DANIEL, HOSEA

We had a good day yesterday at Church and it is a blessing to see what God does in our midst.  We had 511 on the buses and the drive in went to the overflow area.  We have 266 parking spaces, but about 20 more cars were in the overflow gravel parking we put in last year.  God is so good to us.  We are just trusting Him to continue to take care of every need.  I'm in Daniel and Hosea today, and here are a few thoughts: 1) WHO IS THAT GOD? and  THERE IS NO OTHER GOD!  Both of these phrases came from the mouth of Nebuchadnezzar, and they surround the incident with the three Hebrew children and the fiery furnace.  In Daniel 315, the king asks:  "And who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?"  then after the deliverance, the king says in verse 29, "there is no other God that can deliver after this sort."  Nebuchadnezzar found out who God was and the great power of our God.  He was told by the three Hebrews, in verse 17:  "our God, whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king."  He was told, but now he saw for himself as the three came out of the furnace without even the smell of smoke upon them. (vs. 27)  Now, he found out what kind of God Shadrach, Meshack, and Abed-nego served, but friend.... we know!  Shouldn't we serve Him with the same dedication and zeal, and confidence as these who laid their lives on the line?  I hope so... I really do. 2) THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE KING- If you look at King Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, the reigning world power, the greatest kingdom the world had ever seen up to that point; you can see the transformation that takes place in his life.  It would read like this:  MAJESTY, PRIDE, HUMBLED, HUMILITY, MAJESTY.  The God news is that if we are humbled, and then we learn humility, then God can raise us up into Majesty again!  Humility is the key.  Learn to walk humbly before God and man and let God do the lifting up.... or down.... according to HIS plan! 3) TWIN SINS (BEWARE!) Hosea 4:11 gives us twin sins:  "Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart."  Alcohol and Infidelity, go hand in hand!  I have witnessed the same over many years as well.  But, the Bible also says in verse 13, "therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery."  The sin of the fathers, begin to pour out upon the children and the spouses.  One corrupts another!  Friend, stay away from Alcohol, and from Infidelity!  Be pure and wholesome for God! Well, I've got to go for now.  May God richly bless you and yours! Pastor Mike Mutchler