They Coming Back

As we continue looking at Micah in chapter 3 the prophet makes a declaration of the Churches come back. It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills;

that the mountain of the house of the LORD

shall be established as the highest of the mountains,

and it shall be lifted up above the hills;

and peoples shall flow to it, 2  and many nations shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,

2  and many nations shall come, and say:

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,

to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways

that he may teach us his ways

and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (). This word is the same word Isaiah said in . There is no secret there has been a great falling away. Less people are going to church these days. Its not just here its happening all over. It use to worry me but I learned to be anxious for nothing! but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. . (). I have put it in the Lords hand.

For out of Zion shall go forth the law,

Its clear that the season will come when they will be coming back to church. Remember Micah as well as Isaiah are speaking to people who are in rebellion. Micah was written at a time when people throughout the earth were worshipping a variety of man-made and hand-made gods (). God was angry that men and women were plotting evil (2:1), angry that men and women were jealous of their neighbours and angry that people were being defrauded of their homes and their inheritances (2:2). Religious leaders and political leaders were not lovers of justice (3:1). Religious and spiritual leaders were open to bribes (3:5); they were quick to prepare to wage war (3:5); and they even thought that what they were doing was done in the name of God (3:11).

To me that all sounds rather familiar! Micah looked out upon a nation which had lost sight of its mission to be a blessing to the rest of the world. Micah looked out upon a nation which was misusing God’s name and declared God’s displeasure and God’s judgment upon such a situation,. He closes chapter 3 saying God will plow Jerusalem now he is saying the time will come when Jerusalem will be established for all to see.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

He said the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest mountains, it shall be lifted up above the hills and the people shall flow to it! The Lord has a way of getting our attention. We got out church last week to learn while we were in church basketball icon Kobe Bryant and his daughter GiGi along with 7 others lost there life. So many people are still walking around asking why. How can you figure this out? When you look at it a man who appeared to be doing everything right. 20 year career in the NBA, 5 championships, multiple MVPs, 18 all star appearances retires at 38 to focus on his family and at 41 dies with his daughter in an helicopter crash. Something he was so familiar with. jumping in a helicopter to avoid the LA traffic. The mind blowing thing is he went to church that morning so you cant say he had left God. Add it all up and it seems he wasn’t the person to leave us yet God allowed him to be taken from us! I believe it woke alot of people. Life is not promised. I believe the time that Micah is sharing about is here. People are going to say

Come let us go to church!

Three things i see. Church will become visible. Not because we will have bigger edifices but because we will be doing bigger ministry. People will say lets go to church when they can identify the church and identify with the church. The church has lost its visiblity. I am sure you are saying i can go on Ashland Ave and see two and three churches in each block. Yet those are locations but is the church really visible? The only way we can be established on the highest hill or become visible to those who could not see us is if we actually be the church. What is the Church? The called out assembly! The body of Christ! The church must be recognized as the entity and place that does what the Lord has established us to do The same thing I said last week. Doing what the Lord designed us to do. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (). Meeting the needs of the community, fighting injustice, turning cities upside down with the truth of God. Our visibility increases when we look like the church and not the world. When this is a place of prayer and a place of instruction. Did you know Jesus was called rabbi. Do you know what rabbi means? Teacher!

speaking of teach that leads me to my second point

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

People will be looking to be taught

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

…that he may teach us his ways. There will be a yearning to learn God’s word. When you have been fed the foolishness of the world and the results have literally destroyed your life and zap your hope, faith and peace you will find that place where can be taught! Did you notice in the Bible the crowds that showed up to hear Jesus teach? He had commands of the scripture.

This word teach means to impart knowledge or to instruct someone in how. People are hungry for the word. They want to know how to live right. How to please God. How to balance life. How to heal, How to get peace. How to avoid pitfalls. How to love and love themselves. There will be a time when folks will get tired of the nonsense and want to be taught. Yes I know Paul said they will have itching ears but its something about the word of God.

For what reason

So we can walk in his ways

How many remember Run DMC?

So I took a big chance at the high school dance With a missy who was ready to play Was it me she was foolin'? 'Cause she knew what she was doin' Told me how to walk this way She told me to

"Walk this way, walk this way Walk this way, walk this way Walk this way, walk this way Walk this way, walk this way"

The struggle today is that people don’t know how to walk his is ways. How to keep his commandments. What does obedience look like? In today’s Sunday school lesson Jesus used the word of God to resist Satan. Jesus said “It is written”. 3 times to the 3 request of Satan. Jesus was the word.

IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. ( ).

The Bible says:, He leads you in the paths of righteousness. The Bible says: His word is a lamp unto our feet and light unto our paths. Its clear that if we gonna walk in his ways we need to know the instruction. 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. ( ). Paul says: "Therefore be followers of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma" ().

We have gone astray. Jeremiah Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. ().

even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. ().

But my people have changed their glory

( ). He leads you in the paths of righteousness. His word is a lamp unto pur feet and light unto our paths. Its clear that if we gonna walk in his ways we need to know the instruction. 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. ( ). Paul says: "Therefore be followers of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma" ().

for that which does not profit.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Micha said for out of Zion shall forth the law Which means teaching. I will make them strong in the LORD, and they shall walk in his name,” declares the LORD. ().

and they shall walk in his name,”

declares the LORD.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

The great thing is there will be a great transformation. When we walk his way we will have peace.

He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore;

and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away;

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,

and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

neither shall they learn war anymore;

4  but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.

and no one shall make them afraid,

for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.

5  For all the peoples walk

each in the name of its god,

but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God

forever and ever.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.