MORE EZEKIEL

We had a wonderful Sunday yesterday.  God was so good to us.  It was pouring down raiin, but still over 1,000 people came out for Sunday School.  Wow!  We had 512 on the buses and God blessed in so many, many good ways.  Many were saved and a few baptized as well.  On Sunday night we had a great crowd as well.  I just want to praise the LORD.  I read in Ezekiel this morning and here are a few items I want to share with you: 1) IT MAY BE- In Ezekiel 12:2, it says:  "Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not:  for they are a rebellious house. (vs. 3) Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remover by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight:  it may be they will consider, though they be a rebellious house."  Having stated that Israel was a rebelliious house, he asks Ezekiel to move his stuff in their sight in the middle of the day. (This was to signify that they would be moved from Israel to Babylon and their stuff would be transported to Babylon).  The goal of God was simple.... it may be... that they would notice and understand, and repent and believe God and his prophet.  It may be.... God deals patiently with us, because... it may be... we will do right.  God takes a chance on us, and I admire His patience with us.  I'm thankful for it! 2) IDOLS OF THE HEART- Ezekiel 14:3 says:  "Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face:  should I be enquired of at all by them?"  They set up "idos in their hearts".  That is our problem in America as well.  We don't have idols on the street corners like in India or Thailand, but we have them hidden in our hearts.  God sees them just as plainly.  He see that which we offer to them.  (money, time, affection, etc.)  Let us be sure not to let any idol find it's place in our hearts.  The Bible tells us:  "Little children, keep yourself from idols."  They like to creep into our hearts.... don't let them! 3) DOES GOD DELIGHT IN JUDGMENT?  Ezekiel 18:23 says:  "Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?  saith the LORD God:  and not that he should return from his ways, and live?"  God wants all to come to repentance and trust Christ as their Savior!  He does not delight in judging lost souls!  He wants them to be saved!! 4) HOW SHOULD WE THEN LIVE?  Ezekiel 33:10 says:  ..." If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?"  When sin comes up to our ears in America, both around us and in our very own lives, "how should we then live?"  A famous Christian philosopher, Francis Schaffer, once wrote a book with this very same title.  He was asking the same question and answering it.  We should live for Christ, with a Christian world view, not a secular one.  The world is at odds with our values, and we must stick to the values written in God's Holy Word.  This is how we should life!! Hope you have a blessed day!  Pastor Mike Mutchler