Sin isn’t such a bad word- it simply means, “Separation from God.” We ALL sin- everyday. Thats the point- god wants us to find him, unite, and be fulfilled in his grace- so that he compensates our adversities and inequities, because man cant. verse 1 states that Micah is from Moresheth-Gath, a village located near the border of Israel/Philistia. It would have been considered ‘in the country’ in this time, it was an agricultural area not near any major cities. This puts him in good company with the prophet Amos, who “was a shepherd who took care of sycamore-fig trees.” The echoes of Micah’s effective ministry can be felt throughout the OT and New. He is also mentioned by the prophet Jeremiah as laying the foundations for the spiritual #reforms undertaken by Hezekiah: “Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. He told all the people of Judah, ‘This is what the LORD says: “Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets’” (Jeremiah 26:18). Micah is known for bringing a #message of judgement and *restoration that would spur a *revival in the land of Judah. Among the prophets of the Old Testament, he is perhaps the most vocal in his demands of justice for the poor. He lashes out at greedy judges, who make money from unjust bribes while ignoring true justice and mercy. He starts his book by speaking of the coming judgement of God, and makes clear that this judgement is a response to the transgressions of the people (Micah 1:5). In Micah 6:14:16 we see that the judgment will be harsh, and that it will be unavoidable. Yet the beauty of Micah’s #prophecy is that it #assures us God will not end the story there. In fact, some of the most #powerful #promises of #restoration, #hope, and a #coming #Messiah are spoken by Micah. Justice. Love. Mercy. Humility. The overarching message of Micah is that God is Holy, and as a Holy God we should #seek to act in a way that is becoming His holiness. Because He is holy, here are consequences to sin, yet there is hope for those who turn to Him. In the midst of crooked and depraved leadership, Micah 6:8 gives us a #path to seek holiness.
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Jesus Himself was filled with the #HolySpirit in -order- to carry out His #ministry. [“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim #goodnews to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim #freedom for the prisoners and #recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free”] Jesus said these words to Israelites while they were worshipping In synagogue and -began- his #ministry by telling His friends/family that #gods Spirit “is on Me” for a *specific #purpose; he spent much time speaking of the Holy Spirit and wanted His disciples to #understand its #power. He explained it was “better” for that He leave, because only then the *Holy *Spirit would be *sent to them. The first followers of Jesus were *filled with God’s Spirit to take the #gospel to the #known world. “On Pentecost, they were all together in one place.. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They *saw what seemed to be “tongues of fire” that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were -filled with the Holy Spirit- and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” Before this point in history, the Holy Spirit did not -indwell- every follower of Christ. After Jesus died, ROSE again, and ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit came down and filled every disciple/apostle of Christ as TRUE *witness to spread the gospel to the world. When put #faith in #Christ, the Holy Spirit #reveals himself in unique ways. God’s people get to experience the power of the Holy Spirit as Jesus did- providing #power and strength through #christ. “Yes, I am the #vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing”. “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this #testimony for the churches. I AM the #Root and the Offspring of #David, and the bright Morning Star.’ The *Spirit and the *bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is -thirsty- come; and let the one who wishes take the -free #gift- of the *water of #life” (Rev22:16-17).
https://m.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR2HF6t1DGtYs9mxlMxpita16nMlLXiGpVZxn3QNalBfnrpP4O104pB37xo&v=Vt9K6kmpx44&feature=youtu.be
Everyone is in need of redemption. Our natural condition was characterized by guilt: “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Christ’s redemption has freed us from guilt, being “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).
“Theme in genesis; Noah”
Christ the Deliverer Is the Bridge of Understanding and Peace. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. God offers severity to the fallen but kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness to the fallen- for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will the natural branches, be grafted back into their own tree? I want you to understand this mystery, a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. Jesus is the “the Deliverer” (ton heruomenon) from God's wrath to come. The closest parallel in the NT to this word “Deliverer” is in Rom11:26, Vers26: “And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, ‘The Deliverer (ho heruomenos) will come from Zion [Jerusalem/heavenly Jerusalem], he will banish ungodliness from Jacob.” This Deliverer is Jesus Christ; the one who will save “all Israel,” and his salvation will be from “the wrath to come.” by “banishing ungodliness from the people,” “He will banish ungodliness from Jacob” from all Israel and will forgive their sins: “And this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” Israel will be saved when Jesus Christ, the deliverer, comes from Zion and (1)takes away the ungodliness —that is, the hardening— from Israel and replaces it with faith [if they do not continue in their unbelief , they will be grafted in], and so their sins will be forgiven, they will be grafted into the tree of salvation and promise as one with the Gentiles who believe in Jesus. One Deliverer, Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Messiah of Israel, saves us both through faith alone in his finished work on the cross. The bridge from Christ to Israel is found in the hope that Israel trust their Christ. |
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