WEBVTT

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 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.

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 Our passion is to experience and express grace.

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 Join us.

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 We began last week, as Derek mentioned, looking at Micah's prophecy, a call to repentance

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 that God sends to His people that is living in a season of great prosperity and equally

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 great promiscuity, the economic factories of Judah churning out success, and the idle

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 factories of their hearts churning out alternate ways to find life, and God won't stand for

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 that.

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 He'll do whatever it takes to restore relationship with His people, to remind them that life is

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 found only in Him, not anywhere else.

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 So, He sends a warning, a warning of coming judgment, and then this week, He gets pointed

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 about specific sin.

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 So, buckle up.

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 Basically, Micah says, the self-serving idolatry of God's people and their leaders is bringing

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 His judgment upon them.

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 Repent now is their only hope.

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 Micah doesn't pull any punches here with God's people or with their leaders.

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 It's painful.

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 It is convicting.

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 But it's God's Word.

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 It's the passionate plea of your Heavenly Father.

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 So, listen to where He would give you a much-needed wake-up call, perhaps, where He would call

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 us to repent because He loves us.

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 I'm going to read just the beginning and the end of Micah 2 and 3 for now.

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 So, this is Micah chapter 2, beginning at verse 1.

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 And God's holy Word to His people.

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 Woe to those who devise wickedness and work evil on their beds.

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 When the morning dawns, they perform it because it is in the power of their hand.

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 They covet fields and seize them and houses and take them away.

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 They oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance.

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 Therefore, thus says the Lord, behold, against this family I am devising disaster from which

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 you cannot remove your necks.

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 And you shall not walk haughtily, for it will be a time of disaster.

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 And turn to chapter 3, verse 9.

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 Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who detest

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 justice and make crooked all that is straight, who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with

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 iniquity.

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 Its heads give judgment for a bribe.

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 Its priests teach for a price.

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 Its prophets practice divination for money.

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 Yet they lean on the Lord and say, is not the Lord in the midst of us?

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 No disaster shall come upon us.

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 Therefore, because of you, Zion shall be plowed as a field.

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 Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins and the mountain of the house of wooded height.

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 This is God's word.

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 Let's pray.

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 God, your word is hard.

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 Hard for us to hear.

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 Easy for us to keep at arm's length because we would like to live our own way.

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 Oh, Holy Spirit, would you soften our hearts that harden quickly?

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 Would you give us ears to hear?

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 Would you speak to us?

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 Even things that are hard for us to hear because we need to hear them.

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 That's why you've sent them to us.

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 We thank you for them and ask for your help.

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 In Jesus' name, amen.

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 Micah jumps right in here to the idolatry of God's mostly prosperous people.

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 But that idolatry is not merely in the sanctuary with little wooden statues, is it?

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 He sees it everywhere, all the time.

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 You're obsessing over yourselves.

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 Dreaming of what you want.

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 Plotting how to advance your own glory rather than God's.

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 He says you scheme in the night to do evil and then you wake up to do it because you can.

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 Why?

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 Because it is in the power of their hand, he says.

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 They want to use their power for self rather than for others.

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 And this is a reminder to all of us, isn't it?

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 Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

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 If we have a self-focused orientation for all of life, then why not?

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 If I can do it and I want to, then go for it.

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 But God calls us to have a Godward orientation to all of life.

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 It's all lived before him.

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 And that asks not merely can I, but should I?

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 Will it honor God?

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 Kids, that's an important thing for you to learn early on.

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 Not merely what can I get away with?

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 Can I do something and maybe not get caught?

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 But should I?

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 What reflects a love for God and for my neighbor?

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 What should I do?

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 Adults.

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 Not what can my business or my medical research team get away with?

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 But what are God's moral and ethical standards, right?

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 Our relationship with Yahweh must matter beyond Sunday.

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 How would he have us live?

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 But often we've stopped thinking of him by Monday morning, haven't we?

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 Because we're busy thinking of what we can use our power and our resources for.

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 Be honest.

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 Isn't that what we think about a lot?

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 How can we advance ourselves?

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 Because we've got big hopes and dreams and we've begun to get greedy and covetous.

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 Verse 2.

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 They covet fields and seize them.

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 Houses.

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 Take them away.

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 Oppress a man in his house.

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 A man in his inheritance.

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 Coveting.

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 Coveting.

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 Hey, that's one of the big ten.

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 Pay attention.

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 And it's already important, but the significance of what Micah describes here just grows if you

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 remember the context.

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 God gave his people this land, right?

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 It's God's land.

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 And he gives it to each of them as a reminder of his care and provision for them.

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 Every single one of them gets a piece of it, right?

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 God makes sure.

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 And God puts laws in place to keep it that way.

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 To make sure that the land is redistributed regularly because some of them won't manage

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 it as well.

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 And God wants them to have it back.

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 He wants them to have that reminder of his provision and protection for them.

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 So that he will look out for the poor, widow, immigrant, orphan.

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 So they can eat off of your land.

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 But that's not what's happening in Micah's day.

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 God's people are not reflecting his generous heart.

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 Rather, they are displaying their own greedy hearts.

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 They've found a way to get ahead, haven't they?

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 I know how to get ahead.

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 I love being first, even if it makes you last.

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 Oppressing a man and his inheritance in the land.

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 Taking it from him.

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 Man, I know that heart.

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 I do whatever I have to do to get ahead.

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 I use whatever resources I have to get a better seat, especially if it has more legroom,

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 even if I know it puts you back.

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 I'm always looking to slip ahead in the line of traffic while someone else is stuck.

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 Have you ever used your influence to get your kid the best teacher?

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 Not stopping to consider the kid who didn't?

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 You're called to love your kids.

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 And your neighbor's kids.

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 Many of us have lots of different resources, don't we?

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 And we can use them however we can to get ahead while neglecting to consider others.

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 I mean, maybe you're not literally sitting on your bed dreaming and envisioning how to plot violence against someone,

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 but are you thinking about dreaming about how to help them?

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 Sometimes our dreams or our daydreams show us our hearts, don't they?

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 What are our anxieties or our fears?

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 What are we dwelling on?

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 And what's really important to us?

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 And we say things like,

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 I've just been so worried today about the contractor showing up late to my remodel.

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 What if it gets delayed?

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 I really hope my son makes the team.

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 How come all the good restaurants are closed on Sunday?

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 We're so frustrated.

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 We've never said that, but...

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 But we chuckle and we say,

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 First world problems, right?

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 Listen, that's true.

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 And that's good to admit.

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 But often first world problems is actually peacetime problems.

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 That's what it really is.

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 And that's dangerous.

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 It means I'm living in a world that denies the reality of the spiritual warfare that God tells me I'm actually in.

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 That turns a blind eye and a calloused heart to devastation around me.

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 Because I've got other priorities.

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 There's other things I'm more concerned with.

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 Do you wake up worried about our first world problems?

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 What impacts me?

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 What impacts me?

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 And never wake up with tears filling our eyes.

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 Prayers on our lips for people being trafficked in our city.

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 For homeless dealing with this oppressive heat these days.

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 Maybe the predatory payday lenders in our city are a close analogy to Micah's day.

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 Plotting to get rich off others' poverty.

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 But they're not alone.

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 It's not just out there.

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 This is to God's people.

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 I'd say there's many things on that spectrum.

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 All the way down to being a cheap tipper.

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 When those who make 10% of your salary get 10% on your bill.

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 I talked to a friend just this week who said the bus routes got changed.

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 And he was faced with the decision to drop one of his jobs.

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 Or to lose three hours of sleep every night because of where he was going to have to walk.

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 And you know what?

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 I actually have the resources given to me that I don't have to lose much sleep over bus routes.

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 If all I care about is myself, that's not a problem for me.

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 You know we have Huntsville neighbors we've partnered with who are having to relocate this fall.

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 Section 8 housing getting torn down.

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 Some may relocate within walking distance of your home.

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 Will you welcome them into your neighborhood?

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 It's not easy to relocate, is it?

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 New friends, new places.

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 Will you welcome them into your schools?

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 Into your lives?

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 Do you daydream about how to welcome the poor and the marginalized into our church family?

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 We need them here, don't we?

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 Or is it honestly not that important to you how they feel?

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 If your money gets you what you need legally, socially, relationally,

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 no need to worry about what it does to them.

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 Therefore, thus says the Lord,

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 Behold, against this family I am devising disaster,

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 from which you cannot remove your necks,

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 and you shall not walk haughtily.

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 For it will be a time of disaster.

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 In that day they shall take up a taunt song against you and moan bitterly,

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 and say, we are utterly ruined.

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 He changes the portion of my people.

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 How he removes it from me.

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 To an apostate he allots our fields.

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 Therefore, you will have none to cast the line by lot in the assembly of the Lord.

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 The first of several times here, God's punishment will fit the crime.

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 You're planning greedily and proudly, God says.

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 God says, I'm planning for you quite the opposite.

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 Something humbling and empty.

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 No inheritance in the land like those you stole it from.

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 Serious warnings, right?

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 It's meant to hit them right where they are.

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 And God's people hearing these serious warnings, you know what they say?

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 Oh, come on.

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 Come on, man.

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 Don't worry.

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 Be happy.

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 Verse 6.

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 Do not preach.

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 Thus they preach.

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 One should not preach of such things.

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 Disgrace will not overtake us.

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 Micah, this won't happen.

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 God loves us.

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 Preacher, stop it.

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 This is a grace church.

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 Quit talking like that.

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 Should this be said, O house of Jacob?

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 Has the Lord grown impatient?

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 Are these his deeds?

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 Do not my words do good to him who walks uprightly?

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 But lately, my people have risen up as an enemy.

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 You strip the rich robe from those who pass by trustingly with no thought of war.

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 Listen, God is a God of grace.

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 You're right.

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 So we are a church of grace.

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 Amen?

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 But his grace comes in relationship with him.

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 Don't presume you can spurn him, ignore his heart, and claim his grace at the same time.

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 We are on the Lord's side.

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 No, you're not.

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 Look at your life that ignores the least and the lost.

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 Micah says, God's people have risen up, not as his friends, but as his enemies.

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 How?

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 By their bad teaching?

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 Theologically lost it?

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 No.

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 By oppressing women and children.

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 Verse 9.

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 By using their power to get ahead on the backs of others who have less.

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 God says, I see this.

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 You must be enemies of mine.

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 In fact, you know the perfect preacher for you?

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 Verse 11.

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 If a man should go about and utter wind and lies full of hot air saying, I will preach to you of wine and strong drink, he would be the preacher for this people.

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 They'd love that.

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 The one who tells you what you want to hear about your pleasures and your comforts and forget everything else.

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 Eat, drink, and be merry.

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 That's your preacher?

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 That's all they want to hear, isn't it?

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 No one wants to hear a downer like Micah.

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 So discouraging.

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 Sin.

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 Disrupting our lives.

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 Pointing out we're not living after God's heart.

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 Micah, it's working.

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 We're prospering.

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 Leave us alone.

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 We're getting ahead.

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 This is great.

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 But God doesn't think so.

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 And he promises not to let his people flaunt his holy and gracious character.

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 They will get what they deserve.

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 And this is where the leaders come in.

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 Chapter 3 makes many similar statements to chapter 2.

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 But Micah is now specifically addressing the leaders of God's people.

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 Spiritual leaders, priests and prophets.

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 Social leaders, judges, magistrates.

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 These are the ones who should be leading the people after the heart of God, right?

00:17:50.339 --> 00:17:54.199
 That's why God's put them there in his people.

00:17:54.679 --> 00:17:59.240
 They should be addressing these idolatrous practices and passions.

00:18:00.099 --> 00:18:01.259
 Micah chapter 3.

00:18:01.259 --> 00:18:05.500
 I said, hear you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel.

00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:08.420
 Is it not for you to know justice?

00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:13.980
 The leaders are particularly supposed to know justice.

00:18:14.460 --> 00:18:16.940
 It's a word used repeatedly in this chapter.

00:18:18.879 --> 00:18:19.400
 Mishpat.

00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:26.400
 They're to know the heart of God that has sympathy for outcasts.

00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:30.759
 In the Old Testament, mishpat is more than correct legal verdicts.

00:18:31.840 --> 00:18:31.980
 Okay?

00:18:32.460 --> 00:18:33.980
 It's much bigger than that.

00:18:34.380 --> 00:18:39.920
 It's justice meaning an honest relationship with someone else.

00:18:40.280 --> 00:18:42.200
 A generosity to the needy.

00:18:42.640 --> 00:18:45.640
 Actually, activism against injustice.

00:18:46.060 --> 00:18:47.620
 It's all tied up in that.

00:18:47.619 --> 00:18:54.099
 Often, when it's used, it includes the widow or the orphan or the immigrant or the poor

00:18:54.099 --> 00:18:58.019
 that's in mind of the justice that needs to happen.

00:18:58.199 --> 00:19:01.319
 When you hear justice, think of all of that.

00:19:01.919 --> 00:19:02.759
 God's heart.

00:19:03.179 --> 00:19:05.059
 Again, Psalm 146.

00:19:05.859 --> 00:19:09.679
 The Lord executes justice for the oppressed.

00:19:09.939 --> 00:19:12.199
 See who's in mind when God's thinking justice?

00:19:12.819 --> 00:19:14.059
 He gives food to the hungry.

00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:15.719
 He sets prisoners free.

00:19:15.720 --> 00:19:17.920
 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.

00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:20.279
 The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down.

00:19:20.579 --> 00:19:22.059
 The Lord loves the righteous.

00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:24.620
 The Lord watches over the sojourners.

00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:28.700
 He upholds the widow and the fatherless.

00:19:30.579 --> 00:19:32.940
 That's what justice looks like.

00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:37.059
 And the leaders of God's people are to know that.

00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:38.940
 And to love that.

00:19:39.220 --> 00:19:41.559
 And to lead them after it.

00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:52.659
 Instead, verse 9 says they detest justice and make crooked all the straight things.

00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:54.679
 Verse 2.

00:19:54.680 --> 00:20:15.220
 Verse 11.

00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:19.480
 Its heads give judgment for a bribe.

00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:23.420
 Its priests teach for a price.

00:20:24.380 --> 00:20:28.620
 Its prophets practice divination for money.

00:20:29.539 --> 00:20:30.259
 Alas!

00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:37.059
 All the leaders, they've fallen into the same trap of prosperity, haven't they?

00:20:37.059 --> 00:20:42.599
 They're using their power and their position for themselves.

00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:48.279
 They're getting ahead at the expense of others because they can.

00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:58.079
 And their idolatry compounds because they want to say exactly what the people want to hear, don't they?

00:20:59.379 --> 00:21:00.079
 Verse 5.

00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:09.099
 Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry peace when they have something to eat.

00:21:10.059 --> 00:21:14.940
 But declare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths.

00:21:15.160 --> 00:21:15.660
 Peace!

00:21:15.660 --> 00:21:15.779
 Peace!

00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:17.680
 You're good!

00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:18.360
 It's okay!

00:21:18.460 --> 00:21:19.440
 As long as you feed them.

00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:22.800
 And God says, no!

00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:24.880
 That's not peace!

00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:27.440
 That's self-serving lies!

00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:30.160
 The land is full of injustice!

00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:32.820
 People are running away from me!

00:21:33.120 --> 00:21:37.240
 And the prophets who should call them back urge them on and keep going!

00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:41.039
 Look at verse 11.

00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:46.500
 Its heads, the judges and magistrates, give judgment for a bribe.

00:21:46.599 --> 00:21:48.240
 Its priests teach for a price.

00:21:48.359 --> 00:21:51.259
 Its prophets practice divination for money.

00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:55.900
 Yet all these guys, they lean on the Lord and say,

00:21:55.900 --> 00:21:59.600
 Is not the Lord in the midst of us?

00:21:59.600 --> 00:22:02.880
 No disaster shall come upon us.

00:22:03.380 --> 00:22:04.980
 We're God's people.

00:22:06.820 --> 00:22:09.440
 Hey y'all, God's happy with us.

00:22:09.560 --> 00:22:11.160
 They love to remind everyone.

00:22:12.540 --> 00:22:13.860
 And God says, no I'm not.

00:22:13.859 --> 00:22:20.359
 You're just lining your own pockets with the bribe you were paid to give a good report,

00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:25.119
 to predict a positive future, encourage my people in their idolatry.

00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:31.039
 The preachers say, we are on the Lord's side.

00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:32.339
 Sing it with me.

00:22:33.699 --> 00:22:34.799
 And God says, really?

00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:39.919
 You don't stand for justice in a time of need?

00:22:40.919 --> 00:22:44.939
 You don't hear the poor man and his children plead?

00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:49.439
 In fact, you don't help the rich man see his poverty at all.

00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:55.500
 You join him in taking advantage of those who have less for your own gain.

00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:57.400
 That's not my side.

00:22:57.920 --> 00:23:01.080
 My side loves justice and cares for the oppressed.

00:23:05.960 --> 00:23:14.120
 Y'all, I gotta tell you how gut-wrenching this has been for a pastor who loves pleasing people.

00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:18.480
 If you don't know me well enough, you might as well know that about me.

00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:24.019
 Um, I love it when people are happy.

00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:29.039
 I especially like it when they're glad it was worth their time to talk to me.

00:23:29.120 --> 00:23:29.820
 Makes them feel good.

00:23:29.880 --> 00:23:30.779
 Makes me feel good.

00:23:31.400 --> 00:23:33.960
 It makes me feel really good to say, peace.

00:23:36.940 --> 00:23:39.400
 I don't relish offending people.

00:23:40.519 --> 00:23:45.720
 I don't like the idea of challenging the rich on their sin while hoping to balance the church budget.

00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:48.100
 It can seem self-serving.

00:23:48.099 --> 00:23:49.500
 You know?

00:23:49.719 --> 00:23:50.619
 I'm in that budget.

00:23:53.939 --> 00:24:01.419
 I hate the relational tension at the end of a lunch meeting when someone storms off frustrated with me.

00:24:01.619 --> 00:24:02.719
 It eats me up.

00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:07.619
 Please pray for me.

00:24:08.939 --> 00:24:15.319
 The speaking of God's word has a big impact on his people, Micah says, for good or for ill.

00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:25.039
 Pray that I would love God and his people more than myself and my comfort.

00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:35.639
 Pray that I would say what God wants me to say, not what my often fearful and self-protective heart wants me to say.

00:24:35.640 --> 00:24:41.940
 Please pray that God would continue to pour his spirit into me.

00:24:42.180 --> 00:24:46.100
 That's how Micah is the faithful prophet in his day, isn't it?

00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:48.960
 It won't be by my own strength that I'm faithful.

00:24:49.060 --> 00:24:50.420
 Look what Micah says, verse 8.

00:24:50.420 --> 00:24:53.420
 As for me, how's he different from all the other prophets?

00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:54.900
 Because he's so awesome?

00:24:56.300 --> 00:25:00.039
 I'm filled with power with the spirit of the Lord.

00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:02.560
 With justice and might.

00:25:02.940 --> 00:25:07.600
 To declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.

00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:13.779
 The spirit enables declaration of sin to God's people.

00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:18.240
 So that they might repent and return to him.

00:25:18.759 --> 00:25:21.299
 That's the beauty of how it's supposed to work.

00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:30.699
 Preaching that only encourages and never challenges your heart and your life is not faithful, spirit-led preaching of God's word.

00:25:30.700 --> 00:25:39.920
 Christ-centered preaching exposes your great need and your greater Savior, right?

00:25:41.620 --> 00:25:47.039
 If your pastor never calls you to repentance, he's not shepherding you faithfully.

00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:53.960
 While I'm at it, if your Bible never calls you to repentance, you're not reading it.

00:25:53.960 --> 00:26:06.120
 If your friend, your brothers and sisters who do life with you, if they never call you to repentance, they're not leading you and pointing you to Jesus.

00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:10.559
 Because that's what shows us how much we need him and how glorious he is.

00:26:13.400 --> 00:26:14.940
 See, this is for all of us.

00:26:15.660 --> 00:26:17.200
 Not just me, right?

00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:22.819
 All of us are called in some way to lead others to God.

00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:30.380
 Many of you in this room have considerable authority or influence in the church, in the community.

00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:32.500
 You serve on boards.

00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:35.079
 You lead businesses.

00:26:35.640 --> 00:26:36.840
 You start non-profits.

00:26:37.539 --> 00:26:38.960
 You're connected throughout Huntsville.

00:26:39.140 --> 00:26:41.980
 I'm amazed at the gifts God has given here.

00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:50.900
 But let's stop and ask, in what ways do we wield our power, authority, or influence to support ourselves?

00:26:50.900 --> 00:26:56.960
 Do we take advantage of the weak to position ourselves stronger?

00:26:57.540 --> 00:27:03.540
 Do we perhaps ignore the poor altogether while we build a business or lead a church?

00:27:03.539 --> 00:27:09.379
 Southwood leaders, let me ask it this way for you.

00:27:09.379 --> 00:27:20.720
 When we make decisions and plans for our church, do we cater to or encourage consumerism and self-focus?

00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:35.860
 Or do we shape our church around Christ-focused, sacrificial living, even when it makes others less than thrilled with our leadership?

00:27:35.859 --> 00:27:45.139
 One commentator calls this passage an expose of iniquitous structures.

00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:47.719
 Evil systems.

00:27:48.859 --> 00:27:51.119
 In the church and in the society.

00:27:52.859 --> 00:28:00.919
 Self-focused leaders encourage self-focus in God's people who are all too happy many times to follow their lead.

00:28:00.920 --> 00:28:06.140
 While the poor are pushed further down and further away from God's people.

00:28:07.180 --> 00:28:13.080
 Are we thinking intentionally of the kingdom when we structure Southwood and Huntsville?

00:28:14.460 --> 00:28:20.640
 I love how the relationships that have developed in the faith and finances class, which is just ending.

00:28:21.060 --> 00:28:24.080
 The jobs for life class, which is just starting.

00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:25.840
 They do two things at the same time.

00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:34.419
 They both dignify the individual poor, welcoming them into the lives of God's people, which is so important.

00:28:35.159 --> 00:28:41.859
 And they attack generational systems of poverty, seeking to break oppressive patterns.

00:28:42.639 --> 00:28:44.419
 Because the structures are a problem too.

00:28:45.379 --> 00:28:50.179
 What are other ways that we can display God's heart and open our doors to the poor?

00:28:50.359 --> 00:28:51.779
 Will you spend time thinking about that?

00:28:51.779 --> 00:28:55.500
 Talk about that together in your Connect community, in your small group?

00:28:55.839 --> 00:29:01.500
 How can we use our resources for others rather than ourselves?

00:29:02.099 --> 00:29:06.419
 Y'all, that's what God has made all of us priests in his kingdom for.

00:29:06.619 --> 00:29:07.839
 That's our purpose, right?

00:29:08.159 --> 00:29:13.559
 That his grace might not stop with us, but that it would flow through us to many others.

00:29:13.859 --> 00:29:15.799
 That's how he designed it.

00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:18.959
 That's why he's made you a priest in his kingdom.

00:29:19.159 --> 00:29:21.179
 What's it going to look like for you?

00:29:21.180 --> 00:29:32.700
 And if it does not flow through us, if we don't steward what he gives us for the sake of others,

00:29:32.700 --> 00:29:35.660
 we will get exactly what we deserve.

00:29:35.880 --> 00:29:36.700
 Verse 4.

00:29:37.960 --> 00:29:42.240
 Then they will cry to the Lord, but he will not answer them.

00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:54.359
 Poetic justice, like Proverbs 21 already tells us.

00:29:54.620 --> 00:30:02.339
 Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.

00:30:02.339 --> 00:30:07.179
 In fact, God's prophets will be appropriately shut up.

00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:09.539
 You won't hear it from the preachers either.

00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:13.439
 It shall be night to you without vision, darkness to you without divination.

00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:15.079
 The sun shall go down on the prophets.

00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:16.699
 The day shall be black over them.

00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:18.220
 The seers shall be disgraced.

00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:19.659
 The diviners put to shame.

00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:25.059
 They shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God.

00:30:25.059 --> 00:30:31.019
 With no answer from him, they say, but God is with us.

00:30:32.220 --> 00:30:33.599
 Nothing bad will happen.

00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:36.980
 But verse 12.

00:30:37.159 --> 00:30:41.839
 Therefore, because of you, Zion shall be plowed as a field.

00:30:42.220 --> 00:30:46.779
 Jerusalem, God's holy city, shall become a heap of ruins.

00:30:46.779 --> 00:30:47.779
 Wow.

00:30:51.240 --> 00:30:54.480
 God's holy city, a heap of ruins.

00:30:54.639 --> 00:30:57.700
 That's how serious God is.

00:30:58.180 --> 00:31:07.000
 When God's leaders and God's people use his blessings to promote themselves, he will not be mocked.

00:31:08.539 --> 00:31:10.839
 They will eventually be brought to their knees.

00:31:10.839 --> 00:31:18.059
 Great King Nebuchadnezzar learned that and said, he who walks in pride, God is able to humble.

00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:21.539
 Hear God's word.

00:31:21.919 --> 00:31:31.980
 If you persist in self-serving idolatry, no matter who you are or how you feel God is blessing you, his judgment is coming.

00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:37.940
 That's the focus of this passage.

00:31:38.099 --> 00:31:42.059
 It's a warning of God's judgment that we might repent.

00:31:42.900 --> 00:31:45.360
 See how we've broken relationship with him.

00:31:45.480 --> 00:31:47.019
 Turn back to him.

00:31:47.740 --> 00:31:51.920
 That's the call of the prophet Micah.

00:31:51.920 --> 00:32:02.300
 But I will tell you, for idolaters like us, there's a glimmer of hope in the middle of this that's a preview of a lot more hope next week.

00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:05.180
 Listen to the end of chapter 2.

00:32:06.940 --> 00:32:09.500
 I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob.

00:32:09.700 --> 00:32:11.380
 I'll gather the remnant of Israel.

00:32:11.720 --> 00:32:18.360
 I will set them together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in its pasture, a noisy multitude of men.

00:32:18.360 --> 00:32:21.360
 He who opens the breach goes up before them.

00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:24.579
 They break through and pass the gate going out by it.

00:32:24.979 --> 00:32:30.839
 Their king passes on before them, the Lord at their head.

00:32:31.459 --> 00:32:33.719
 Out of nowhere in this chapter.

00:32:34.519 --> 00:32:35.539
 Completely undeserved.

00:32:35.899 --> 00:32:38.559
 Into the darkness of idolatry.

00:32:39.859 --> 00:32:41.639
 The shepherd king.

00:32:43.179 --> 00:32:47.479
 Yahweh himself will gather his people back together.

00:32:47.479 --> 00:32:50.699
 Break through the siege of their enemies.

00:32:50.700 --> 00:32:53.240
 And lead them out victorious.

00:32:53.819 --> 00:32:55.880
 God, again, cares for the outcast.

00:32:56.059 --> 00:32:57.000
 The remnant.

00:32:57.340 --> 00:32:58.860
 Those left turning to God.

00:32:58.960 --> 00:33:00.420
 The poor themselves.

00:33:00.660 --> 00:33:02.180
 And the repentant rich.

00:33:03.100 --> 00:33:05.080
 God cares for the oppressed.

00:33:05.559 --> 00:33:08.140
 As his design in the land shows us already.

00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:12.039
 He is the true king.

00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:12.420
 Right?

00:33:12.420 --> 00:33:14.160
 He gathers us.

00:33:14.160 --> 00:33:14.180
 He gathers us.

00:33:14.600 --> 00:33:15.279
 Feeds us.

00:33:15.580 --> 00:33:19.519
 And leads us together to safety and sufficiency.

00:33:20.060 --> 00:33:23.300
 This is a promise here in these two verses of a leader.

00:33:24.019 --> 00:33:25.259
 Not out for himself.

00:33:25.800 --> 00:33:27.600
 But rather who gives up himself.

00:33:27.600 --> 00:33:35.320
 Who lays down his life to provide so richly, so lavishly for his people.

00:33:36.160 --> 00:33:37.080
 There's our Jesus.

00:33:37.519 --> 00:33:37.740
 Right?

00:33:38.519 --> 00:33:39.420
 We know that.

00:33:40.279 --> 00:33:41.539
 We know that leader.

00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:45.279
 Our hearts are to be satisfied in his leadership.

00:33:45.660 --> 00:33:46.940
 And nothing short of it.

00:33:48.460 --> 00:33:51.519
 And how will we then live when we are that well cared for?

00:33:52.440 --> 00:33:56.519
 How will that change us to have a king who cares for us like this?

00:33:56.779 --> 00:33:59.519
 Will we any longer need to promote or protect ourselves?

00:33:59.519 --> 00:34:09.539
 Will we ever have to worry about sharing so much with the poor that we won't have enough left for ourselves when we have such a generous king?

00:34:10.519 --> 00:34:14.639
 Won't we begin to have our hearts love as he loves?

00:34:14.820 --> 00:34:18.099
 And then have our lives changed to serve the least?

00:34:18.280 --> 00:34:18.699
 Won't we?

00:34:19.460 --> 00:34:20.059
 Oh God.

00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:25.840
 May you be the king that we can't stop following.

00:34:26.900 --> 00:34:27.900
 Let's ask him for that.

00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:31.780
 God, you are that king.

00:34:34.539 --> 00:34:36.900
 We're the ones who like to follow others.

00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:42.820
 It costs to follow you.

00:34:42.820 --> 00:34:53.480
 Sacrificial living is not what many of us wake up dreaming about.

00:34:53.480 --> 00:35:02.059
 So spirit come and change our hearts that we would truly be your people.

00:35:02.760 --> 00:35:03.719
 Not in name only.

00:35:04.340 --> 00:35:05.500
 Not those who play church.

00:35:06.539 --> 00:35:08.340
 Not those who call themselves Christians.

00:35:08.679 --> 00:35:12.940
 But those who have been changed deeply.

00:35:12.940 --> 00:35:16.940
 By your great love and mercy.

00:35:16.940 --> 00:35:17.679
 Your love.

00:35:17.679 --> 00:35:18.700
 Your mercy.

00:35:18.700 --> 00:35:19.740
 Your love.

00:35:20.280 --> 00:35:20.760
 Your mercy.

00:35:21.460 --> 00:35:22.220
 And your grace.

00:35:22.720 --> 00:35:23.579
 Are great.

00:35:23.579 --> 00:35:28.900
 We thank you for them.

00:35:28.900 --> 00:35:30.799
 We rejoice in them.

00:35:30.799 --> 00:35:39.619
 And we ask that by your spirit you would use them in our lives to make us a people after your heart.

00:35:39.619 --> 00:35:45.219
 Who shows your love and kindness to the least of these.

00:35:45.799 --> 00:35:46.859
 In our midst.

00:35:47.259 --> 00:35:47.900
 In our city.

00:35:48.380 --> 00:35:49.119
 In our world.

00:35:51.480 --> 00:35:54.639
 Work in us by your spirit we pray for Jesus' glory.

00:35:55.099 --> 00:35:55.599
 Change us.

00:35:55.759 --> 00:35:56.819
 Make us like him.

00:35:57.699 --> 00:35:58.039
 Amen.

00:35:58.039 --> 00:35:58.159
 Amen.

00:35:59.679 --> 00:36:02.159
 This is a song I've been ripping on in the sermon.

00:36:05.139 --> 00:36:06.179
 Because of Jesus.

00:36:07.519 --> 00:36:10.739
 Because he forgives and calls your heart back to him again.

00:36:11.159 --> 00:36:14.179
 If that is your heart you can sing this with joy.

00:36:15.480 --> 00:36:18.159
 Because of your great savior our king who leads us.

00:36:18.239 --> 00:36:19.279
 Let's stand and sing together.

00:36:19.280 --> 00:36:30.000
 For more information visit us online at southwood.org

00:36:30.380 --> 00:36:33.980
 For more information visit us online at southwood.org