We recently looked at Hosea and his love for his wife Gomer despite her continued sin.

Marriage is a sacred institution and when we are young we all dream of fairytale weddings, and of course living happily ever after.

Christ himself of course has a bride.  Wait, I thought Christ was unmarried?? Who is it?

In Ephesians  5:25-27 we read Christ loved the church so much as his wife he was willing to sacrifice himself for her, as he did upon the cross. What were the waters of cleansing mentioned? Baptism of course. But importantly this washing was through the word, meaning it requires OBEDIENCE to God's commands. Christ after all wants to present the church as perfect.

In 2 Corinthians 11:2 Paul also eagerly desires to present the church as pure. This is the ernest desire of any minister or leader.

Yet Ephesians 5:24 makes it clear we are to submit to Christ, not to people! We are responsible to each other, and to call each other higher.

We should also realise the wedding has not yet happened. In Revelations 19:7-9 we read it will be in the future! What a great occasion it will be. Imagine being there. What a party!

But the church must be kept pure. A white dress should mean a white dress!

Fresh from the printers we are excited to announce our first ever publication, "Become", on how to become a follower of Jesus. Why not come along to church to get a copy??

Told in 6 parts, this is a contemporary telling of the story of Hosea and how he loved his wive Gomer, even though she was an adulteress and continued in her adultery. Hosea continually forgave her, just as God forgave Israel continually, and more importantly He continually forgives us today! Amazing forgiveness!

Hosea is one of the small books in the Bible it is easy to overlook. Yet is it is a amazing story of how Hosea loved and married his wife Gomer despite the fact she was an adulteress and once again fell into adultery.  And yet he still forgave her!!!

Just as God loved and would always forgive the nation of Israel.  More importantly how God still loves and forgives us today! 

After church service we watched the movie below, "Amazing Love - Hosea", which we purchased on our recent trip to the USA, and which clearly illustrates this often overlooked story.  We highly recommend it!

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man ’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritualy discerned. But he that is spiritual judges al things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2: 12-16)

“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

“The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life” (John 6:33).

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21).

“A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words…” (Proverbs 12:14).

“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it wil not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

“For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you wil be condemned” (Matthew 12:37).

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

“As for Me, this is My covenant with them, says the Lord: My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring's offspring, says the Lord, from now and forever” (Isaiah 59:21).

“The Word of the Lord endures forever. This is the word which was preached to you” (1 Peter 1:25).