II CHRONICLES & EZRA

Today is Thursday.  Last night we had a great challenge from John Joseph, a national pastor in India who has 83 churches, three orphanages, and three Bible Colleges.  Doing a great work.  He challenged us to be a people of faith, and that is why in the Bible Christians were called believers.  They believed!  We too must believe.  I'm in II Chronicles and Ezra, and here are some thoughts: 1) GOD WILL HELP-II Chron. 25:8 "for God hath power to help, and to cast down."  This was told king Amaziah by a prophet.  How true it is!  God can help us and He will if we will but follow Him.  Today, why not try to follow the Savior where ever He leads.  2) DOORS SHUT AND THEN OPENED- In II Chron. 28, we see that Ahaz the king "shut up the doors of the house of the LORD"  and then he died and his son Hezekiah was the king.  In II Chron. 29:3 it says: "He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them."  The first thing Hezekiah did was to open up the house of the Lord and he knew that his nation was being judged by God for closing up the house of the LORD and serving other gods, so Hezekiah sought to serve God and be obedient to Him and thus his kingdom was blessed.  God still blesses Church Attendance...  So many Christians don't see their churches doors shut up, but it still is the same thing if they just do not attend! 3) HE ENCOURAGED THEM- In II Chron. 32, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, has come against Judah and Hezekiah the king.  Everyone's heart is filled with fear. The Assyrian army is The world Power of it's day.  They were fierce warriors and outnumbered everyone completely.  But Hezekiah gathered his captains of war together and in verse six, it says he "spake comfortably to them".  He encouraged them!!  We need men of God to speak "comfortably" to us during these days of turmoil in our land.  4) I FOUND THE BOOK!-II Chron. 34:15 "I have found the book"!  Hilkiah the priest was cleaning out the temple and he found the book of the law.... the Bible!  It changed everything!  AND it still will today! 5)GOD WILL DO IT-Ezra-  This amazing book is about the rebuilding of the temple.  Cyrus, king of Persia was the one who ordered the temple to be rebuilt and asked the Israelites for volunteers.  It is amazing to say the least.  When they searched the old records in Ezra 6, Darius the king found not only the decree by Cyrus, but it gave the instructions on how to build it!!  Almost the blueprints are spelled out in chapter six!  God had His hand in this didn't He??  Yes, and He still has His hand in the Church and on the Church.... if we will stay faithful!! Hope you have a great day in the LORD.  May God's blessings be yours to enjoy. Pastor Mike Mutchler