Living Under the InfluenceHosea 4:1-19

A life lived under the influence of IDOLS brings us shame.

Introduction

• “lack of understanding”– not just cognitive information– personal application of truth to

everyday life

• “playing the whore”– unfaithful, dismissive response to

God– flirtatious, familiar involvement

with other gods

A life lived under the influence of IDOLS brings us shame.

Lack of understanding

GOD godadultery

winenew wine

drugs

alcohol

media

workleisureboat

housecar

healthcomfort

sex

Lack of understanding

• We forfeit a spirit of wisdom for a spirit of whoredom.

• To leave the God we love to follow idols is “playing the whore”.

gods

Playing the whore

• contending with God• rejecting or ignoring Biblical

truth• neglecting spiritual leadership

responsibilities• exchanging glorifying for

shameful

Playing the whore

• cherishing wine more than God• asking your crutch what the

future holds • resisting the direct prodding of

God/ sliding intentionally back into old patterns

• ignoring God’s instructions and hiding in the bottle

Addicted to my idols

• What are you wrestling with?• What do you feel God calling you

to break off the relationship with?

• What are you unwilling to give up to pursue righteousness?

• “How can I give you up?”

Addicted to my idols

= all of the things that you used to do with God, you now do with your idol.

• If you do not reject these idols, you will have severe consequences.

idols

Painful consequences

• Guilt before God (vv.1-2)

• Instability (v.5)

• Destruction (v.6)

• Shame (vv. 7, 18-19)

• Punishment (vv.9, 14)

• Confusion (v.12)

• Ruin (v.14)

The whirlwind

• What has you all wrapped up?• Are you being sucked into more

idolatry or drawn closer to God?• Who or what have you given

yourself to? Who has your heart?• Does the worship that you are

offering mean anything anymore?

A life lived under the influence of IDOLS brings us shame.

A life lived under the influence of GOD brings Him GLORY.