* When a nation sins against God, He punishes.
* Reproach is in their future.
* How do you know a nation has sinned?
* Evil is celebrated in culture.
* Evil is codified into law.
* God puts His people in place to push back against evil.
* The church is the “conscience” of a nation.
* It reminds people the right way to go and warns them of the wrong way.
* The goal of your conscience is to keep you away from bad stuff.
* It assures you when you do good and bothers you when you do bad.
* BACKSTORY - in Micah’s day their nation had done bad things.
* God was going to punish.
* But Micah didn’t want that to happen, so he spoke out.
* Vs 6 (NAS) - their response:
* “….But if they do not speak out concerning these things, reproaches will not be turned back."
Micah 2:6 (12/16/21)
Speak Out
December 16, 2021 • Benham Brothers • Micah 2:6
Micah 2:1-2 (12/21/17)
December 21, 2017 • Benham Brothers
* When the Israelites took the Promised Land God established their boundaries and granted them ownership that would last forever. * He also created laws that governed the transfer. * One of those laws was Jubilee - where the land would revert back to God’s plan every 50 years. * They were also to purchase land within clans and not sell interchangeably. * In Micah’s time, wealthy investors were buying up the land so certain families no longer owned what God wanted them to own. (vs 9) * This made God mad. Why? * Because they were breaking His laws governing land ownership and transfer. * The Biblical definition of fair market is this: * The price a buyer is willing to pay, a seller is willing to sell, “with a clear conscience under God.” * This third component was missing in Micah’s time and it’s still missing today. * God isn’t happy about it.
Micah 2:11 (12/21/17)
December 21, 2017 • Benham Brothers
* I’ve noticed certain “Christian celebrities” will speak out on certain things but not others. * They’ll come out boldly on sexual harassment but say nothing about sexual perversion. * They’ll speak out on income inequality but say nothing about the devastation of welfare. * They spoke out against Trump’s foul and perverted mouth but say nothing about Hillary Clinton’s belief that babies can be ripped apart in the womb or Bill’s predatory behavior. * Why can’t they speak out on “all” issues, not just some? * Because their brand is their boss. * They will speak out on what the boss tells them they can. * If they spoke out on the latter they would be labeled certain things, which would tarnish their brand - and nothing could be worse than that. * It’s time for Christians to suck it up and speak out on the things that truly break God’s heart.
Micah 3:8 (12/20/18)
December 20, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* This verse shows the picture of a true prophet. * He wasn’t out to build his brand, but to declare God’s message whatever the cost. * The Holy Spirit manifested Himself through power, strength, courage in the face of sure persecution. * The Holy Spirit does not shrink back. * It doesn’t operate in fear or selfishness. * You can have the Holy Spirit “in” you but not “on” you. * “In” you means He has revealed Jesus to you. * “On” you means He is working through you to reveal Jesus to others. * It’s like a power drill - it’s powerful but only until it’s plugged in. * We activate the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives by the attitude of our hearts - the attitude of surrender. * When you say, “I surrender all,” the Holy Spirit responds, “Good, now I’ll take over.”