Untitled Sermon (11)

Micah a contemporary of the prophet Isaiah,

preached-or-prophesied two hundred years before Jeremiah of Israel’s impending doom -and its restoration ( 4:1-5) and 6:8 --Jeremiah in 26:19 “

Some of what I’d like to share with you this morning hinges on the theory ALREADY AND NOT YET…a view that the kingdom of God has already been inaugurated in the person and ministry of Jesus Christ. This theory then rules out the message of the LORDS prayer in Matthew 6:9-10 Thy kingdom come, they will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Micah a little known preacher with just seven chapters recorded of his ministry preaches a message much like the great Isaiah whose writings are some three books that total 66 chapters. What Micah said in seven chapters Isaiah said in 39 followed by others from that same school of thought which is…the prophesy regarding Jesus the birth place of the Savior -”In Bethlehem of Judea for it is written by the prophet-and you O Bethlehem in the land of Judah far from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people-Israel.”

This ancient script carries with it a history of authenticity or exactness as to the birth narrative found in Matthew and Luke of Jesus Christ. Some question still the validity of such a magnificent birth because of their lack of faith, others like myself and many of you-understand from either personal experience of sheer gut that the prophets or men of this ancient story carried this message of truth deep within their heart til death they did part.

The already not yet theory can be one of more confusion if one does not agree that Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem and that his ministry ever took place. I am on the side of truth…the truth that is told in all the gospels-the truth that bares witness to …healing after afflictions, sight after being blind and LIFE AFTER DEATH.

GLORY IS STILL A LONG WAY OFF FOR ME. EVEN WITH THE GLIMPSE OF HIS LOVE AND KINDNESS…GLORY IS STILL A LONG WAY OFF.

IF JESUS PRAYED THESE WORDS…OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME…THEY KINGDOM COME, THEY WILL BE DONE-ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN…THEN I AM GOING TO ENJOY THE FACT THAT HIS INTENTIONS ARE THAT WE ENJOY THE KINGDOM BUILDING THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN STARTED-WHAT THEN DOES THAT MEAN YOU MIGHT ASK:

DON’T THROW IN THE TOWEL. YOU SEE WHEN YOU’RE LAYING FLAT ON YOUR BACK WITH YOUR MIND TWISTED AND YOUR BODY FULL OF DRUGS-YOU JUST

MAY FORGET WHOSE STILL IN CONTROL....YOU JUST MIGHT FORGET THAT YOU ARE HIS CHILD AND IF HE DIDN’T SAY IT WAS OVER—THEN IT IS NOT OVER.

KINGDOM BUILDING FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE MEANS —DON’T RUSH OUT TO BUY GUADY CHANDELIERS AND VELVET DRAPES—DON’T BRING IN HERE THE PRECIOUS DOVES TO BE CASTRATED OR YOUR LIST OF DO GOODS BECAUSE THE SEASON SPOKE OF JESUS FACING THE DEVIL ON AN EMPTY STOMACH AND PROVED TO BE STEADFAST AND UNMOVABLE-TO HIS GOD AND TO HIS FAITH…NO OUR JOB IS TO REMAIN FAITHFUL AND TRUE TO GOD AND HIS PRECEPTS...

HONOR

SHOW GRATITUDE -LIVE A LIFE THAT IS PLEASING BEFORE HIM.

THESE TWO PROPHETS-MICAH IN SHORT AND ISAIAH WITH HIS LENGTHY STORY-WERE SUCCINCT. TRUE WORSHIP-SHOWN IN CHAPTER 6 IS

THREE THINGS....DO JUSTLY-

DON’T TURN YOUR BACK ON THOSE LESS FORTUNATE, SPEAK TRUTH TO LIES —STAND UP AND FIGHT INJUSTICE

2-LOVE MERCY-SOME I HAVE BEEN TOLD LANDED ON DEATH ROW BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR A MINOR MISDEMEANOR.

I SEE THAT SO MUCH…OUR YOUTH-SMOKE DOPE, SELL DOPE, BARTER THEIR SOULS WITH THE DEVIL -THERE IS NO COMING BACK. THEY ROT AWAY IN SOME CELL -FOR THEIR OWN STUDITY. LOVE MERCY.

3) WALK HUMBLY-I LOOK BACK AT MY UPBRINGING-RAISED BY TWO VERY HUMBLE PARENTS, BUT NOT PERFECT PARENTS— I LAUGH BECAUSE MY MOM USED TO WHIP US WITH A LEATHER BELT. THE THREAT OF THE BELT THOUGH SELDOM USED WAS ALWAYS —OUT THERE. I SAW SOMETHING ON FACE BOOK RECENTLY WHERE THE GRANDMOM WAS GETTING READY TO SPANK THE GRANDS THEY WERE LINED UP AT THE FOOT OF THE BED.

HEADS BOWED READY TO GET THEIR SPANKING-DAD AND MOM PEEKED OUT TO SEE WHAT GRANDMA WAS DOING AND SHE SNATCHED ONE OF THEM AND TOLD THEM BOTH TO GET ON THEIR KNEES WITH THE CHILDREN. NOW I SAW THAT AS FUNNY-BUT REAL—FOR MANY OF THE CHILDREN’S PROBLEMS ARE THE WAY THE PARENTS ARE RAISING THEM TO THINK THE WORLD HAS TO PUT UP WITH THEM AND THEIR DROOPING JEANS EXPOSING ALL THEIR REAR END—THEIR BLOUSES EXPOSING EVERY LITTLE THING THAT SHOULD BE KEPT COVERED AND SACRED…AND A SMART MOUTH THAT NEEDS A BAR OF SOAP TO CLEANSE IT…NO

WALKING HUMBLY MEANS-STAY THE COURSE-WITH YOUR GOD.

IN CLOSING-

I REMEMBER SEEING A SING THAT SAID-MAYBE THIS IS--I LOOKED OVER AT MY FRIEND AND ASKED IS IT ME-DID YOU SEE THAT SIGN WHICH SEEMED INCOMPLETE…MAYBE THIS IS—AND WE BEGAN TO FILL IN THE BLANKS.

MAYBE THIS COULD BE YOU-YOU WHO POINTS THE FINGER AT SOMEONE ELSE’S PROBLEMS-WITHOUT RECOGNIZING YOUR OWN…MAYBE THIS IS -ADD YOU- WHO FAILED TO SEE THE BIG PICTURE-JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, NOT SOME HUMAN BEING ON TELEVISION BEGGING YOU TO SEND MONEY FOR DIRT FROM ISRAEL FOR HEALING…JESUS CHRIST IS LORD.

ALL THE PROPHETS’ MESSAGE TO ISRAEL WAS ALIGNED WITH THEIR LACK OF FAITH…THEIR INABILITY TO SEE THE HANDS OF TIME..THE ONE TO WHOM HAS ALREADY COME AND LEFT THE GOOD NEWS.

ALREADY VERSES NOT YET-WHICH WILL YOU CHOOSE?

ALREADY HAS COMFORTED ME-KNOWING THAT THE DISCIPLES ENJOYED THEIR 3-1/2 YEARS —WITH THE SAVIOUR....ALREADY HAS GIVEN ME PEACE,

PEACE TO SEE THAT IN MY CURRENT SITUATION…HE OFFERS HEALING...

COMPASSION THAT WHEN PEOPLE FAIL ME…WHEN DOCTORS SEEM TO ONLY KNOW PART OF THE PROBLEM…THE LORD HAS THE FULL ANSWER. TRUST IN ME…FOR I AM THAT I AM.

ALREADY VERSES NOT YET---WHICH SHALL YOU CHOOSE.