Sermon Tone Analysis
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What God wants
Introduction
Christianity Today, a popular Christian magazine defined a “cult” as follows:
“Q.
What is a cult?
And how does someone know if the faith they are following is harmful?
A. The word cult has three definitions.
First of all, it can simply be a group that loves something.
When people refer to an "Elvis cult" or "The O.C. cult," they mean really devoted fans.
The second definition is that of a religion whose beliefs differ from the majority around them.
In the Roman Empire, Christians were sometimes considered a cult because they worshiped Jesus rather than the Roman gods.
The third, and most commonly used definition, refers to a religious group that is:
1) Exclusive.
They may say, "We're the only ones with the truth; everyone else is wrong; and if you leave our group your salvation is in danger."
2) Secretive.
Certain teachings are not available to outsiders or they're presented only to certain members, sometimes after taking vows of confidentiality.
3) Authoritarian.
A human leader expects total loyalty and unquestioned obedience.”
False religious belief systems have been popular since the beginning of time.
Today, even in Pretoria, there are a number of false belief systems.
What makes them popular is the very strict and clear rules.
People also prefer an authoritarian leader to whom the can look up to.
It leave the average person with less or no responsibility.
“Hitler made me do it.”
“Stalin forced me to....”
“The devil caused me to...”
gives us three action items for us to do, so that we please God.
“What does God want from me?” is a very important and regular question to ask.
We however tend to ask this question wanting God to tell me what to do next with my life:
Job, Relationship, Home, Country.
We want detail.
What does God want from me?
I want to do only what God wants from me.
Relationship,
God, however, is less interested for us to know the detail of our lives, and more interested in the how we do the detail of our lives.
God is passionate about a living relationship with us.
Home,
The LORD wants true worship.
The verses for today is divided into two parts:
Part 1 gives us the context of the actions God requires.
Part 2 gives us three activities God wants us to do.
Part 1 - Context of our actions
With what shall I “come before”...
This is a question of worship.
Approaching the LORD in an attitude of true worship.
is an example of a song that asks and answers the worshipful approach question.
Micah asks and answers the “worshipful approach question:
What does the LORD want?
Burnt offerings and calves a year old?
Is that what God wants?
It is the Old Testament after all, and burnt offerings and calves were part of true Biblical worship.
(Note and )
As if Micah wants us to know that no sacrifice from man is acceptable to God, Micah goes beyond the Biblical requirements in verse 7.
God is “pleased” and can be “pleased” according to and others.
God is especially pleased when we obey His word.
It is impossible to worship God - or please Him - if you disobey His direct instructions.
Micah makes the point that it is impossible to please God with what we bring to Him,
But, God is please with those people who do as He commands.
We all know and appreciate , but listen to:
So, the context of , is that of true worship.
Verse 8 gives us the short but very important answer to the question.
Part 2 - Three Activities true worshipers can do to please God.
The three activities are:
Do justice
Love kindness
Walk humbly
Do Justice
Rom 3:24
So, we receive justification as a gift;
Should we then respond with in-justice?
We know that we can not loose our justification - eternal salvation - so why do anything?
Micah said what Paul confirmed to the Roman church.
Because God did all that was needed to save you from eternal condemnation - under God’s law, you may as well and will want to do what is right.
You want to do Justice.
How?
Obey the words of the Bible.
This includes knowing what the Bible says.
It also includes obeying the law of the land up to that point where the law of the land goes against the law of God.
How are you doing on:
Taxes, e-tolls, speed limits, traffic lights…?
2. Love Kindness
Kindness is a command because kindness only comes naturally when we like someone.
How about in traffic, in the queue at the licensing office, on the phone with the telemarketer?
Kindness as what God is towards you every day.
We could do better, and be better at being good witnesses of who God is by being kind.
Love kindness means to default to kindness in every situation.
Only be un-kind if kindness does not help.
3. Walk humbly
This verse is convincing:
James 4:
God’s kindness causes Him to give more grace - God does that by opposing pride and giving more grace to the humble.
When you walk humbly before God, He gives more grace.
What does “humble” look like?
You don’t always know better.
You don’t always want to be the centre of attention.
You listen in order to understand.
You do what Peter said:
Again, it is a command because humility does not come naturally, even to Christians.
Charles Spurgeon said: “Each person has a choice between being humble or being humbled”.
How will you know if you are walking humbly?
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