CBA Graduation: What does the Lord require of you? (Micah 6:1-8)

Intro:

Micah “Who is like Yahweh”?

Prophesied about the Assyrian destruction of the N kingdom and the later defeat of the Southern Kingdom by the Babylonians

Some pretty dark days. It only took 25 years for Israel (the northern tribe) to be wipped off the map

Judgement is a major theme, but so is restoration

Outline:

The History: “Remember” (vs. 1-5)

The Question: “With what shall I come before the LORD” (vs. 5-65)

The Answer: “What is good” (vs. 66-73)

Summary:

Prayer:

The History: “Remember” (vs. 1-5)

The Land of Egypt (vs. 4)

Brought you up out of the land of Egypt

Provision- they plundered the Egyptians, manna to eat, water from a rock to drink, their cloths and sandals did not wear out, etc.

Guidance- the cloud of smoke by day, pillar of fire by night, Moses, the 10 commandments, etc.

Protection- from the Egyptian army, the people of the land, wild animals, etc.

Redeemed (“to ransom”) you from the house of slavery- the most important thing we sought to teach you while you were here was your need for a saviour to ransom you from your sin.

if you have not accetped Jesus payment for you sin and asked him to forgive you, what a better time. You will still get your diploma, but at what cost, your soul? It is one thing to have our stamp of approval it is so much more to have God’s stamp of approval.

I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam (leaders, community)

Moses- represented God to Man, Prophet

Aaron- represented man to God, priest

Miriam- proclaimed God among the people through song (Ex. 15:21), prophetess

Balak King of Moab (vs. 5)

Advised Numbers 22-24 the diviner Balaam to curse the Isralites. He tried to prevent the demise of Moab. Balak becomes an OT example of the futility of trying to thwart God’s plan

What Balaam the son of Beor answered him- he blessed the children of Israel instead of cursing them. He made even their enemies to seek their good.

Shittim to Gilgal (vs. 5)

Shittim: a place which was the final encampment of the Israelites before crossing the Jordan into Canaan. Num. 25:1 “While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab.”

Gilgal: the first encampment after the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River (cf. Josh. 4:18–19).

John A. Martin, “Micah,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1488.

That you may know the righteous acts of the LORD

Provision

Guidance

Protection

Gave the Grace over and over again!

They are not perfect in this, their hearts get pulled away from God by unhealthy relationships.

Application/Implications:

Think back over your time here at CBA. Remember the times God provided for you, gave guidance, and protection

This is the final encampment before you cross the road, for some of you to North park, but all of you to the next step in God’s plan for your life. Remember, God wants the best years of your life to be ahead of you, not behind you. Remember what you learned while you were here, but do not allow these to be the only years you learned about Jesus, your sin, God’s fogiveness, salvation, and newness of life in Jesus. because remember, it only took 25 years for the northern tribe of Israel after the time of David to go into exile and be wipped off the map. It would be a tremendous tragedy to meet you in 25 years to hear that Jesus is no longer present in your everyday life.

Allow this diploma tonight to be like the 12 stones from the Jordan, to help you remember God’s provision, guidance, and protection.

Remember, God has given you grace over and over. He will continue when you leave this place.

Transitional phrase: In just a few moments you are going to cross over this stage and recieve your diploma, a reminder or record of the past of where God has brought you. Will your heart be holding to Jesus more firmly than your hand to the paper? The reminder of the past is meant to prick your heart in the present.

The Question: “With what shall I come before the LORD” (vs. 6-7)

Worship (vs. -)- What am I supposed to do now?

With what shall I come before the LORD

and bow myself before God on high?

Realistic (vs. -)

Burnt offerings

with calves a year old- he acknowledges their guilt.

Will the LORD be pleased with

thousands of rams

ten thousands of rivers of oil?

Over and Above (vs. - )

Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression

the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul

God is looking for repentance, for them to change their actions and attitudes.

Application/Implications:

I need to warn you, if you think that you can offer to God your grades, your attendance at CBA or church, your awards that are going to be given out later, or anything else you are mistaken. God wants your heart! He wants you to humble yourself before him and live a life of repentance and change.

When I was your age, I was leading music in my youth group, leading Bible studies at my school, going on missions trips, and preaching. I thought that because of all these things that God loved me more because of what I was “doing for him” when in reality, I was empty inside, I was not enjoying life, I was jealous, envious, and confused.

Students, parents, grandparents, teachers, look at me. Worship starts with the state of your heart and not the gift of your hands. If you are not coming to God with a humble heart that repents over sin it doesn’t matter how many awards are around your neck or the grades in your hand, or the accomplishments of your future..

Transitional phrase: So, what does coming before the Lord mean? What is it that He requires of me if it is not the grades, the awards, and the achievements...

The Answer: “What is good” (v. 8)

He has told you (vs. -)

He has told you

O man

What is good- beneficial, not because you have to, but because you want to

What does the LORD require (vs. -)

And what does the LORD require of you

But to

do justice- be fair in their dealings with others. This has not been the case among the people according to

Micah 2:1-2 “Woe to those who devise wickedness and work evil on their beds! When the morning dawns, they perform it, because it is in the power of their hand. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them away; they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance.”

Micah 3:1-3 “And I said: Hear, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Is it not for you to know justice?— you who hate the good and love the evil, who tear the skin from off my people and their flesh from off their bones, who eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them, and break their bones in pieces and chop them up like meat in a pot, like flesh in a cauldron.”

Micah 6:11 “Shall I acquit the man with wicked scales and with a bag of deceitful weights?”

To love kindness- loyal love, hesed, carry through on their commitments to meet others needs

to walk humbly with your God- fellowship with him in modesty, without arrogance

Application/Implications:

You are at the wonderful stage in life where you are getting more independance. When you move on from CBA you will not “have to” do some of the things you have been doing. You will have more opportunity to do what you want to do. What will that tell you about your heart?

My prayer for you is that you will continue to choose what is good. And even if you don’t, my prayer is that you will repent and turn to the one who is good.

Don’t forget what God has done in your past

Transitional phrase:

Summary

Would everyone please stand as I pray over our graduates.

Discussion questions

Worship- Renew the Mind (Scripture)

1. What passage of Scripture did we look at? Summarize it in your own words.

2. ?

3. ?

4. ?

Grow- Engage the Heart (Conversation)

1. ?

2. ?

3. ?

Serve- Enlist the Body (Action)

?

?

?