WHAT IS MY PROBLEM
Micah 6:3-8
WHATS WRONG WITH ME?
V:3. "My people, what have I done to you? How have I
burdened you? Answer me. "
A. The Lord is asking
the question, What is our problem? Why
is it that we can't
serve the Lord
and worship Him in spirit and truth?
1. The nation of Israel
grew up in slavery in Egypt .
2. There were
huge stone monuments to the Egyptian gods.
3. Engrained in
their culture were these Egyptian gods who the Egyptians believed
controlled
every aspect of human existence.
B. When the
Israelites were freed from slavery, they came with these visible images of
Egyptian gods
engrained in their minds.
1. They did not
abandon these images, they brought them into the promise land in the
form of carved images. Ex 23:24
2. It was hard
for them to abandon what they could see for a spiritual being they
could not
see.
a. It was
hard for the Israelites to get out of their minds idol gods who had temples
and statues built for worship.
b. It was
hard for them to replace the idol gods they could see for the Almighty
God they could not see.
C. That is our
problem today.
1. We have the
visible monuments to success and fame all around us.
2. We have the
mansions and limousines, parties and fashions for the rich and
the famous
all around us.
3. The world has defined success as how much
stuff you have and how much
money you
have in your bank account.
4. What's my
problem you ask? I have seen too much.
5. What is my
problem you ask?. I have tasted too much and been involve in too
much stuff
to lay it all down and wholly embraced the Almighty God.
C. God Help Me.
1. That's why I
need a prayer life.
2. That's why I
need intercessory prayer.
a. I need
somebody praying for me, because I am slipping down the toilet .
b. Thank God
for the Holy Spirit, that has sealed me until the day of redemption.
MY HISTORY WITH GOD
V: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."
A. The Israelites had a long history with God.
1. He was with
them before they were a nation.
2. He was making
promises and covenants with them before they existed.
3. God promised Abraham
430 years before they existed that his
descendants
would be born in slavery and freed to enter the promise land.
B. When the Israelites came out of Egypt ,
God gave His people His commands.
1. He gave them Moses, their commander in chief and
shepherd.
2. He gave them
Aaron, their High Priest.
3. He gave them
Miriam their worship and praise leader.
4. God gave Israel
at Mount Sinai His commands.
5. They had all
the ingredients to have some Church.
C. But they had this image in their minds of what gods they
wanted to serve.
1. They had this
image in their minds of what gods they wanted to trust.
2. They had the
essence of God's glory all around them.
a. They had
the evidence of God's love all around.
b. They had
the Almighty God's protection and provisions daily.
3, But they
couldn't see God because the image of the idol gods was behind them,
in them and
before them all the time.
4. What was their problem? Their lust for
idol worship.
REFLECTING ON THE GOODNESS OF GOD
V:5. " My people, remember what Balak king of Moab
counseled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember [ your journey] from
Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord."
A. The Lord reacts to Satan's attack on our lives.
1. God is working in the background when we are not aware of what is happening.
1. God is working in the background when we are not aware of what is happening.
2. Balak, King of Moab
counseled with Balaam's son to curse Israel .
3. While Balaam
son was trying to curse Israel ,
God forced word of blessings out of
his mouth.
B. We really never
know all that God is doing to protect and provide for us.
1. We know about
the trials and tribulations that we have faced.
2. We know what
God has brought us through.
3. But what about
what didn't happen because God stood between us and the evil
forces of
Satan.
4. What's my
problem? Just not grateful enough for the presence of God in my life.
NOT THE CHURCH BUT IN CHURCH
V: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? "
A. God wants our hearts first before we ever give Him a
sacrifice.
1. The Israelites
were religious in keeping God's ceremonies.
2. They knew when,
why and how to make the required sacrifices for
atonements of
sins and worship.
B. Their problem was,
that while they were going through the motions, their hearts
were not being
changed.
1. While they were
participating in the ceremonies they were not being convicted.
2. What is my
problem? I like Church, but I don't always act like the Church.
GIVE YOURSELF TO CHRIST BEFORE YOU GIVE AN OFFERING
V:7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with
ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I offer my
firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my
soul? "
A. It don't make no difference
how much you offer to Lord in goods and services,
if you don't do
it with loving respect and the fear of the Lord.
1. The Israelites
came out of Egypt ,
rich with much livestock and gold that God
commanded the
Egyptians to give them.
2. Everything the
Israelites had to give, came from the Lord.
3. God is not
interested in our stuff. He wants us.
4. Present your
bodies as a living sacrifice, Holy and acceptable to the Lord.
B. Sin is sin, worthy of death.
1. Only a sacrifice of
you is acceptable to God.
2. God wants your
life dedicated to Him not your stuff.
3. Once God gets
your life, you will readily give Him your stuff.
HOW SHOULD I ACT?
IT'S IN THE WORD
V:8. " He has showed you, O man, 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. "
A. Religion ought to
change your lifestyle to be in tuned with God.
1. The Word of God
is designed to convict out hearts.
2. Faith come by
hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
B. What is my problem
you ask?
1. Not enough
hearing to know the Word of God.
2. Not enough
hearing to know the mercy of God.
3. Not enough
hearing to know the Grace of God.
4. Not enough
hearing to know the Love of God.
5. Not enough
hearing to trust God.
6. Not enough
hearing to know the forgiveness of God.
7. Not enough
hearing to be grateful to God for His long suffering and
kindness.
8. Not enough
hearing to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus.
C. God gives us three requirements to get right with Him.
1. Live Justly.
a. Do the
right thing.
b. Treat
everybody right.
2. Love mercy.
a. Be kind to
others.
b. Find
something to do to help someone else.
c. Have a
forgiving heart.
b. Be tolerant
of others.
3. Walk humbly with
God.
a. God hates the
proud.
b. See yourself
as nothing and God as everything.
c. See others as
more important than yourself.
What's My Problem? I
am listen to the wrong voices.
THE SOLUTION TO MY PROBLEM
V:9 "Listen! The Lord is calling to the city — and to fear your name is wisdom —
"Heed the
rod and the One who appointed it. "
A. God called us out
of the world, freed us from the slavery of sin to worship Him.
1. He gave us
the ministry of reconciliation to draw men and women to His Son,
our
redeemer.
2. We have to give
ourselves to Christ to serve Him.
B. What is the
solution to my problem?
1. Give up me and
accept Christ.
2. Give up what I
want for what God wants for me.
3. Let Christ be
my role model.
4. Let the Word
of God be my guide.
5. Serve the Lord
with all your mind, your heart, your soul, your strength,
and be grateful
to Him.
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia
Baptist Church
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