OBADIAH, JONAH, & MICAH

Today is Saturday, so I have a meeting this morning with the men for a prayer breakfast and then outreach this morning.  Here are some thoughts from Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah in the Minor Prophets: 1) IT IS NEAR- Obadiah 1:15 says:  "For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen:"  Obadiah is just one chapter, but here, God uses this prophet to warn that judgment is close to the heathen.  The "day of the LORD" refers to the day of Judgment.  It is God's judging of those who do not know Christ as their Savior.  In the future this would be the Great Tribulation, and the Lake of Fire, that burneth forever and ever.  While it is near for the heathen, we as believers, must be about our Father's Business in getting the Gospel out to the best of our abilities.  We must work hard, because their day is near! 2) WHO THREW JONAH INTO THE SEA- The book of Jonah is only four chapters, yet it is filled with spiritual truth and application.  I could write for ten pages just some of the truths I've come to see over the years.  Just this last week, I heard a great message asking the question:  Who threw Jonah into the sea?  Well, it was God.  God did that to get His servant to Nineveh and lead those people to repentance.   So, we see that God does one thing, to accomplish another.  The trials of our lives were not caused by someone who hated us (though they may hate us, and have acted against us), but God who allowed bad to happen in order to bring us to a point of being useable in His plan.  Let us take the bad knowing that God has a plan.  It is God who throws us into the sea at times, for the sake of others! 3) WOE! - Micah 2:1 says:  "Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds!"  These people think up evil during the night and in the morning: "when the morning is light, they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand."  God loves righteousness and hates evil.  Let us never plan to do another harm and to carry out evil.  God says "Woe!" to all who do. 4) MY DESIRE- Micah 3:8 puts into words what I desire as a man of God.  "But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD,.... "  This is my goal.  Not so I have power for my life, but to have God's power so that others will listen to His Word and be helped.  Oh, how I pray for that power in my life.  That power that only comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit of God who would fill me with His power if only I will submit to His will and way in my life.  LORD, please help me to do so.... please! Well, so much for today, my time has come and gone.  May God richly bless you my friend!   Pastor Mike Mutchler