A Determined Faith

A Determined Faith (Micah 7:1-9)

The prophet Micah describes a time of great corruption in all levels of society. Those in power were corrupt through compromising. the very foundations of morality had been destroyed.

(A) Men of Authority sold justice, and that without shame. They were open to bribery.

(1) the prince asketh for reward

(2) the judge asketh for reward

(3) the noblemen speaks his desires of mischief

(4) those who professed to be religious, the Bible says "The best of them were as a briar" they infected everything they touched.

(a) The most upright were carried away with the sins of the day.

(5) In Social circles faith was not found anywhere.

(a) a friend was not to be trusted

(b) the heads of famlies would not help

(c) members of families were in a state of lawlessness

(d) the son called the father a fool

(e) a daughter speaks against her mother

This is a discription of the last days and the moral condition of that day.

(Read 2 Tim. 3:1-3) I beleive these verses describe the time in which we are now living.

Read the newspaper or watch the evening news. Sports stars or politicians that have enough money, or know the right people in the right places seem to get by with anything, even murder.

We wonder, where is justice to be found?

(B) You can rest assured the actions and lives of men are seen by God Himself.

There is coming a day of visitation.

When the time came that Micah could find no help in his fellow man, his faith turned toward God.

I submit five things that caused Micah’s faith to be lifted.

(1)Micah said, "I will look"

God’s promises encourage me today.

(Psalms 32:10) "Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about."

(Psalms 125:1) "They that trusteth in the Lord shall be as Mt. Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth forever."

(Psalms 28:8)"The Lord is their strength and He is the saving strength of His anointed".

(Psalms 91:10"No evil shall befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling"

(2)Micah said "I will wait"

(a) For God’s timing is best

(b) For His blessing are worth waiting for

(c) For I know I will not be disappointed

"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength""

When Jehosophat faced an invasion of the Moabites in (2 Chron. 20: 17)God said "Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you." In other words God says "Wait on Me!"

(3) Micah said "God will hear me"

For His blessings are worth waitng for!

(a) when my faith is weak,"God will hear my cry"

(B) when my needs are great,"God will hear my cry"

(c) when I am all alone, God will hear my cry"

(2Chron. 7:14) "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways: then will I HEAR from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land".

(Jer.33:3) "Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not".

(4) Micah said, "When I fall, I shall rise" read verse eight

(a) (2 Cor.4:8-9) "We are troubled on every side yet not distressed: we are perplexed, but not in despair: persecuted but not forsaken: cast down, but not destroyed."

(b) I believe Micah began to praise God, and found his faith began to rise.

(Ill.) There is an aeronautical term called "Pressure Differential" It’s the pressure exerted against the force of gravity that causes an airplane or helicopter to lift off from the ground"

I think when Micah got to verse eight he was speaking in the devils ear, he was telling satan "In darkness there is a light for me"

Hallelujah! The darkness of sorrow has got to flee

The darkness of sin has got to flee

The darkness of doubt has got to go

(c) "The Lord will be unto thee an everlasting light".

(5) Micah said, "I shall behold His righteousness"

Praise God if we’ll just hold on, keep the faith, and fight the good fight, we too shall behold His righteousness.