Today I am going to talk about relationship; I am going to address the issue of marriage and the modern problem of Commitment.
First of all I want to talk about commitment in general,
We live in a society that is very self serving, and individualistic, a society where there is very little commitment.
Let's look at the job market or sector many professions are suffering such as Teaching and nursing, because the types of careers can only be properly carried out by committed people, these jobs are vocations, where reward is not really measured by the pay packet, but no one wants these jobs because of commitment
Jobs such as accountants and lawyers are over subscribed because of the financial incentive.
In relationships today, modern relationships lack commitment .and self sacrifice
I am going to use marriage as an illustration of the relationship between Christ and the church.
In the bible there are some notable marriages and relationships… Adam and Eve that was a good marriage even in the bad times they stuck together, in fact it is the first recorded marriage ceremony and God officiated it.
Isaac and Rebecca and they love they had for each other
Jacob and his love for Rachel and how he had to serve laban for many years to get her. That's commitment
Modern relationships lack commitment
The bible talks about marriage in relation to God and Israel, in many cases to express the intimacy and passion Gos had for Israel. In many passages he calls Israel his wife, and mentions himself as a husband
Paul in Ephesians 5:26-32 husbands love your wifes as Christ loved the church.
Serving God is not about religion it is about relationship. TWO BECOME ONE
The main text I am going to read from is Hosea
Background and introduction to Hosea….
Hosea is a prophet of Israel and not Judah although it mentioned the Kings of Judah that were around during the time of his reign, Uzziah, Jotham, Hezekiah
But his message was to Israel the northen Kingdom, who were sliding into apostacy. So he was preaching to men like Jehu and Pekia.
God wanted this prophet to typify or for want of a better word illustrate the relationship between him and Israel in his own life.
So that when he preaches he is not indifferent but he himself has gone through it.
We need preachers today with experience, not just head knowledge we need preachers that have been through some stuff. That can say I've been there.
Maybe God allowed me to go through some things so I can encourage someone today!
If maybe you feel a bit alone, none to share your life with I've been their, I got you, If maybe you've been hurt by a church or leader or pastor, I got I have been publicly abused, and even called a devil as a young Christian.
If you've been out of work not knowing where your career is going I got you again
Marriage and the Big C….Commitment
Hosea 1:2-4

In Debt I got you again, as a young man my name was blacklisted banks didn't want me, I crashed a car without fully comprehensive and owed £4,000
I got you there been there done that, been sacked for no apparent reason.
Homeless had to catch with my granny for a while been there done that
But through it all God came through.
Now I have a wife, a Job, a car, a house children GOD IS GOOD NOT BECAUSE THE BIBLE SAYS SO BUT I HAVE EXPERIENCED IT MYSELF………………………..

Hosea is told to go to the red light district or Kings cross Clapham common, go into a telephone box in central London and call one of them Girls and marry them!
If God said to do it you just have to do it.
Hosea find a wife of Harlotry called Gomer the daughter of Diblaim
Because Israel is playing the harlot, she does not trust me to supply her needs, her lovers supply her needs.
She is not committed to me.
Israel would not give up her lovers, the problem with marriage today is many will not throw themselves into the relationship,. They hold back in fear of being hurt. You do not need marriage counselling Iam telling you, its all or nothing.
Miss I want to married I really hope you know what you are in for, dirty washing, crying Kids, someone having the last say. Are you really ready to give up your independence.
The majority of marriages that fail have to do with one partner or even both not fully committed.
Nicole Kidman and tom Cruise the very name tells you that when she married she keeps her name her individuality that's the real key
Let me tell there are some people that want the kind of relationship with God I want you lord, I want the blessings and the privileges of salvation but I do not want your name I want to do my own thing I want to keep my lovers, the things that take priority to you.
No you better forsake all for God for he is a jealous God. Not insecure Jealous an insecure husband has to know your every whereabouts, God is not insecure h doesn't mind you having a good career, a good house in fact he will shower you with these things as long as he is not replaced.
The inevitable happens Gomer goes back to her old ways and even has children, they are called children of harlotry, I am not sure whether they were his or not the theologians seem to disagree on this point.
Every child signified a stage in the relationship between God and Israel
Jezreel…………….God Shall Scatter
Lo Ruhammah…….Not Having Obtained mercy, or no mercy
Lo Ammi………….Mot My People
This was as a result of serious violation of the marriage vow
Hosea is such a powerful book many of the new testament writers use it, Paul used this point Lo Ammi to highlight the fact that God had rejected Israel in part to bring in the gentiles.

Marriage and the Big C….Commitment
Hosea 1:2-4

The problem is commitment and will always be commitment, God is always trying to woo us, and draw us back to him, you ever seen when a man is trying pursue a woman he uses flattery, he buys presents, takes her out for meals. When you look at the songs of Solomon one of the five books of poetry, why is it there.
To portray the love of Christ and the church, we need to be like the woman in the book there are lovers trying to seduce you, Solomon was trying to seduce this maiden but she was already in love, to a shepherd boy.
You see when you are really secure in a relationship, you have eyes only for one person
We should commit to Christ and love him with everything, it is a risk but it is worth it.
Hosea 2:14-16
The Valley of Achor will become a door of hope, God will give you a doorway in the valley.
We now the story of Achan nearly a thousand years or so earlier had committed a grave sin with a Babylonian garment. Reconciliation.
Maybe you've messed up you've fallen in the valley,
But God will bring a door of hope in the valley, he wants you back he wants to bless you, and shower you with love.
If you only know what God has for you, you wouldn't mess about.
Tell your lovers goodbye, I am in love with God I am committed. The big C.
The last verses I will call you my wife and I will be husband.

The bible says when the two brothers James and John the sons of Zebedee saw Jesus they left their nets and followed him, nothing else had importance for they had met Jesus, and when we meet Jesus everything else takes second place.
The church today lacks believers with true commitment, and of course because they are not committed they will never really experience the full benefits of salvation

God wants a true relationship with his church based on commitment

Then God will be your husband and take care of you.