This Week\’s Sunday School Lesson, \”What Is My Problem\”, 7/19/2015

 

WHAT IS MY PROBLEM

 

Micah 6:3-8

 

WHATS WRONG WITH ME?

V:3. \”My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me. \”

1. The Lord is asking the question, What is our problem? Why is it that we can\’t

serve the Lord and worship Him in spirit and truth?

1. The nation of Israel grew up in slavery in Egypt.
2. There were huge stone monuments to the Egyptian gods.
3. Engrained in their culture were these Egyptian gods who the Egyptians believed

controlled every aspect of human existence.

1. When the Israelites were freed from slavery, they came with these visible images of

Egyptian gods engrained in their minds.

1. They did not abandon these images, they brought them into the promise land in the

form of carved images. Ex 23:24

1. It was hard for them to abandon what they could see for a spiritual being they

could not see.

1. It was hard for the Israelites to get out of their minds idol gods who had temples

and statues built for  worship.

1. It was hard for them to replace the idol gods they could see for the Almighty

God they  could not see.

1. That is our problem today.
2. We have the visible monuments to success and fame all around us.
3. We have the mansions and limousines, parties and fashions for the rich and

the famous all around us.

1. The world has defined success as how much stuff you have and how much

money you have in your bank account.

1. What\’s my problem you ask? I have seen too much.
2. What is my problem you ask?. I have tasted too much and been involve in too

much stuff to lay it all down and wholly embraced the Almighty God.

1. God Help Me.
2. That\’s why I need a prayer life.
3. That\’s why I need intercessory prayer.
4. I need somebody praying for me, because I am slipping down the toilet .
5. Thank God for the Holy Spirit, that has sealed me until the day of redemption.

 

MY HISTORY WITH GOD

V:4. \” I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam.\”

1. The Israelites had a long history with God.
2. He was with them before they were a nation.
3. He was making promises and covenants with them before they existed.
4. God promised Abraham 430 years before they existed that his

descendants would be born in slavery and freed to enter the promise land.

1. When the Israelites came out of Egypt, God gave His people His commands.
2. He gave them Moses, their commander in chief and shepherd.
3. He gave them Aaron, their High Priest.
4. He gave them Miriam their worship and praise leader.
5. God gave Israel at Mount Sinai His commands.
6. They had all the ingredients to have some Church.
7. But they had this image in their minds of what gods they wanted to serve.
8. They had this image in their minds of what gods they wanted to trust.
9. They had the essence of God\’s glory all around them.
10. They had the evidence of God\’s love all around.
11. They had the Almighty God\’s protection and provisions daily.

3, But they couldn\’t see God because the image of the idol gods was behind them,

in them and before them all the time.

1. What was their problem? Their lust for idol worship.

 

REFLECTING ON THE GOODNESS OF GOD

V:5. \” My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember [ your journey] from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.\”

1. The Lord reacts to Satan\’s attack on our lives.
   1. God is working in the background when we are not aware of what is happening.
2. Balak, King of Moab counseled with Balaam\’s son to curse Israel.
3. While Balaam son was trying to curse Israel, God forced word of blessings out of

his mouth.

1. We really never know all that God is doing to protect and provide for us.
2. We know about the trials and tribulations that we have faced.
3. We know what God has brought us through.
4. But what about what didn\’t happen because God stood between us and the evil

forces of Satan.

1. What\’s my problem? Just not grateful enough for the presence of God in my life.

 

NOT THE CHURCH BUT IN CHURCH

V:6. \” With what shall I come before the Lord  and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? \”

1. God wants our hearts first before we ever give Him a sacrifice.
2. The Israelites were religious in keeping God\’s ceremonies.
3. They knew when, why and how to make the required sacrifices for

atonements of sins and worship.

1. Their problem was, that while they were going through the motions, their hearts

were not being changed.

1. While they were participating in the ceremonies they were not being convicted.
2. What is my problem? I like Church, but I don\’t always act like the Church.

 

GIVE YOURSELF TO CHRIST BEFORE YOU GIVE AN OFFERING

V:7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil?

Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my

soul? \”

1. It don\’t make no difference how much you offer to Lord in goods and services,

if you don\’t do it with loving respect and the fear of the Lord.

1. The Israelites came out of Egypt, rich with much livestock and gold that God

commanded the Egyptians to give them.

1. Everything the Israelites had to give, came from the Lord.
2. God is not interested in our stuff. He wants us.
3. Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, Holy and acceptable to the Lord.
4. Sin is sin, worthy of death.
5. Only a sacrifice of you is acceptable to God.
6. God wants your life dedicated to Him not your stuff.
7. Once God gets your life, you will readily give Him your stuff.

 

HOW SHOULD I ACT?  IT\’S IN THE WORD

V:8. \” He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. \”

1. Religion ought to change your lifestyle to be in tuned with God.
2. The Word of God is designed to convict out hearts.
3. Faith come by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
4. What is my problem you ask?
5. Not enough hearing to know the Word of God.
6. Not enough hearing to know the mercy of God.
7. Not enough hearing to know the Grace of God.
8. Not enough hearing to know the Love of God.
9. Not enough hearing to trust God.
10. Not enough hearing to know the forgiveness of God.
11. Not enough hearing to be grateful to God for His long suffering and

kindness.

1. Not enough hearing to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus.
2. God gives us three requirements to get right with Him.
3. Live Justly.
4. Do the right thing.
5. Treat everybody right.
6. Love mercy.
7. Be kind to others.
8. Find something to do to help someone else.
9. Have a forgiving heart.
10. Be tolerant of others.
11. Walk humbly with God.
12. God hates the proud.
13. See yourself as nothing and God as everything.
14. See others as more important than yourself.

 

What\’s My Problem?   I am listen to the wrong voices.

 

THE SOLUTION TO MY PROBLEM

V:9 \”Listen! The Lord is calling to the city —  and to fear your name is wisdom —

\”Heed the rod and the One who appointed it. \”

1. God called us out of the world, freed us from the slavery of sin to worship Him.
2. He gave us the ministry of reconciliation to draw men and women to His Son,

our redeemer.

1. We have to give ourselves to Christ to serve Him.
2. What is the solution to my problem?
3. Give up me and accept Christ.
4. Give up what I want for what God wants for me.
5. Let Christ be my role model.
6. Let the Word of God be my guide.
7. Serve the Lord with all your mind, your heart, your soul, your strength,

and be grateful to Him.

 

 

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church.