only had 10,000 words. Greek has over 200,000. Once a word is spoken, it cannot be taken back. When we are filled with the Holy Ghost, the evidence of this is speaking in other tongues. We do not utter these words, but they are given by God's spirit. God actually begins to speak through us. John tells us that trough the death, burial, and resurrection process of water baptism and speaking in tongues, we become sons of God. This relationship gives us great power and privilege. Dr. Hughes provides great insight to the power of the word and uses a powerful story from his life to demonstrate the power of God’s word and what it can do in our life.

Hosea was he first of the minor prophets. His name means salvation. He lived during the time of one of the wicked kings of Israel. It was a bad time. Israel's spirit was willing, but their flesh was weak. Hosea spoke the truth, but the people didn't want to hear this chastisement of their lifestyles. Hosea prophesied that the people of Isreasl would fall to their enemies. Te people paid no attention and rationalizd that God was god of love and that He would not come against them. Young Hosea found his audience browning smaller and smaller. He was regarded as "that crazy guy."

Hosea went to God and God advised him to get married and selected Gomer to be his wife. Gomer was beautiful, but God told him that she would not be faithful to him. In fact, she would be unfaithful to the point of being no more than a common prostitute. Hosea was certinaly confused by this. God went on to tell him that there would be three children born to this marriage. God said that He would name the children. God often used names as a way to teach the people of Isreal. Hosea knew that God was going to use his family as a way to teach a lession.

At first the marriage and the relationship was wonderful. Hosea loved Gomer deeply. After their first child, Hosea's heart was bursting with joy. He went to God for the name and God said: Jezreel. This means cast away. It was a name of shame. Hosea was obident. God was warning Isreal that they would be cast away if they continued to rebel. The second child was a girl that God named Loruhamah which means not pitied. It meant that God would no longer have pity on his people if they continued their stubborn ways, He would hand them over to an invading army. When the little girl was weaned, Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a little boy named Loammi which means not my people. God was announcing judgment on his people. There were no more children born, and Gomer began to fulfill the sad prophecy of unfaithfulness. Such a hard time for the young preacher to learn of the continued and constant unfaithfulness. One day Gomer left Hosea and the children. Hosea continued to preach the destruction at the hands of the Assyrians, but now his preaching was filled with tears and pain.

Gomer's situation continue to decline until she was in poverty with a harsh man who could not provide for her. Hosea sought out the man Gomer was living with and gave him money to buy clothes and food for her. Love does not act according to logic and Hosea acted out of love We do not know how long that Hosea did this, but we learn that after a time, the man with whom she was living sent Gomer off to be sold as a slave. God told Hosea to go purchase his wife back at auction. He paid 15 pieces of silver and 3 bushels of barley to claim her back. It is here that our text picks up. His love for her turned her heart and she was faithful to him from then on. This story is familiar one. God loves us, but we continually turn away from him. His loves does not stop and he continues to seek and desire us. God longs for the day when His people return to him and remain faithful forever. God cannot restore us until we return to Him.

This story is the story of humanity. We try to satisfy ourselves with other things. Like Gomer, we cannot distinguish between lust and love. We try to run from God and drown our sorrows in the things of he world, but we cannot run far enough to escape the reaching hand of God's love.

At Calvary, God stepped into the slave market and purchased his love back at an enormous price. The story of Hosea and Gomer is the story of God's love for His people. HIs love is so much greater than we can comprehend. It is up to us to turn back to HIm and find a love renewed.

Hosea was he first of the minor prophets. His name means salvation. He lived during the time of one of the wicked kings of Israel. It was a bad time. Israel's spirit was willing, but their flesh was weak. Hosea spoke the truth, but the people didn't want to hear this chastisement of their lifestyles. Hosea prophesied that the people of Isreasl would fall to their enemies. Te people paid no attention and rationalizd that God was god of love and that He would not come against them. Young Hosea found his audience browning smaller and smaller. He was regarded as "that crazy guy."

Hosea went to God and God advised him to get married and selected Gomer to be his wife. Gomer was beautiful, but God told him that she would not be faithful to him. In fact, she would be unfaithful to the point of being no more than a common prostitute. Hosea was certinaly confused by this. God went on to tell him that there would be three children born to this marriage. God said that He would name the children. God often used names as a way to teach the people of Isreal. Hosea knew that God was going to use his family as a way to teach a lession.

At first the marriage and the relationship was wonderful. Hosea loved Gomer deeply. After their first child, Hosea's heart was bursting with joy. He went to God for the name and God said: Jezreel. This means cast away. It was a name of shame. Hosea was obident. God was warning Isreal that they would be cast away if they continued to rebel. The second child was a girl that God named Loruhamah which means not pitied. It meant that God would no longer have pity on his people if they continued their stubborn ways, He would hand them over to an invading army. When the little girl was weaned, Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a little boy named Loammi which means not my people. God was announcing judgment on his people. There were no more children born, and Gomer began to fulfill the sad prophecy of unfaithfulness. Such a hard time for the young preacher to learn of the continued and constant unfaithfulness. One day Gomer left Hosea and the children. Hosea continued to preach the destruction at the hands of the Assyrians, but now his preaching was filled with tears and pain.

Gomer's situation continue to decline until she was in poverty with a harsh man who could not provide for her. Hosea sought out the man Gomer was living with and gave him money to buy clothes and food for her. Love does not act according to logic and Hosea acted out of love We do not know how long that Hosea did this, but we learn that after a time, the man with whom she was living sent Gomer off to be sold as a slave. God told Hosea to go purchase his wife back at auction. He paid 15 pieces of silver and 3 bushels of barley to claim her back. It is here that our text picks up. His love for her turned her heart and she was faithful to him from then on. This story is familiar one. God loves us, but we continually turn away from him. His loves does not stop and he continues to seek and desire us. God longs for the day when His people return to him and remain faithful forever. God cannot restore us until we return to Him.

This story is the story of humanity. We try to satisfy ourselves with other things. Like Gomer, we cannot distinguish between lust and love. We try to run from God and drown our sorrows in the things of he world, but we cannot run far enough to escape the reaching hand of God's love.

At Calvary, God stepped into the slave market and purchased his love back at an enormous price. The story of Hosea and Gomer is the story of God's love for His people. HIs love is so much greater than we can comprehend. It is up to us to turn back to HIm and find a love renewed.

Dr. Hughes noticed while reading in Luke 15, that "the publicans and sinners came to hear Him" The Pharisees came and mocked him for having anything to do with publicans and sinners. Jesus shares three parables that are quite familiar. In these parables, He accounts for three ways that people can become lost. Sheep have no sense of direction and when it becomes lost, it will panic an begin to run. The sheep gets lost because if it's nature. The next illustration is the 10 coins. This is the lost of thing by neglect. The final illustration is the prodigal son. Both sons are lost, but one is at home and the other leaves home for the world. This is being lost by choice, or a willful act. If we look at these things that are lost either by nature, neglect or choice, we see that when they were found, the Angels rejoiced. Jesus said when a sinner repents, the Angels rejoiced. Dr. Hughes wonders why this might be. His study took him tot he beginning in the garden. Adam's life was with out troubles or strife. The first Adam became lazy about his responsibility. He only had two jobs: clean the garden. The second job was to keep the garden. It was his job to decide who or what came into the garden. He failed to do this when he allowed Satan into the garden. Adam was not lost somewhere in the garden Satan came in. The bible said he was with Eve when the conversation ensued about the forbidden fruit. The reason Satan came after Eve, was that Adam had failed to protect her. She had been lied to about the tree. God said nothing about not touching the tree, only not to eat of it. He had added to what God had said. Before the fall, Adam demonstrated the ability to lie. Adam and Eve made the choices, but their reply to God's inquiry was to blame Him and Satan for their failure. Adam was willing to let Eve die. He let her eat of the tree knowing that God said that said it would result in death. After she didn't die, it was easy for him to eat too. Man became selfish in the garden, and remains that way today.

The second Adam came into this world as Jesus. He started doing what first Adam should have done and protected His garden. Jesus came as the second Adam to put back into place what the first Adam messed up. Jesus showed us how to live an overcoming life. How do you live an overcoming life, you love people who do not love you? You pray for and love your enemy. The first Adam could have had all the fruits of the spirit if He had chosen to. The first Adam was self centered and concerned about himself. The second Adam was selfless and concerned about humanity. We can choose to be the first Adam or the second Adam. The choice is up to us. Our life is the struggle of the two Adams.

Dr. Hughes noticed while reading in Luke 15, that "the publicans and sinners came to hear Him" The Pharisees came and mocked him for having anything to do with publicans and sinners. Jesus shares three parables that are quite familiar. In these parables, He accounts for three ways that people can become lost. Sheep have no sense of direction and when it becomes lost, it will panic an begin to run. The sheep gets lost because if it's nature. The next illustration is the 10 coins. This is the lost of thing by neglect. The final illustration is the prodigal son. Both sons are lost, but one is at home and the other leaves home for the world. This is being lost by choice, or a willful act. If we look at these things that are lost either by nature, neglect or choice, we see that when they were found, the Angels rejoiced. Jesus said when a sinner repents, the Angels rejoiced. Dr. Hughes wonders why this might be. His study took him tot he beginning in the garden. Adam's life was with out troubles or strife. The first Adam became lazy about his responsibility. He only had two jobs: clean the garden. The second job was to keep the garden. It was his job to decide who or what came into the garden. He failed to do this when he allowed Satan into the garden. Adam was not lost somewhere in the garden Satan came in. The bible said he was with Eve when the conversation ensued about the forbidden fruit. The reason Satan came after Eve, was that Adam had failed to protect her. She had been lied to about the tree. God said nothing about not touching the tree, only not to eat of it. He had added to what God had said. Before the fall, Adam demonstrated the ability to lie. Adam and Eve made the choices, but their reply to God's inquiry was to blame Him and Satan for their failure. Adam was willing to let Eve die. He let her eat of the tree knowing that God said that said it would result in death. After she didn't die, it was easy for him to eat too. Man became selfish in the garden, and remains that way today.

The second Adam came into this world as Jesus. He started doing what first Adam should have done and protected His garden. Jesus came as the second Adam to put back into place what the first Adam messed up. Jesus showed us how to live an overcoming life. How do you live an overcoming life, you love people who do not love you? You pray for and love your enemy. The first Adam could have had all the fruits of the spirit if He had chosen to. The first Adam was self centered and concerned about himself. The second Adam was selfless and concerned about humanity. We can choose to be the first Adam or the second Adam. The choice is up to us. Our life is the struggle of the two Adams.