Micah 3:8, "But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin."

The prophet Micah in this verse distinguishes himself from the false prophets mentioned earlier in verse 5. All preachers are not the same! Some preach some truth, some preach no truth, some preach the Word in its fullness, some preach with God's power, some preach without His power. You get the picture.

Don't be fooled by believing all preachers are the same. Micah acknowledged he was full of God's power and that power was given him by the spirit of the LORD. Preachers are called to declare God's truth. Micah states he was full of God's power and this enabled him to declare unto Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin. If a preacher isn't willing to preach about sin, then he isn't filled with God's power. The balance one needs in preaching is given by Paul to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:2, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine."

• A preacher is to preach the Word.

• A preacher is to be always ready to preach the Word.

• A preacher needs to reprove (to convict and refute).

• A preacher needs to rebuke (to censure).

• A preacher needs to exhort (to call to one's side and encourage).

• A preacher needs to do all these with longsuffering (patience and steadfastness) and doctrine (teaching the Bible).

Barnes in his commentary describes the prophet Micah as follows: "So then, of the three gifts, "power" expresses the divine might lodged in him; "judgment," the substance of what he had to deliver; "might," the strength to deliver it in face of human power, persecution, ridicule, death.

I pray we will be filled with God's power as we seek to serve Him. And may our preacher's "PREACH THE WORD!"

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott

MEDITATIONS

1. What is it that distinguishes your preacher from others?

2. Why is preaching the truth important?

3. Why is preaching the truth with Holy Spirit power superior?