Micah 6:8 Better than I deserve

Introduction Join me in thanking God for giving me better than I deserve

1. The LORD has blessed theWell better than we deserve 6 Blessings better than we deserve God’s first blessing @theWell is the Committee

Dec 2012, retreat/conference, incubation, and formation of the Protem Committee March 2014, registered with the ROS July 2014, Sunday Worship began

God’s second blessing @theWell is Pastor Tan God’s third blessing @theWell are the people who joined in this work God’s fourth blessing is the increase in numbers

John 15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener John 15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

God’s fifth blessing is increase through joyful service God’s sixth blessing is true partnership @theWell

O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8, NLT)

2. Because the LORD blesses us better than we deserve, we do what is right Micah 2 What sorrow awaits you who lie awake at night,     thinking up evil plans. You rise at dawn and hurry to carry them out,     simply because you have the power to do so.

2. Because the LORD blesses us better than we deserve, we do what is right Micah 2 2 When you want a piece of land,     you find a way to seize it. When you want someone’s house,     you take it by fraud and violence. You cheat a man of his property,     stealing his family’s inheritance.

To do what is good refers to all of our life, not just a part of it

To do what is right refers to our daily life, towards all people alike

Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord; all the weights in the bag are of his making. (Proverbs 16:11, NIV)

Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord; all the weights in the bag are of his making. (Proverbs 16:11, NIV) God cares about honesty in the workplace; your business is his business. (Proverbs 16:11, MSG)

To do what is right involves our actions against social injustice

Micah 3 “Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of Israel Micah 3 “Listen, you leaders of Jacob,     you rulers of Israel. Should you not embrace justice, 2     you who hate good and love evil; who tear the skin from my people     and the flesh from their bones;

Micah 3 3 who eat my people’s flesh,     strip off their skin     and break their bones in pieces; who chop them up like meat for the pan,     like flesh for the pot?”

To do what is right is to use our position and prosperity for the benefit of people around us (social justice).

Singapore as a three-tiered society The Top: The Powerful and the UHNWIS, >30,000,000 (3,870[Forbes, 2012]) | (2,360 [Knight Frank, 2014]) The Bottom: contracted service The Middle: everybody else

We are blessed more than we deserve because we are juggling wants not needs.

Because the LORD blesses us better than we deserve, we love mercy O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy,

Luke 1 77 You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. 78 Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,

When choosing between toughness and kindness, choose kindness

Forgiveness within our social tier Forgiveness to the powerless Forgiveness to those in the tier above us.

To love mercy is to eagerly apply God’s kindness to me to those who need kindness from me.

Because the LORD gives us better than we deserve, we walk humbly O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

O Lord, Let me Never gloat over others; never become puff up over blessings better than I deserve

Conclusion Today, we join our hearts in giving humble thanks to God that we have received better than we deserve. We want to continue to receive blessings better than we deserve. We must then: Do what is right Love mercy Walk humbly