Deal With Our Dark Side

Micah - Chapter 2

2 Woe to those who plan iniquity,
    to those who plot evil on their beds!
At morning’s light they carry it out
    because it is in their power to do it.
2 They covet fields and seize them,
    and houses, and take them.
They defraud people of their homes,
    they rob them of their inheritance.

3 Therefore, the Lord says:

“I am planning disaster against this people,
    from which you cannot save yourselves.
You will no longer walk proudly,
    for it will be a time of calamity.
4 In that day people will ridicule you;
    they will taunt you with this mournful song:
‘We are utterly ruined;
    my people’s possession is divided up.
He takes it from me!
    He assigns our fields to traitors.’”

5 Therefore you will have no one in the assembly of the Lord
    to divide the land by lot.

6 “Do not prophesy,” their prophets say.
    “Do not prophesy about these things;
    disgrace will not overtake us.”
7 You descendants of Jacob, should it be said,
    “Does the Lord become[a] impatient?
    Does he do such things?”

“Do not my words do good
    to the one whose ways are upright?
8 Lately my people have risen up
    like an enemy.
You strip off the rich robe
    from those who pass by without a care,
    like men returning from battle.
9 You drive the women of my people
    from their pleasant homes.
You take away my blessing
    from their children forever.
10 Get up, go away!
    For this is not your resting place,
because it is defiled,
    it is ruined, beyond all remedy.
11 If a liar and deceiver comes and says,
    ‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,’
    that would be just the prophet for this people!

12 “I will surely gather all of you, Jacob;
    I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel.
I will bring them together like sheep in a pen,
    like a flock in its pasture;
    the place will throng with people.
13 The One who breaks open the way will go up beforethem;
    they will break through the gate and go out.
Their King will pass through before them,
    the Lord at their head.”

“Deal With Our Dark Side”

CHALLENGE #2: Dealing With Our Dark Side
READ: Micah chapter 2

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
John 3:19-21

Micah’s message is one where God’s people have purposely chosen to rebel against the covenant God set up with them. They check off all the boxes for fulfilling religious routines, but they missed out on the life-changing relationship God wanted to have with them. The supposedly "godly" leaders of this time chose to substitute God's agenda for their own selfish desires. The consequences of these actions was destructive to the whole community. When we allow God to shine His presence into our lives he is able to point out those areas that are harmful to ourselves and others. You can begin the examination process by asking the following questions:
... What are you longing for right now?
... Is it coming out of our own natural desires for something that is really only about you and what you want?
OR... Are your desires coming out of your connection with God? Do you long for the things He longs for?

Psalms 23:1 states: "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want." The Psalmist truly experienced that the Lord DID fulfill his deepest needs. Our Lord Jesus wants you to experience the same thing.

Moving into God's light is one of the most courageous actions you can take in this life!