How to Bless the World - Micah
Majoring on the Minors
July 9, 2023
20 You will be faithful to Jacob, and show love to Abraham, as you pledged on oath to our ancestors in days long ago. —Micah 7:20
1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” —Genesis 12:1-3
1 In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. 2 Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 3 He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. 4 Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the Lord Almighty has spoken. —Micah 4:1-4
YOU’LL BE A BLESSING TO THE WORLD WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND HOW YOU’VE BEEN BLESSED.
1 Listen to what the Lord says: “Stand up, plead my case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say. 2 “Hear, you mountains, the Lord’s accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. For the Lord has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel. 3 “My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me. 4 I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam. 5 My people, remember what Balak king of Moab plotted and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.” —Micah 6:1-5
1.RECOUNT YOUR BLESSINGS FROM GOD
6 With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7a Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? 7b Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? —Micah 6:6-7a, 7b
2.RESPOND RIGHTLY TO THE BLESSINGS FROM GOD
WRONG WAY - TRY TO PAY GOD OFF
8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. —Micah 6:8
RIGHT WAY - LIVE AS PART OF GOD’S FAMILY
I can have absolute and complete confidence in God and no confidence in myself. —MARTIN LLOYD-JONES
For those who would learn God’s ways, the first thing is humility, the second thing is humility and the third thing is humility. —ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO