EZEKIEL & DANIEL

Today is Sunday!  I'm excited about today.  We have a guest speaker and a special day in store all day long.  Rick Green from wallbuilders ministries will be with us and then tonight we are having our adult Christmas Program.  It will be a great day all day long!  This morning, I finished up Ezekiel, and read the first two chapters of Daniel.  Here are a few points to ponder: 1) LOVING TO HEAR, BUT NOT LOVING TO DO- Ezekiel 33:30-32 says:  "... Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD. (31) And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them:  for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. (32) And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument:  for they hear thy words, but they do them not."  God's words were to them as a concert.  They loved to hear the words.  They were like beautiful voices singing or wonderful instruments playing..... they were entertaining; but, they had no desire to obey the words of the LORD.  Friend, let us never get that way with God's word preached or taught in Church.  Let us hear and obey what God's Word says! 2) I- Ezekiel 34:11 says:  "For thus saith the LORD God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out."  Notice that in this verse, God speaks in the first person.... "I".  I started noticing around chapter 30, that for several chapters God is speaking in the first person.  God usually speaks to His servant, Ezekiel, and has him speak for God.  Now, God starts speaking for Himself to the people of Israel through His prophet.  In chapter 34 alone we have 30 times "I" is used of God.  So you will find starting at chapter 30 and running for about nine chapters.  I mentioned yesterday how I notice repetitive phrases, and here I noticed "I".  God speaking in first person. 3) THE JOB OF THE PRIEST- Ezekiel 44:23 says:  "And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean."  This was one of the main tasks of the priest and today's preachers as well.  To teach people God's Word.  So we must take this very seriously and do as well of a job as we possibly can.  Oh how I hope to instruct God's people the ways of the LORD and the Word of the Lord, so they can see the will of the Lord.  Lord, please help me! 4) DANIEL (Purposed-Proved-Promoted) -  Here is a very simple but profound thought I gave to our men a few weeks ago from Daniel 1 & 2.  Daniel 1:8 "But Daniel purposed in his heart..."  Here Daniel purposed he would not disobey God's Word with the meat and the wine commanded by the king.  Here it could cost him his life, but he purposed in his heart to do things God's way.  Then the proving.  Daniel 1:12 "Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink."   God's ways can stand the test and bring the proof to the table.  His confidence in God's ability, soon became a reality to the king's servants.  God proved to all that Daniel was following His ways.  Then, we see the promotion.  Promotion comes from God.  God chooses to promote His children who are obedient to Him.  Daniel 1:20 "And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them teen times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm."  Not wiser than the other children, but 10x's wiser than the wisest men in the kingdom!  When God promotes.... He does a good job of it!  Read Daniel 2:49, and you will see him promoted over all the affairs of the province of Babylon with his three friends.  Purposed-Proved-Promoted! Hope you have a blessed Sunday!  I'm excited!  God bless!  Pastor Mike Mutchler