Restoration Through Suffering and Forgiveness

Last week we learned the “Bait of Satan” is to try and get us offended. Don’t take the bait! Once we are offended, our heart is hardened and it changes how we see the world around us because we see through the eyes of our heart. Offence hinders right conduct and thought. A hardened heart will reject God’s love and love from others. This causes bitterness, which is literally defined as “poison.” CATION! Bitterness in our heart can manifest in physical illness.

Matt 11:2-6 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?" 4 Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."

Matt 18:7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! Don’t take the bait! Don’t justify your hurt/offense because in doing so, you give it more power over you.

Offended Strong’s #4625 and 4624, skandalizo (skan-dal-id-zoe), a snare or stumbling block in the way which hinders right conduct or thought. The noun to which it is related referred to the bait-stick of a trap used to catch animals. It also means an enticement to error or sin. CATION: Do not pick up another person’s offense.

Restoration Through Suffering and Forgiveness
It can be very difficult to forgive someone who has hurt us, especially if the wound is deep. This hurt is an offense and we must deal with it or it will cause many more heartaches. When we are hurting, we are suffering, but we must let go of the offense to end our suffering. The only way to let it go is through forgiveness. This is the concept of “restoration through suffering and forgiveness.” Jesus restored our relationship with our Father God through His suffering and forgiveness. We are being transformed into the image of Christ, and as we do, suffering is part of the process.

This suffering can come from relationships and/or circumstances. Things happen in our life that cause suffering, be it emotional or physical. The answer is to give our hurt and pain to Jesus.

2 Cor 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Phil 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

King Solomon reigned from 970 B.C. to 930 B.C. During his last 10 years, the nation of Israel split with 10 tribes going to the north and the tribe of Judah and Benjamin staying to the south, mostly around Jerusalem. This was because King Solomon’s heart turned from God and he worshipped idols and false gods.

“Hosea was a prophet in Judah from 755 B.C. to 715 B.C. Most of this time, the people enjoyed peace, plenty and prosperity; but anarchy was brewing, and it would bring the political collapse of the nation in a few short years. They had corrupt leaders. Unstable family life, widespread immorality, class hatred and poverty. Though the people continued a form of worship. Idolatry was more and more accepted and the priest were failing to guide the people into ways of righteousness. In spite of the darkness of these days, Hosea holds out hope to inspire his people to turn back to God” (intro to the Book of Hosea Spirit Filled Life Bible). Satan is using the same playbook today.

The prophet Hosea’s name means “Salvation” or “Deliverance.” He tried to get the nation of Israel and Judah to repent and turn back to God before the Assyrian invasion of the Northern Kingdom. The Northern Kingdom (called Israel) started falling to the Assyrians around 740 B.C. and their capital city of Samaria fell in 722 B.C. which ended the Northern Kingdom. From the reign of King Solomon to the fall of Israel was about 250 years. July 4, 2026 is America’s 250 Anv.

The preaching and warnings of the prophets Hosea, Isaiah and Micah gave Judah (the Southern Kingdom) a reprieve. In 701 B.C. the Assyrians surrounded Jerusalem, but God intervened (2 Chron 32; 1 angel killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers).
In 602 B.C. King Nebuchadnezzar took prisoners (including Daniel and his 3 friends) to Babylon. Then in 597 B.C. the city of Jerusalem was besieged, ending the Southern Kingdom of Judah.

God used the prophet Hosea to show Israel and Judah their harlotry, and unfaithfulness.
“The problem was how to get this message of God’s love to a people not inclined to listen and not likely to understand if they did listen. God’s solution was to let the prophet be his own sermon. Hosea would marry an impure woman (“wife of harlotry” 1:2), love her fully and have children by her (1:3) and go after her and bring her back when she strays (“Go again, love” 3:1). Hosea was to show by his own love for Gomer the kind of love God had for Israel (Intro SFLB).

Hos 1:2-4 When the Lord began to speak by Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea: "Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry And children of harlotry, For the land has committed great harlotry By departing from the Lord." 3 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.

Hos 3:1-3 Then the Lord said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the Lord for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans." 2 So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver, and one and one-half homers of barley.

“Through the tragic story of Hosea and Gomer, God reveals both the depth and power of His love for Israel and the marriage bond. God describes His suffering the pain and humiliation of Israel’s unfaithfulness; and in obedience to God, Hosea suffers the same pain and humiliation of his own wife’s unfaithfulness. But God shows him how the marriage can be saved: through suffering and forgiveness.” (Kingdom Dynamics SFLB).

Rom 8:16-17 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Phil 1:29-30 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.

2 Tim 3:10-13 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra — what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

1 Peter 2:20-23 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

1 Peter 3:13-14 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled."

2 Cor 1:5-7 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.

Consolation: Strong’s #3874 Paraklesis; solace, comfort, exhortation. Comforter (Holy Spirit) #3875; parakletos, an intercessor, consoler, advocate,

Will we allow the Holy Spirit to use our suffering to transform us into the image and character of Jesus Christ?