Again on this third week of Advent we are “majoring on the Minors” as we consider a prophetic word from the Book of Micah. The entire book that bears his name speaks of a redeemer who is unmatched in His compassion toward sinners and His desire to pardon.
In one of the prophet’s visions he sees the Lord coming down to the earth to voice His complaint against the lifestyle of His people. In an instant you and I might just pass over the thought of such a sight but put the brakes on with me for a minute.
Eternal, Creator God, who spoke all things into existence, Who could just as easily speak His mind from the Throne of Heaven – or, who could, without argument justify having not to justify Himself to man whatsoever, comes down to man’s level to reason His crown creation’s wayward heart.
How many times God could have simply wiped out humanity and started over. Yet in His supreme mercy God chooses to strive with man, to pursue reason, to come to the place where man is in order to lead him back into his created purpose ~ Fellowship with God.
That intimate interaction is what God has desired with you and I from the beginning of time.
It was the purpose of Adam’s creation ~ that God and man would walk together.
It was the intent of the Tabernacle of Moses ~ That God would have a place to meet with us.
Exodus 25:22
And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim…
It was the reason Christ Came ~ That God would, through His Holy Spirit forever dwell with us and abide in us.
Matthew 1:23
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
It is the reason Jesus is coming again ~ that we may live with Him eternally.
John 14:3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Micah told the people that God was sending a Shepherd-King, a Royal Deliverer that will break them out of their captivity.
Isaiah spoke of that one
Isaiah 61:1-3
1 "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."
That One, spoken about by the prophet Isaiah is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Luke 4:20-22
20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." 22 So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, "Is this not Joseph’s son?"
God’s complaint revealed through Micah’s prophecy resulted in another encounter between heaven and earth.
Advent focuses us on that encounter when God would come to earth again, this time in the very form of His creation. God became flesh!
That night in a Bethlehem stable Heaven once again touched earth as the Creator put on the flesh of man and dwelt among us.
Joan Osborne penned the Question that Rock Artist Alanis Morissette made into a hit…
If God had a name what would it be?
And would you call it to his face?
If you were faced with him in all his glory
what would you ask if you had just one question?
Yeah, Yeah, God is great
Yeah, Yeah, God is good
Yeah Yeah yeah yeah yeah
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home
The tragedy for Alanis is that she missed the news to the Shepherds that night, her ears were deafened to the Angels song….
God does have a name, it’s Emmanuel!
God came to be one of us, to show us the way home!
The light of the Advent Wreath reminds me that our Light has indeed come. That Darkness of sin has been conquered by the Light of the World.
Micah calls Him “The One Who breaks open”. Isn’t that just what Jesus comes to do in our lives? He comes to break open,
Not as a means of embarrassing exposure, but in compassionate deliverance.
He opens the wound to bring healing
He opens the door to bring freedom
What wounds are you bearing that only God can heal?
What secret doors have you captive that only the Power of God can break through?
That’s why He came, to proclaim freedom and heal the broken hearted.
Let’s Pray!
A note from Pastor Terry,
Thanks so much for looking over this message. I trust that, in some way, you were blessed, encouraged and empowered on your own walk with Christ. Every message I prepare is bathed in prayer that God will draw, inspire, and challenge my listeners (or readers) into a more meaningful and power-filled walk with Him.
Pastors, how we need one another! We need to be encouraged, strengthened and built up in order to encourage, strengthen and build up. It’s my personal prayer that the message you’ve just reviewed has done that for you in a personal way. Use what you can of this message, toss what you can’t and above all, let God’s Spirit inspire it all!
Sometimes I feel like Peter and John at the Temple steps…”Silver and gold; I don’t have but what I do – I give to you”
Grace and peace to you, your family and the Flock you tend.
Pastor Terry
