This week seems like nearly every week anymore, moments of great faith and delight intermingled with dashed hopes, anxious moments of wondering what is next. Yet, why? I know God is in Control. Because of that I know the final outcome. Victory is ours in Jesus. So, then why are there those moments of my wanting to know the play by play? How do we really stand faithful to God when evil surrounds us on every side? We know that we are assured His promises are all amen and yes in Jesus. There will be hard times, but He is our rock and our fortress. Yet, each day there are new trials to overcome. So, how can I really stand faithful to God in such trials?
There are the ever-increasing aches and pains throughout my body. Nothing works as it did a year ago and time clicks by faster than ever. Worse than that is the steady constant noise of evil surrounding me blaring from devices of many kinds and the steady increase of Godliness in our government, our media and at every turn. Furthermore, there is the withdrawal of our churches from truth, seeking money, power, and numbers rather than truth or righteousness.
As we study the scripture we know, we are not the first generation in this situation. Many have come before us. That is particularly true as we open once more the scriptures of yet another prophet to the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah- Micah. Studying God’s word helps us to recognize what was written in Ecclesiastes 1:9.
9 That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
And there is nothing new under the sun.
Micah was One who Had to Really Stand Faithful to God
Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Jonah. He prophesied to both the Northern Kingdom and to Judah. His writings divided into 3 major sections. Chapters 1-2 outlined the message that judgment would come rightfully because the people had broken the covenant laid out in Deuteronomy 28-29 There was clearly outlined the blessings if they obeyed God’s commands and the curses if they did not. As the younger generation prepared to enter the promised land, Moses was very specific in his instructions given from God. Remember they knew what had happened to their parents who failed to follow God’s commands. Furthermore, they had all the rich history of Genesis, being taught what it was to really stand faithful to God and the curses if not. Now it would be up to them.
Furthermore, in Deuteronomy God through Moses instructed them that ever Sabbath day was to be dedicated to studying God’s word, teaching it the children, and worshipping God. The priests were to study continuously. Then on each 7th year, the people were to be gathered together and the entire scripture was to be read to all. It was the year they were to allow their land to rest while God provides.
God always places the greatest responsibility on those who are the leaders and those who are the priests (or preachers). The people also are to blame if they follow the directions of the bad leaders and preachers, for each of us are accountable to God for ourselves. But, as to the leaders, Micah spoke directly to them in Micah 3:1-3.
Micah 3 (NKJV) Evil Surrounds the Leadership
And I said:
“Hear now, O heads of Jacob,
And you rulers of the house of Israel:
Is it not for you to know justice?
2 You who hate good and love evil;
Who strip the skin from My people,
And the flesh from their bones;
3 Who also eat the flesh of My people,
Flay their skin from them,
Break their bones,
And chop them in pieces
Like meat for the pot,
Like flesh in the caldron.”
4 Then they will cry to the Lord,
But He will not hear them;
He will even hide His face from them at that time,
Because they have been evil in their deeds.
Pretty harsh similes. But is it not what leadership does when it strips humans of their dignity. Stealing and robbing the morale of those who want to follow God—calling them names and pushing agendas into the media that surrounds our very being. You cannot go anywhere or turn on a show without hearing God’s name being used in vain. Splitting the family unit apart and saying parents have no rights to teach their children? So, what are we to do to remain faithful?
What about the Priests or our preachers?
Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets
Who make my people stray;
Who chant “Peace”
While they chew with their teeth,
But who prepare war against him
Who puts nothing into their mouths:
6 “Therefore you shall have night without vision,
And you shall have darkness without divination;
The sun shall go down on the prophets,
And the day shall be dark for them.
7 So the seers shall be ashamed,
And the diviners abashed;
Indeed they shall all cover their lips;
For there is no answer from God.”
Remember what were the priests commanded to do to Stand faithful?
They were to read the law daily and teach it. It was absolutely imperative that every 7 years the priests were to gather all the people together and to read the complete law. Essentially all would hear and beyond that they were to teach them regularly.
9 So Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel. 10 And Moses commanded them, saying: “At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of release, at the Feast of Tabernacles, 11 when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12 Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully observe all the words of this law, 13 and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess.” Deuteronomy 31:9-13 (NKJV
So, How Do We Stand Faithful?
Much like Micah, we must know the truth. For us to do that we must study the word. Micah had to know the law as we must also know. Our only weapon is the Word of God, wielded with the help of the Holy Spirit.
But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord,
And of justice and might,
To declare to Jacob his transgression
And to Israel his sin.
9 Now hear this,
You heads of the house of Jacob
And rulers of the house of Israel,
Who abhor justice
And pervert all equity,
10 Who build up Zion with bloodshed
And Jerusalem with iniquity:
11 Her heads judge for a bribe,
Her priests teach for pay,
And her prophets divine for money.
Yet they lean on the Lord, and say,
“Is not the Lord among us?
No harm can come upon us.”
12 Therefore because of you
Zion shall be plowed like a field,
Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins,
And the mountain of the temple
Like the bare hills of the forest.
Secondly, to stand faithful when evil surrounds
We must remember the truth. God is Sovereign. All of this is merely bumps in the road to Glory with Him. This life is brief compared to eternity. That is what Micah reminds us of next week in Chapters 4-5. That was the secret that kept Daniel faithful in a land where evil surrounds. Keep our eyes focused on Him.
So How Are We to Stand Faithful to God
- Study the word every day. That is your blueprint and it is your sword against the world.
- Always remember God’s Promises are true
- Hold fast to Steadfast Joy—What do I mean? Momentary joy is not what you need for it is based on a lie. Steadfast joy is based on 3 major principals
- God IS Sovereign, Omnipotent, Perfect Righteousness, Justice, and He rewards those who diligently seek Him. That is faith. When you know this: you do not run in fear or fall apart when things turn upside down. Hebrews 11:6
- Know Your purpose as outlined in the prayer of Jesus recorded in John 17. The purpose for your existence is to be enveloped in God’s love (John 17:23), showered with His Joy (John 17:13), and that He might share His glory with you. He does not need your or me to save another’s soul. That He can do all by Himself and that is His greatest act of Glory. Therefore, when He allows you or me to be a part of that act, He has shared His Glory with us.
- Know who you are. Ephesians 1-3 clearly outlines that we are His Beloved, Redeemed, Chosen Child, Heir of the Kingdom, endowed with power from on High, sealed by the Holy Spirit eternally, Servant to Him by choice, Mighty Warrior, endowed with special gifts for the Kingdom. With that resume, why do we ever feel down or depressed?
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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DISCLOSURES
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Credits
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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