Micah 2:1-11 – “The Why of God’s Judgment”

My Bible study notes for Wednesday night, June 7th. Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided as an outline each week for our Tabernacle Church family. You can find Sermon Notes, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer List, and other resources at our Church Website.

Micah 2:1-11

The hearts of the people – vv. 1-5

God had given them their land. It was theirs as long as they trusted in and followed after Him.

  • Greed. Lack of contentment. Materialism. Covetousness.
  • He leased it to them
  • Sabbatical year. Year of Jubilee.
  • Leviticus 25:2;25,28
  • Privilege brings responsibility and responsibility brings accountability. (Warren Wiersbe)

The wealthy wanted more wealth

  • More prosperity over more holiness
  • Finding our joy and contentment in our current walk with God
  • Matthew 6:33

God will take them from His land and give it to someone else.

  • IT IS HIS
  • ALL OF CREATION IS HIS
  • Colossians 1:15-20

The worship of the people– vv. 6-11

False worship

  • The message of the false prophets
  • Should be in Spirit and truth. John 4:23
  • Reverence and Godly fear. Hebrews 12:28

False Reception

  • The people were rejecting the Word of God from true prophets
  • They would not hear the truth.
  • Do not hear, because you are not of God. John 8:47

False Assurance

  • If the message is wrong
  • The reception is wrong
  • Our TRUE RELATIONSHIP with God will be wrong

God gave them the land so they could enter REST. But, they turned their back on God. Therefore, judgment is coming.

  • Land taken
  • People defiled (Mixed with the world)
  • Deuteronomy 12:8-12. Joshua 22:4-6

Luke 6:46-49 – “Hear, Obey, and Live”

My sermon notes for Sunday morning, June 4th.  Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided as an outline each week for our Tabernacle Church family. The church provides a live stream of the service each Sunday at 10:30 on Facebook. We also provide the services through YouTube by Sunday afternoon.  You can find Sermon Notes, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer List, and other resources at our Church Website.

Luke 6:46–49

INTRO

  • Jesus brings to conclusion the Sermon.
  • Notice the ending… HEAR, GO, DO and LIVE/STAND
    • Withstand the storm. Finish Well
  • A true disciple builds their life on the Lordship of Christ.
    • Faithfulness and obedience to the Lord
  • A true disciple withstands the storms of life
  • A true disciple finishes well.

The Lord’s Question – v.46

Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do what I tell you?

James 1:22–25

Pretty cut and dry

  • DO NOT DO WHAT I TELL YOU
  • Saving Faith is Obeying Faith

John 14:15

John 14:23

John 15:10

1 John 5:3

The True Disciple – vv. 47-48

Come to Him, Hears His Words, and Does them

  • Hear, Believe, Trust, Obey
  • I believe it talks all 4. Because, if you truly believe who Jesus is then you will naturally follow Him.
  • Coming and Hearings is not the most important… but going and doing.

HE IS LIKE

  • Building a house
  • Dug deep onto the foundation
  • Dedication, Discipline, Devotion

The man Jesus described in his parable “dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock” (Luke 6:48). Building his house cost him something. Living the Christian life costs us something too. It takes discipline to work at understanding the Scriptures. It takes patience to persevere in prayer. It takes courage to put sinful desires to death. It takes dedication to grow in new areas of obedience. It takes sacrifice to serve others instead of ourselves. Above all, it takes faith to trust in Jesus Christ and not hold anything back.

Philip Graham Ryken, Luke, ed. Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani, vol. 1, Reformed Expository Commentary (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2009), 300.

When floods come

  • The storms of life come
  • Our faith stands strong

The False Disciple – v. 49

Hears and does not

  • A life unchanged
  • A life that is no different than the world
  • A moral life is not necessarily a converted life

Doing what they want to do

  • Based on thier experience, rather that God’s Word
  • Feelings over truth
  • As long as if fits their agenda
  • Jesus on THEIR TERMS.
  • No commitment to the things of the Lord

Built on no foundation

  • Quick. Easy. Convenient

They fall immediately when the storms come

  • No faith. No foundation. No hope

Micah 1:6-16

My Bible study notes for Wednesday night, May 31st. Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided as an outline each week for our Tabernacle Church family. You can find Sermon Notes, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer List, and other resources at our Church Website.

INTRO

  • Judgment is coming
  • The Cities will be judged
  • The judgment is deserving
  • Idolatry is the deep-rooted issue

The Destruction of Judah and Israel (1:1–16)

A.   The Judge (1:1–4): Using fearful, poetic language, Micah describes an angry God coming from his Temple in judgment.

B.   The judged (1:5–16)

1.    Samaria (1:5–8)

2.    Judah (1:9–16)

H. L. Willmington, The Outline Bible (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1999), Mic 1:1–3:11.

Samaria – vv. 6-8

Therefore

Destruction of the city – vv. 6-7

  • Heap in the open county
  • Planting vineyards (where the city once was)
  • Pour down her stones
  • Uncover foundations
  • Images beaten to pieces
  • Wages burned
  • Idols laid waste
  • Prostitution (a picture of unfaithfulness and idolatry)

Micah laments, wails, stripped and naked – v. 8

  • Grieving over what has taken place.
  • Because her wounds are incurable
  • Spreading (cannot stop)

Judah -vv. 9-16

  • The sin has spread to Judah
  • The gates of Jerusalem

The progression and impact – vv. 10-15

  • Word play with the cities
  • Meaning in Hebrew

1:10–15 The towns are each apparently chosen for their ominous sounding names, which are linked in some way to the coming judgment. The list begins with a notorious statement sounding the note of Judah’s defeat. “Tell it not in Gath” were the same words David used to memorialize forever the deaths of Saul and Jonathan on Mount Gilboa, as well as the fall of Israel itself (2 Sam. 1:20). Micah now uses these same ominous words to introduce a list of cities that were to become the targets of God’s judgment.

The list is full of wordplays in Hebrew that often underscore the ominous nature of what is to happen. The people of Beth-le-aphrah are told to roll in the dust, as the name of their town means “house of dust.” Rolling in the dust was a sign of lament, as the act indicated terrific grief, enacted symbolically as a type of death by returning to the dust (cf. Gen. 2:7; 3:19; Josh. 7:6; Job 2:8). Similarly, the name Shaphir (Mic. 1:11a) means “brilliance” or “beauty,” but its inhabitants are told to leave in “nakedness and shame,” suggesting the way in which prisoners of war were escorted from captured villages. Zaanan (v. 11b) means “exit” and was probably situated so as to provide an exit from the southwestern hills of Judah to the coastal plain and vice versa. For Micah, though, the people of Zaanan will not be able to exit in the impending judgment. Beth-ezel (v. 11c) suggests a nearby town (that is therefore able to help), but it will not be able to provide any support (“standing place”), for it will be in mourning.

Maroth’s name (1:12a) means “bitterness,” and, true to its name, its plight is most bitter as it awaits help that will never come. Jerusalem, the City of Peace, will experience disaster (v. 12b). Lachish is known as the place where sin began in the nation, and this is probably due to its being a strong military fortress, in which its people trusted power rather than God (v. 13). Lachish had trusted in harnessing its horses to chariots, its military power; now Lachish (lakish) is told to “harness the steeds [rekesh] to the chariots” for a battle it will not win. Moresheth-gath (1:14a), Micah’s hometown, suggests with its name the place of “possession,” but it will be given new “possessions” as it heads into exile—most likely ropes and chains. Achzib sounds like the word meaning “lie,” and any help it might give to the royal house will prove an illusion. Mareshah sounds like the word for “conqueror,” but it will prove to be the conquered, not the conqueror. Finally, the last city noted, Adullam (v. 15b), though not a wordplay, is a reminder of where David hid from Saul in caves when he was being pursued (1 Samuel 22). It is now mentioned as a place where the nobility of the nation, the glory of Israel, i.e., the royal house, will seek to hide from the coming judgment.

Stephen G. Dempster, “Micah,” in Daniel–Malachi, ed. Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar, vol. VII, ESV Expository Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018), 443–444.

A picture of great mourning – v. 16

  • Shaved head
  • Mourning and agony over the death of a loved one

Luke 6:43-45 – “Good fruit or bad fruit”

My sermon notes for Sunday morning, May 28th.  Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided as an outline each week for our Tabernacle Church family. The church provides a live stream of the service each Sunday at 10:30 on Facebook. We also provide the services through YouTube by Sunday afternoon.  You can find Sermon Notes, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer List, and other resources at our Church Website.

Luke 6:43–45

INTRO

  • Not judging, yet we are to call fruit what it is.
  • We know from Matthew 7:15-20 that Jesus was addressing false prophets.  Here it is not mentioned, but it still holds true.
    • 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
  • A false prophet is not who they say they are…. THEY HAVE BAD FRUIT.
  • Judging is based on our heart being critical and bitter… not seeking the best for others.
  • HERE… Jesus says we WILL BE KNOWN BY OUR FRUIT.
  • Our fruit is our character.
  • Our heart indicates the fruit.
  • Our hear indicates our character/who we really are
    • Character is our CONDUCT and CONVERSATION
    • Matthew 3:4-7 – John the Baptist
    • Matthew 15:18

The seriousness of the situation

No good bears bad. Nor bad bears good

  • A born-again person has accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
  • IF… THEN
  • IT is not just believing that there is a Jesus… It is someone that has entered into a personal relationship with Jesus (THIS WHY IT IS CALLED THE GOOD NEWS)

The need for evaluation

Our self and those we have concern for.

2 Corinthians 13:5

James 1:23–25

1 John 1:5–10

Does no fruit mean no Spirit? Remember, we are not judging… we are just showing discernment (This is evangelism and discipleship).

A Spirit filled believer has:

  • Repented of Sin
  • Daily taking up the cross…Following after Christ (Love Him, Listen to Him, Live for Him)
  • Living a holy life. Life of bearing fruit.

The impact of a changed heart

Jeremiah 31:33

John 3:5

Titus 3:4–7

2 Corinthians 5:17

When our heart gets right, then our life will be right.

We cannot FIX the circumstances of our life.

We may be able to address the bad habits of our life.

We can never produce God honoring fruit until our heart is changed.

ONLY JESUS CAN CHANGE THE HEART.

Luke 6:37-42 “Judging Others”

My sermon notes for Sunday morning, May 21st.  Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided as an outline each week for our Tabernacle Church family. The church provides a live stream of the service each Sunday at 10:30 on Facebook. We also provide the services through YouTube by Sunday afternoon.  You can find Sermon Notes, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer List, and other resources at our Church Website.

Luke 6:37-42

INTRO

  • Wrong way – Critical of others. Finding fault. Harsh.  Acting like the judge, jury, and executioner.
  • Right way – Discerning the choices of other people. Do their “fruits” align with Scripture?
  • The Word of God is the test. The Bible
  • Those without Christ are going to act like those that are without Christ. They do what they do because they have not been BORN AGAIN. So therefore, we cannot expect them to live like a FOLLOWER OF CHRIST. AS SOMEONE THAT CLAIMS THEY ARE IN A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. John 14:6
  • We ARE to be sensitive to the spiritual condition of other believers. Those that are under the accountability of the household of faith.
    • 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 – Sexual immorality in the church.
    • 1 Timothy 5:20 – Those who persist in sin.
    • James 5:19-20 – Bring back those who wander James 2:14-15
  • Remember, we are not FIXING… WE ARE RESTORING. Our desire should be to HELP others. Galatians 6:1-2

We reap what we sow – vv. 37-38

  • Judge not… you will not
  • Forgive… and you will be
  • Give… and it will be

Matthew 18:21-35 – Parable of unforgiving servant.

As we seek the well-being of others… GOD WILL BLESS US!!!!

  • Good measure – not meagerly
  • Pressed down – filling all the space
  • Shaken together – settled and completely full
  • Running over – more than expected.

Who we follow impacts who follows us – vv. 39-40

  • Can a blind man lead a blind man? The blind leading the blind.
  • A lesson on followship. (Discernment is crucial)
  • Fully trained will be like His teacher.
  • Jesus was the perfect example of proper judgment, forgiving, and giving.
  • What type of example are we giving for others to follow.
  • As a pastor, do my messages match my example? As a church, where are we leading people?
  • How readily will someone follow the example of an obedient life?  Think of the impact.

I need to focus on me first – vv. 41-42

  • I need to focus on me before I focus on others.
  • We should be willing to look within our own heart
  • Word, Prayer…with the intent to discover.

The What Now

  • We should be able to look into the life of others within the sphere of influence. (Family, Church)
  • Yet, the goal should be their joy in living faithfully for Christ. Their restoration of fellowship is the issue.
  • Be slow to judge, yet quick to show compassion, kindness and mercy.
  • Check YOUR heart often!
  • Be bold (Fear God and not Man Galatians 1:10), Care enough to speak THE TRUTH IN LOVE Ephesians 4:11-16, Live out the Fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23

Micah 1:2-5 – “God the Righteous Judge”

My Bible study notes for Wednesday night, May 17th. Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided as an outline each week for our Tabernacle Church family. You can find Sermon Notes, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer List, and other resources at our Church Website.

Micah 1:2-5

  • Outline:
    • 1:2-2:13 – The judgment of the people
    • 1:2-5 – God announces His judgment
  • Courtroom setting.
  • God is passing judgment

God is the righteous judge – v. 2

  • To all of God’s people. Pay attention
    • All are accountable
    • LORD OF ALL
  • Lord God be a witness
    • Both judge and witness
  • From His holy temple
    • His holiness
    • He must judge (just God)

The earth is His courtroom – vv. 3-4

  • The Lord comes out (as out to war)
    • Courtroom setting (all stand)
  • Justice will be served
  • High places
    • Military and religious places
    • The things they put their hope in

The defendants are named – v. 5

  • Israel and Judah
  • Capital cites of Samaria and Jerusalem
  • Transgression and High places
  • Their rebellion against God
  • 1 Kings 14:15-16; 16:30-33
  • So goes the capital cities, so goes the land
  • LEADERSHIP IS CRUCIAL

Luke 6:27-36 – “Love Like Jesus”

My sermon notes for Sunday morning, May 14th.  Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided as an outline each week for our Tabernacle Church family. The church provides a live stream of the service each Sunday at 10:30 on Facebook. We also provide the services through YouTube by Sunday afternoon.  You can find Sermon Notes, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer List, and other resources at our Church Website.

Luke 6:27-36

INTRO

  • Jesus has called 12 and sent them out as ambassadors.  He is encouraging and equipping them with the TRUTH FOR MISSION.
    • There will be either BLESSINGS OR WOES
  • Now he begins to lay it out in specifics.
  • YOU ARE GOING OUT INTO THE WORLD AND IT IS GOING TO BE HARD….BUT LISTEN AND LEARN.
  • First….Love your enemies!
  • How hard is this?  LOVE YOUR ENEMIES
  • Love – Agape
  • A selfless and sacrificial love

Who are we to love – vv. 27-28

  • Love your enemies
  • Do good to those that hate you
  • Bless those who curse you
  • Pray for those who abuse you

How are we to love – vv. 29-30

  • In word and deed. Love is doing
  • We are not to be passive… the focus is concern for them.
  • We should not become angry and retaliate in angry revenge.
  • Jesus prayed for His enemies and died for them.
  • The focus is OUR HEART.  THE HEART OF HOW WE RESPOND to others.
  • Luke 23:34 – “Father forgive them”

Why are we to love – vv. 31-35

Because we would want to be treated the same way – v. 31

  • Golden rule

It is a confirmation of our salvation – vv. 32-34

  • If a sinner can treat others well
  • How much more should believers respond

We will be rewarded vv. 35-36

  • Doing what we need to do, how we need to do it, and when we need to do it.
  • God will bless/reward us when we love Him and obey Him (Live for and follow after Him)
  • His presence and His peace

The reward in view here is not the eternal, heavenly reward mentioned in 6:23, but one in the world of men. When Christians love with the unconditional, supernatural love God puts in their hearts (Rom. 5:5), sinners will be astounded. This is a love that is foreign to their experience, and shows that those who manifest it are sons of the Most High (a name used fifty times of God that emphasizes His sovereignty). It validates the gospel’s claim to have the power to supernaturally transform those who believe it.

John MacArthur, Luke 6–10, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2011), 108.

The reason WE CAN LOVE – vv. 36

  • We were undeserving, yet we have been redeemed because of God’s grace and mercy.
  • He is merciful – therefore we have the means to be merciful
  • We received, so we should also demonstrate.
  • WE CAN, because we have CHRIST IN US

WHAT NOW

  • It is easy for me to love those that love me, but I must continue to learn to love those that do not love me.
  • I cannot change their heart, but I can work on my heart.
  • I received God’s mercy; therefore I should also learn to extend mercy.
  • Ephesians 5:1-2 Imitate HIM

Micah – An Introduction

My Bible study notes for Wednesday night, May 10th. Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided as an outline each week for our Tabernacle Church family. You can find Sermon Notes, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer List, and other resources at our Church Website.

Micah 1:1

An Overview:

Chapters 1-3 – The coming judgement

Chapters 4-5 – The restoration to follow

Chapters 6-7 – The plea for repentance

Time of Ministry: 735-710 B.C.

In the days of:

  • Jotham (739-731 B.C.)
  • Ahaz (731-715 B.C.)
  • Hezekiah (715-686 B.C.)
    • Before his reforms

Setting:

Deals primarily with Judah, but does address the northern kingdoms fall in 722 B.C.

  • Economic prosperity
  • Spiritual decline

Contemporary of Hosea in the northern kingdom and of Isaiah in the court of Jerusalem.

Themes:

Judgment and Forgiveness

  • God will judge disobedience/sinners
  • God will keep his covenant promises (their will be a remnant)
  • Blessings on those that will repent

The Lord, the Judge who scatters his people for their transgressions and sins, is also the Shepherd-King who in covenant faithfulness gathers, protects, and forgives them.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1693.

Key Themes

The character of the sovereign Lord and the sins of his people demand judgment (1:2–5; 2:3; 6:1–2, 9–11). The sentence of God’s “lawsuit” comes in the form of an oppressor (1:15; 4:11; 5:1, 5–6) and by means of covenant curses (6:13–15) rendered for covenant unfaithfulness (6:16).

A Shepherd-King gathers and delivers a remnant (2:12–13; 4:6–8; 7:14, 18). This deliverer, functioning as a new David, will come from the very region under Assyrian control (5:2–5a).

Covenant faithfulness consists not merely in ritual but in the proper expression of the primary forms of love: justice, mercy, and faithfulness (6:8; cf. Matt. 23:23).

The Lord is the focus of worship. The nations will no longer “flow” to false gods (cf. Jer. 51:44) but to Zion to learn of the true Lord and to live in peace (Mic. 4:1–5; 7:12; cf. Isa. 2:2–5).

The liberating light of grace flowing from the Lord’s steadfast love (Mic. 7:18–20) overcomes the ominous sentence due to sin (7:8–9). Forgiveness is grounded in God’s faithfulness to his promises (7:20).

God’s saving acts in the past (6:4–5; 7:14–15) are interpretative analogies for his saving acts in the future (7:19–20).


Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1694