Out of the Great Ordeal -- 9-8-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Lamb upon the throne of God. Be enthroned upon my heart this day. … "Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, 'Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?' … Then he said to me, 'These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb' " (Revelation 7:13-14). Last night at church, The Foundry -- our "multi-purpose facility" -- was filled with people who came for the purpose of coming to ask their questions about You and Your ways in the journey of our Alpha Course over next ten weeks. As our Pastor, David, told them, they will not only come to understand truth, they will come to encounter and experience the One who is Truth. As they came in, I wondered in my spirit, "where have they come from?" In one way or another, and in each one's own journey, they have each "come out of the great ordeal" -- living life every day in a broken, fallen world where there are no answers and there is no peace apart from knowing You. With my natural eyes, I saw them as they are -- questioning, seeking, hurting, skeptical, and some even a little afraid. But with my spiritual eyes, I saw them as they will be -- welcomed, forgiven, trusting, peaceful, and free. They were no longer robed in the ways of the world, but robed in the white of the glory of God. Though most of these would probably not have ever heard this old hymn, I hear it now as a song of Your Spirit releasing them to ask their questions and drawing them to You to find their Answer: "Are you washed … in the blood … in the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb? Are your garments spotless, are they white as snow, are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?" For many, if not most, they are not yet. But it is Your desire and in the grace of Your power, they will be. They will come to trust You enough to entrust their lives to You, as You cleanse them of their sins and fill them with Your Spirit. And then in the fullness of time and the fulfillment of all Truth, "They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of the Water of Life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes" (Revelation 7:16-17). Lord Jesus, come into their hearts and keep coming into mine; cleanse their souls in the blood of the Lamb and keep cleansing mine. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com . Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794