Fruitfulness requires spiritual disciplines founded upon God’s word for His watchmen or ambassadors:
1. Sow righteousness and seek the Lord
2. Repent, remove the yoke and feed on His word for complete healing
3. Stop trusting in wealth but listen to His word through His designated spokesmen
4. Acknowledge God who cares, feeds and redeems you from death
5. Walk in God’s ways with discernment to bear spiritual fruit
Lay Foundation in God’s Word
Israel was unfaithful and loved the wages of a prostitute that failed to feed the people or please God. The days of reckoning were coming because of many sins and great hostility. The prophet was considered a fool and inspired man a maniac. The prophet and God were watchmen over Ephraim with snares awaiting them. Israel consecrated themselves to the shameful idol of Baal Peor and became vile like the thing they loved. God killed Ephraim’s children because of their sinful deeds and rebellious leaders. The root withered and did not yield fruit (Hosea 9:1-17). Lay foundation in God’s word to yield spiritual fruit as His watchman or ambassador.
Sow Righteousness and Seek the Lord
Israel was a spreading vine bringing fruit for themselves. God destroyed their altars and sacred stones. Their heart was deceitful saying they had no king because of not revering the Lord. Many promises caused lawsuits to spring up. They rejoiced over wickedness, but God destroyed the high places and put them in bonds. By sowing righteousness, they reaped the fruit of unfailing love. When they broke up their unplowed ground by seeking the Lord, God showered righteousness on them. By planting wickedness, they reaped evil and ate the fruit of deception. By depending on their own strength of many warriors, their fortresses and Israel’s king were completely destroyed (Hosea 10:1-15). Sow righteousness and seek the Lord to reap unfailing love and righteousness.
Repent and Remove the Yoke for Complete Healing Through His Word
God called Israel, His son, out of Egypt. However, they sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense to images. Israel did not realize that God healed by leading them with cords of love, lifting the yoke from their neck and bending down to feed them. By not repenting, they would return to Egypt with Assyria ruling them and war ending their plans. God, the Holy One, did not come in wrath. His people would follow the Lord when He roared like a lion. They would come trembling like birds from Egypt and doves from Assyria to settle in their homes (Hosea 11:1-11). Repent of sin and remove the yoke so you can be fed His word for complete healing.
Stop Trusting in Wealth But Listen to Word-Oriented Spokesmen
Ephraim surrounded God with lies, Israel with deceit and Judah was unruly against Him. Ephraim multiplied lies and violence, made a treaty with Assyria and sent olive oil to Egypt. Jacob struggled with the angel and overcame him. He talked with the Lord God Almighty. Judah must return to God, maintain love and justice, and wait for God always. Ephraim boasted of his riches and wealth thinking no one would find sin in him. God spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions and told parables through them. The Lord used a prophet to bring Israel up from Egypt and to care for them (Hosea 12:1-14). Stop trusting in wealth but listen to His word through designated spokesmen.
Acknowledge God Who Cares, Feeds and Redeems You
Ephraim made cleverly fashioned silver idols or images that were the work of craftsmen. They were to acknowledge no God or Savior except the Lord. He brought them out of Egypt, cared and fed them in the desert. They became satisfied, proud and forgot God. He gave them a king in His anger and took him away in His wrath. God redeemed them from death without destruction (Hosea 13:1-16). Acknowledge God who cares, feeds and redeems you from death.
Walk in God’s Ways with Discernment
Hosea told Israel to return to the Lord since sin was their downfall. They were to say to Him, “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.” Assyria could not save them, but the fatherless found compassion in God. He healed their waywardness and loved them freely. God was like the dew to Israel so they could blossom like a lily. They sent down roots like a cedar of Lebanon and flourished like a vine. Their fruitfulness came from God. The wise and discerning understood these things. The righteous walked in God’s ways that were right, but the rebellious stumbled in them (Hosea 14:1-9). Walk in God’s ways with discernment to bear spiritual fruit.
Answer the following questions to determine if you are experiencing fruitfulness in your life:
1. Is God’s word the foundation of your life?
2. Are you sowing righteousness and seeking the Lord?
3. Are you repenting of sin so you can remove the yoke from your life?
4. Are you feeding on God’s word for complete healing?
5. Have you stopped trusting in wealth?
6. Are you listening to His word through designated spokesmen?
7. Do you acknowledge God in all circumstances of life knowing He cares, feeds and redeems you from futility?
8. Do you walk in God’s ways with wisdom and discernment?
