2022-07-31 Warning to Corrupt Leaders

Warning to Corrupt Leaders Micah 3 Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Jeremiah 26:18-19 18 "Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and said to all the people of Judah: 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, " 'Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.' 19 Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the LORD and entreat the favor of the LORD, and did not the LORD relent of the disaster that he had pronounced against them? But we are about to bring great disaster upon ourselves." 1. The Removal of Judah's corrupt leaders (3:1-4) Micah 3:1,2 ...Is it not for you to know justice? 2 you who hate the good and love the evil Micah 3:4 Then they will cry to the LORD, but he will not answer them; he will hide his face from them at that time, because they have made their deeds evil. Proverbs 21:13 Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered. Luke 12:33,34 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Characteristics of a Godly Leader a. Righteousness (Proverbs 16:12, Proverbs 29:2) Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan. b. Wisdom (Proverbs 8:12-16) c. Honesty (Proverbs 17:7) d. Personal Purity (Proverbs 31:3) e. Protection of the weak and defenseless (Proverbs 31:8-9) Micah 3:4 Then they will cry to the LORD, but he will not answer them; he will hide his face from them at that time, because they have made their deeds evil. 2. The removal of Judah's Prophetic Leaders (3:5-8) Micah 3:6 Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without divination. The sun shall go down on the prophets, and the day shall be black over them Micah 3:8 But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin. 3. The removal of Judah's Political, Civic, and Spiritual Leaders (3:9-12) Micah 3:10 who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity. Micah 3:11 Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money; yet they lean on the LORD and say, "Is not the LORD in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us." Galatians 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 1