We Still Need a Good Ruler
Series: WHY DO WE STILL NEED CHRISTMAS
Speaker: James Barnett
Date: 14th December 2019
Passage: Micah 5:1-15
00:00:00 --> 00:00:08 corrupt leadership, justice not for the poor, but only for the wealthy.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:12 The culture had left its origins in God's word.
00:00:13 --> 00:00:16 Those who were supposed to be teaching God's word had sold out.
00:00:17 --> 00:00:20 Whatever you wanted to hear, you could hear,
00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 and you could buy it as long as you had enough money.
00:00:24 --> 00:00:28 The middle class, the poor, are being squeezed out.
00:00:28 --> 00:00:30 They were being ripped off.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 Their houses, their properties were being stolen.
00:00:33 --> 00:00:34 There was war.
00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 There was fighting from outside and inside,
00:00:37 --> 00:00:39 leaving some to ask,
00:00:39 --> 00:00:46 why won't the leaders do something to help the people that they are in charge to help?
00:00:47 --> 00:00:49 I'm not talking about anything happening in Australia.
00:00:50 --> 00:00:53 I'm not talking about anything happening in the last hundred years.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:56 I'm talking about Micah the prophet's time.
00:00:56 --> 00:01:00 He was around hundreds of years before Jesus was born.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:03 There was a leadership crisis in Judah.
00:01:04 --> 00:01:08 Those in leadership were failing God's people,
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 and there were devastating consequences.
00:01:11 --> 00:01:14 People were yearning for a good leader.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 Someone that wasn't corrupt to lead them.
00:01:20 --> 00:01:23 A leader to stand up in God's strength.
00:01:23 --> 00:01:29 Because leadership always faces corruption because we are sinful people.
00:01:30 --> 00:01:32 It's not just the cry of Micah's generation.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:36 It's actually every period in history, including our own,
00:01:37 --> 00:01:42 that we are people who are heavily influenced by those who lead us.
00:01:43 --> 00:01:46 The reality is Micah's time is not that different to our time.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 New South Wales is on fire.
00:01:50 --> 00:01:52 Our interest rates are hurting many people.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:57 People question whether our education system is failing our children.
00:01:58 --> 00:02:01 Housing is hard for the next generation to buy into.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:05 And Sydney is divided into ethnic backgrounds and social preferences.
00:02:07 --> 00:02:11 So sometimes when we look at the leaders around us,
00:02:11 --> 00:02:13 it can lead us to question,
00:02:13 --> 00:02:17 why won't the leaders do something for the people?
00:02:17 --> 00:02:22 People in all levels of leadership are susceptible to accusations of corruption,
00:02:23 --> 00:02:27 infighting, bribery, and being influenced by outside parties.
00:02:27 --> 00:02:31 It makes us yearn for good leadership.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:38 Someone to lead us out of this mess for a leader who can't be bought and corrupted.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:43 Now, in one sense, it can be easy to blame those in leadership at higher levels.
00:02:44 --> 00:02:47 But the reality is that many of us are leaders too,
00:02:47 --> 00:02:52 whether we are parents or older siblings, a boss at work,
00:02:52 --> 00:02:55 even if we are just influential in our friendship group.
00:02:55 --> 00:02:58 Many of us are leaders.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:03 And we can desire to influence and lead in the right way.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:05 Now, you might be thinking,
00:03:05 --> 00:03:09 didn't James just get up after a little Christmas video asking,
00:03:09 --> 00:03:10 why do we still need Christmas?
00:03:10 --> 00:03:11 Isn't this supposed to be a Christmas talk?
00:03:13 --> 00:03:17 But we will see that Jesus is, of course, the leader that we are longing for.
00:03:17 --> 00:03:22 Even though we don't often see Jesus as a leader,
00:03:22 --> 00:03:25 far more often we consider him, at this time of year,
00:03:25 --> 00:03:27 Jesus is the cute little baby.
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 He's a person.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:30 He's a saviour.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:37 But Christmas is going to help us understand what kind of leader Jesus is
00:03:37 --> 00:03:38 and how important he is.
00:03:39 --> 00:03:43 And we're going to see that as we go through this prophecy from Micah.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:48 So Micah, he was a prophet to God's southern kingdom,
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 the southern kingdom of Judah.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 This is after the time of King David and King Solomon.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:57 In King David and King Solomon's time, Israel was united,
00:03:57 --> 00:04:01 but then it was divided into the north and into the south,
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 the northern kingdom of Israel, the southern kingdom of Judah.
00:04:04 --> 00:04:08 And the northern kingdom was attacked and enslaved by the Assyrians.
00:04:08 --> 00:04:10 We just saw reference to the Assyrians in the Bible reading.
00:04:10 --> 00:04:14 And during this time, the Assyrians have come down.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 They've attacked and enslaved the northern kingdom.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:19 And the southern kingdom is there shaking in their boots.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 The king, Hezekiah, at the time, he is worried.
00:04:24 --> 00:04:25 He is not trusting God.
00:04:26 --> 00:04:29 Instead, he decides to find some allies.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:31 He's going to go and find the Egyptians,
00:04:32 --> 00:04:35 find some other armies to bolster,
00:04:35 --> 00:04:38 because Hezekiah, the king of the southern kingdom of Judah,
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 wasn't trusting that God would protect them.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:46 It wasn't just that the king was fearful and not trusting God,
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 but the whole fabric of society was being torn apart.
00:04:50 --> 00:04:53 The land of Judah was the promised land.
00:04:53 --> 00:04:56 This is where God's people would be blessed when they followed God,
00:04:57 --> 00:04:58 and when they obeyed him,
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 when they cared for the widow,
00:05:00 --> 00:05:02 when they looked after the orphan and the oppressed.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:06 And Judah had been richly blessed.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:08 They had grown rich.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:10 And as they grew rich,
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 it led to a callousness of heart,
00:05:13 --> 00:05:16 to theft and a disregard for God's law.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 And so they start to rip each other off.
00:05:19 --> 00:05:21 As the leaders become corrupt,
00:05:21 --> 00:05:23 so too the people.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:26 Instead of working against a commercializing of culture,
00:05:27 --> 00:05:27 they give in,
00:05:28 --> 00:05:29 and they, just like today,
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 become all about material possessions.
00:05:32 --> 00:05:35 So the fabric of society was being destroyed.
00:05:36 --> 00:05:40 Society that was built on the care and protection of God's people,
00:05:41 --> 00:05:42 people just like them,
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 it's being destroyed.
00:05:44 --> 00:05:45 They're eating one another.
00:05:46 --> 00:05:50 Compassionate generosity because of God's generosity to this people
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 who He's saved out of Egypt,
00:05:52 --> 00:05:52 brought into this land,
00:05:53 --> 00:05:53 built them up.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:57 Instead of responding out of compassion and generosity to that,
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 it just becomes,
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 I'm the most important.
00:06:01 --> 00:06:03 I've got to build up my little kingdom.
00:06:05 --> 00:06:06 And so the rich get richer,
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 and the poor get poorer.
00:06:09 --> 00:06:10 It starts with those in leadership,
00:06:11 --> 00:06:12 the prophets,
00:06:12 --> 00:06:12 the priests,
00:06:12 --> 00:06:13 and the rulers.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 Let me read from a little earlier in Micah,
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18 from chapter 3, verse 11.
00:06:18 --> 00:06:21 Her leaders judge for a bribe,
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 her priests teach for a price,
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 and her prophets tell fortunes for money.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:32 How could a weak or poor person ever get justice,
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 if justice can be bought?
00:06:35 --> 00:06:39 Priests were teaching people whatever the people wanted to be taught,
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40 whatever they could be bought.
00:06:41 --> 00:06:44 Instead of bringing God's word to people's lives,
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 and calling them to repent and follow God,
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 they were taking money,
00:06:47 --> 00:06:48 saying,
00:06:48 --> 00:06:48 don't worry,
00:06:49 --> 00:06:50 everything's fine.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 You just carry on with the way you're going,
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 as long as you keep giving me money.
00:06:54 --> 00:06:56 Everything is all right.
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 And the prophets,
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 who were there to call kings to account,
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 to warn people about their actions,
00:07:04 --> 00:07:04 well,
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 they've become fortune tellers,
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 reading crystal balls for dollars.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:11 Can you imagine
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 that if Steve,
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 our senior minister's absence,
00:07:16 --> 00:07:16 that we,
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 the staff team,
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 became just a little corrupt?
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 Just a little corrupt.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 Can you imagine,
00:07:23 --> 00:07:24 who can I pick on?
00:07:24 --> 00:07:24 I'll pick on Soren.
00:07:24 --> 00:07:25 Thank you, Soren.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 Imagine if Soren wanted to come up
00:07:27 --> 00:07:28 and confess a sin to me,
00:07:29 --> 00:07:32 and he wanted to be encouraged that God forgives him,
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 and he wanted some assistance
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 and help to change his action,
00:07:37 --> 00:07:37 and I said,
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 don't worry, brother,
00:07:38 --> 00:07:41 the only change you need is a $50 note.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 Pop it in there,
00:07:43 --> 00:07:43 and you know what,
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 God will deal with it.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 Don't worry about that.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 Just a little bit of corruption.
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 Don't do that, by the way.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 We'll confess your sin.
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 That part's okay.
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 And maybe with Nick,
00:07:55 --> 00:07:56 maybe let's just say Nick,
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 just became a little,
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 just a little bit corrupt.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 Instead of choosing songs
00:08:02 --> 00:08:05 that enable us as a congregation
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 to praise God
00:08:07 --> 00:08:08 that are connected with
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 where we're going in the service
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 and as a church,
00:08:11 --> 00:08:12 glorifying God,
00:08:13 --> 00:08:16 Nick instead started taking donations
00:08:16 --> 00:08:19 to the Buy Nick a New Guitar scheme.
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 And you know,
00:08:22 --> 00:08:22 do you know what,
00:08:23 --> 00:08:23 you know,
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 if you want to choose a song next week,
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 you can just donate to that scheme.
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 If you want to choose all four of the songs next week,
00:08:29 --> 00:08:29 well,
00:08:29 --> 00:08:32 there's a bumper donation price for that.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 I don't see Nick shaking his head.
00:08:34 --> 00:08:39 Imagine if we just became a little bit corrupt.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:42 That would have devastating consequences.
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 Those in leadership of the church
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 who were supposed to know the law
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 and God became corrupt.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 And so it's no wonder
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 that the people of Israel,
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 of Judah,
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 become corrupted by riches too.
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 From chapter 2, verse 1.
00:09:00 --> 00:09:03 Woe to those who plan iniquity,
00:09:03 --> 00:09:06 to those who plot evil on their beds.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 At mornings light,
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 they carry it out
00:09:08 --> 00:09:10 because it is in their power to do it.
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 They covet fields
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 and they seize them
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 and houses and take them.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 They defraud people of their homes.
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 They rob them of their inheritance.
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 This is a picture
00:09:19 --> 00:09:21 of the rich getting richer.
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 They're stealing the middle class
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 and the poor's things.
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 They're stealing their houses,
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 their properties,
00:09:29 --> 00:09:29 their fields,
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 their inheritance.
00:09:30 --> 00:09:33 Those who have something to survive on,
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 it is all being taken by the rich.
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 Those who have power.
00:09:38 --> 00:09:41 This whole nation is yearning
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 for good leadership.
00:09:44 --> 00:09:46 All those who should be leading,
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 the prophets,
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 the priests,
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 the rulers,
00:09:50 --> 00:09:52 they have all become corrupt.
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 This is a desperate
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 and terrible situation.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 It needs something drastic to happen.
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 It's not going to be fixed
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02 with an election,
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 the king dying,
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 a new king coming in,
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 or just a protest.
00:10:06 --> 00:10:09 This needs divine intervention.
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 As I've read about these leaders
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 who became corrupt
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 in Micah's time
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 and seeing the justice system
00:10:18 --> 00:10:20 which favours those who have money,
00:10:21 --> 00:10:21 to see the rich
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 who are stealing
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 from the middle class
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 and the poor,
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 I can't help but think
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 of the situation
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 in many parts of this world,
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 including Sydney.
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 Just like in Judah's time,
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 we too have a heritage
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 following the Lord.
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 But I wonder
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 if our culture
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 has chased
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 commercial
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 and material gain
00:10:41 --> 00:10:44 and we have fled the Lord.
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 Into this context,
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 Micah prophesies.
00:10:49 --> 00:10:51 He calls on the people
00:10:51 --> 00:10:51 to repent
00:10:51 --> 00:10:53 with one of the most famous verses
00:10:53 --> 00:10:53 from Micah,
00:10:53 --> 00:10:55 from chapter 6, verse 8.
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 He calls on people
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 to act justly
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 and to love mercy
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 and to walk humbly
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 with your God.
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 And against those
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 abuses of leadership,
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 the kings who have been born
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 into the riches
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 who have failed,
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 he prophesies
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 about a ruler
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 who would come.
00:11:15 --> 00:11:15 He prophesies
00:11:15 --> 00:11:17 about a promised leader.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 From chapter 5, verse 2.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:22 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 though you are small
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 among the clans of Judah,
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 out of you
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 will come for me
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 one who will be ruler
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 over Israel,
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 whose origins
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 are from of old,
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 from ancient times.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:33 Okay,
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 now it starts
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 sounding like
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 a Christmas talk.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 We get a word
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 of Bethlehem.
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 That sounds familiar.
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 The new leader
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 would come from Bethlehem.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 It's obviously Jesus.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 Many people
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 have heard of Bethlehem.
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 What do we think
00:11:48 --> 00:11:48 when we think
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 of the town of Bethlehem?
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 Give me some words.
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 Little, thank you.
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 Oh, little town of Bethlehem.
00:11:55 --> 00:11:55 What else do we think
00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 about the town of Bethlehem?
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 Manger.
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 Sorry, what was the other one?
00:12:01 --> 00:12:01 Manger?
00:12:02 --> 00:12:02 Did three people
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 just say manger
00:12:03 --> 00:12:03 at the same time?
00:12:04 --> 00:12:04 Manger.
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 Okay, manger is the food trough
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 of the animal
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 that Jesus was placed in.
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 What else do we think
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 about Bethlehem?
00:12:12 --> 00:12:14 Yeah, Jesus' birth, sorry.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 Shepherds.
00:12:16 --> 00:12:16 Busy.
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 Busy.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 Yep, yeah, it's very busy.
00:12:18 --> 00:12:20 So when the census was taken,
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 Bethlehem is full of people.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 And so we have a picture
00:12:24 --> 00:12:26 of what Bethlehem is.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 You know, next week
00:12:27 --> 00:12:29 we'll see a bit more
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 about Bethlehem.
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 Come up four o'clock
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 for our Christmas carols
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 to find out more
00:12:33 --> 00:12:33 about what happens
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 in Bethlehem.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 But we know the story
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 of Bethlehem.
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 We know the nativity scene.
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 We drive past it.
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 It's on people's houses
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 if you've been
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 Christmas-like looking.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:44 But the people
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 of Micah's time
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 didn't really know
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 anything about Bethlehem.
00:12:49 --> 00:12:51 This is not a picture
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 that Micah is presenting.
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 Bethlehem was
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 a little-known town.
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 It's not even mentioned
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 in the book of Joshua
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 where he lists
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 all of the towns.
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 It's not even in the list
00:13:02 --> 00:13:02 of the towns.
00:13:03 --> 00:13:05 This is an unimportant
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 backwater town
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 that had little significance.
00:13:08 --> 00:13:11 Even Micah says
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 that they are small
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 among the clans of Judah.
00:13:14 --> 00:13:16 But out of this
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 insignificant,
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 know-nothing town
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 would come a ruler.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 Not born into riches
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 like the rest
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 of Israel's rulers.
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 He would come
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 in humility.
00:13:29 --> 00:13:29 And we get this
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 really interesting phrase.
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 Whose origins
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 are from of old.
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 From ancient times.
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 This is a really
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 interesting phrase.
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 It has connections
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 with the historic kings.
00:13:42 --> 00:13:42 So it has connections
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 with King David
00:13:43 --> 00:13:45 who was from Bethlehem.
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 But it's also used
00:13:47 --> 00:13:49 elsewhere in the Bible
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 to describe God himself
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 as God who was
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 from ancient times
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 as in from everlasting.
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 And so Micah
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 could be alluding
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 to the fact that
00:13:58 --> 00:14:00 this expected ruler
00:14:00 --> 00:14:02 is going to be
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 a supernatural leader.
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 That that is what
00:14:05 --> 00:14:05 is needed
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 into this corrupt
00:14:06 --> 00:14:08 and desperate time.
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 God himself
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 to come and lead.
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 Micah continues
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 to describe
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 what this ruler
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 looks like
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 in verse 4.
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 He will stand
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 and shepherd his flock
00:14:19 --> 00:14:21 in the strength
00:14:21 --> 00:14:21 of the Lord
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 in the majesty
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 of the name
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 of the Lord his God.
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 Again,
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 like King David
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 he would come
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 and be a shepherd
00:14:28 --> 00:14:30 for the people.
00:14:30 --> 00:14:32 Strong and fit
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 unflinching
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 in leadership
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 against all of those
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 who would come
00:14:36 --> 00:14:36 and attack him.
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 He would stand
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 under every pressure
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 and peril.
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 He will be resolute
00:14:41 --> 00:14:43 making sure that
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 God's people
00:14:43 --> 00:14:45 aren't fleeced again
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 but fed.
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 Cared for
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 not caged.
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 And he is fully devoted
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 to following the Lord.
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 Verse 4 again
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 the second half.
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 And they will live securely
00:14:56 --> 00:14:58 for then his greatness
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 will reach
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 to the ends
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 of the earth.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 Under this leader
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 God's people
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 will live securely.
00:15:04 --> 00:15:06 Security is not found
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 in money
00:15:07 --> 00:15:09 or technology
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 or status.
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 It's found
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 trusting in the shepherd
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 who guides
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 his sheep.
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 And his territory
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 is not just going
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 to be Israel.
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 It's not going
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 to be just
00:15:20 --> 00:15:20 the Middle East.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 It is going
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 to go to the ends
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 of the earth.
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 Again,
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 this is lifting
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 people's eyes
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 to a ruler
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 not just being
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 the ruler
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 of Israel
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 but a supernatural
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 leader
00:15:32 --> 00:15:34 of the whole world.
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 And Micah
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 describes this ruler
00:15:36 --> 00:15:38 as that he would
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 be our peace.
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 It's not that he
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 would bring peace
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 but that he
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 embodies peace.
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 He is
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 peace
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 himself.
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 Micah has
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52 complete confidence
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 for the future
00:15:52 --> 00:15:54 that when this
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 ruler comes
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 all will be well.
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 When this leader
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 is in charge
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 God's people
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 will find
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 a new unity.
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 They will go
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 from infighting
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 and corruption
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 and theft
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 and bribery
00:16:05 --> 00:16:07 to peace
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 and security.
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 Micah
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 builds up
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 such an
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 awesome picture
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 of this coming
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 king.
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 He would be
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 Davidic
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 as in he would
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 be like King
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 David.
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 He would care
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 and protect
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 and lead
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 and rule
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 in purity
00:16:22 --> 00:16:24 in God's
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 majesty
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 with God.
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 This is a
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 very different
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 picture
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 of the leaders
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 that they had.
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 A different
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 humble
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 king.
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 People are
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 yearning for
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 that.
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 I think
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 this is one
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 of the main
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 reasons why
00:16:42 --> 00:16:44 Donald Trump
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 was elected
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 president.
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 Now I'm
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 sure that
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 there are
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 many people
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 here who
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 are far
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 more into
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 politics than
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 me and
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 know far
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 more about
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 this topic
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 than me
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 but it
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 seems to
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 me that
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 one of
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 the reasons
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 why Trump
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 was elected
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 president
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 because he
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 was so
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 different
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 and he
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 certainly
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 is a
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 different
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 person
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 but he
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 appealed
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 to the
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 working
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 class
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 who felt
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 downtrodden.
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 He saw
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 that the
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 leadership
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 of the
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 United
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 States
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 was corrupt
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 and so
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 when he
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 came
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 Trump
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 was promising
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 that he
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 would get
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 rid of
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 corruption
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 and that
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 he would
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 make
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 America
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 great
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 again.
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 No
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 wonder this
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 was appealing
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 to so many
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 people.
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 People who
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 see corruption
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 in leadership
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 somebody comes
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 along and
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 says you're
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 going to
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 get rid of
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 the corruption
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 yes I'm
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 for that
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 you're going
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 to make
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 this country
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 great well
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 I've always
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 wanted this
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 country yes
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 let's do
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 that.
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 But Trump
00:17:35 --> 00:17:37 is only a
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 man a
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 very sinful
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 man whether
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 or not he
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 makes America
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 great time
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 will tell but
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 even if he
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 does it's
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 only for a
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 short period
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 of time.
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 In Micah's
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 time and in
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 our time we
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 need more
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 than just a
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 strong leader
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 we need
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 a good
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 leader.
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 And this
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 is who
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 Jesus is.
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 He is the
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 leader who
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 came to
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 not just
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 make one
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 country great
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 he came to
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 make the
00:18:05 --> 00:18:07 world right
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 again.
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 This is why
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 we need
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 Christmas because
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 it shows us
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 what kind of
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 leader Jesus
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 is.
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 Three things
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 three characteristics
00:18:17 --> 00:18:19 that this
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 part of
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 Micah helps
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 us to
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 understand who
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 Jesus is.
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 Three things
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 that he is
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 humble that he
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 works from God's
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 strength and that
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 he knows our
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 situation.
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 Firstly he is
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 humble.
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 He doesn't come
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 like these
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 expected kings.
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 He doesn't come
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 to riches he
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 comes humbly.
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 He's born in
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 that backwater
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 little town of
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 Bethlehem.
00:18:40 --> 00:18:42 He's born yes
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 from the line of
00:18:43 --> 00:18:45 kings but he is
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 from ancient
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 times.
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 He is from
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 God's line.
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 He who is
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 eternal has
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 been made
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 temporary.
00:18:54 --> 00:18:56 He is in a
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 physical body
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 bound by
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 time.
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 And so Jesus
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 comes in
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 humility.
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 He didn't
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 come to
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 take, to
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 rule, to
00:19:05 --> 00:19:07 rule and
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 then fleece
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 his own
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 pockets.
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 He came,
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 he didn't
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 come to steal
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 and take, he
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 came to obey
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 God.
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 And to
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 become the
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 king of the
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 world but
00:19:17 --> 00:19:19 only by obeying
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 God through his
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 death and
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 resurrection.
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 Jesus knows
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 who he is, he
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 knows his
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 place and
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 unlike many
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 other leaders
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 he's not
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 grasping for
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 more and
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 more power.
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 He knows
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 that God
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 will give
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 him power
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 at the
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 right time.
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 So Jesus
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 comes in
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 humility.
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 Second,
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 the second
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 person of
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 the Trinity
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 doesn't come
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 with all the
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 pomp and
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 ceremony of
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 any other
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 ruler.
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 You know
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 whenever a
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 foreign
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 dignitary comes
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 to a
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 country, how
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 much security
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 and effort
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 there is that
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 goes into
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 making sure
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 their arrival
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 is just
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 right.
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 I really,
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 for some
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 reason,
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 really enjoy
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 the royals at
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 the moment.
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 Prince Harry,
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 the whole,
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 his marriage,
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 I really enjoy
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 that.
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 But that is so
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 much pomp and
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 ceremony.
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 Jesus doesn't
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 come like
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 that.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 He comes
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 to a
00:20:11 --> 00:20:13 place that
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 he would
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 rule as
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 a weak
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 little baby
00:20:16 --> 00:20:18 whose parents
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 were a
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 tradie and
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 an unmarried
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 teenager.
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 He is
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 dependent upon
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 God's power
00:20:24 --> 00:20:26 and as Micah
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 prophesied, he
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 would lead and
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 shepherd us in
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 God's strength
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 and not his
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 own.
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 And because he
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 is trusting in
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 somebody else's
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 strength, not
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 his own,
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 Jesus is
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 totally
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 incorruptible.
00:20:36 --> 00:20:38 He never
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 sinned, he
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 couldn't be
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 bought, he
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 couldn't be
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 bribed, he
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 didn't give in
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 to sexual
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 temptation when
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 offered.
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 Jesus doesn't
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 lead to get
00:20:48 --> 00:20:50 rich and to
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 give in to
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 those who
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 could bribe
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 him.
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 Jesus leads
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 in God's
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 strength and
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 it just gives
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 him this
00:20:56 --> 00:20:58 wonderful ability
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 to be
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 incorruptible
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 and be the
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 leader who
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 we need.
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 And finally,
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 Jesus knows
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 what our
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 situation is
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 like.
00:21:05 --> 00:21:07 He actually
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 came and
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 dwelt as a
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 person.
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 He knows
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 our situation.
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 He came as
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 a human to
00:21:13 --> 00:21:15 save, to
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 redeem and
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 lead us.
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 He can
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 empathise with
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 us with our
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 pain and our
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 problems.
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 He is not a
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 leader who was
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 born with a
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 silver spoon in
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 his mouth.
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 He was not
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 sent to the
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 best schools.
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 He was not
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 on a fast
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 track to
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 political high
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 places.
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 He was born
00:21:31 --> 00:21:33 in humility
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 and he
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 was lifted
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 high in
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 his death
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 on the
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 cross.
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 Have you
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 ever seen
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 the television
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 show
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 Undercover
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 Boss?
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 This is a
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 series of
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 TV shows
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 where they
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 take someone
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 very high in
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 an organisation
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 and they put
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 them down
00:21:50 --> 00:21:52 working at
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 KFC,
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 working drive
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 through,
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 and it's
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 often eye
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 opening for
00:21:56 --> 00:21:58 the boss
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 because they
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 go,
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 oh, I
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 didn't really
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 know the
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 plight of
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 my people,
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 I didn't
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 really know
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 how hard
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 it was to
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 do this
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 job,
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 I didn't
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 realise what
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 a terrible
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 boss I
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 was,
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 you know,
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 I really
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 like this
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 show,
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 often the
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 bosses become
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 better and
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 they get to
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 help their
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 people.
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 Christmas
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 reminds us
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 that Jesus
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 is not a
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 distant leader
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 who is ruling
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 in some
00:22:19 --> 00:22:21 CEO of some
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 high tower
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 off in some
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 business park.
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 Jesus is not
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 a ruler who
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 is ruling
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 from far
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 away who
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 does not
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 know what
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 it's like.
00:22:30 --> 00:22:32 He knows
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 our issues
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 intimately.
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 Unlike
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 Trump,
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 Jesus has
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 fulfilled the
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 promise to
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 make the
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 world great
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 again,
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 to make it
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 right again.
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 Not by
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 making himself
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 look great,
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 but by his
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 death and
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 resurrection.
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 He has
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 ascended to
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 the throne
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 above all
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 thrones.
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 He has
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 brought us
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 back into
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 relationship
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 with God.
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 Jesus is
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 the only one
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 that can be
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 trusted to
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 rule.
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 He's not
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 able to
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 be bought,
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 bribed,
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 or beaten.
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 He has
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 triumphed and
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 in his
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 victory he
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 leads us
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 and he
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 feeds us.
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 And he
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 is now in
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 control of
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 the world.
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 So how do
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 we respond
00:23:15 --> 00:23:17 to those
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 in leadership?
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 Much like
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 Micah, we
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 can call
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 them to
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 account for
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 their behavior
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 and call
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 them to
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 model their
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 leadership on
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 something
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 greater.
00:23:26 --> 00:23:28 for Micah
00:23:28 --> 00:23:30 himself, he
00:23:30 --> 00:23:32 called the
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 leaders to
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 repent and
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 to turn
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 back.
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 And for
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 Hezekiah, the
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 king of
00:23:37 --> 00:23:39 Judah, Hezekiah
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 did repent.
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 He did
00:23:42 --> 00:23:44 not go with
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 those armies
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 that he
00:23:45 --> 00:23:47 initially decided
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 to go with.
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 He trusted in
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 God.
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 And Judah
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 was saved.
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 Assyria did
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 not get through
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 the gates into
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 Jerusalem.
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 But it was
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 only temporary.
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 Other leaders
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 would come and
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 they failed.
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 But we
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 can be
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 calling our
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 leaders to
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 account.
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 We should be
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 following Paul's
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 advice to his
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 protege, Timothy.
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 In 1 Timothy
00:24:11 --> 00:24:13 chapter 2, he
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 calls Timothy
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 to do this
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 very thing.
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 He says,
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 I urge then,
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 first of all,
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 that petitions,
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 prayers,
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 intercession,
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 and thanksgiving
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 be made for
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 all people.
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 for kings
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 and all
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 those in
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 authority,
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 that we
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 may live
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 peaceful and
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 quiet lives
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 in all
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 godliness
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 and holiness.
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 So just
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 like Micah,
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 we should be
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 praying for
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 those in
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 leadership.
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 Because leaders
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 do have a
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 great influence
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 on us and
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 on the
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 direction of
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 our country.
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 Be praying
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 for Australia.
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 Be praying
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 for what is
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 happening more
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 broadly in the
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 world and for
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 our leaders here
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 at church.
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 For me,
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 I find it
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 very easy
00:24:54 --> 00:24:56 to ignore
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 what is
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 happening in
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 politics in
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 Australia.
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 I'm not sure
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 if you enjoy
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 Australian
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 politics,
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 but I find
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 it easy to
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 just ignore
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 it.
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 But let me
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 encourage you
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 not to do
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 that.
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 Let me
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 encourage you
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 to contact
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 your local
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 member,
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 to contact
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 your ministers
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 of parliament,
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 to implore
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 them to see
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 justice done,
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 and to get
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 rid of
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 corruption.
00:25:18 --> 00:25:21 Scott Morrison,
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 our Prime
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 Minister,
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 came out
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 this week
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 and said
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 that he
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 wanted
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 Australia to
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 be leaders
00:25:27 --> 00:25:29 in technology
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 and security.
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 And I think
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 that's great.
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 I think that's
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 a wonderful
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 thing.
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 I think it's
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 a good thing
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 to want to be
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 leaders in
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 the world
00:25:36 --> 00:25:38 like that.
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 But I would
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 love if Scott
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 Morrison came
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 out and said,
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 we want to be
00:25:42 --> 00:25:44 leaders in the
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 world of
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 compassion.
00:25:45 --> 00:25:47 we want to
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 figure out
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 how to
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 care for
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 our refugees
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 in a loving
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 and generous
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 way.
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 Wouldn't it
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 be great
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 if our
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 leaders were
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 doing that?
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 Let me
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 encourage you
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 to be
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 praying for
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 them.
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 Contact
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 them and
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 tell them
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 that you're
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 praying for
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 them.
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 Scott Morrison
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 is a
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 Christian and
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 I believe
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 he would
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 be very
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 encouraged to
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 find out
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 that you
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 were praying
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 for him.
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 Looking more
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 broadly across
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 the world,
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 we see the
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 situation in
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 Hong Kong.
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 It is a
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 terrible
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 situation at
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 the moment.
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 I'm not
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 sure if
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 you're
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 across it
00:26:17 --> 00:26:19 but there
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 are large
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 protests going
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 on and it
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 seems to be
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 at a
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 deadlock.
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 Regardless of
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 whether you
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 are for
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 those who
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 are protesting
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 or whether
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 you are
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 against those
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 who are
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 protesting,
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 this is a
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 painful situation
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 that is not
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 going to be
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 fixed very
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 easily.
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 Every day
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 it goes on,
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 it seems to
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 be deteriorating
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 further.
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 I don't know
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 what the leaders
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 of either side
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 are like,
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 I don't
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 know whether
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 they're corrupt,
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 I have no
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 knowledge of
00:26:48 --> 00:26:50 it, but I
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 also don't
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 have any
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 idea how
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 it can be
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 reconciled.
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 As Paul
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 reminds us
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 in his
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 letter to
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 Timothy,
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 we should
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 be praying
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 that God
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 would intercede
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 on behalf
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 of these
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 leaders.
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 So pray
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 for the
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 government in
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 Hong Kong
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 and in
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 China.
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 Pray for
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 those who
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 are leading
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 the protests.
00:27:09 --> 00:27:14 even what's
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 happening in
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 Europe at
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 the moment,
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 I'm not
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 sure if
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 you're across
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 the Brexit
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 deal,
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 it seems
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 there is
00:27:20 --> 00:27:22 just instability
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 in large
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 parts of our
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 world at the
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 moment.
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 Be praying
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 for them.
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 For us
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 locally here
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 as a church,
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 Steve, our
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 senior minister,
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 is on a
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 sabbatical at
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 the moment.
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 He has
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 taken some
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 time out
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 of his
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 normal work
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 to work
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 on his
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 spiritual,
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 mental,
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 and physical
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 health.
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 And for us
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 as a church,
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 it is so
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 important that
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 he is a
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 leader who
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 is spiritually
00:27:44 --> 00:27:46 well, so
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 that he does
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 not become
00:27:47 --> 00:27:49 like the
00:27:49 --> 00:27:49 leaders in
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 Micah's time,
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 so that he
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 is not trusting
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 in his
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 strength but
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 in God's
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 strength.
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 When situations
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 are desperate,
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 when political
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 leaders fail,
00:28:00 --> 00:28:00 it is a
00:28:00 --> 00:28:02 painful reminder
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 of why Jesus
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 is so
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 necessary.
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 He is the
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 leader who
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 is incorruptible,
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 who can't
00:28:09 --> 00:28:09 be bribed,
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 bought,
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 or beaten.
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 And he
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 is powerful.
00:28:13 --> 00:28:15 So we
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 shouldn't put
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 an unnecessary
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 amount of
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 trust in the
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 leaders of
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 this world.
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 They will
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 come and
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 go, they
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 will do
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 good things
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 and bad,
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 our political
00:28:24 --> 00:28:24 leaders will
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 put in new
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 taxes and
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 they will
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 cut taxes,
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 but Jesus
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 is the only
00:28:29 --> 00:28:29 one who
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 has climbed
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 to the top
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 of the
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 leadership
00:28:32 --> 00:28:34 ladder by
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 obeying
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 God
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 perfectly
00:28:35 --> 00:28:37 and dying
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 for us.
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 He paid
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 the cost
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 of our
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 sin and
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 our shame
00:28:42 --> 00:28:42 and he
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 now sits
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 above every
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 throne and
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 he will
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 return in
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 glory.
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 Christmas
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 reminds us
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 of the kind
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 of leader
00:28:51 --> 00:28:53 that Israel
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 is desperate
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 for.
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 It reminds
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 us of the
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 leader that
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 we are still
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 yearning for.
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 No one is
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 able to care
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 and to
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 lead and
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 to guide
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 us like
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 Jesus
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 is.
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 So when
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 we put
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 our trust
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 in him,
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 we will
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 not be
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 let down.
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 Let me
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 pray for
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 us.
00:29:09 --> 00:29:11 We will
00:29:11 --> 00:29:41 Thank you.