Micah 2:5

Micah 2:5 says, Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot in the congregation of the LORD.  I believe this verse and the next few relate to hypocritical worship.  Casting lots was used to determine God's will, and at times to determine an inheritance.  I believe that God was telling the people of Israel that there was no need to go through the motions of worship when they did not submit to the leadership of God.  If we are not following God in our lives today, then there is no use in pretending that we are worshipping Him by going through religious gestures.  Verse six adds, Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame.  Micah said that God had called for those who prophesied to guit.  The prophets had ceased to proclaim God's word but were instead proclaiming what the people wanted to hear.  We can never change the word of God just because it is unpopular.  If we do, then we can not expect God to bless our words nor our work.  Verse seven continues, O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD straitened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?  God asked if those who were called the house of Jacob, or God's people in other words, believed that the way they were living was directed by God.  As followers of Christ today, we must always live our lives for God's glory.  When we are following God's leadership then we can walk uprightly in the world.  Verse eight states, Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robe with the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war.  God said that lately those who were called His people had risen up as enemies against Him.  Instead of treating strangers with courtesy, they had started taking everything they had from them.  Verse nine adds, The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever.  God said that women and children, like the strangers, were mistreated.  Instead of caring for them and showing the love of God to them, God's people had taken away His glory.  The way we treat others as followers of Christ should always bring glory to Him.  Verse ten continues, Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction.  Those who were called God's people were told to arise and depart because they had polluted their covenant with Him.  They could not rely on their physical birth and their empty worship to bring the blessings of God to them, and neither can we today.  Verse eleven says, If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.  I believe this is a warning against claiming to walk by the leadership of God when we are lying about that relationship.  We might as well be drunk on wine, since we are not filled with the Holy Spirit.  Verse twelve adds, I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.  God said He would gather the remnant of Israel.  God has never been totally devoid of those who follow Him.  When Christ came, He died to redeem all who put their faith in God.  Verse thirteen continues, The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them.  Matthew Henry says that some believe the breaker refers to John the Baptist, but we can be certain that God is referring to the restoration of those who believe in Him.  Through Christ, God is our King forever.

Micah 2:1

Micah 2:1 says, Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand. Micah issued a warning against iniquity.  Those in power felt that they could do whatever they wanted to do because they had the power.  I believe that Micah was saying that they planned evil day and night.  Verse two adds, And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.  Those in power, who already had more than most, wanted even more.  They coveted what others had and oppressed the less fortunate.  We know this has not changed today, but it never should be true of God's people.  Verse three continues, Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time is evil.  We can see this statement as God being responsible for the evil that was going to happen to these people, this family that were supposed to be His.  Since I do not believe that God is responsible for evil, I believe that it means that God was going to remove His protective hand from them due to their sinful actions.  Verse four concludes, In that day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We be utterly spoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me! turning away he hath divided our fields.  Micah said that after this evil came on the people of Israel that they would lament, or mourn, the loss of God's protection.  If we become indifferent to God's guidance and protection in the world today, we should not be surprised if we find ourselves mourning about our lives.  We should not expect God's protection if we aren't following His will for our lives.

Micah 1:8

Micah 1:8 says, Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls.  Micah was not happy to be bringing these promises of destruction to those who were called God's people.  We today should not be happy at the judgment of those who are hypocritical in their claim to be God's people.  We should be filled with great sorrow as Micah was.  Verse nine adds, For her wound is incurable; for it is come unto Judah; he is come unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem.  I believe that Micah was telling the people that there was no easy way for them to be restored to God.  Though God offers us peace and protection through our faith in Him, if we make a hypocritical profession and continue to chase other gods, then His judgment is certain.  Verse ten continues, Declare ye it not at Gath, weep ye not at all: in the house of Aphrah roll thyself in the dust.  Micah begins to speak of particular places, starting with Gath.  Matthew Henry says that though God's people would be reduced to mourning that they weren't to do so in the presence of those who were God's enemies.  When we are guilty of sin, or know someone who is, we should repent without allowing God's enemies to use our repentance to discredit God.  In the next few verses Micah refers to particular cities and God's coming judgment.  Verse eleven states, Pass ye away, thou inhabitant of Saphir, having thy shame naked: the inhabitant of Zaanan came not forth in the mourning of Bethezel; he shall receive of you his standing.  The people of Saphir were known for their finery and beauty, but they would be stripped bare.  The people of Zaanan were known for their agricultural abilities, but these were going to fail under God's judgment.  Bethezel was near by, but there was to be no relief found there.  No matter what people feel makes them great, they will stand before God's judgment with nothing of value from this world, nor is there any place that they can flee to for safety.  Verse twelve adds, For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good: but evil came down from the LORD unto the gate of Jerusalem.  I believe that Micah was saying that waiting for good is not enough.  While they waited, God's judgment came.  Verse thirteen continues, O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast: she is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion: for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee.  Micah said that the people of Lachish had started to rely on their own power and to fall into idolatry, but their military strength would fail.  The next two verses speak of the futility of turning to other nations for deliverance.  Verse fourteen says, Therefore shalt thou give presents to Moreshethgath: the houses of Achzib shall be a lie to the kings of Israel.  Then verse fifteen adds, Yet will I bring an heir unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah: he shall come unto Adullam the glory of Israel.  When deliverance came, it would be through God, and not through any ability of people to deliver themselves.  Verse sixteen continues, Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee.  Micah said that all that the people of Israel and Judah could do was sincerely mourn their disobedience to God.  We can never find peace and security anywhere but in following the will of God.  When we fall into sin, the only thing we can do is sincerely repent and ask God's forgiveness.

Micah 1:1

Micah 1:1 says, The word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.  Micah identifies himself and where he is from.  Then he declares that the word of the Lord came to him.  He didn't just come to an understanding of what was to happen on his own, but God revealed it to him.  When someone comes proclaiming God's word today, we need to know who they are, but more importantly we must know that what they proclaim really does come from God.  Micah prophesied during the reign of three kings, from one of the worst, Ahaz, to one of the best, Hezekiah.  Verse two adds, Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord GOD be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.  When Micah was proclaiming God's word, he could not demand that they listen but could only ask that they listen.  We cannot demand that people listen to the gospel, but we can only ask that they do so.  Verse three continues, For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.  God was coming in judgment against those who were called His people, and nothing could spare them.  If we, who are called God's people today rebel against Him, then instead of having peace with God we can be certain of His judgment against us.  Israel and Judah were God's people in name only.  Verse four states, And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place.  Micah warned that there was no place where the people could go to escape the judgment of God.  Verse five adds, For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jerusalem?  Through Micah God told the people that they were guilty of idolatry.  They may have questioned why they were to be punished, but deep down I believe they had to know.  As followers of Christ, we today know when we are outside the will of God.  Verse six continues, Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, and as plantings of a vineyard: and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover the foundations thereof.  Instead of being under the protection of God, the nations of Israel and Judah were to be under His punishment.  Sin, especially idolatry, brings judgment and punishment from God, and we can only avoid it by God's grace in providing the only way to salvation, which is through faith in Christ.  Verse seven concludes, And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate: for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an harlot.  Micah told the people that all their idols would be destroyed.  When we stand before God, we can be certain that all those things that we put our faith in other than Christ will be destroyed.

We will now review some of the things that we learned from Paul's letter to the church, that group of believers, at Ephesus.  The first thing is that Paul was writing to those who had accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. His letter would have no real meaning to any who was not a follower of Christ.  Paul tells us that salvation through Christ was not some secondary salvation plan, but that from the beginning God knew that it would be the only way for people to be redeemed.  Like the Christians in Ephesus, we can be restored to God only through faith in Christ.  Paul told them that they were the adopted children of God.  The Christians at Ephesus, and anyone before or since, can only be adopted into God's family because of His action.  We can never earn nor force our way into God's family.  We will never be adopted because of our own worthiness, but can only be adopted by admitting our own unworthiness and accepting salvation, or adoption, by faith in Christ.  Paul stated that everyone, whether Jew or Gentile, had the same access to salvation through Christ.  The Jewish people were in no way superior to the Gentiles based on the fact of their physical birth.  Christ died for all people equally.  We today are in no way superior to other Christians based on where we were born nor what family we were born into.  All remain equal in Christ.  Paul called for unity in the church.  Since all had been saved by Christ's victory over death, then His followers were to be united by their faith in Him.  This always was and always will be true.  God gives us different gifts, but all are to be used for the spreading of the gospel and the edification of the church.  We are to grow and be rooted in our faith, and not be drawn away by any teachings of any person who would change the gospel.  Paul taught that husbands and wives were to be committed to each other as they are to Christ.  When both are following the leadership of the Holy Spirit, then there will be unity in purpose and the good of the other partner will always come first.  Paul told those at Ephesus and tells us today that we should put on the armor of God when we encounter opposition.  God will protect us, head to toe, in our everlasting, spiritual nature.  Since this is true, we can live without worry even in the evil world in which we live.

Ephesians 6:18

Ephesians 6:18 says, Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;  After speaking of putting on the whole armor of God, Paul then instructs us to always be in prayer and supplication to the Spirit.  Even if we feel that we are properly clothed in the armor of God, we still need to be continually in prayer, not only for ourselves but for those around us.  This includes our enemies.  When we do, the Holy Spirit will preserve and protect us, and all who are followers of Christ.  Verse nineteen adds, And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,  Paul asked for a specific prayer for himself.  Notice that he did not pray for any material thing but prayed that he might be faithful in boldly presenting the gospel.  Paul also said that the gospel was a mystery to those who had not accepted Christ into their lives.  The gospel of Christ will never make logical sense.  We have to ask why God would send His only begotten Son to redeem mankind, His rebellious creation.  From a human perspective, God would have sent Christ to punish us and not redeem us.  This is indeed the great mystery of the gospel.  Verse twenty continues, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.  Paul said that even if he were in bonds that he was still an ambassador for Christ and asked that even in bonds that he would continue to boldly speak of salvation through Christ.  We, like Paul, must pray for the strength to boldly speak the gospel of Christ, no matter what may happen to us in this world.  Verse twenty-one states, But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:  Paul wanted those Christians in Ephesus to know that he was okay, so he sent Tychicus to them.  Paul called Tychicus a beloved brother and faithful minister.  I believe that Paul was sending him, not as someone who had to do what Paul demanded, but as one who willingly went for him.  Verse twenty-two adds, Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.  Tychicus was not only to bring word about Paul, but in doing so he was to bring comfort to their hearts.  The Christians at Ephesus were evidently concerned about Paul.  We today may have the same concern about those who minister in dangerous places, but we need to trust that God will be with them, no matter what happens in this life.  Verse twenty-three continues, Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Again, this is not two Gods, but only One manifested in two different ways.  Paul asked that they be at peace, then told them how to find peace.  Peace comes through faith in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  When we live by faith we can know peace in an evil, corrupt world.  Verse twenty-four concludes, Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. Written from Rome unto the Ephesians by Tychicus.  Though God's grace extends to everyone, it only has effect for those who love the Lord Jesus Christ sincerely.  It is not enough to just proclaim to accept Christ without a sincere faith in Him as our Savior and Lord.

Ephesians 6:10

Ephesians 6:10 says, Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Paul now begins to discuss preparing for the spiritual warfare that we will encounter in life.  First, Paul tells us to be strong in the Lord, relying on His power and might.  We cannot live successfully for Christ by our own abilities or power.  Verse eleven adds, Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  Paul tells us that God gives us all the armor that we need to live successfully in the battle against the wiles of the devil.  We should never go into the battle without being totally prepared.  Verse twelve continues, For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Paul tells us that we are not just in battle against flesh and blood, but we are in battle against the rulers of darkness and spiritual evil in high places.   Verse thirteen states, Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Paul again tells us to put on the whole armor of God so that we may stand against all the evil that comes to us each day.  We cannot wait until the attack is under way to attempt to be armored by God, but must be continually ready.  Verse fourteen adds, Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  Paul begins to specify what the armor of God is in the next few verses.  We are to be girded with the truth of God, which has to begin with accepting Christ as Savior and Lord.  We are to have the breastplate of righteousness, not ours, but God's.  If we attempt to defend ourselves by our own righteousness we will fail.  Verse fifteen continues, And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  Paul tells us that our feet should be shod with the carrying forth of the gospel of peace.  We are not to just stand protected, but we are to go forward with the gospel of peace through Christ.  Verse sixteen declares, Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  The first priority is the shield of faith that enables us to withstand all the attacks of Satan.  Verse seventeen adds, And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:  Paul tells us our heads are to be protected by the helmet of salvation.  He also tells us of our one offensive weapon, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  If we are not going into battle with the leadership and power of the Holy Spirit, then we will fail.  All that we do must be consistent with the word of God.