WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:22.260 Hi, and welcome to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:00:22.780 --> 00:00:25.880 This is where you can find audio for our current and past sermons. 00:00:26.100 --> 00:00:30.420 We hope that you enjoy this week's installment, and be sure to check back next week to hear 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:31.260 the latest message. 00:00:31.680 --> 00:00:32.460 Thanks for listening. 00:00:46.040 --> 00:00:47.900 Hey, well, good morning, Willow Ridge Church. 00:00:47.980 --> 00:00:51.980 Glad that you are joining us again online and worshiping with us today. 00:00:51.980 --> 00:00:55.380 If you've got your Bibles, go ahead and open up to Micah chapter 3. 00:00:55.520 --> 00:00:59.940 We're going to continue on as we look at this minor prophet with something very important 00:00:59.940 --> 00:01:01.980 to say to us today. 00:01:02.380 --> 00:01:05.760 As you turn there, I want you to bring something to your mind. 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:10.860 This week on Monday, make sure that you pay attention to our social media sites. 00:01:11.120 --> 00:01:16.000 We're going to be throwing out a question of asking you, what is God teaching you during 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:20.400 this pandemic, during this COVID-19 experience that we're all in? 00:01:20.400 --> 00:01:24.560 And so I want to encourage you to go by, share with us what God's teaching you, teaching 00:01:24.560 --> 00:01:26.380 you as a family, teaching you as an individual. 00:01:26.600 --> 00:01:30.800 We'd love to learn from you and have us all share and encourage each other. 00:01:31.280 --> 00:01:36.260 As you get there in Micah, I want us to go ahead and remind ourselves of something that 00:01:36.260 --> 00:01:37.900 we talk about as we look at Scripture. 00:01:38.360 --> 00:01:43.680 And really, I try to remind us this as we look at Old Testament Scripture, primarily in 00:01:43.680 --> 00:01:44.920 the prophetic books. 00:01:45.260 --> 00:01:48.680 What we need to understand is that how to read Scripture. 00:01:49.140 --> 00:01:53.600 And here's what I mean by that, that we need to understand that you and I, that today, 00:01:53.680 --> 00:01:59.100 that we need to acknowledge that Scripture was written for us, but not necessarily to us. 00:01:59.420 --> 00:02:00.420 And here's what I mean. 00:02:00.760 --> 00:02:05.340 Sometimes that there are things that are directed to in Scripture of things that are going to 00:02:05.340 --> 00:02:08.180 happen to the people in which they are being written. 00:02:08.740 --> 00:02:13.800 And so that's not written to us, that's written to them, but it is written for us, meaning that 00:02:13.800 --> 00:02:15.800 we can take application from that. 00:02:15.900 --> 00:02:17.180 So here's an example. 00:02:17.400 --> 00:02:22.560 Like, this doesn't mean, as we read through this, that God's telling us that he's going 00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:24.300 to send the Assyrians for us, right? 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:27.560 This isn't written to us, but it's written for us. 00:02:27.640 --> 00:02:32.640 And so what we gain from that is that there are consequences of sin. 00:02:32.740 --> 00:02:35.540 What we gain from that is that God's wrath is real. 00:02:35.920 --> 00:02:39.820 And so as we read through, it's something that I want us to keep into our mind. 00:02:39.940 --> 00:02:44.780 So last week, as we began to look through this book, Micah, as the prophet, comes before 00:02:44.780 --> 00:02:50.800 God's people in two divided kingdoms and brings the same message to them. 00:02:51.060 --> 00:02:55.580 They've wandered away from what God has called them to and their love for him. 00:02:55.580 --> 00:03:02.080 They've allowed other religions to come into play, and they're beginning to morph their 00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:06.460 faith into a pagan religion and the religion of God's people. 00:03:06.740 --> 00:03:11.960 And so God's calling them away from that, calling them away from the idolatry and to love 00:03:11.960 --> 00:03:14.240 him first and foremost is set in their heart. 00:03:14.500 --> 00:03:19.940 But then the other aspect that we're going to look at is the aspect of social justice, that 00:03:19.940 --> 00:03:28.200 God does love and that God sets a high standard for his people that we are to love in a sacrificial 00:03:28.200 --> 00:03:31.920 way and that we're called to look at those that are most vulnerable. 00:03:32.280 --> 00:03:39.880 So what we see in here in Micah is this concept of love God first, love others, and that you 00:03:39.880 --> 00:03:41.860 cannot separate the two. 00:03:42.180 --> 00:03:46.940 And so I just want to read in Matthew 22, starting in verse 35. 00:03:46.940 --> 00:03:48.080 It says, 00:03:48.080 --> 00:03:52.240 One of them, an expert of the law, came to Jesus with this question. 00:03:52.740 --> 00:03:55.540 Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law? 00:03:55.700 --> 00:04:00.700 Okay, referring back to the Old Testament and asking him, like, what is the greatest of all 00:04:00.700 --> 00:04:01.100 of these? 00:04:01.600 --> 00:04:06.180 And so Jesus replied, love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and 00:04:06.180 --> 00:04:07.080 with all your mind. 00:04:07.400 --> 00:04:09.300 This is the first and greatest commandment. 00:04:09.460 --> 00:04:22.400 And so we alluded to this interaction last week, but this is going to be the theme that continually 00:04:22.400 --> 00:04:24.160 comes time and time again. 00:04:24.580 --> 00:04:25.780 God's saying, love me. 00:04:26.400 --> 00:04:27.680 God's saying, love each other. 00:04:28.220 --> 00:04:30.320 Love me and love each other. 00:04:30.520 --> 00:04:34.680 And we know that this is where God's been in the love me stage. 00:04:34.680 --> 00:04:40.240 We know that God is a jealous God who is desperate for his people, who seeks them out, and that 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:43.600 this is who God is, and that God calls us to love him in return. 00:04:43.880 --> 00:04:48.520 But when it comes to matters of social justice, we don't necessarily think of them in the same 00:04:48.520 --> 00:04:50.960 light in a biblical capacity. 00:04:51.280 --> 00:04:56.480 But yet in Exodus 22 and 23, there's a huge section of the law that just deals with that. 00:04:56.720 --> 00:05:00.060 Now, last week, I challenged you to go and to read those, and I hope you're able to spend 00:05:00.060 --> 00:05:04.380 some time in that, but if not, I just want to just to grab some of these and just point 00:05:04.380 --> 00:05:09.900 out as we can understand the nature of God's heart and understand the calling that we have 00:05:09.900 --> 00:05:14.080 of his people, of the importance of what God places for social justice. 00:05:14.520 --> 00:05:19.360 In Exodus 22, God talks about the importance of caring for widows and orphans. 00:05:19.660 --> 00:05:22.680 He says, do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. 00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:27.820 If you do, we're going to see the harshness here of God's heart in this commandment. 00:05:28.020 --> 00:05:32.060 If you do, and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. 00:05:32.660 --> 00:05:36.660 My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword. 00:05:37.060 --> 00:05:40.860 Your wives will become widows, and your children fatherless. 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:45.520 Do we hear God's heart in that, in the importance that God places? 00:05:46.040 --> 00:05:51.300 In the interaction between people and their neighbors, God comes to them and establishes 00:05:51.300 --> 00:05:53.300 in Exodus 22, starting in verse 26. 00:05:53.620 --> 00:06:00.160 If you take your neighbor's cloak as a pledge, return it by sunset, because that cloak is the 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:02.380 only covering your neighbor has. 00:06:02.820 --> 00:06:04.480 What else can they sleep in? 00:06:04.600 --> 00:06:09.720 When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate. 00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:12.100 God says, look, it matters what we do. 00:06:12.260 --> 00:06:14.220 We're not to take from other people. 00:06:14.480 --> 00:06:17.860 We're not to break our word that there's this peace that is there. 00:06:17.940 --> 00:06:22.680 That God even, it says that this is important, not just for our friends or for our neighbors, 00:06:22.880 --> 00:06:27.100 but there's even what God says in social justice for our enemies. 00:06:27.500 --> 00:06:31.560 And if you jumped into Exodus 23, verse 4, it says, 00:06:31.700 --> 00:06:36.140 If you come across your enemy's ox or donkey wandering off, and he's talking about your enemy, 00:06:36.960 --> 00:06:38.180 be sure to return it. 00:06:38.680 --> 00:06:45.300 If you see the donkey of someone who hates you falling down under its load, do not leave 00:06:45.300 --> 00:06:45.740 it there. 00:06:46.180 --> 00:06:48.320 Be sure you help them with it. 00:06:48.740 --> 00:06:53.720 So in this whole picture, God's saying like, look, there's the widows and the orphans. 00:06:54.040 --> 00:06:54.720 Care for them. 00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:56.600 There's your friends. 00:06:57.160 --> 00:06:57.840 Care for them. 00:06:58.180 --> 00:06:59.240 There's your enemies. 00:06:59.780 --> 00:07:00.500 Care for them. 00:07:01.020 --> 00:07:06.360 But then God's going to dig even a little bit more in an area that we're seeing all over 00:07:06.360 --> 00:07:08.060 our world and in our country. 00:07:08.500 --> 00:07:14.820 We can go as broad as looking at this as oppressed people, or we can narrow it down and look at 00:07:14.820 --> 00:07:16.900 how we're supposed to treat the refugee. 00:07:17.600 --> 00:07:23.000 So look at the person who's been torn by war and by devastation and destruction. 00:07:23.560 --> 00:07:25.020 Exodus 22, 9. 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:26.860 Do not oppress a foreigner. 00:07:27.480 --> 00:07:34.060 You yourself know how it feels to be foreigners because you were foreigners in Egypt. 00:07:34.060 --> 00:07:42.540 And so God continually lays before his people what it means to come alongside and to love 00:07:42.540 --> 00:07:45.900 and to courage and to show the heart and the character and the nature of God. 00:07:46.180 --> 00:07:48.360 This is what it means to love God. 00:07:48.600 --> 00:07:51.120 This is what it means to love others. 00:07:51.380 --> 00:07:57.960 And so the heart of God in social justice is desiring that he has a heart and that we 00:07:57.960 --> 00:08:02.500 have a heart not to exploit, but instead to love. 00:08:03.180 --> 00:08:09.180 To not to victimize more, but to show compassion and to show that we care. 00:08:09.180 --> 00:08:14.420 And all of this is pointing us back to what is happening in Micah. 00:08:14.760 --> 00:08:17.000 That this is what is pressing on. 00:08:17.160 --> 00:08:24.040 That just as in the day there, that we all have an opportunity and a responsibility to embrace this. 00:08:24.040 --> 00:08:33.880 We all have the burden that God places on us in our lives as followers of Christ to embrace of this is what it means to love. 00:08:33.940 --> 00:08:45.620 And that you and I, that we have the opportunity to do this, to influence people, to shape lives where we live, where we work, where we play, and where we worship. 00:08:45.620 --> 00:09:01.400 And so these are the different aspects of your life as we look through this passage of Micah that I want you to search in your heart today of how are you a person of influence where you live, meaning with your family, with your husband, with your wife, with your kids. 00:09:01.760 --> 00:09:08.200 How are you leveraging the opportunity to display these things to influence where you live? 00:09:08.520 --> 00:09:12.960 How are you using the opportunity to influence where you work? 00:09:12.960 --> 00:09:17.160 Now, here's what you think about where you work, and I know for so many of us that has changed. 00:09:17.620 --> 00:09:25.240 What I mean by where you work is where are you fulfilling the expectation of God in what you cultivate and in what you create. 00:09:25.660 --> 00:09:28.340 So some of you that may be at your work office. 00:09:28.740 --> 00:09:32.960 For some of you that may, you may be retired, so that's back at your home or where you volunteer. 00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:39.180 For some of you, you may be a stay-at-home parent, so right now where you work is with your children and where you are. 00:09:39.180 --> 00:09:46.040 But God has placed you specifically in an area where you can influence others because of this. 00:09:46.580 --> 00:09:52.500 Talk about where you play, where you build your friendships, and where you establish other relationships. 00:09:53.000 --> 00:10:00.640 God allows you and the people that he sovereignly brings into your life to give you the opportunity to influence them. 00:10:00.900 --> 00:10:02.200 And then also where you worship. 00:10:02.500 --> 00:10:09.860 And we're going to see this as we talk today, that you and I have the wonderful opportunity to influence each other for the sake of the gospel. 00:10:10.260 --> 00:10:16.440 That you and I have the opportunity to influence, to push each other toward becoming more like Christ. 00:10:16.440 --> 00:10:33.460 And so as we look through this, it's so important for us to realize that God's given us four areas of our life where we live, where we work, where we play, and where we worship to be used in a manner to influence others to love God and to love others. 00:10:33.860 --> 00:10:36.760 So let's start reading Micah 3, verse 1. 00:10:36.760 --> 00:11:06.740 It says, 00:11:06.760 --> 00:11:35.700 We see in Micah's first group that he brings the allegations for is he brings to those governmental leaders. 00:11:35.700 --> 00:11:42.040 Now, that's the best of my knowledge of who's watching with us right now is none of us in the room. 00:11:42.300 --> 00:11:58.860 But the reality is while we are not governmental leaders, we all acknowledge that God has placed us in areas of leadership and in areas of leading where we live, where we work, where we play, and where we worship. 00:11:59.280 --> 00:12:04.740 And so what I want us to see from this very beginning is what we need to do is we need to lead for justice. 00:12:05.280 --> 00:12:06.660 We need to lead for justice. 00:12:07.260 --> 00:12:12.160 Everyone has been given by God a circle of influence in their life. 00:12:12.160 --> 00:12:24.840 And what we need to do, we need to make sure as we press people toward that, that we are holding each other responsible for what we do and how we do it to influence others. 00:12:25.080 --> 00:12:28.300 Remember what is happening here in the setting of Micah. 00:12:28.880 --> 00:12:31.360 Wealthy people are taking advantage of the poor. 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:38.420 And in doing so, they're becoming wealthier and wealthier while the poor become even more poor. 00:12:38.820 --> 00:12:46.220 In the very beginning of Micah, what we read last week, the accusations are they're taking their fields, their source of income. 00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:50.900 They're taking their homes, the place where they find security for their families. 00:12:50.900 --> 00:13:01.780 They're even taking their inheritance at the very basis of where generational security is being provided for many generations of their families. 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:09.280 They're taking advantage of the poor in this way, but also the wealthy are taking advantage of the widows and the orphans. 00:13:09.620 --> 00:13:13.000 And in doing so, they're preying on the most vulnerable. 00:13:13.380 --> 00:13:15.620 And that this is what the leaders know are happening. 00:13:16.060 --> 00:13:18.740 This is what they know is taking place. 00:13:18.740 --> 00:13:25.360 And so Micah comes to the leaders, the leaders of Judah, the leaders of Israel, and he asks at the very beginning of this passage, 00:13:25.740 --> 00:13:29.000 should you not embrace justice? 00:13:29.460 --> 00:13:36.640 As people of God, as people who have been trusted with influence, should you not embrace justice? 00:13:37.280 --> 00:13:41.960 And so what we have to ask ourselves today is the exact same question. 00:13:42.380 --> 00:13:58.020 As children of God, as children of God, people who stand for truth, people who are called to love God and love others, should you and I not embrace justice, not only in our lives, but in the world that we see around us? 00:13:59.060 --> 00:14:02.740 Where we are, this is the heart of God. 00:14:02.740 --> 00:14:05.120 This is what he calls us to do. 00:14:05.640 --> 00:14:11.620 And what you and I have to understand from God's word is that God presses in on this for his people. 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:17.240 And that what we begin to understand is that simply put, righteous people care. 00:14:17.740 --> 00:14:25.720 Proverbs 29, 7 says, the righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. 00:14:26.220 --> 00:14:27.880 Do you see the difference of what's there? 00:14:28.280 --> 00:14:33.220 The righteous people, you and I, who have been made righteous, right? 00:14:33.260 --> 00:14:37.840 That we're not righteous in and of ourselves, but we've been made righteous through the work of Christ. 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:47.300 That you and I, since we are righteous, what we're called to do is care about justice for the poor, those who can't fight for themselves. 00:14:47.540 --> 00:14:51.060 But the wicked, they have no such concern. 00:14:51.660 --> 00:14:57.920 Because when it comes down to this, compassion is at the very heart of the gospel. 00:14:58.540 --> 00:15:01.440 It's what we see in the life of Christ. 00:15:01.800 --> 00:15:05.800 Think back to Jesus with the woman who was caught in adultery. 00:15:06.260 --> 00:15:10.520 Now notice, it's not that there was a woman who was accused. 00:15:11.260 --> 00:15:14.440 It's not that there was a woman who was speculated. 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:21.720 But scripture is very clear that there was a woman who was caught in adultery. 00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:28.120 Now as we read through that, there are details that God and his sovereignty leaves out in scripture. 00:15:28.540 --> 00:15:31.080 Why did she make the decisions that she made? 00:15:31.800 --> 00:15:35.240 What had been done to her to bring her to this point? 00:15:36.140 --> 00:15:39.260 You know, there's lots of the story that we don't know. 00:15:39.680 --> 00:15:41.380 But we know that she was caught. 00:15:42.060 --> 00:15:46.100 And we know that Jesus met her with compassion. 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:53.680 As I wrote through this, I thought, you know, compassion, maybe we can define it as the combination of grace and truth. 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:56.920 Because that's what we see Jesus do with her. 00:15:57.640 --> 00:15:59.420 Jesus meets her with grace. 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:03.220 Jesus doesn't punish her for what she has done. 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:07.420 Instead, Jesus says, I don't condemn you. 00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:11.320 Jesus, as the one person who could, didn't. 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:13.020 He extends grace. 00:16:13.940 --> 00:16:16.860 But Jesus also tells her to stop. 00:16:17.540 --> 00:16:18.820 Stop doing this. 00:16:19.500 --> 00:16:20.820 Stop committing this sin. 00:16:21.460 --> 00:16:25.300 Stop bringing this destruction into your life. 00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:30.600 And in Jesus doing that, he shows her compassion. 00:16:31.320 --> 00:16:36.120 And so as you lead as a child of God, you cannot separate the two. 00:16:36.440 --> 00:16:39.040 You cannot remove grace from truth. 00:16:39.040 --> 00:16:44.880 And so Christ should flow in your leadership in every aspect of your life. 00:16:45.020 --> 00:16:48.080 Where you live should be influenced by Christ as you lead. 00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:52.540 Where you work should be influenced by Christ in how you lead. 00:16:52.840 --> 00:16:55.920 Where you play should be influenced by Christ. 00:16:56.180 --> 00:16:58.880 And absolutely where we worship. 00:16:59.100 --> 00:17:02.120 And so we see compassion at the heart. 00:17:02.820 --> 00:17:05.420 Continue on in Micah 3, verse 5. 00:17:06.280 --> 00:17:07.620 This is what the Lord says. 00:17:07.820 --> 00:17:10.620 As for the prophets who lead my people astray. 00:17:11.020 --> 00:17:14.140 They proclaim peace if they have something to eat. 00:17:14.440 --> 00:17:18.560 But prepare to wage war against anyone who refuses to feed them. 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:20.980 Therefore, night will come over you. 00:17:21.120 --> 00:17:22.740 Without visions and darkness. 00:17:23.640 --> 00:17:25.140 Without divination. 00:17:25.720 --> 00:17:27.520 The sun will set for the prophets. 00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:29.280 And the day will go dark for them. 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:31.080 The seers will be ashamed. 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:33.140 And the diviners disgraced. 00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:37.020 They will all cover their faces because there is no answer from God. 00:17:37.020 --> 00:17:40.440 But as for me, I am filled with power. 00:17:40.440 --> 00:17:42.060 With the spirit of the Lord. 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:44.080 And with justice and might. 00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:47.400 To declare to Jacob his transgression. 00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:49.360 To Israel his sin. 00:17:49.580 --> 00:17:52.740 And this is going to be the peace that we understand as us. 00:17:52.860 --> 00:17:54.000 As a body of believers. 00:17:54.320 --> 00:17:56.800 And that is weighed on me as a pastor. 00:17:57.020 --> 00:17:57.960 As one who teaches. 00:17:58.520 --> 00:18:00.780 You see, because what had been broken away from. 00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:02.680 Was a wandering of the truth. 00:18:02.760 --> 00:18:05.220 Of what the prophets were called to communicate. 00:18:05.220 --> 00:18:09.520 And so Micah steps and proclaims the truth in the middle of the darkness. 00:18:09.520 --> 00:18:11.720 Of what this means and what this looks like. 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:13.860 And so what we draw from this. 00:18:13.940 --> 00:18:15.480 The application that we have. 00:18:15.600 --> 00:18:18.060 Is regardless of what is going on around us. 00:18:18.340 --> 00:18:21.020 Regardless of what we feel like we should do. 00:18:21.100 --> 00:18:21.640 In a circumstance. 00:18:21.640 --> 00:18:22.920 In a situation. 00:18:23.180 --> 00:18:25.600 That we, as those who know the truth. 00:18:25.740 --> 00:18:27.240 And who set our life by the truth. 00:18:27.360 --> 00:18:29.040 Are called to teach the truth. 00:18:30.040 --> 00:18:31.240 And so the prophets. 00:18:32.020 --> 00:18:33.620 That Micah accuses. 00:18:34.120 --> 00:18:36.680 Have done the same exact thing. 00:18:37.100 --> 00:18:38.360 As the rulers have done. 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:40.740 They've been accepting bribes. 00:18:41.140 --> 00:18:42.580 And in accepting bribes. 00:18:42.920 --> 00:18:44.080 They changed the message. 00:18:44.580 --> 00:18:45.560 And so what they've done. 00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:47.240 Is they've elevated their agenda. 00:18:47.340 --> 00:18:48.460 Over the will of God. 00:18:48.760 --> 00:18:51.100 They've elevated their message. 00:18:51.100 --> 00:18:52.400 Over the supremacy. 00:18:52.460 --> 00:18:54.140 Of the message of God. 00:18:54.460 --> 00:18:56.500 And they are acting in their benefit. 00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:57.480 For their name. 00:18:57.560 --> 00:18:58.600 And for their glory. 00:18:58.760 --> 00:19:00.220 Instead of the name. 00:19:00.540 --> 00:19:02.100 And the glory of God. 00:19:02.280 --> 00:19:04.040 And so what you and I have to do. 00:19:04.140 --> 00:19:05.820 Is that as we teach. 00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:07.060 As we grow. 00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:08.460 As we come together. 00:19:08.600 --> 00:19:11.060 As we embrace discipleship together. 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:12.540 We have to make sure. 00:19:12.660 --> 00:19:13.900 That we're centered in. 00:19:14.020 --> 00:19:14.980 And focused in. 00:19:15.120 --> 00:19:16.700 And making sure what we proclaim. 00:19:16.700 --> 00:19:17.460 Is the truth. 00:19:17.460 --> 00:19:18.360 And I want to tell you. 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:20.300 No one person in this church. 00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:22.500 Carries that burden more than I do for myself. 00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:24.860 I can't say what I want this to say. 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:27.240 I can't say what I hope this says. 00:19:27.580 --> 00:19:29.080 I have to teach. 00:19:29.140 --> 00:19:30.000 And I have to proclaim. 00:19:30.140 --> 00:19:31.040 We have to preach. 00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:32.380 What it says. 00:19:33.040 --> 00:19:34.420 And what God says. 00:19:35.600 --> 00:19:36.360 So truth. 00:19:36.840 --> 00:19:37.880 Must be reclaimed. 00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:38.560 By me. 00:19:39.020 --> 00:19:39.760 And by you. 00:19:40.080 --> 00:19:40.840 Where we live. 00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:41.460 Where we work. 00:19:41.520 --> 00:19:42.060 Where we play. 00:19:42.340 --> 00:19:43.080 Where we worship. 00:19:43.080 --> 00:19:45.440 We must all do this the same. 00:19:46.120 --> 00:19:47.060 And it's so important. 00:19:47.620 --> 00:19:48.920 Because in 2 Timothy 2. 00:19:49.360 --> 00:19:50.660 What Paul writes. 00:19:51.140 --> 00:19:52.480 What you've heard me say. 00:19:52.600 --> 00:19:53.940 In the presence of many. 00:19:54.460 --> 00:19:56.000 Entrust of faithful men. 00:19:56.320 --> 00:19:57.300 Who will be able. 00:19:57.480 --> 00:19:58.680 To teach others also. 00:19:58.920 --> 00:19:59.680 Because we understand. 00:19:59.820 --> 00:20:00.740 What happens with teaching. 00:20:01.220 --> 00:20:02.920 Is when we teach God's word. 00:20:03.180 --> 00:20:04.340 When we teach scripture. 00:20:04.600 --> 00:20:06.240 We do not teach scripture. 00:20:06.560 --> 00:20:07.840 So that others will learn it. 00:20:08.360 --> 00:20:09.420 That's not what we do. 00:20:09.880 --> 00:20:10.880 We teach. 00:20:11.260 --> 00:20:12.820 So that others can teach. 00:20:13.660 --> 00:20:14.660 We teach. 00:20:15.340 --> 00:20:16.180 So that I. 00:20:16.400 --> 00:20:17.440 Can share with you. 00:20:17.840 --> 00:20:18.940 What's been shared with me. 00:20:19.560 --> 00:20:20.860 And that you can do the same. 00:20:21.420 --> 00:20:22.560 And that's how the gospel. 00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:23.760 Contends. 00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:24.640 Continues. 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:25.480 To spread. 00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:27.640 And so what we see in teaching. 00:20:27.940 --> 00:20:29.700 As we teach about justification. 00:20:30.320 --> 00:20:31.440 As we teach that. 00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:32.780 All human beings. 00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:34.600 Under the raft of God. 00:20:34.800 --> 00:20:35.940 But Jesus comes. 00:20:36.260 --> 00:20:37.500 And dies on the cross. 00:20:37.640 --> 00:20:39.440 And becomes our substitutionary. 00:20:39.700 --> 00:20:40.140 Atonement. 00:20:40.340 --> 00:20:42.320 And that he bore the punishment. 00:20:42.620 --> 00:20:44.400 And the wrath that we deserve. 00:20:44.660 --> 00:20:47.460 He takes on for us. 00:20:47.460 --> 00:20:50.520 So that when you and I believe in him. 00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:52.720 Even though we are still a sinner. 00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:54.600 Even though we are still guilty. 00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:57.140 Even though we are still in shame. 00:20:57.280 --> 00:20:59.500 Our record is imputed to him. 00:20:59.640 --> 00:21:01.440 And the rights and the privileges. 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:03.040 That Christ has. 00:21:03.380 --> 00:21:05.740 Are then imputed to us. 00:21:05.840 --> 00:21:07.600 So that we are fully loved. 00:21:07.660 --> 00:21:08.920 And accepted before God. 00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:10.520 And in that. 00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:12.420 And in that justification. 00:21:12.420 --> 00:21:15.820 Is where we see justice come from. 00:21:16.780 --> 00:21:17.420 Justification. 00:21:17.880 --> 00:21:19.080 Taught in scripture. 00:21:19.460 --> 00:21:20.660 The gospel of Christ. 00:21:20.800 --> 00:21:22.660 Will lead us to justice. 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:24.200 Justification. 00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:26.020 Causes you and I. 00:21:26.520 --> 00:21:29.420 To examine the word deserving. 00:21:30.120 --> 00:21:31.420 I want to ask you this question. 00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:33.560 When you think of justice. 00:21:34.280 --> 00:21:35.700 When you think of what this means. 00:21:36.380 --> 00:21:37.660 Did you deserve Christ? 00:21:38.660 --> 00:21:39.820 Did you do anything. 00:21:40.460 --> 00:21:41.420 For him to die. 00:21:42.060 --> 00:21:43.120 Or did you do anything. 00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:44.520 To make you worthy. 00:21:45.020 --> 00:21:46.500 For him to die on the cross for you. 00:21:47.060 --> 00:21:48.260 I know that answer for me. 00:21:48.360 --> 00:21:50.320 Is absolutely not. 00:21:51.060 --> 00:21:52.340 And so when I understand. 00:21:53.360 --> 00:21:53.840 Justification. 00:21:54.700 --> 00:21:56.700 I understand that I deserve. 00:21:57.160 --> 00:21:57.560 Nothing. 00:21:58.440 --> 00:21:59.840 And that everything that I get. 00:22:00.380 --> 00:22:01.960 Is simply by the grace of God. 00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:04.100 And that helps us understand justice. 00:22:04.820 --> 00:22:06.120 It helps us understand. 00:22:06.520 --> 00:22:07.520 Who we care for. 00:22:07.580 --> 00:22:08.340 And who we love. 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:09.760 What we should do. 00:22:09.820 --> 00:22:10.820 Or what we shouldn't do. 00:22:11.300 --> 00:22:12.460 It helps us understand. 00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:14.700 That if there's a bunch of us in a room. 00:22:15.120 --> 00:22:16.260 There's not one of us. 00:22:16.520 --> 00:22:17.180 Who's deserving. 00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:19.240 And so that's what helps us. 00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:20.720 Process through. 00:22:21.400 --> 00:22:23.040 We also through justification. 00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:25.020 It changes our attitude. 00:22:25.020 --> 00:22:27.040 About those who we may have felt. 00:22:27.260 --> 00:22:29.020 Were undeserving. 00:22:29.560 --> 00:22:31.060 Because at the heart of the gospel. 00:22:31.620 --> 00:22:32.360 It's not. 00:22:32.840 --> 00:22:33.900 What do I get. 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:36.140 But at the heart of the gospel. 00:22:36.820 --> 00:22:37.860 Is what do I gain. 00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:39.340 And what do I give. 00:22:40.100 --> 00:22:41.540 The continual process. 00:22:42.040 --> 00:22:43.500 Over and over. 00:22:43.880 --> 00:22:44.740 And over again. 00:22:45.560 --> 00:22:45.980 Yes. 00:22:46.780 --> 00:22:47.720 I help my enemy. 00:22:48.820 --> 00:22:49.220 Yes. 00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:50.660 I help my neighbor. 00:22:51.700 --> 00:22:52.140 Yes. 00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:53.380 I love the widow. 00:22:54.280 --> 00:22:54.700 Yes. 00:22:54.900 --> 00:22:56.140 I love the refugee. 00:22:56.800 --> 00:22:57.060 Why? 00:22:57.640 --> 00:22:59.980 Because I've received something I didn't deserve. 00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:03.140 And so I continue to give it away. 00:23:03.600 --> 00:23:04.560 And to give it away. 00:23:05.060 --> 00:23:05.820 And to give it away. 00:23:06.620 --> 00:23:10.020 So what's the difference between a true teacher of truth. 00:23:10.260 --> 00:23:11.340 And a false teacher. 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:13.280 Micah tells us in verse 8. 00:23:13.520 --> 00:23:15.420 Here is what makes truth. 00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:16.980 But as for me. 00:23:17.620 --> 00:23:19.180 I am filled with power. 00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:21.440 With the spirit of the Lord. 00:23:21.880 --> 00:23:23.660 And with justice in might. 00:23:24.080 --> 00:23:26.160 To declare to Jacob his transgression. 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:28.140 And to Israel his sin. 00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:32.660 Being led by the spirit. 00:23:33.400 --> 00:23:33.740 Church. 00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:35.440 When we teach truth. 00:23:35.700 --> 00:23:36.980 It's a hard message. 00:23:37.760 --> 00:23:39.060 When we teach truth. 00:23:39.340 --> 00:23:41.000 It's an offensive message. 00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:43.220 But the only way. 00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:45.160 That we teach truth. 00:23:45.820 --> 00:23:47.660 Is it's a spirit filled message. 00:23:48.760 --> 00:23:50.080 Don't confuse. 00:23:51.020 --> 00:23:51.620 Ability. 00:23:52.180 --> 00:23:52.740 With truth. 00:23:53.540 --> 00:23:54.660 Don't confuse. 00:23:55.040 --> 00:23:55.520 Engaging. 00:23:56.160 --> 00:23:56.680 With truth. 00:23:57.400 --> 00:23:58.560 Don't confuse. 00:23:59.280 --> 00:23:59.880 Entertaining. 00:24:00.340 --> 00:24:01.260 With truth. 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:03.400 There's lots of people who have ability. 00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:05.700 There's lots of people who are engaging. 00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:08.560 There's lots of people who are entertaining. 00:24:09.320 --> 00:24:14.100 But are they teaching the truth of God's word? 00:24:14.780 --> 00:24:16.560 Let's wrap up with verses 9 through 12. 00:24:17.640 --> 00:24:19.320 Hear this you leaders of Jacob. 00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:20.820 You rulers of Israel. 00:24:20.820 --> 00:24:25.260 Who despise justice and distort all that is right. 00:24:25.640 --> 00:24:27.840 Who build Zion with bloodshed. 00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:29.320 And Jerusalem with wickedness. 00:24:29.880 --> 00:24:32.260 Her leaders judge for a bribe. 00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:34.740 Her priests teach for a price. 00:24:35.100 --> 00:24:37.440 And her prophets tell fortunes for money. 00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:40.480 Yet they look for the Lord's support and say. 00:24:40.840 --> 00:24:42.600 Is not the Lord among us? 00:24:43.040 --> 00:24:44.920 No disaster will come upon us. 00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:46.920 Therefore because of you Zion. 00:24:47.480 --> 00:24:49.260 Will be plowed like a field. 00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:52.940 Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble. 00:24:52.940 --> 00:24:56.800 The temple heal a mound overgrown with thickets. 00:24:57.220 --> 00:24:59.220 Always remember within the heart of God. 00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:01.160 He desires for us to love him. 00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:03.300 He desires for us to love others. 00:25:03.660 --> 00:25:05.960 But there's always justice and accountability. 00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:09.740 You know justice from God is God not forgetting. 00:25:10.680 --> 00:25:12.460 God for sin. 00:25:13.320 --> 00:25:15.720 Sin is a crime before him. 00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:18.300 He can't sweep it under the rug. 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:19.800 He can't push it away. 00:25:20.160 --> 00:25:23.640 Because God demands a penalty for that crime. 00:25:24.180 --> 00:25:25.880 God demands a penalty for sin. 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:27.620 And that penalty is death. 00:25:28.060 --> 00:25:29.340 And if we ended there. 00:25:29.460 --> 00:25:31.780 Then it would be a sad day for all of us. 00:25:32.500 --> 00:25:33.580 But God sent Jesus. 00:25:34.080 --> 00:25:34.860 In his grace. 00:25:35.340 --> 00:25:36.100 And in his justice. 00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:37.220 In his truth. 00:25:37.760 --> 00:25:39.100 Who died for us. 00:25:39.700 --> 00:25:42.480 And who does something remarkable on the cross of Calvary. 00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:46.620 He turns criminals into children of God. 00:25:47.080 --> 00:25:49.060 The beautiful thing that he does. 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:50.860 And in that. 00:25:51.300 --> 00:25:52.320 For us. 00:25:52.820 --> 00:25:54.060 What we begin to see. 00:25:54.640 --> 00:25:56.920 Is here's what justice communicates. 00:25:57.760 --> 00:25:59.880 Here's what justice shows the refugee. 00:26:00.700 --> 00:26:02.580 What justice shows your enemy. 00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:06.020 What justice shows your neighbor. 00:26:06.660 --> 00:26:08.500 What justice shows the widow. 00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:09.780 Is hope. 00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:12.740 Hope that is found in Christ. 00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:14.080 In Christ alone. 00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:15.800 Would you pray with me? 00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:19.620 God give us the strength. 00:26:20.420 --> 00:26:21.360 The ability. 00:26:22.560 --> 00:26:23.760 And the discernment. 00:26:24.320 --> 00:26:25.860 To be led by your spirit. 00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:28.280 Or to speak truth. 00:26:30.540 --> 00:26:31.900 Lord to lead. 00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:33.720 Toward justice. 00:26:35.380 --> 00:26:36.880 Lord and to understand. 00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:38.340 The blessing. 00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:40.580 And the responsibility we have. 00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:42.180 As children of God. 00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:44.300 Lord may us not wonder. 00:26:44.900 --> 00:26:46.500 From who you've called us to be. 00:26:46.920 --> 00:26:48.160 And what you've called us to do. 00:26:48.940 --> 00:26:50.140 And it's in Jesus name we pray. 00:26:50.780 --> 00:26:51.060 Amen. 00:26:51.060 --> 00:27:08.300 Thanks again for listening to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:27:08.860 --> 00:27:11.120 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:27:11.120 --> 00:27:13.520 If you'd like to learn more about who we are. 00:27:13.760 --> 00:27:15.120 Or explore additional resources. 00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:20.180 Visit us online at www.willowridgechurch.com. 00:27:20.180 --> 00:27:23.760 Or by searching for Willow Ridge Church on Facebook and Instagram.