II CHRONICLES & EZRA

Today is Thursday.  I sure enjoyed our Mid week service last night.  It was wonderful and God met with us.  I am teaching through the Bible on Wednesday and the people are enjoying and learning.  What a blessing!  Today, I finished II Chronicles and went eight chapters into Ezra.  Here are a few items to share with you from God's Word: 1) ENCOURAGE THEM- Josiah was a godly king, and when he set the priest into their positions, the Bible records in II Chronicles 35:2 that he "encouraged them to the service of the house of the LORD,"  He encouraged them!  They were the priest, the spiritual leaders, and yet... he knew that they needed encouragement.  Don't we all?  Please don't forget to encourage your pastor.  If he gets down, the whole church will get down.  He bears the burdens of many people, and then has the criticism of a few.  New people are coming into the church, and a some are leaving the church.  He is excited about those coming, and burdened about those going.  It is what makes up ministry.  Take a clue from Josiah, a godly king, and "encourage them". 2) TILL THERE WAS NO REMEDY- In II Chronicles 36:16, we read:  "But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy."  The disease of sin was too great.... there was no remedy!  They did not humble themselves, or God would have listened, but they hardened their hearts and rejected God's messengers, and there was no remedy!  Praise God that He will listen if we will pray, He will save if we call upon Him, He will forgive if we will put our trust in Christ.  He will comfort us after He has chastened us, if we humbly have learned our lesson. 3) THE GREAT GOD- In Ezra 5:8, the men of Canaan are complaining about Zerubbabel and Jeshua, and the people of Judah, rebuilding the temple.  They are writing Darius, King of Persia.  When they talk about building the temple, here is what they say:  "to the house of the great God,".  In other words, even their adversaries knew that they served "a great God".  We have a great God!  We too need to recognize that fact.  Let us live for Him today. Well, my time has gone this morning.  May God bless you and yours! Pastor Mike Mutchler