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FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME A RULER

Text: Matthew 2:1-12, Micah 5
13 November 2011

(I) GOD’S POWERFUL PROPHETIC WORD CONCERNING THE COMING MESSIANIC KING

“But you Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose going forth are from of old, from everlasting.” Micah 5:2

1. The context – A time of apostasy

a) A time where there was no regard for the prophetic word ( Micah 2:6-7 )

b) A time of judgment ( Micah )

2. The content – The specifics of the coming of the Messianic King

a) His first coming ( Micah 5:2 )

i) His birthplace – Bethlehem Ephrathah

ii) One of the insignificant cities in Judah

b) His second coming ( Micah 5:3-5 )

i) The remnant shall return

ii) He shall stand and feed His flock

3. The challenge – To believe in the prophetic word.

(II) GOD’S PRECISE FULFILLMENT OF HIS PROPHETIC WORD

1. Fulfillment of the birthplace in the days of Herod (Matthew 2:1)

2. Fulfillment at a time when there was not much trust in the prophetic word

a) The ignorance of the wise men ( Matthew 2:1-2 )

b) The unbelief of the religious leaders ( Matthew 2:4-6 )

“So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.” Matthew 2:5-6

i) They knew the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem

ii) They knew the content of this prophetic word

iii) But the prophetic word did not affect them.

(III) THE FUTURE PROPHETIC WORD CONCERNING A SHEPHERD KING

1. Aspects of the prophetic word still not fulfilled (Micah 5)

a) Ruler – King of Israel

b) Shepherding the people of Israel

c) He will be great in the earth

d) He will bring peace to the world

2. Full Assurance in the prophetic word

“And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts…” 2 Peter 1:19

a) Taking heed as a light that shines in a dark place

b) Taking heed till there is full certainty in our hearts