Dedicated To The Men of God Who Preach the Word of God As It Is To Men As They Are

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THE CHURCH SHALL ABIDE

Text: Micah 5:4

Introduction:

Most Christians have a very vivid idea of the suffering in Christ. We have, by faith, seen Him sweating great drops of blood in the garden of Gethsemane. We have looked on, with amazement, while He gave His back to the smiters, and His cheeks to them who plucked off the hair. With sorrowful sympathy we have followed Him through the streets of Jerusalem, weeping with the women. We have sat down to watch Him when He was fastened to the cross. We have read His cry from the cross, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" We have followed His dead body to the tomb, and seen it wrapped about with spices, and left to its lonely sleep. But, is our sight just as keen concerning the glory which did follow? Can you see Him as distinctly when on the third morning the Conqueror rises, bursting the bonds of death with which He could not be held? Can you as clearly view Him ascending up on high, leading captivity captive? Do you plainly perceive Him as He takes His seat at the right hand of the Father, henceforth, expecting until His enemies be made His footstool?

If you can go this far, then you can see what Micah saw, "And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth." Can you be as clear about the reigning Christ as you have been about the suffering Christ? The prophesy of Micah pictures Him standing in the kingdom age, but it is a glorious picture of the church. Here is the church, "And they shall abide."

Three Great Truths:

Here are three great truths about Jesus, about His church and about His reign. Here are three things about the church and how she shall abide.

I. HER STRENGTH IS NOT EARTHLY

"And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God."

A. Here is the picture of the Lord as He shall stand over Israel in that kingdom age. He will reign over His people.

Ill. According to Micah the strength comes from the Father, flowing through the King unto the people.

B. What a glorious picture we have here of our Lord. While He is now seated beside the Heavenly Father, it is through Him that the Father blesses the church on this earth. He, like a Shepherd, tenderly watches over His church.

Ill. This is why that we close our prayer with these words, "in the name of Jesus we ask these blessings."

C. The Scripture says, "He shall stand and feed." Our blessings are not to be expected from this world. They come from the "Throne Room" of heaven, bestowed upon us, not because we deserve it, but through His loving care for us. Our Lord does not close His eyes to the need of His church. He is not an unconcerned spectator of our wants. He is "feeding" His people.

1. He Will Send a Raven To Feed In The Wilderness

Elijah was in the wilderness of despair when God sent the ravens to feed him. In the wilderness of this world our Lord will feed us.

2. He Will Set A Table To Feed Among The Enemies

David said, "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies." We can feast while our enemies fight.

II. HER SOURCE IS NOT EMPTY

"And they shall abide."

A. When this day comes for Israel, she will have been scattered and abused for the last time. He will stand in her midst as her Eternal King.

Ill. This will be the day when Israel will dwell in a new-built Jerusalem, and as Hosea puts it, will sit in His presence.

B. Again we have a glorious picture of the church in this world. Because of the unseen, but most certain presence of Christ as King in the midst of His people. His church "abides." What a wonder this is.

Ill. It is perhaps the greatest miracle of all ages, that God has a church in the world. The whole history of the church is a series of miracles, a long stream of wonders. Just think of the trials the church has been subjected to, the fire, the imprisonment, banishment, slander, all these have been tried. Yes, in all them the church has been more than conquerors, through Him who loved her.

C. Can the devil and his crowd invent anything else to torment the church with? With all the false doctrines, heresy, hypocrisy, formalism, worldliness and multitudes of other hurtful things, the church still "abides" and shall "abide."

III. HER SHEPHERD IS NOT ENDING

"For now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth."

A. Israel had known the good kings and bad kings, but all had passed from the scene. But now they have the Eternal King and He shall "be great" for all eternity.

Ill. Israel mourned at the death of David for he was a great king, but now the son of David is the Eternal King. Mourning over His death will never be.

B. The third and final great blessing of the church is that we have an Eternal Shepherd loving us and watching over us. The Word says, "Now shall he be great."

Ill. He is great in the conversion of every sinner. He is great in the consecration of every saint.

SERMON BY ZENO GROCE - PASTOR WOODLAND BAPTIST CHURCH - WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - USA

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