Don’t Overlook the Small Things

Micah 5:2 ““But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.””

Introduction Illustration – “The Seed That Didn’t Look Like Much”

A gardener once held two things in his hand: a polished stone and a tiny mustard seed. To the untrained eye, the stone looked more valuable—smooth, solid, impressive. The seed looked insignificant, almost forgettable.

But months later, the stone was in the same place he left it—unchanged and lifeless.

The seed, however, had transformed into a plant that grew tall enough to give shade and nourishment.

What looked insignificant was actually full of destiny.

This is how God often works—His greatest moves come through small beginnings.

And this is the message of Micah 5:2.

Micah - very little is known about this prophet. We know that he is a country preacher from a country town. God did not call Micah to become a farmer of crops, but called him to become a Sower of His Word. We don’t know anything about his parents and family, and therefore we can suggest that his family has no societal distinction. Therefore, this let’s us know that the divine call on his life to become a prophet supports the argument that our God calls insignificant people to perform extraordinary things. The humble and insignificant beginnings of Micah makes him the idea advocate for the poor. Commentors have labeled Micah as one of the minor prophets of the bible but Micah is proclaiming a major message. The Book of Micah is only seven chapters long, and the messages that he proclaims are messages of judgement and hope for the people of God. Micah presents his messages with a courtroom and defense attorney terminology. Micah is defending His God. Micah argues that God hates idolatry, injustice, rebellion, and empty worship.

The hope of promise will not come from Jerusalem, but God will send the Messiah from a small town of Bethlehem.

Proposition: God uses small and insignificant places to accomplish His greater purpose.

Micah 5:2 ““But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.””

Point #1 Focus on the small things and recognize God’s Grace

In Joshua 15, when the boundaries for Judah were set, Bethlehem is so insignificant that when Joshua divided the land in Judah, they didn’t even mention the town of Bethlehem out of 115 towns and cities mentioned. Read Joshua 15:20-63.

God uses the weak and overlooked to fulfill His purpose.

Hope is lost for some boy or girl, man or woman during this holiday. This lesson reminds us that our hope was born in a small town of Bethlehem. A town that when it was formed didn’t have enough significance to earn a spot on a map.

Look here at the conjunction “BUT”. This translate to a divine remedy by God. He mentioned in the previous verses how the LORD would destroy His people for disobedience. BUT, the LORD shows grace coming from a small town of Bethlehem. A town that didn’t even make it on a map. If you put the coordinates in the GPS, it would have said unknown.

Covenant of Grace - Why should we focus on grace? Because man failed to obtain the blessings offered in the covenant of works, and God has to establish another way for man to be saved. Therefore, God established a covenant of grace with His people. Grace is unmerited favor (A gift from God). This covenant must begin with faith in God and to continue then we have to be obedient to God. “We must focus on the small things to recognize God’s Grace.

We observe in this passage that grace comes from lowliness. And since the grace of covenant begins with our faith in Jesus, then Jesus teaches us in Matthew 17:20 “So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Application: How we manage the small blessings in life will dictate how we handle big moments and blessings coming our way. Luke 16:10 “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”

Micah 5:2 ““But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.””

Point #2 Focus on the small things and Recognize God Presence

Point: Sometimes we miss the presence of God because we are looking outwardly and not inwardly. 1 Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.””

God sent Samuel to Jesse’s house several hundred years before this passage. 1 Samuel 16:1 “Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.””

There was nothing extraordinary about Jesse. When Samuel went to the house of Jesse, seven sons failed God’s presence test. The scripture said that the LORD didn’t chose any of them.

The LORD’s presence was there but their hearts (inner beings v. 7) were not aligned with what the LORD was looking for. And when our hearts are not aligned with God’s presence, then our focus are on things that promote self and not God.

The seven sons were inside the house, and they were looking good physically. But the ruddy (reddish) and good looking boy was outside tending to His Daddy sheep. The LORD said anoint him, this is the one. (David was working ) Build tension Let me explain

But the eight son passed the test. Let me explain.

The number seven means completion but the number eight means new beginning. David was the new beginning. Look at 1 Samuel 16:13 “Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.” God uses least likely people from least likely places to demonstrate His power.

Is God’s anointing on your life? Are you working?

Are you focused on the small things so that you can recognize God’s Presence?

Micah 5:2 ““But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.””

Point #3 Focus on the small things and Recognize God Purpose

Jesus stepped out of eternity into humanity

This is why He is Alpha and Omega. The Beginning and the End

Jesus demonstrated the greatest act of humility in history. (When He took the body of a sinful man and came down here on earth)

John 1:1–5 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shined in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” This is God’s Purpose!!!

Bethlehem was a small town that wasn’t even on the map, but produced two of the Greatest Kings in the history of humanity. King David and King Jesus.

“Don’t ever limit your thinking or change your focus to your circumstances.”

Your circumstances will never become bigger than your God. (When David was facing Goliath, he focused on using the five small stones that he had and defeated his giant.)

Focus on the small things and Recognize God’s Purpose

Where you start in life or where you are in life right now does not disqualify you from God’s Purpose, it position you right where God wants you to be?

Closing

We can’t talk about

Bethlehem without mentioning Calvary.

We focus on the small nails in His hand but it was His Love that kept Him on the cross

It was God’s love that sent Jesus, his beloved son, into the world, and it was love that kept Jesus on the cross until His mission was done.

Jesus didn’t know sin, but He had to become sin to save a wretch like you and I.

Bethlehem wasn’t even on the map but Jesus said that He is the way, truth and the life.

Birth without talking about His death

When He was born they wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, but when He rose, He left those grave clothes behind.

He was born in a manger, but when He went away He has prepared a mansion for you and I.

When the Messiah was born, there were a cloud of questions about who He was, but one day He ascended on a Cloud up to heaven so that all could see who He was

I am focused on the small things today. Matthew 25:21 “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”

1.

Oh, come, all ye faithful,

Joyful and triumphant!

Oh, come ye, oh come ye to Bethlehem.

Come and behold him,

Born the King of angels;

Oh, come, let us adore him;

Oh, come, let us adore him;

Oh, come, let us adore him,

Christ, the Lord.

2.

Sing, choirs of angels,

Sing in exultation;

Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above!

Glory to God,Glory in the highest;

Oh, come, let us adore him;

Oh, come, let us adore him;

Oh, come, let us adore him,

Christ, the Lord.

3.

Yea, Lord, we greet thee,

Born this happy morning;

Jesus, to thee be all glory giv’n.

Son of the Father,

Now in flesh appearing;

Oh, come, let us adore him;

Oh, come, let us adore him;

Oh, come, let us adore him,

Christ, the Lord.

Advent literally means “arrival” or “coming,” referring to Jesus Christ’s coming to earth to provide salvation. It is a season leading up to Christmas, observed by Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, Methodists, and increasingly by evangelical churches. The Advent season spans four Sundays, beginning on the fourth Sunday before Christmas (or nearest to November 30) and ending on Christmas Eve. The celebration commemorates Christ’s first coming while simultaneously anticipating His second coming, mirroring how Israel once longed for the Messiah and how Christians now await Christ’s return. During this time, many churches focus on prayer, penitence, and preparing their hearts for Christmas and Christ’s eventual return and judgment.