What does the Bible say about True Religion ?

Have we lost our ability to function in society the way God? originally intended? He left us here to be a light to our world. People should be able to look our way and see something wonderfully different about us. Not our clothes or our hairstyles... - us! right!

The abundant, Spirit-filled life God has given us should be expressed in godly, obedient, and practical ways to those around us. Or does it?

//Principle - To live the Christian life, is to allow Jesus to live His life in and through us. //

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Old Testament Prophet Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; And what doth the Lord require of thee, But to do justly, and to love mercy, And to walk humbly with thy God? and in

the New Testament reflects the same meaning in James 1: 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

This means there should be something different and Godly in the way do business and treat others. There also should be clear differences.

Introduction: Micah 1-7

Some times called the miniature Isaiah, because of its similarities to that book, whereas Hosea prophesied to the northern tribes of Israel and Isaiah to the court in Jerusalem, Micah, a Judean from Moresheth in the southwest of Palestine, preached to Judah's common people. His name means “who is like Yahweh/God.?” For peasants and villagers, these were days of harassment from the enemy armies, of hardship because of exploitation by the wealthy (2:1-13), and oppression by the rulers (3:1-4) and false prophets (3:5-8). Micah, as did Amos, cried for social justice.

Angered by the abusive treatment of the poor by the rich and influential, Micah turns his rebuking to the people who used their power and position for personal gain.

Micah 6:8 is the central verse of this book. 8  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; And what doth the Lord require of thee, But to do justly, and to love mercy, And to walk humbly with thy God?

Referenced 5 times, the Lord quotes Micah in Matthew 2:6 from Micah 5:2 a ruler or governer of Israel will come from Bethlehem.

The verse referenced the Messiah being born in Bethlehem Ephrathah. There is another Bethlehem up North.

By the 8th century, the old agricultural system in Israel and Judah had fairly been evenly distributed in wealth.

This agricultural system was replaced gradually replaced by a greedy, materialistic, and harsh society that split the people into the haves and the have nots. Rich got richer the poor got poorer.

Trading with Pagan nations which brought in their false religious cults and lower moral standards.

Theme - God insists that His people must reflect His holy character in the way they live if they refuse, judgment is the inevitable result. Yet God will never abandon His covenant people and will send the Messiah to rescue them from their sin and to one day rule over them in righteousness ad truth.

I. The Message of Destruction -

The revelation of the coming judgment, 1:2-16

The coming judgment on Israel 1:2-7

Exposes the sin

Mourning for Israel and Judah 1:8-16

The reasons for the coming judgment. 2:1-13

Woe to the evildoers. 2:1-11

2:7 The false prophets of Micah’s era did not want to hear God’s righteous judgment. They only wanted words of comfort and prosperity. They did not understand that God desires to bless us, not punish us, so even His words of rebuke are correction are good for us.

Proverbs 3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; Neither be weary of his correction:

Proverbs 3:12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Psalms 141:5 Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: And let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, Which shall not break my head: For yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.

II. The Message of Doom -

Doom: The coming judgment 3:1-12

Judgment on leaders, 3:1-4 Wicked Rulers and Prophets

Judgment of False Prophets, 3:9-12

Judgment on Jerusalem, 3:9-12

Deliverance: The coming Kingdom

The glories of the kingdom, 4:1-5 The Lord’s Reign

Micah 4:2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,

And to the house of the God of Jacob; And he will teach us of his ways, And we will walk in his paths:

For the law shall go forth of Zion And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

//Principle - to live the Christian life is to allow Jesus to live His life in and through us. Micah 4:2// //this verse describes a time when both Jews and Gentiles would be invited to come to the Lord and would be taught to obey Him in a new way. Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, That I will make a new covenant With the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: this also foreshadows Micah 4:1

//Principle God does not leave us in the Dark about His nature and will - it's just the opposite, He will move heaven and earth to show us His Will if necessary. //

//Principle Through His Spirit, He enables us to Reflect His Character and accomplishments whatever He calls us to do. We walk in His paths when we allow Jesus to live through us.//

Zions Future Triumph 4:6-13

//Principle v.12 Although the nations gathered against Judah believed they had finally gained the advantage over her (Micah 4:11), they were wrong. They did not realize that the Lord was only allowing this conquest in order to bring her to repentance and redeem her. (v.10) //

//Principle Without a full surrender to God, a person cannot understand His thoughts or counsel. Such a person cannot receive the things of the “Spirit of God” for they are foolish to him, nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14) //

The suffering that proceeds the kingdom, 4:9 -5:1

Deliverance: The coming King

A. His first coming, 5:2

//Principle When Jesus told the Pharisees, Before Abraham was, I AM (John 8:58) He was simply restating what Micah said here, that the Messiah would be the eternal God who would come to earth in the flesh//

5:3 -5 //Micah accurately prophesied the fall of Israel’s capital city of Samaria; Judah’s capital city of Jerusalem; and the dispersion of their peoples throughout the nations. However, as other prophets also testified, a Great Shepherd would arise to reunite them Isaiah 11:12, Isaiah 40:10, Jeremiah 50:4

God fulfilled His promise to bring them back into the land through the Persian King Cyrus (2 Chr 36:22). However, He would truly unite them in peace, spirit, truth, and salvation through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (John 4:1-26) Story at the well v.14 He that drinking will never thirst// Jesus is the good shepherd John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”//

B. His second coming, 5:5-15

III. The Message of Condemnation

A. God’s first indictment, 6:1-5 God pleads with Israel

Key concept; oracles of prophets generally fall into four categories- 1) indictment, telling the people what they are doing wrong, 2) judgment, indicating how God is going to respond to their sin, 3) instructions, identifying what response is appropriate and aftermath, 4) outlining the hope for deliverance and restoration after the judgment.

Chapter 6 Israel on Trial. The mountains are called as judges and while the Lord ( the prosecutor) states His case against Israel ( the defendant ).

B. Israel’s first reply, 6:6-8

// Principle Micah 6:8 To be a good Christian requires more than merely performing religious rituals. Rather, to live the Christian life is to allow Jesus to level His life through us. God wants us to show the world what He is doing inside of us - and that takes humble, merciful, just action - behavior such as Christ would exhibit. //

C. God’s second indictment 6:9-10 Punishment of Israel injustice

D. Israel’s second reply 7:1-13

//Principle Micah 7:7 Whether we like or not, waiting on God is a big part of our walk-in faith. Many people think that waiting is a waste of time, but it’s not. When we truly obey his command to wait, we demonstrate true faith in His ability to accomplish all things at the right time. //

//Principle Micah 7:8 Both Israel and Judah went through some very dark times. However, God’s promise of redemption was a light of hope in a time of great darkness. Likewise, all of us will experience difficulties, but we can remain confident in the midst of them because the dark moments of our lives will last only so long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose in us. //

//Principle Micah 7:18 God was ever under any obligation to forgive our sins or pardon our inquiry. We do not deserve His mercy. But He loves us and so sent His So to doe for our sins. Who, indeed, is like our God?//

//Principle Micah 7:19 When God forgives us in Christ, He does mt merely turn His back on our sins or force Himse; to overlook them. He deals with them radically and once and for all, removing them from us forever. Psalm 103:12 12  As far as the east is from the west, So far hath he removed our transgressions from us.//

Chapter 7:1-10 Israel is a sad state. Compared to vintage grapes with no cluster to eat. Trust in the Lord, all other things cannot be trusted. Sorrow for Israels Sin.

IV. Epilogue: Blessings for Israel. 7:14-20 God will forgive Israel

Chapter 7:11-20 Israel’s future blessings and restores His people as He promised.

Chapter 7:18-20 Micah closes with his prophecy with a song of praise to God. Celebrating His mercy, His forgiveness, His compassion, His faithfulness, and His steadfast love for His people.

Conclusion:

If you will allow me to ask a question - Do we have marriages that should testify to the love of Christ?

Are those outside the church should feel powerfully attracted to the unity and love they see among believers?.

Are we leading others to the Lord by our life and testimony?

Have we exhibited the Spirit-filled characteristics that naturally flow from a true believer in Jesus Christ?

v. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, v.23 Meekness, temperance: against such, there is no law. Gal 5:22-23

Are we giving “all our diligence or effort” in faith to add moral excellence?

v.5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; v.6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; v.7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. v.8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Peter 1:5-8

Are we honoring Him by caring for others?

John 13:35 v.35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another. If not, we need to ask God to teach us how to live so that our lives reflect His love and care at every turn of our lives.

We cannot expect anyone to embrace a Savior they know nothing about.

Yet as the body of Christ, we are His hands and feet. His mouth piece, His representatives, and His fragrance … among those who are saved and among who are perishing 2 Cor 2:15 “For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them, that perish:”

Are we ambassadors for Christ? we have the God-given responsibility to live in such a way that others see Him in us by doing justice, loving-kindness, and walking humbly with our God.

Therefore, set a goal to know Him better and allow Him to love you with His infinite and unconditional love. When you abide in Him - obeying His commands and expressing His Character - others will see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven. Matt 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

We have our answer on what the Bible says about true religion, Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; And what doth the Lord require of thee, But to do justly, and to love mercy, And to walk humbly with thy God?

James 1: 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Now it’s up to you be the light.