Finishing the Old Testament

Today I'm finishing up the Old Testament.  I'm reading in Zechariah and Malachi.  Zechariah has many prophetic passages and Malachi has God asking many questions and then giving us an answer.  Notice these thoughts today: 1) BY GOD'S SPIRIT- Zech. 4:6 says: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of host."  This passage of Scripture is dealing the the rebuilding of the temple.  It is called Zerubbabel's temple, since God used him to rebuild it.  There was so much opposition by the people of the land, and it didn't look like it would ever get done, but the word of God comes and says: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the LORD of host."  It is always the Spirit of God that gets things done!  Not our pushing and pulling, and scheming, but by God's precious Holy Spirit moving to get things done!  Let us spend more time asking for His leadership that time we spend pushing our own agendas.  2) GRACE, GRACE- Zech. 4:7 says: "Who art thu, O great mountain? (the mountain was implying the obstacles that stood in the way of getting the temple rebuilt.) before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: (God will remove the obstacles and make the path plain so that the work of God can go forward.)  and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, (the headstone is the chief corner stone that the temple is built upon.  The idea is that the temple is going to be built by God's Spirit, and there are going to be shoutings...) crying, Grace, grace unto it."  (What ever we accomplish for the cause of Jesus Christ is all a product of the Holy Spirit's working and the GRACE of Jesus Christ upon us.  What ever God has used you to accomplish: business, family, wealth, fame, talent, skills, ministry, church, whatever..... it is all of GRACE!!!  Cry GRACE, GRACE!!! 3) THEY ARE MINE, AND I AM THEIRS-  This is what God is saying in Zechariah 13:9, when He says: "they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people; and they shall say, The LORD is my GOD."  How great that will be on that wonderful day!!  4) I WILL REBUKE THE DEVOURER- This is God's promise for those who tithe.  He will pour us out a great blessing, and He will rebuke the devourer for us as well.  That means that our "stuff" stays our "stuff", and is not devoured by this world and broken down.  God has a way of blessing His children who obey Him in their tithes and offerings.  Let us decide to do that which pleases Him, and He will do that which pleases us!! Well, so much for today.  Have a blessed day and tomorrow we are in the New Testament! Pastor Mike Mutchler