Teaching Notes

Have you ever felt like you were upside down? You know what I mean no matter what you tried to do, it always went the opposite way or the results came out different from what you wanted. Maybe the things that are happening are simply some freak of nature, but God's way of trying to get your attention. Is he saying to you, turn back to me.

Repentance

Hosea 14:1-3 (The Message)

O Israel, come back! Return to your God! You're down but you're not out. Prepare your confession and come back to God. Pray to him, "Take away our sin, accept our confession. Receive as restitution our repentant prayers. Assyria won't save us; horses won't get us where we want to go. We'll never again say 'our god' to something we've made or made up.You're our last hope. Is it not true that in you the orphan finds mercy?"


Notes: Hosea is calling the people back to God. They have turned away from God and trusted in lesser things. The writer says they will not trust in Assyria to save them nor will horses come and take them away from their troubles. The only hope they have is God to show mercy on them.

Question: What does it mean to repent and what does this scripture show are the steps to take towards repentance?

Answer: To repent means to feel sorry for what you have done. So sorry that you want to turn from it and never do it again. Not simply being sorry you got caught at something, but sorry so much that you are regretful for it within your heart. The writer says that to repent you must prepare your confession and come back to God. This means you come to God and tell him all that you are sorry for, that you do not try to hide your sins from him, because he sees them anyway. When we do that the next step is God will accept them, forgive us and take away our sins. God will receive your prayers of repentance and thanksgiving for his mercy as enough to forgive us our sins along with a changed heart and life.

Prayer: Lord, today I repent of (you fill in any thing that God has shown you, that you need to repent of). I ask you to forgive me of this sin in my life and help me to live your way. Thank you for forgiving me for you are quick to forgive those that come to you with a humble heart. Now thank you for keeping me and helping me to live your way.