"False Prophets" (Part 2)

Psychology today - Power abuse is an issue that most of us have experienced at some time, whether we acknowledge it publicly or not. Controversy and debate around this subject are constantly gaining ground and interest, especially in the workplace. Abusive people gain and maintain power over their victim with controlling or coercive behavior, and proceed to subject that person to psychological, physical, sexual or financial abuse. As we have seen from the media coverage of high-profile cases, this abuse can go on for years, is often ignored, and may be encouraged by those surrounding the abuser. Not taking action to stop the abuse is a form of abuse itself. Understanding the psychology behind an abuser’s actions can help explain – but not excuse – why the abuse may continue and possibly increase.

Individuals who are abusive or have narcissistic tendencies may have a narcissistic personality disorder, or NPD. Research from the Cleveland Clinic shows that 5% of the population has NPD. Narcissists have a need to make themselves look impressive, crave admiration and power, lack empathy, and often act arrogantly. When narcissistic behavior exists, you can see an increase in power abuse cases.

Victims of abuse are often stressed and confused about their situation. This confusion can block the person’s confidence to report the issue, or they ignore it, thinking it will go away in time. It doesn’t.

Often the channel to address the issue leads to the legal department, but law firms can be a breeding ground for bully protection. Those with money or positions of power often have greater access to lawyers. They can quickly exhaust the victim’s ability to afford legal support, and they know it. The power abusers are often in a position to control the legal outcomes.

As a result, these cases often go unreported, undetected and unchallenged, because the victim feels that the threat of action could be worse than the original form of abuse. This creates a vicious cycle in which the perpetrators feel that getting away with the crime empowers them to continue their abusive behavior.

This is a reality in our world today. The abuse and misuse of those who have power. It is not just in the workplace, but in general culture, government, those with influence, clergy, family, social groups, activity groups, schools, martial arts gyms, enforcement, media, and ministries. Aggressive negotiations, false accusations, setups, stealing, lying, hostile take overs, manipulation, misappropriation, false advertising, deception, and even assault.

For me personally, this is the kind of stuff that really bothers me. When we are taken advantage of by the people we are supposed to trust. They are in positions that require trust, it is part of their job description. They are not supposed to do these things. We depend on them, we need them, we sacrifice for their services, and we have no choice in it. And for some time now, it does not seem like its getting better, its actually getting worse. And is there any way for something to be done. Anyway to put a stop to this. We could revolt? Or just wait on God who promised to put an end to this kind of behavior. Which could be a revolt...

But the problem with this kind of abuse and misuse… is that it causes the victums to fall into sin as well. We can respond in sin… in anger, in hate, in spite, and give up, despair, rebel, and fall into serious unbelief. This is why we see in the scriptures show the judgement of God coming upon the leaders but the people of God as well. No one is innocent. But the people love for it to be this way… just keep preaching on wine and beer… teach us how to live like kings. All the while the world is going to hell in a hand basket. Is there hope for us today. You bet there is. Let’s take a look.

Micah 2:8–9 NLT

Yet to this very hour my people rise against me like an enemy! You steal the shirts right off the backs of those who trusted you, making them as ragged as men returning from battle. You have evicted women from their pleasant homes and forever stripped their children of all that God would give them.

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.

In Israel and Judah

The Suffering Servant

The first thing we will look at is the abuse of power in the time of Micah in Judah and Israel giving even more reasons for judgement to come. Second, even our Lord suffered by the hands of those who have power but it brought the wonderful work of salvation to completion with the words… it is finished.

Thesis: Though sin and the pattern of this world finds the reality of absolute power corrupting absolutely, it is the power of the Holy Spirit and the truth of scripture that will cause us to see the reason for the real, coming, and terrible judgement of the King of kings and the truth of the gospel and how we can be saved.

I. In Israel and Judah

- The abuse of evicting and stripping of the gifts of God.

A. What we see here in verses 8-9 is the continuation of the theme of coveting especially with those who have the power to get what they covet. But what an atrocity it was. You have become like an enemy to people. You robbed people even those who are just passing by. One commentator says that it is the powerless who are the prey of the powerful. But the picture given is even more grotesque. They trusted you… they are like those who have come home from war. They all believed that when they came home, they would be safe. Not so … they are not safe from you… you who they are putting their trust in.

B. Why is this picture so bad? Because it is not the coming Assyrian army to bring violence and pillaging. They are not the real enemy. Your real enemy is your community and those closest to you. How horrible is it, when your real enemy is the person who you are supposed to be able to trust. The person who you rest in. This is a real lamentation.

Psalm 41:9 NLT

Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me.

Psalm 55:12–14 NLT

It is not an enemy who taunts me— I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me— I could have hidden from them. Instead, it is you—my equal, my companion and close friend. What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God.

C. My friends and my family is supposed to be there for me? But here it shows that it was not enough to take their property but it was necessary for them to take the shirt off their back as well… the removal of their dignity. This is especially true during the time where clothing especially robes and cloaks was a badge of honor, glory and their identity. And taking someones cloak was a serious serious thing. How serious?

Exodus 22:26–27 NLT

If you take your neighbor’s cloak as security for a loan, you must return it before sunset. This coat may be the only blanket your neighbor has. How can a person sleep without it? If you do not return it and your neighbor cries out to me for help, then I will hear, for I am merciful.

Deuteronomy 24:10–13 NLT

“If you lend anything to your neighbor, do not enter his house to pick up the item he is giving as security. You must wait outside while he goes in and brings it out to you. If your neighbor is poor and gives you his cloak as security for a loan, do not keep the cloak overnight. Return the cloak to its owner by sunset so he can stay warm through the night and bless you, and the Lord your God will count you as righteous.

D. So can you now imagine what it means if you take it from him and you don;t give it back to him. Matter of fact you stole it from him. You do not intend to give it back. They were so blinded by their greed and coveting they did not realize just how serious what they were doing was. And these were their countrymen, those who they trusted, their home people, and those who were supposed to be their friends.

E. Next … they cheat women out of their wonderful homes. The idea here is that they are probably accused of taking the houses of widows and their children of all that they have left. Being a widow was proverbial for being weak, helpless, and vulnerable. These are the people who needed you the most and you are doing all that you can to take advantage of them because of your never ending coveting. This is picking up on what was said in ...

Micah 2:2 NLT

When you want a piece of land, you find a way to seize it. When you want someone’s house, you take it by fraud and violence. You cheat a man of his property, stealing his family’s inheritance.

F. You are taking from widows which is bad enough, but you obviously do not see that great magnitude of what it is that you are doing. You are also robbing her children of their inheritance. You are taking what was supposed to be passed on to the next generation. You are not just ruining the life of a widow who needs your help, but you are taking what was intended for the life of their children. And moreover… you are robbing God of the glory He is to be given for the gifts that He has given and what He intended for His people. The world is to see how God desires to care for His people and stand in awe and you are robbing God of that. His people is to glorify the Lord for His generosity and enjoy Him for all that He has given. They are robbing Him of the praise from the widows and the orphans who are depending on God. You are robbing not just your neighbor, but widows who so badly need you, orphans who place their trust in you, and robbing God of His glory.

Mark 12:40 NLT

Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be more severely punished.”

G. This is all still happening today. Betrayal by those who are closest to you. When in Hawaii I was privy to a couple of deaths and had to witness the family members fight over the inheritance. To see brothers and sisters aunts and uncles cousins fight over money and say the worst and do the worst to get stuff. I had one family get the inheritance early and immediately put their widowed mother in a cheap nursing home and don’t visit her. A pastor who had a 4 year affair with the worship leaders wife at a church … they were supposed to be best friends. Its not even our leaders… in our culture we do these thing to each other. Even in the church.

H. I remember I was gonna work a job at a large ministy’s prayer center. When they watch them on tv people will call for prayer. I kid you not… part of the job was not just to pray for them, but to try to sell them a book, a tape series, a video series, but why I had to pass on the job… if people had no money, we were supposed to still urge them to reconsider. But I wont have money to pay my bills… thats ok, you cannot afford not to sow a seed by giving to this ministry. Make that sacrifice and God will bless you and you will have more than enough money to pay your bills.

I. I was a part of a couple who got bled dry of their money by a healing ministry who they had to pay to pray for them. Widows that emptied savings to give money to ministries expecting God to bless them. Many people who were told that Jesus was coming back soon sold their houses to give the money to these ministries. People today still gotta protect your grandmothers who many are trying to rob them and take their homes.

J. God came to judge Israel and Judah for doing this to their people do we think that we wont be judged for all that we have been doing. This is a picture of what brought the judgement of God and we got all the same behavior with a God who promises in His word that judgement is coming, judgement is real, and judgement will be terrible.

II. The Suffering Servant

- By His stripes we are healed.

A.