WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.419 Good morning. 00:00:06.179 --> 00:00:10.540 My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church, 00:00:10.540 --> 00:00:13.080 and it's my joy to bring God's word to you today. 00:00:13.720 --> 00:00:16.280 Special welcome if you are new or visiting with us. 00:00:16.359 --> 00:00:18.519 We're glad that you're here, and we're glad that you're here, 00:00:18.600 --> 00:00:21.199 not because we are trying to fill seats, 00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:24.560 but because we're following Jesus together as one community, 00:00:24.560 --> 00:00:28.960 and as we follow Jesus together, we've become convinced that there's no one so good 00:00:28.960 --> 00:00:32.640 that they don't need God's grace, and no one so bad that they can't have it, 00:00:32.960 --> 00:00:36.140 which means that God has something to say to everyone in his word, 00:00:36.179 --> 00:00:38.880 and that's why we come back week after week to open up the Bible 00:00:38.880 --> 00:00:41.539 and to hear what God has to say to us. 00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:46.100 We're in the last Sunday of Advent, and as I've been telling you this whole month, 00:00:46.219 --> 00:00:49.540 Advent comes from a Latin word that means to come or arrive, 00:00:49.540 --> 00:00:53.939 and so Advent is simply the time of year when we celebrate the fact that Jesus came. 00:00:54.060 --> 00:00:57.640 He arrived as a man in a manger in this world on this earth. 00:00:57.640 --> 00:00:59.500 And so we do two things. 00:00:59.579 --> 00:01:02.259 We celebrate Jesus' first coming when he came, 00:01:02.620 --> 00:01:05.980 and we also long for and look forward to his second coming, 00:01:06.040 --> 00:01:08.840 the fact that he has not just come once, but he's going to come again. 00:01:09.540 --> 00:01:12.060 He is, as some people say, the once and future king. 00:01:13.760 --> 00:01:18.659 And now we're at the very end of our sampler pack of the book of Micah. 00:01:18.740 --> 00:01:22.219 You remember the book of Micah is a book written in the 8th century B.C., 00:01:22.219 --> 00:01:27.840 and it's filled with the prophecies of a man named Micah who was a prophet to Israel, 00:01:28.560 --> 00:01:32.620 the southern kingdom of Israel, Judah, in the 8th century, in between two times. 00:01:32.680 --> 00:01:37.700 It was after the great kings of Israel, after the times of Saul and David and Solomon, 00:01:38.980 --> 00:01:40.599 but before the exile. 00:01:40.780 --> 00:01:44.700 And so things are not going well for Israel, but they haven't gone into exile quite yet. 00:01:44.960 --> 00:01:46.700 And it's a book about two things. 00:01:46.739 --> 00:01:48.539 It's a book about judgment and salvation. 00:01:48.540 --> 00:01:51.800 We saw that at the beginning, and even in this last section, 00:01:51.900 --> 00:01:53.080 we're at the very end of the book. 00:01:53.140 --> 00:01:55.280 We're going to read the last verse of Micah. 00:01:56.200 --> 00:01:59.260 It's still about both judgment and salvation. 00:02:01.480 --> 00:02:04.560 Now, when I first came to this church, 00:02:05.780 --> 00:02:09.020 I know I've told you before that I'm a podcast guy. 00:02:09.099 --> 00:02:10.200 I listen to a lot of podcasts, 00:02:10.200 --> 00:02:13.980 but there were some podcasts that I was not aware of until you all introduced me to them. 00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:16.259 And soon after I came here, 00:02:16.259 --> 00:02:19.679 a couple members of Cheyenne Mountain told me about the podcast called 00:02:19.679 --> 00:02:20.780 The World and Everything in It, 00:02:21.259 --> 00:02:23.899 which is a news podcast run by World Magazine. 00:02:24.039 --> 00:02:25.599 And World Magazine, if you're familiar with it, 00:02:25.620 --> 00:02:29.359 is a news magazine that comes out twice a month 00:02:29.359 --> 00:02:31.359 that gives the news from a Christian worldview. 00:02:31.539 --> 00:02:33.959 So give a Christian perspective on what's happening in the world. 00:02:34.680 --> 00:02:37.439 I grew up reading the kids version of World Magazine. 00:02:38.500 --> 00:02:41.299 And so it was fun to rediscover it in a podcast form. 00:02:41.300 --> 00:02:43.920 And if you're familiar with this news blip, 00:02:43.960 --> 00:02:45.680 it comes out on Monday through Friday. 00:02:45.719 --> 00:02:47.900 And every Monday, they have a feature called Legal Docket. 00:02:48.980 --> 00:02:51.120 And Legal Docket is a time where they look at 00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:53.520 what are the cases that are coming before the Supreme Court. 00:02:53.960 --> 00:02:56.580 And often, they'll look at a case before it's been decided. 00:02:56.700 --> 00:02:58.660 So they'll say, here's the case that's coming up. 00:02:59.000 --> 00:02:59.960 Here are the two sides. 00:03:00.600 --> 00:03:01.820 Here's the issue at stake. 00:03:01.939 --> 00:03:03.320 And then they might even play some clips 00:03:03.320 --> 00:03:05.820 from different Supreme Court justices talking about it. 00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:06.680 And they'll try to guess. 00:03:07.600 --> 00:03:09.439 They might say, we're not sure how this one's going to go. 00:03:09.439 --> 00:03:12.300 We might say, it's probably going to end in this way 00:03:12.300 --> 00:03:13.539 based on the evidence they have. 00:03:13.560 --> 00:03:14.439 But there will be a gap, right? 00:03:14.460 --> 00:03:15.919 You may have to wait several months 00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:17.740 between the time the case shows up 00:03:17.740 --> 00:03:19.680 and the way that you find out how it's going to end. 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:22.300 This is familiar to me because growing up, 00:03:22.379 --> 00:03:24.219 my dad was also a news junkie. 00:03:24.280 --> 00:03:26.939 And he would read the Supreme Court cases when they came out. 00:03:27.360 --> 00:03:29.360 And then he would discuss them with us at the dinner table. 00:03:29.439 --> 00:03:31.319 He'd say, OK, this is the court case that was decided. 00:03:31.740 --> 00:03:32.759 Here's how it ended up. 00:03:32.819 --> 00:03:34.060 Here's why it ended up that way. 00:03:34.060 --> 00:03:40.539 Anyway, we are finishing up Micah's legal docket. 00:03:41.960 --> 00:03:44.719 If you remember all the way back three weeks ago 00:03:44.719 --> 00:03:46.180 when we looked at Micah chapter 1, 00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:49.060 I began by telling you that God had a court case 00:03:49.060 --> 00:03:50.539 that he was suing his people. 00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:53.699 And he was suing his people for the sins 00:03:53.699 --> 00:03:55.659 that were outlined in chapters 1 through 3. 00:03:56.719 --> 00:03:58.140 Now, we skipped chapter 6. 00:03:58.480 --> 00:04:00.360 But in chapter 6, it's brought up again 00:04:00.360 --> 00:04:01.640 that God is suing his people. 00:04:01.639 --> 00:04:05.139 And so there's a court case that God is bringing against Israel 00:04:05.139 --> 00:04:08.519 because of the ways that they have failed to obey his law. 00:04:09.899 --> 00:04:13.339 And now we get to find out the end of the case. 00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:15.019 We get to see how it's decided. 00:04:16.519 --> 00:04:18.500 And so our question of this passage is simply, 00:04:18.639 --> 00:04:21.279 how does it end when God sues you? 00:04:23.919 --> 00:04:27.899 What is the outcome of God's court case against you? 00:04:28.060 --> 00:04:30.500 That's what Micah is going to tell us in this passage. 00:04:30.500 --> 00:04:33.779 We're in Micah chapter 7, and we're going to start at verse 8. 00:04:33.879 --> 00:04:35.839 You can find this near the end of your worship guide. 00:04:36.579 --> 00:04:38.660 You can find it at the end of Micah in your Bible. 00:04:38.779 --> 00:04:40.139 You can certainly find it on your phone. 00:04:40.860 --> 00:04:42.920 But whatever medium you're using to come to it, 00:04:42.939 --> 00:04:44.339 remember that this is God's word. 00:04:45.660 --> 00:04:48.959 And God tells us that his word is more precious than gold, 00:04:49.579 --> 00:04:50.560 even the finest gold. 00:04:51.579 --> 00:04:52.899 And it is sweeter than honey, 00:04:53.500 --> 00:04:55.939 even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:04:55.939 --> 00:04:59.079 That's why we read it now, starting at verse 8. 00:05:00.600 --> 00:05:02.620 Rejoice not over me, O my enemy. 00:05:03.439 --> 00:05:05.120 When I fall, I shall rise. 00:05:05.899 --> 00:05:09.360 When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. 00:05:10.100 --> 00:05:12.279 I will bear the indignation of the Lord, 00:05:12.339 --> 00:05:14.279 because I have sinned against him 00:05:14.279 --> 00:05:18.779 until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. 00:05:19.480 --> 00:05:21.279 He will bring me out to the light. 00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:24.219 I shall look upon his vindication. 00:05:25.339 --> 00:05:25.799 Verse 10. 00:05:26.759 --> 00:05:28.099 Then my enemy will see, 00:05:28.299 --> 00:05:30.539 and shame will cover her who said to me, 00:05:31.159 --> 00:05:32.739 Where is the Lord your God? 00:05:33.559 --> 00:05:35.359 My eyes will look upon her. 00:05:35.979 --> 00:05:39.019 Now she will be trampled down like the mire of the streets. 00:05:40.059 --> 00:05:40.719 Verse 11. 00:05:41.679 --> 00:05:43.519 A day for the building of your walls. 00:05:44.219 --> 00:05:46.719 In that day the boundary shall be far extended. 00:05:46.720 --> 00:05:49.240 In that day they will come to you 00:05:49.240 --> 00:05:51.240 from Assyria and the cities of Egypt, 00:05:51.600 --> 00:05:53.000 and from Egypt to the river, 00:05:53.480 --> 00:05:54.760 from sea to sea, 00:05:54.900 --> 00:05:56.240 and from mountain to mountain. 00:05:56.980 --> 00:05:58.860 But the earth will be desolate 00:05:58.860 --> 00:06:00.180 because of its inhabitants, 00:06:00.460 --> 00:06:02.120 for the fruit of their deeds. 00:06:03.260 --> 00:06:04.020 Verse 14. 00:06:05.020 --> 00:06:06.780 Shepherd your people with your staff, 00:06:07.220 --> 00:06:08.560 the flock of your inheritance 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:10.420 who dwell alone in a forest, 00:06:11.100 --> 00:06:12.600 in the midst of a garden land. 00:06:13.420 --> 00:06:15.460 Let them graze in Bashan and Gilead 00:06:15.460 --> 00:06:16.560 as in the days of old. 00:06:17.180 --> 00:06:18.800 As in the days when you came out 00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:19.720 of the land of Egypt. 00:06:20.280 --> 00:06:22.160 I will show them marvelous things. 00:06:23.380 --> 00:06:24.140 Verse 16. 00:06:25.100 --> 00:06:26.540 The nations shall see 00:06:26.540 --> 00:06:28.140 and be ashamed of all their might. 00:06:28.780 --> 00:06:30.780 They shall lay their hands on their mouths. 00:06:31.380 --> 00:06:32.860 Their ears shall be deaf. 00:06:33.800 --> 00:06:35.720 They shall lick the dust like a serpent, 00:06:36.260 --> 00:06:37.980 like the crawling things of the earth. 00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:40.300 They shall come trembling 00:06:40.300 --> 00:06:41.780 out of their strongholds. 00:06:42.220 --> 00:06:45.080 They shall turn in dread to the Lord our God, 00:06:45.079 --> 00:06:47.180 and they shall be in fear of you. 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:49.359 Verse 18. 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:51.800 Who is a God like you, 00:06:51.939 --> 00:06:54.500 pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression 00:06:54.500 --> 00:06:56.859 for the remnant of his inheritance? 00:06:57.599 --> 00:07:00.079 He does not retain his anger forever 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:03.019 because he delights in steadfast love. 00:07:03.680 --> 00:07:06.199 He will again have compassion on us. 00:07:06.199 --> 00:07:09.339 He will tread our iniquities underfoot. 00:07:10.079 --> 00:07:13.979 You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. 00:07:14.819 --> 00:07:16.920 You will show faithfulness to Jacob 00:07:16.920 --> 00:07:19.319 and steadfast love to Abraham, 00:07:19.939 --> 00:07:22.180 as you have sworn to our fathers 00:07:22.180 --> 00:07:23.719 from the days of old. 00:07:23.720 --> 00:07:26.980 I invite you to pray with me 00:07:26.980 --> 00:07:28.820 as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:07:31.700 --> 00:07:32.480 Father in heaven, 00:07:32.620 --> 00:07:34.060 we thank you again 00:07:34.060 --> 00:07:36.580 that you speak to us, 00:07:37.140 --> 00:07:38.860 that you haven't left us 00:07:38.860 --> 00:07:41.220 to figure out life on our own. 00:07:42.760 --> 00:07:44.660 And we confess that we don't just need you 00:07:44.660 --> 00:07:45.360 to speak to us, 00:07:45.400 --> 00:07:47.580 but we need your help to understand your words. 00:07:48.540 --> 00:07:49.540 And so we ask simply 00:07:49.540 --> 00:07:51.240 that you would send your Holy Spirit now 00:07:51.240 --> 00:07:52.720 and that you would give us that help, 00:07:53.240 --> 00:07:54.920 that we would be able to see 00:07:54.920 --> 00:07:55.900 and believe 00:07:55.900 --> 00:07:56.980 and understand 00:07:56.980 --> 00:07:58.120 and rejoice 00:07:58.120 --> 00:08:01.420 over everything that you've written for us 00:08:01.420 --> 00:08:02.240 in your word. 00:08:03.240 --> 00:08:04.519 And we ask these things 00:08:04.519 --> 00:08:06.780 not because we deserve them, 00:08:07.160 --> 00:08:09.759 but because Jesus intercedes for us. 00:08:09.800 --> 00:08:11.340 And so we ask them in his mighty name. 00:08:12.199 --> 00:08:12.400 Amen. 00:08:15.639 --> 00:08:18.699 Now you know that if someone sues you, 00:08:19.139 --> 00:08:21.019 there's all kinds of different strategies 00:08:21.019 --> 00:08:22.060 you can pursue, right? 00:08:22.079 --> 00:08:23.419 You can try to settle out of court. 00:08:24.719 --> 00:08:27.539 You can try to maybe have a plea bargain. 00:08:28.579 --> 00:08:31.199 You confess to some of the things 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:32.059 you're accused of 00:08:32.059 --> 00:08:33.620 and maybe other things you're accused of 00:08:33.620 --> 00:08:34.360 get wiped away. 00:08:34.460 --> 00:08:35.740 Maybe you get a lesser punishment. 00:08:36.379 --> 00:08:37.279 Things get changed. 00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:39.519 You can decide whether you want to 00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:41.439 plead innocent or guilty. 00:08:42.500 --> 00:08:43.399 There's actually an option 00:08:43.399 --> 00:08:45.360 that not a lot of people know about 00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:46.240 where you plead neither. 00:08:47.199 --> 00:08:48.759 It's called a nolo contendere. 00:08:48.759 --> 00:08:49.620 I don't contend. 00:08:49.740 --> 00:08:51.840 So I'm not saying I didn't do it, 00:08:52.480 --> 00:08:53.899 but I'm not saying I did do it. 00:08:55.779 --> 00:08:56.179 Regardless, 00:08:56.299 --> 00:08:57.399 there's a lot of different ways 00:08:57.399 --> 00:08:58.600 that you can approach a court case 00:08:58.600 --> 00:08:59.919 and maybe you receive advice 00:08:59.919 --> 00:09:00.659 from your lawyer 00:09:00.659 --> 00:09:02.319 about what it is that you need to do. 00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:06.899 There's only one strategy, though, 00:09:07.019 --> 00:09:08.779 that's going to work 00:09:08.779 --> 00:09:09.639 when God sues you. 00:09:11.899 --> 00:09:13.220 We're asking what happens 00:09:13.220 --> 00:09:15.080 when God brings a case against you 00:09:15.080 --> 00:09:17.860 and there's only one good option 00:09:17.860 --> 00:09:19.639 if you want it to end well. 00:09:20.420 --> 00:09:21.320 And that is this, 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:21.980 to plead guilty. 00:09:23.879 --> 00:09:25.100 That's what we see here 00:09:25.100 --> 00:09:27.000 almost immediately in verse 9. 00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:29.120 Micah tells us, 00:09:29.220 --> 00:09:30.759 I will bear the indignation of the Lord 00:09:30.759 --> 00:09:32.220 because I have sinned against him. 00:09:33.520 --> 00:09:35.960 He's not trying to do a plea bargain. 00:09:36.100 --> 00:09:36.720 He's not saying, 00:09:36.860 --> 00:09:38.160 well, I'm going to admit, 00:09:38.360 --> 00:09:39.920 yes, we were oppressing the poor. 00:09:40.040 --> 00:09:41.320 Let's just focus on that one. 00:09:41.640 --> 00:09:43.540 Let's not focus on the sins of the leaders 00:09:43.540 --> 00:09:45.379 because we have enough of a punishment here. 00:09:46.440 --> 00:09:47.960 Instead, he just admits to all of it. 00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:51.600 He pleads guilty on every charge. 00:09:52.600 --> 00:09:54.180 We see that not just in verse 9, 00:09:54.240 --> 00:09:56.379 but then later in verse 18, 00:09:56.379 --> 00:09:57.400 we have a reference 00:09:57.400 --> 00:09:59.040 to the remnant of his inheritance, 00:09:59.660 --> 00:10:00.740 who is a God like you, 00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:01.640 pardoning iniquity 00:10:01.640 --> 00:10:03.020 and passing over transgression 00:10:03.020 --> 00:10:04.200 for the remnant. 00:10:04.280 --> 00:10:06.020 Now, remnant's a rich word 00:10:06.020 --> 00:10:06.780 in the Old Testament, 00:10:06.940 --> 00:10:08.300 but it's essentially the people 00:10:08.300 --> 00:10:10.020 who remain faithful to God. 00:10:10.019 --> 00:10:11.379 So there are Israelites 00:10:11.379 --> 00:10:12.919 who do not repent. 00:10:14.600 --> 00:10:16.039 They are not part of the remnant. 00:10:16.779 --> 00:10:17.939 They are not part of the portion 00:10:17.939 --> 00:10:19.399 that will return from exile 00:10:19.399 --> 00:10:21.299 and be able to worship God again 00:10:21.299 --> 00:10:22.000 in Jerusalem. 00:10:23.379 --> 00:10:25.500 Now, in the world that we're in, 00:10:25.559 --> 00:10:27.019 we're used to maybe plea bargaining, 00:10:27.159 --> 00:10:28.179 maybe settling out of court. 00:10:29.079 --> 00:10:30.039 God doesn't do that. 00:10:31.639 --> 00:10:33.220 God doesn't do plea bargaining. 00:10:33.220 --> 00:10:36.879 God doesn't settle out of court. 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:41.360 And God doesn't give a lighter sentence. 00:10:43.139 --> 00:10:45.660 Instead, he takes the sentence. 00:10:47.399 --> 00:10:49.399 God doesn't give a lighter sentence. 00:10:50.620 --> 00:10:52.460 Instead, he takes the sentence. 00:10:54.100 --> 00:10:56.360 God doesn't change the punishment. 00:10:56.560 --> 00:10:57.840 The punishment stays the same. 00:10:57.840 --> 00:11:02.139 The one receiving the punishment changes. 00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:05.139 The punishment doesn't change. 00:11:05.920 --> 00:11:08.560 The one receiving the punishment changes. 00:11:09.240 --> 00:11:11.320 We see this in verse 9, 00:11:11.960 --> 00:11:14.379 a shocking answer to what happens 00:11:14.379 --> 00:11:16.040 when God brings a case against us. 00:11:16.740 --> 00:11:18.000 Because on the one hand, 00:11:18.379 --> 00:11:19.500 Micah pleads guilty, right? 00:11:19.560 --> 00:11:20.720 I have sinned against him. 00:11:21.820 --> 00:11:23.379 And there's this next word, until. 00:11:23.379 --> 00:11:26.000 I have sinned against him, 00:11:26.120 --> 00:11:27.700 until he pleads my cause 00:11:27.700 --> 00:11:29.360 and executes judgment for me. 00:11:29.460 --> 00:11:31.000 He will bring me out to the light. 00:11:31.379 --> 00:11:32.899 I shall look upon his vindication. 00:11:33.019 --> 00:11:33.639 In other words, 00:11:33.960 --> 00:11:34.939 this is a court case 00:11:34.939 --> 00:11:35.980 where the prosecutor 00:11:35.980 --> 00:11:37.879 is going to switch sides 00:11:37.879 --> 00:11:38.559 in the courtroom. 00:11:40.360 --> 00:11:41.799 He's going to walk over 00:11:41.799 --> 00:11:43.059 from the prosecution side 00:11:43.059 --> 00:11:44.139 to the defending side. 00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:46.200 And after he's argued 00:11:46.200 --> 00:11:47.419 his case against you, 00:11:47.480 --> 00:11:48.559 he's then going to walk 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:49.320 to the other side 00:11:49.320 --> 00:11:50.240 and defend you. 00:11:51.440 --> 00:11:52.399 That's what happens 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:53.459 when God brings a case 00:11:53.459 --> 00:11:55.559 if you choose the option 00:11:55.559 --> 00:11:56.659 of pleading guilty. 00:11:58.220 --> 00:12:00.039 If you repent before God 00:12:00.039 --> 00:12:00.819 in faith, 00:12:01.379 --> 00:12:03.120 he will switch sides 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:03.659 in the courtroom. 00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:07.539 He will plead your case for you 00:12:07.539 --> 00:12:09.419 rather than arguing against you. 00:12:11.379 --> 00:12:12.360 So what happens 00:12:12.360 --> 00:12:13.740 when God brings a case against you? 00:12:13.860 --> 00:12:14.919 Well, it really depends 00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:16.759 on how you respond. 00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:19.860 If you plead guilty, 00:12:19.860 --> 00:12:22.800 if you confess your sins 00:12:22.800 --> 00:12:23.480 in repentance 00:12:23.480 --> 00:12:25.060 and agree with God 00:12:25.060 --> 00:12:26.659 that without his help, 00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:28.060 you deserve his punishment 00:12:28.060 --> 00:12:28.940 and his wrath, 00:12:30.300 --> 00:12:31.580 God will come to your defense. 00:12:33.639 --> 00:12:35.399 If you do not agree with God 00:12:35.399 --> 00:12:37.340 and you plead innocent, 00:12:38.100 --> 00:12:39.560 he will not come to your defense. 00:12:40.680 --> 00:12:41.759 And so we see 00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:43.340 the other option in verse 10. 00:12:43.340 --> 00:12:45.780 The enemy of God's people 00:12:45.780 --> 00:12:46.440 will see 00:12:46.440 --> 00:12:47.639 and shame will cover her 00:12:47.639 --> 00:12:48.280 who said to me, 00:12:48.680 --> 00:12:49.700 where is the Lord your God? 00:12:49.780 --> 00:12:51.259 My eyes will look upon her. 00:12:51.940 --> 00:12:53.500 Now she will be trampled down 00:12:53.500 --> 00:12:54.879 like the mire of the streets. 00:12:55.160 --> 00:12:55.700 In other words, 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:57.300 the nations that are coming up 00:12:57.300 --> 00:12:58.040 against Israel 00:12:58.040 --> 00:12:59.220 to take them into exile 00:12:59.220 --> 00:13:00.940 because they are not repenting 00:13:00.940 --> 00:13:01.680 before God 00:13:01.680 --> 00:13:02.460 of their sins 00:13:02.460 --> 00:13:03.440 will one day 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:05.500 experience the very judgment 00:13:05.500 --> 00:13:06.879 that God is using them to bring. 00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:11.240 There are two options. 00:13:11.419 --> 00:13:12.399 Plead guilty 00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:14.460 and God will plead for you. 00:13:15.460 --> 00:13:16.259 Plead innocent 00:13:16.259 --> 00:13:18.939 and God will punish you. 00:13:19.659 --> 00:13:21.399 We see this in verse 13 as well. 00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:22.600 The earth will be desolate 00:13:22.600 --> 00:13:24.360 because of the inhabitants 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:26.200 for the fruit of their deeds. 00:13:26.340 --> 00:13:27.679 God is bringing judgment 00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:28.820 to the world. 00:13:29.879 --> 00:13:32.460 But he offers to plead the case 00:13:32.460 --> 00:13:34.799 of those who plead guilty 00:13:34.799 --> 00:13:35.419 before him. 00:13:35.419 --> 00:13:38.039 And so it all depends 00:13:38.039 --> 00:13:39.539 on how you respond. 00:13:41.199 --> 00:13:42.679 Do you agree with God 00:13:42.679 --> 00:13:44.299 and plead guilty 00:13:44.299 --> 00:13:46.860 or do you rebel against him 00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:47.519 and plead innocent? 00:13:49.019 --> 00:13:50.719 It's a very simple equation 00:13:50.719 --> 00:13:51.839 that Micah gives us here. 00:13:52.719 --> 00:13:53.579 And this passage 00:13:53.579 --> 00:13:55.179 is a very simple summary 00:13:55.179 --> 00:13:56.000 of the gospel. 00:13:56.139 --> 00:13:57.199 The readers of this passage, 00:13:57.319 --> 00:13:58.139 the original recipients, 00:13:58.399 --> 00:13:59.819 people living in the 8th century 00:13:59.819 --> 00:14:01.240 listening to Micah 00:14:01.240 --> 00:14:03.039 would have known God's character. 00:14:04.199 --> 00:14:05.240 They would have known 00:14:05.240 --> 00:14:06.060 God's a God, 00:14:06.100 --> 00:14:06.879 as we're going to see later, 00:14:06.940 --> 00:14:08.180 a God of steadfast love. 00:14:08.279 --> 00:14:09.539 He is going to come 00:14:09.539 --> 00:14:10.680 and redeem us 00:14:10.680 --> 00:14:11.539 and plead our case 00:14:11.539 --> 00:14:12.279 after the exile. 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:13.320 They knew his character. 00:14:13.960 --> 00:14:15.580 They did not know his solution. 00:14:16.899 --> 00:14:18.220 They did not know 00:14:18.220 --> 00:14:19.899 how God was going 00:14:19.899 --> 00:14:21.080 to bring justice 00:14:21.080 --> 00:14:22.659 and liberate 00:14:22.659 --> 00:14:24.259 people who were guilty. 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:26.560 They did not know 00:14:26.560 --> 00:14:27.399 how God was going 00:14:27.399 --> 00:14:28.060 to free the guilty. 00:14:28.180 --> 00:14:28.899 They just knew 00:14:28.899 --> 00:14:29.580 that he would. 00:14:29.580 --> 00:14:32.740 Now we, 00:14:34.220 --> 00:14:35.379 27, 28, 00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:36.259 hundred years later, 00:14:36.379 --> 00:14:38.540 know not just God's character 00:14:38.540 --> 00:14:39.980 but God's solution. 00:14:41.259 --> 00:14:42.800 And what we celebrate 00:14:42.800 --> 00:14:43.580 at Christmas, 00:14:43.700 --> 00:14:44.080 at Advent, 00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:46.120 is God's character 00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:47.200 and his solution. 00:14:47.500 --> 00:14:48.740 Christmas is good news. 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:52.300 Christmas is good news 00:14:52.300 --> 00:14:53.220 only for Christians 00:14:53.220 --> 00:14:56.220 and Christmas is only good news 00:14:56.220 --> 00:14:57.160 for Christians 00:14:57.159 --> 00:14:58.879 because Christmas 00:14:58.879 --> 00:14:59.899 is the good news 00:14:59.899 --> 00:15:00.639 of knowing 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:01.620 how it is 00:15:01.620 --> 00:15:02.759 that God will plead 00:15:02.759 --> 00:15:03.959 the case of the guilty. 00:15:05.579 --> 00:15:06.639 He's going to plead 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:07.600 the case of the guilty 00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:09.500 because he sent his son 00:15:09.500 --> 00:15:10.639 to become a man. 00:15:10.779 --> 00:15:11.919 Gospel is a simple message 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:12.639 and it's this. 00:15:13.620 --> 00:15:14.500 God sent his son 00:15:14.500 --> 00:15:15.219 to become a man. 00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:17.579 He sent his son 00:15:17.579 --> 00:15:18.399 to become a man 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:19.299 so that he could die. 00:15:20.699 --> 00:15:21.720 And he died 00:15:21.720 --> 00:15:22.539 so that he could suffer 00:15:22.539 --> 00:15:23.079 the penalty 00:15:23.079 --> 00:15:24.279 for our sins. 00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:25.919 And he suffered 00:15:25.919 --> 00:15:26.459 the penalty 00:15:26.459 --> 00:15:27.379 for our sins 00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:27.899 so that he could 00:15:27.899 --> 00:15:29.299 restore us to God. 00:15:30.319 --> 00:15:31.139 And as we've seen 00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:32.039 the last couple weeks, 00:15:32.100 --> 00:15:32.819 he could restore 00:15:32.819 --> 00:15:33.500 this world. 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:35.220 He's coming 00:15:35.220 --> 00:15:36.220 for his citizens 00:15:36.220 --> 00:15:38.959 and those citizens 00:15:38.959 --> 00:15:39.639 are also part 00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:40.220 of his kingdom. 00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:42.600 God, 00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:43.779 as we saw last week, 00:15:43.799 --> 00:15:44.919 is sending his king. 00:15:46.019 --> 00:15:46.939 And he's sending 00:15:46.939 --> 00:15:47.519 his king 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:48.419 both to come 00:15:48.419 --> 00:15:48.899 and restore 00:15:48.899 --> 00:15:49.919 and to come 00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:50.399 and die. 00:15:50.779 --> 00:15:51.459 And we cannot 00:15:51.459 --> 00:15:53.059 separate those two. 00:15:53.059 --> 00:15:54.399 And so God's solution 00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:56.239 is to give 00:15:56.239 --> 00:15:57.439 forgiveness 00:15:57.439 --> 00:15:58.099 to those 00:15:58.099 --> 00:15:59.099 who have explicit 00:15:59.099 --> 00:16:00.579 faith in Jesus Christ 00:16:00.579 --> 00:16:01.319 who have repented 00:16:01.319 --> 00:16:02.099 of their sins 00:16:02.099 --> 00:16:03.059 and have pled guilty 00:16:03.059 --> 00:16:04.079 to the charge 00:16:04.079 --> 00:16:04.679 against them. 00:16:06.279 --> 00:16:07.519 God will plead 00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:08.379 their case 00:16:08.379 --> 00:16:09.679 because of Jesus. 00:16:12.459 --> 00:16:13.479 I mentioned 00:16:13.479 --> 00:16:14.599 three weeks ago 00:16:14.599 --> 00:16:15.819 that Micah's name 00:16:15.819 --> 00:16:16.959 is also a question. 00:16:18.379 --> 00:16:19.039 Micah's name 00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:19.559 means 00:16:19.559 --> 00:16:20.719 who is like 00:16:20.719 --> 00:16:21.459 Yahweh, 00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:22.939 who is like God. 00:16:24.059 --> 00:16:25.179 And that in some ways 00:16:25.179 --> 00:16:25.919 is the question 00:16:25.919 --> 00:16:26.739 of the book of Micah. 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:27.439 Who is like God? 00:16:27.500 --> 00:16:28.039 That question 00:16:28.039 --> 00:16:29.219 becomes explicit 00:16:29.219 --> 00:16:30.559 in verse 18. 00:16:30.739 --> 00:16:31.599 Who is a God 00:16:31.599 --> 00:16:32.379 like you? 00:16:33.299 --> 00:16:34.459 The answer is this. 00:16:35.259 --> 00:16:35.819 Who's a God 00:16:35.819 --> 00:16:36.399 like Yahweh? 00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:38.019 No one. 00:16:39.459 --> 00:16:40.179 No one 00:16:40.179 --> 00:16:40.739 is a God 00:16:40.739 --> 00:16:41.339 like Yahweh 00:16:41.339 --> 00:16:42.000 and no one 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:42.500 is a God 00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:43.079 like Yahweh 00:16:43.079 --> 00:16:44.019 because God's 00:16:44.019 --> 00:16:44.679 vindication 00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:46.419 means not 00:16:46.419 --> 00:16:46.819 that he will 00:16:46.819 --> 00:16:47.479 bring punishment 00:16:47.479 --> 00:16:48.179 on his people 00:16:48.179 --> 00:16:48.859 but that he will 00:16:48.859 --> 00:16:49.500 do away 00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:50.239 with their sin. 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:52.820 God's vindication 00:16:52.820 --> 00:16:53.659 is different 00:16:53.659 --> 00:16:54.259 from anyone 00:16:54.259 --> 00:16:55.379 else's vindication. 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:57.120 He is different 00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:58.180 from any other 00:16:58.180 --> 00:16:58.779 prosecutor. 00:16:58.960 --> 00:17:00.000 No other prosecutor 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:01.240 would try to lose 00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:01.799 his case. 00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:06.200 But this prosecutor 00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:07.420 comes to argue 00:17:07.420 --> 00:17:08.019 the case 00:17:08.019 --> 00:17:08.700 of his enemy. 00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:10.620 Again, 00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:11.339 verse 9, 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:12.279 he's going to take us 00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:13.259 from darkness. 00:17:14.599 --> 00:17:15.220 Verse 8, 00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:15.819 we're told, 00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:16.819 I sit in darkness. 00:17:17.339 --> 00:17:17.899 Verse 9, 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:18.659 he will bring me 00:17:18.659 --> 00:17:19.399 out to the light. 00:17:20.539 --> 00:17:21.419 God is the one 00:17:21.419 --> 00:17:22.019 who's going to bring 00:17:22.019 --> 00:17:22.500 his people 00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:23.299 from darkness 00:17:23.299 --> 00:17:24.119 into light. 00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:25.039 His vindication 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:26.259 means he's going 00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:26.879 to do away 00:17:26.879 --> 00:17:27.439 with sin. 00:17:28.679 --> 00:17:28.899 Now, 00:17:28.939 --> 00:17:29.339 I'm focusing 00:17:29.339 --> 00:17:30.659 just on a few 00:17:30.659 --> 00:17:31.460 specific parts 00:17:31.460 --> 00:17:32.139 of this passage. 00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:33.039 This is a very long 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:33.859 passage that we read 00:17:33.859 --> 00:17:34.460 that I wanted to give 00:17:34.460 --> 00:17:35.439 you the context for. 00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:36.519 We're not going to go 00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:37.379 through everything in it. 00:17:37.419 --> 00:17:38.019 I'll just quickly 00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:39.299 summarize here 00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:39.740 in verses 00:17:39.740 --> 00:17:41.619 11 through 12, 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:42.539 11 through 13, 00:17:42.659 --> 00:17:43.019 God's going to 00:17:43.019 --> 00:17:43.879 restore Jerusalem. 00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:46.179 And when he restores it, 00:17:46.180 --> 00:17:46.880 it's going to be better 00:17:46.880 --> 00:17:47.900 than it ever was before. 00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:49.600 It's what we've seen 00:17:49.600 --> 00:17:50.720 before in chapters 4 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:51.140 and 5, 00:17:51.220 --> 00:17:52.380 that God is restoring 00:17:52.380 --> 00:17:53.299 not just his people 00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:53.900 but his kingdom. 00:17:55.019 --> 00:17:55.960 And then what we saw 00:17:55.960 --> 00:17:57.060 in chapter 5, 00:17:57.160 --> 00:17:58.120 he is coming to be 00:17:58.120 --> 00:17:58.940 a good shepherd, 00:17:59.100 --> 00:18:01.120 verses 14 through 17. 00:18:02.180 --> 00:18:03.100 He's going to restore 00:18:03.100 --> 00:18:04.220 his people to their kingdom, 00:18:04.360 --> 00:18:04.840 their place, 00:18:04.860 --> 00:18:05.240 and he's going to 00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:06.100 restore them to him. 00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:09.380 And he's going to do 00:18:09.380 --> 00:18:10.120 that vindication. 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:11.220 He's going to bring it, 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:14.880 verses 18 and 19, 00:18:14.880 --> 00:18:17.160 because he delights 00:18:17.160 --> 00:18:18.380 in steadfast love. 00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:21.600 What gets God excited 00:18:21.600 --> 00:18:25.100 is forgiving his people. 00:18:26.420 --> 00:18:28.240 What God delights in 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:29.520 is being faithful 00:18:29.520 --> 00:18:30.340 to his people. 00:18:30.460 --> 00:18:31.580 This is the same word, 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:32.980 the steadfast love word, 00:18:33.140 --> 00:18:33.940 that we saw 00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:34.480 when we looked 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:35.420 at the book of Ruth 00:18:35.420 --> 00:18:36.340 in 2018. 00:18:36.560 --> 00:18:37.060 This is God's 00:18:37.060 --> 00:18:37.780 never stopping, 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:39.120 never giving up, 00:18:39.460 --> 00:18:39.980 unbreaking, 00:18:40.420 --> 00:18:41.580 always and forever love. 00:18:41.579 --> 00:18:44.099 That is what God 00:18:44.099 --> 00:18:44.699 delights in. 00:18:44.819 --> 00:18:45.879 That is what makes 00:18:45.879 --> 00:18:48.480 God come to his people. 00:18:49.939 --> 00:18:50.639 And what does he do 00:18:50.639 --> 00:18:51.279 when he delights 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:52.199 in steadfast love? 00:18:52.299 --> 00:18:53.139 Well, verse 19, 00:18:54.139 --> 00:18:54.740 he will again 00:18:54.740 --> 00:18:56.039 have compassion on us. 00:18:56.859 --> 00:18:57.579 He will tread 00:18:57.579 --> 00:18:58.879 our iniquities underfoot. 00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:00.559 He will cast 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:01.339 all our sins 00:19:01.339 --> 00:19:02.079 into the depths 00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:03.059 of the sea. 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:06.159 When I was growing up, 00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:07.480 we had some friends 00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:08.939 who taught us 00:19:08.939 --> 00:19:10.759 that when you put a can 00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:11.759 in the recycling bin, 00:19:13.339 --> 00:19:14.480 if you want to save space, 00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:15.079 you don't just put 00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:15.640 the can in. 00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:18.359 You need to smash it first. 00:19:19.900 --> 00:19:21.099 And so we would practice 00:19:21.099 --> 00:19:22.059 smashing cans, 00:19:22.119 --> 00:19:22.640 and it's a little bit 00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:23.039 of an art 00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:24.140 because you want to stomp it, 00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:25.680 and you need to stomp it 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:26.319 fast enough 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:27.640 that it just crushes down 00:19:27.640 --> 00:19:28.599 and it's a circle. 00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:30.319 If you do a good job, 00:19:30.359 --> 00:19:31.220 you'll get a perfect circle. 00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:32.460 If you do a bad job, 00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:33.180 it'll just be kind of 00:19:33.180 --> 00:19:34.539 this flat landing strip. 00:19:36.180 --> 00:19:37.400 And so we would practice 00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:38.579 crushing the cans 00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:40.339 before we threw them 00:19:40.339 --> 00:19:41.359 into the recycling bin. 00:19:43.899 --> 00:19:44.799 Micah tells us 00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:45.899 that God doesn't just 00:19:45.899 --> 00:19:46.919 throw away our sins. 00:19:47.399 --> 00:19:49.000 He crushes them first. 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:53.619 God delights so much 00:19:53.619 --> 00:19:54.519 in steadfast love 00:19:54.519 --> 00:19:55.519 that the language here 00:19:55.519 --> 00:19:55.980 that's used 00:19:55.980 --> 00:19:57.619 is of a war against sin. 00:19:59.619 --> 00:20:00.899 God is on the move. 00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:02.299 We saw in chapter one 00:20:02.299 --> 00:20:03.240 that God was coming 00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:04.679 and shaking the mountains 00:20:04.679 --> 00:20:06.259 with his feet 00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:07.179 in judgment. 00:20:07.180 --> 00:20:11.860 And Micah's a great poet 00:20:11.860 --> 00:20:12.759 and so is God. 00:20:12.840 --> 00:20:13.900 And so as he begins 00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:14.620 the book crushing 00:20:14.620 --> 00:20:15.259 the mountains, 00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:17.799 he's going to end the book 00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:18.759 crushing our sins. 00:20:20.120 --> 00:20:21.940 As his feet come in judgment 00:20:21.940 --> 00:20:22.840 in chapter one, 00:20:23.740 --> 00:20:25.740 God's feet are going to come 00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:26.340 in redemption 00:20:26.340 --> 00:20:27.299 in chapter seven. 00:20:28.420 --> 00:20:29.759 The same God 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:31.779 who comes in anger 00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:32.380 and wrath 00:20:32.380 --> 00:20:34.799 is the God 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:35.659 who comes to have 00:20:35.659 --> 00:20:36.819 compassion on us. 00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:39.000 And the same God 00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:39.940 who comes on the top 00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:40.539 of the mountains 00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:43.200 is going to take our sins 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:44.059 and put them in the bottom 00:20:44.059 --> 00:20:44.579 of the sea. 00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:47.659 And so there's a beautiful 00:20:47.659 --> 00:20:48.460 bookend here 00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:49.379 between chapter one 00:20:49.379 --> 00:20:50.200 and chapter seven. 00:20:51.079 --> 00:20:52.139 We heard the beginning 00:20:52.139 --> 00:20:53.119 of God's case 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:55.479 and now we see the end. 00:20:57.059 --> 00:20:58.439 It's not two different gods 00:20:58.439 --> 00:20:59.519 but the same God. 00:21:00.359 --> 00:21:01.559 The God who comes to punish 00:21:01.559 --> 00:21:02.519 is also the God 00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:03.519 who comes to redeem 00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:04.619 and he comes to redeem 00:21:04.619 --> 00:21:05.500 anyone 00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:06.699 and everyone 00:21:06.699 --> 00:21:08.379 who agrees with Micah 00:21:08.379 --> 00:21:10.039 in verse nine. 00:21:10.979 --> 00:21:12.039 I have sinned 00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:12.919 against him. 00:21:14.139 --> 00:21:15.399 That's what God offers 00:21:15.399 --> 00:21:16.139 to everyone 00:21:16.139 --> 00:21:16.959 who has faith 00:21:16.959 --> 00:21:17.659 in Christ 00:21:17.659 --> 00:21:18.379 turning away 00:21:18.379 --> 00:21:19.379 from their sins 00:21:19.379 --> 00:21:20.879 and to Jesus. 00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:25.020 And so as we come 00:21:25.020 --> 00:21:25.540 to Advent 00:21:25.540 --> 00:21:26.300 we can know 00:21:26.300 --> 00:21:26.900 that God 00:21:26.900 --> 00:21:28.340 takes our sins 00:21:28.340 --> 00:21:29.840 and he stomps them 00:21:29.840 --> 00:21:32.140 and then he puts them 00:21:32.140 --> 00:21:33.080 in the bottom of the sea 00:21:33.080 --> 00:21:34.300 where no one can find them. 00:21:37.020 --> 00:21:38.560 Maybe you have repeated 00:21:38.560 --> 00:21:40.120 over and over 00:21:40.120 --> 00:21:41.180 the way that other people 00:21:41.180 --> 00:21:41.880 have sinned 00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:43.560 in an attempt 00:21:43.560 --> 00:21:44.280 to make yourself 00:21:44.280 --> 00:21:44.880 feel better 00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:46.580 in the midst 00:21:46.580 --> 00:21:47.320 of insecurity. 00:21:47.319 --> 00:21:50.960 God takes that sin 00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:52.919 and he treads it 00:21:52.919 --> 00:21:53.599 under his feet 00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:55.639 and he casts it 00:21:55.639 --> 00:21:56.240 into the bottom 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:56.679 of the sea. 00:21:59.220 --> 00:21:59.960 Maybe you're in 00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:01.039 a sexual relationship 00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:01.899 with someone 00:22:01.899 --> 00:22:03.279 that you're not married to 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:03.720 and you thought 00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:04.480 if someone would just 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:05.819 accept me in that way 00:22:05.819 --> 00:22:07.639 and want me in that way 00:22:07.639 --> 00:22:08.659 then maybe I could prove 00:22:08.659 --> 00:22:09.740 that I'm really worthwhile. 00:22:12.099 --> 00:22:13.339 You want to be desired 00:22:13.339 --> 00:22:14.019 and accepted 00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:14.519 and instead 00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:15.639 it left you feeling empty. 00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:19.100 God has stomped 00:22:19.100 --> 00:22:19.720 that sin 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:20.560 under his foot 00:22:20.560 --> 00:22:22.940 and he has cast it 00:22:22.940 --> 00:22:23.460 into the bottom 00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:23.920 of the sea. 00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:27.800 Maybe you realized 00:22:27.800 --> 00:22:28.960 the best that you could do 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:29.820 in school 00:22:29.820 --> 00:22:30.420 were bees 00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:32.920 and you were afraid 00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:33.620 of what your parents 00:22:33.620 --> 00:22:34.080 would think 00:22:34.080 --> 00:22:37.380 and so you began 00:22:37.380 --> 00:22:38.060 bringing things 00:22:38.060 --> 00:22:38.500 with you 00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:39.100 into tests 00:22:39.100 --> 00:22:39.580 that you weren't 00:22:39.580 --> 00:22:40.060 supposed to 00:22:40.060 --> 00:22:40.600 so that you would 00:22:40.600 --> 00:22:41.400 know the answers 00:22:41.400 --> 00:22:41.840 that weren't 00:22:41.840 --> 00:22:42.340 in your head. 00:22:42.339 --> 00:22:46.000 in Christ 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:47.459 God has taken 00:22:47.459 --> 00:22:47.959 that sin 00:22:47.959 --> 00:22:48.579 and stomped it 00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:49.240 under his feet 00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:50.480 and he's cast it 00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:51.059 into the sea. 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.519 Maybe there's a season 00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:55.359 where you couldn't 00:22:55.359 --> 00:22:56.139 fall asleep 00:22:56.139 --> 00:22:58.819 without an addiction. 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:01.419 Maybe it was a 00:23:01.419 --> 00:23:02.079 sexual addiction 00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:02.740 maybe it was 00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:03.379 narcotics 00:23:03.379 --> 00:23:05.539 but that was the only 00:23:05.539 --> 00:23:06.279 way you were able 00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:07.119 to find rest. 00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:10.579 God has tread 00:23:10.579 --> 00:23:11.339 that sin 00:23:11.339 --> 00:23:12.419 under his feet 00:23:12.419 --> 00:23:14.059 and he has cast it 00:23:14.059 --> 00:23:14.839 into the bottom 00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:15.379 of the sea. 00:23:18.479 --> 00:23:19.239 Maybe you're over 00:23:19.239 --> 00:23:20.139 at a friend's house 00:23:20.139 --> 00:23:21.639 and they had that movie 00:23:21.639 --> 00:23:22.299 that your parents 00:23:22.299 --> 00:23:23.139 won't let you watch 00:23:23.139 --> 00:23:24.599 and that you've 00:23:24.599 --> 00:23:25.419 never seen before 00:23:25.419 --> 00:23:27.139 and you told them 00:23:27.139 --> 00:23:27.619 that it was your 00:23:27.619 --> 00:23:28.159 favorite movie 00:23:28.159 --> 00:23:28.739 and you'd seen it 00:23:28.739 --> 00:23:29.319 many times 00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:29.899 and you just wanted 00:23:29.899 --> 00:23:30.279 to see it 00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:30.919 one more time. 00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:34.959 God has taken 00:23:34.959 --> 00:23:35.479 that sin 00:23:35.479 --> 00:23:35.919 and treaded 00:23:35.919 --> 00:23:36.699 under his feet. 00:23:37.819 --> 00:23:39.099 And he has cast it 00:23:39.099 --> 00:23:39.879 into the bottom 00:23:39.879 --> 00:23:40.419 of the sea. 00:23:43.699 --> 00:23:44.599 Maybe your kids 00:23:44.599 --> 00:23:45.519 are grown now 00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:46.519 and you still think 00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:47.219 about the times 00:23:47.219 --> 00:23:47.819 that you yelled 00:23:47.819 --> 00:23:48.299 at them. 00:23:50.359 --> 00:23:51.099 Desperate for them 00:23:51.099 --> 00:23:52.279 to make you look good. 00:23:54.579 --> 00:23:55.539 And now you wish 00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:56.319 you could take it back. 00:23:58.839 --> 00:23:59.739 God has taken 00:23:59.739 --> 00:24:00.319 that sin 00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:01.119 and he has treaded 00:24:01.119 --> 00:24:01.939 under his feet 00:24:01.939 --> 00:24:03.139 and he has cast it 00:24:03.139 --> 00:24:04.299 into the bottom 00:24:04.299 --> 00:24:04.859 of the sea. 00:24:07.119 --> 00:24:08.879 maybe there was 00:24:08.879 --> 00:24:09.279 that night 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:09.719 that you had 00:24:09.719 --> 00:24:10.500 too much to drink 00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:12.879 and you said 00:24:12.879 --> 00:24:13.579 something to someone 00:24:13.579 --> 00:24:14.259 that you love 00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:15.919 that you would 00:24:15.919 --> 00:24:16.579 give anything 00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:17.979 to take back. 00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:20.679 But you can't 00:24:20.679 --> 00:24:21.239 unsay it. 00:24:23.879 --> 00:24:24.779 God has taken 00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:25.339 that sin 00:24:25.339 --> 00:24:26.319 and he has trampled 00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:27.259 it under his feet 00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:29.959 and he has cast it 00:24:29.959 --> 00:24:30.759 into the bottom 00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:31.279 of the sea. 00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:33.899 maybe you did 00:24:33.899 --> 00:24:34.539 something wrong 00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:35.119 and you covered 00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:35.480 it up 00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:35.879 rather than 00:24:35.879 --> 00:24:36.500 fixing it 00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:38.660 and you wish 00:24:38.660 --> 00:24:39.339 you could go back. 00:24:41.879 --> 00:24:42.740 God has taken 00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:43.299 that sin 00:24:43.299 --> 00:24:44.220 and he has smashed 00:24:44.220 --> 00:24:45.139 it under his foot 00:24:45.139 --> 00:24:47.379 and he has cast it 00:24:47.379 --> 00:24:48.139 into the bottom 00:24:48.139 --> 00:24:48.660 of the sea. 00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:50.079 Maybe you felt 00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:50.420 threatened 00:24:50.420 --> 00:24:51.299 by someone else 00:24:51.299 --> 00:24:53.220 and so you started 00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:54.200 gossiping about them 00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:56.319 and you can't 00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:56.660 undo 00:24:56.660 --> 00:24:57.600 the damage 00:24:57.600 --> 00:24:58.259 that's been done. 00:25:00.900 --> 00:25:01.720 God has taken 00:25:01.720 --> 00:25:02.259 that sin 00:25:02.259 --> 00:25:03.019 and he stomped 00:25:03.019 --> 00:25:03.779 it under his feet 00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:05.740 and he's cast it 00:25:05.740 --> 00:25:06.259 into the bottom 00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:06.720 of the sea. 00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:10.019 Maybe you had it 00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:10.559 in your power 00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:11.360 to help someone 00:25:11.360 --> 00:25:11.940 who was hurting 00:25:11.940 --> 00:25:12.640 but you didn't 00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:13.200 because it would 00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:14.000 make you uncomfortable 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:15.799 and you always 00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:16.500 wonder what if. 00:25:18.680 --> 00:25:19.519 God has taken 00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:20.039 that sin 00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:20.799 and he's trampled 00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:21.700 it under his feet 00:25:21.700 --> 00:25:23.360 and he has cast it 00:25:23.360 --> 00:25:23.900 into the bottom 00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:24.400 of the sea. 00:25:26.700 --> 00:25:27.480 Maybe you take 00:25:27.480 --> 00:25:28.120 credit for your 00:25:28.120 --> 00:25:28.640 accomplishments 00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:29.759 and your success 00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:30.420 looking down 00:25:30.420 --> 00:25:31.080 on other people 00:25:31.080 --> 00:25:31.600 who couldn't 00:25:31.600 --> 00:25:32.580 get it together 00:25:32.580 --> 00:25:36.019 and now you realize 00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:36.440 God is the one 00:25:36.440 --> 00:25:36.740 who gave you 00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:37.519 and there's a wake 00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:39.080 of bodies behind you. 00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:42.819 God has taken 00:25:42.819 --> 00:25:43.380 that sin 00:25:43.380 --> 00:25:44.200 and trampled it 00:25:44.200 --> 00:25:44.880 under his feet 00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:46.700 and he has cast it 00:25:46.700 --> 00:25:47.220 into the bottom 00:25:47.220 --> 00:25:47.740 of the sea. 00:25:51.700 --> 00:25:54.180 God came 00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:54.980 at the beginning 00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:56.600 trampling 00:25:56.600 --> 00:25:57.319 on the mountains 00:25:57.319 --> 00:25:59.960 and now he comes 00:25:59.960 --> 00:26:00.580 at the end 00:26:00.580 --> 00:26:01.819 trampling 00:26:01.819 --> 00:26:02.620 on our sins 00:26:02.620 --> 00:26:05.120 and he does it 00:26:05.120 --> 00:26:06.480 because of his son 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:08.460 who came 00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:10.420 not as a conquering 00:26:10.420 --> 00:26:10.779 warrior 00:26:10.779 --> 00:26:13.200 but as a humble 00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:13.580 king 00:26:13.580 --> 00:26:14.420 or in a manger. 00:26:17.360 --> 00:26:18.460 And so how does it 00:26:18.460 --> 00:26:19.340 end when God 00:26:19.340 --> 00:26:20.319 sues you 00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:23.179 for those 00:26:23.179 --> 00:26:23.700 who have faith 00:26:23.700 --> 00:26:24.179 in Christ 00:26:24.179 --> 00:26:24.559 it ends 00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:25.220 in this way. 00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:28.019 You who have 00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:28.740 humbly confessed 00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:29.279 your sins 00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:29.700 and seek 00:26:29.700 --> 00:26:30.059 the mercy 00:26:30.059 --> 00:26:30.559 of God 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:32.279 hear the good 00:26:32.279 --> 00:26:32.559 news 00:26:32.559 --> 00:26:33.039 from Micah 00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:33.720 chapter 7 00:26:33.720 --> 00:26:35.819 who is a God 00:26:35.819 --> 00:26:36.359 like you 00:26:36.359 --> 00:26:37.339 pardoning iniquity 00:26:37.339 --> 00:26:37.899 and passing 00:26:37.899 --> 00:26:38.859 over transgression 00:26:38.859 --> 00:26:39.619 for the remnant 00:26:39.619 --> 00:26:40.439 of his inheritance. 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:42.359 He does not 00:26:42.359 --> 00:26:43.460 retain his anger 00:26:43.460 --> 00:26:43.960 forever 00:26:43.960 --> 00:26:46.059 because he delights 00:26:46.059 --> 00:26:47.099 in steadfast love. 00:26:47.099 --> 00:26:49.139 He will again 00:26:49.139 --> 00:26:49.919 have compassion 00:26:49.919 --> 00:26:50.500 on us. 00:26:51.299 --> 00:26:52.259 He will tread 00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:52.980 our iniquities 00:26:52.980 --> 00:26:53.559 underfoot. 00:26:54.719 --> 00:26:55.579 You will cast 00:26:55.579 --> 00:26:56.699 all our sins 00:26:56.699 --> 00:26:57.699 into the depths 00:26:57.699 --> 00:26:58.279 of the sea. 00:26:59.379 --> 00:27:00.119 You will show 00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:01.000 faithfulness to 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:01.399 Jacob 00:27:01.399 --> 00:27:03.000 and steadfast love 00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:03.559 to Abraham 00:27:03.559 --> 00:27:05.399 as you have sworn 00:27:05.399 --> 00:27:06.279 to our fathers 00:27:06.279 --> 00:27:07.359 from the days 00:27:07.359 --> 00:27:07.759 of old. 00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:10.519 In Jesus Christ 00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:12.259 the Lord 00:27:12.259 --> 00:27:13.759 forgives you 00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:14.859 all of your sins 00:27:14.859 --> 00:27:16.500 and we'll remember 00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:16.859 them 00:27:16.859 --> 00:27:18.179 no more. 00:27:19.719 --> 00:27:20.419 Let's pray. 00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:24.439 Father in heaven 00:27:24.439 --> 00:27:25.719 we praise you 00:27:25.719 --> 00:27:26.259 that you sent 00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:26.740 your son 00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:28.899 so that without 00:27:28.899 --> 00:27:29.740 fear we could 00:27:29.740 --> 00:27:30.699 confess our sin 00:27:30.699 --> 00:27:31.279 to you 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:33.359 knowing that 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:33.839 you are a 00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:34.419 prosecutor 00:27:34.419 --> 00:27:36.639 who will come 00:27:36.639 --> 00:27:37.319 and help us. 00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:38.740 You're a prosecutor 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:39.659 like none other 00:27:39.659 --> 00:27:41.519 and so we ask 00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:41.899 that you would 00:27:41.899 --> 00:27:42.439 help us 00:27:42.439 --> 00:27:43.339 to see that 00:27:43.339 --> 00:27:44.720 to know the 00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:45.359 safety that we 00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:46.079 have to come 00:27:46.079 --> 00:27:46.559 and confess 00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:47.599 our sins to you 00:27:47.599 --> 00:27:49.039 and the forgiveness 00:27:49.039 --> 00:27:49.819 that you offer 00:27:49.819 --> 00:27:50.439 that you don't 00:27:50.439 --> 00:27:50.980 just forgive 00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:51.899 but you trample. 00:27:52.699 --> 00:27:53.599 You trample 00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:54.179 our sins 00:27:54.179 --> 00:27:55.139 under your feet 00:27:55.139 --> 00:27:55.799 because that 00:27:55.799 --> 00:27:56.819 is how strong 00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:58.179 and how powerful 00:27:58.179 --> 00:27:59.720 your steadfast love 00:27:59.720 --> 00:28:00.039 is. 00:28:01.319 --> 00:28:02.279 We ask that you 00:28:02.279 --> 00:28:03.199 would give us 00:28:03.199 --> 00:28:04.099 the knowledge of that 00:28:04.099 --> 00:28:04.779 that would give us 00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:05.179 joy 00:28:05.179 --> 00:28:06.299 that would fill 00:28:06.299 --> 00:28:06.779 our hearts 00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.500 this week 00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:08.659 as we celebrate 00:28:08.659 --> 00:28:09.159 your coming 00:28:09.159 --> 00:28:11.039 and we ask 00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:11.779 these things 00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:13.039 praising you 00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:13.619 that it's in the 00:28:13.619 --> 00:28:14.339 name of Jesus. 00:28:15.059 --> 00:28:15.379 Amen.