Larry Siegle · Hosea 4:1-3
Link to sermon video: From the Outside In: Reformed, Conformed, Transformed – L Siegle
From the OUTSIDE In: Reformed, Conformed, Transformed
“The PROCESS God’s Uses to Change Believers”
(Hosea 4:1-3)
Thesis: The PROCESS God uses to transform ordinary lives into something He can use for His glory.
INTRODUCTION
1. The title of the message today is, “From the OUTSIDE In: Reformed, Conformed, Transformed”
2. Reflections on 2025 and the direction of our lives in 2026.
THE TIME OF “RESOLUTIONS” HAS ARRIVED
1. Something almost “magical” happens at this time of the year as people contemplate the notion of a “fresh start” and a “new beginning” at the new year approaches.
2. There is a renewed sense of both hope and determination as “the list” of objectives begins to grow:
Exercise at least 3 times a week.
Drink more water daily.
Eat more vegetables and fruits.
Cut down on processed foods.
Get enough sleep each night.
3. Statistically, 41% of adults (US) make resolutions, but only 25% remain committed after the first month. The second Friday in January every years has been labeled “Quitters Day” as many simply give-up on whatever area of life their resolution was covering.
4. At the gym where Linda and I have been members for the past couple of years, January finds it “packed” with new faces and lots of energy. By mid-February, while a few remain, the crowd returns to those same faces we have seen who are consistent—the new faces (for the most part) have disappeared completely.
THREE AREAS INVOLVING GENUINE “CHANGE” IN OUR LIVES
1. The reality of what we are going to explore for the next couple of weeks is this: “Reformation fixes the habit, being conformed chooses the pattern, but only transformation changes the person.”
2. Whatever changes we make for ourselves on the outside cannot become the primary goal—behavioral modification.
a. Man is pictured in Scripture as a “tripartite” being (I Thess. 5:23; Mark 12:29-33)
b. Our human tendency is to focus on one area to the neglect of the balance that is essential to effect change.
3. An article in Psychology Today makes this observation:
“Changing conditioned patterns is not easy, but it is possible. Trusting that change is possible is the first step, which
means that we have to be willing to give up our excuses for being the way we are and take on a commitment to make
the effort to develop the qualities and traits that will promote the kinds of behaviors and practices that we wish to
integrate more fully into our lives. This is what most people are talking about when they use the term “doing your own
work”. It is also a prerequisite to finding the motivation to “be the change” that you wish to experience in your life.
Motivation, or “intense desire” is a determining factor in this process. When it is strong, the likelihood of a positive
outcome is great. When it is weak, the prognosis for success is slim to none”.
4. During the next couple of weeks, we are going to explore Romans 12:1, 2 and discuss “8 things we commonly miss” in these two verses.
BACK IN TIME
1. Today we are going to talk about what had happened in the northern kingdom of the nation of Israel and how God sent prophets to plead with them and to encourage them to change the situation.
2. The prophet Hosea is listed as the first of what is referred to as the “twelve minor” prophets in the OT. The book has 14 chapters, and is located just after the book of Daniel in our Bibles.
a. We often pronounce the name of the book as Jose (as though he were a Hispanic prophet), but the literal Hebrew rendering of his name is Hoshaiah, means “saved by Yahweh”
b. His ministry as a prophet occurred during the 8th century BC, and covered nearly 50 years of history and the unfaithfulness and apostasy of Israel, or Ephraim and Samaria are names used throughout the book.
c. Hosea ministered at the same time as Amos, Isaiah, Micah, and Oded.
d. The northern ten tribes, during this time, had sought political and military unity with Egypt and Assyria, instead of trusting in Yahweh the God of Israel to protect them.
e. The prophecy of Hosea is quoted by Matthew, Luke, John in Revelation, and by the apostle Paul in the NT.
f. The contrast is between God’s faithfulness and their decision to wander away from Him.
THE CONDITION OF THE NATION (4:1-3)
1. Israel had forsaken pure worship and had gone after the Canaanite “gods” such a Baal and therefore had become unfaithful to God, who is pictured as the husband of Israel. Repeatedly.
a. God had warned the nation of what would happen if they were not faithful in keeping the “covenant” made with them (Lev. 26:14-16, 30-33)—severe consequences were to follow.
b. In 722 BC, just as the prophets had foretold, Assyria descended on the nation and brought judgment from God upon them. This scene is documented in Isaiah 8-39. (Isa. 8:1-8; II Kings 17:1-6).
2. The “characteristics” of unfaithfulness:
a. Courtroom scene, God presents His “case” [controversy] with Israel (Hos. 4:1)
b. No “knowledge of God” in a real and genuine expression of love and devotion (Hos. 4:6).
c. A list: “swearing, lying, murder, stealing, adultery” – sounds like a description of what goes on in the pagan world but NO, it is a description being given of God’s “covenant people”
3. What we are going to see in our discussion of Romans 12:2 is the emphasis found within the text itself: “stop being conformed to this world [age]…” This is from the Greek present-passive-imperative that defines the fact that these believers were already yielding to the pattern and philosophy of the world and there was a need for them to stop engaging with activities and a mindset that was a mirror reflection of how the world thinks about things and act accordingly.
a. God looks at the deplorable condition of what had become of the northern kingdom and presents His evidence of having a legal “case” against them.
b. When Israel repents, the promise of God is restoration (Hos. 6:1-3).
4. When we encounter unfaithfulness (in our own lives toward God, or in the lives of others around us) the goal is to establish healing and restoration of relationship with God (Gal. 6:1, 2; Eph. 4:1, 2, 31, 32)
OUTWARD CHANGES
1. Often, when we talk about ‘making changes’ we are referring to outward actions or behavior, but God wants each one of us to focus on our thoughts, words, and resulting actions.
2. In many ways Israel only saw sinful things on the basis of actual conduct (Matt. 5:21-26, 27, 28).
3. God wants to go deeper into the innermost parts of our being and that is the focus and intent of this study.
CONCLUSION
1. What do we want to see take place in our lives in 2026?
2. Fixing the outward things never lasts, except for a short season.
3. God wants to go deeper into our thoughts, motives, intent and desires and to change those areas of our life to mold us and to shape us into the best people we can actually become
4. Adam became a “living being” and that was God’s purpose. Later because of the entrance of sin and selfishness, Adam became a “living doing” because the focus of his attention had changed into something lesser than God desired for him to be.
Outline (Word document): OUTSIDE_IN.docx