Hasten the Coming of the Day of the Lord 9-15-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Align my mind with Yours. Impart Your heart to mine. Guide my steps along the path of Your purposes for my life today. ... "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything on it will be disclosed. Since all these things will be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God" (2 Peter 3:10-12). When we pray for the fire of God and the fire of revival to fall, what are we really praying for? And are we ready for the answer to our prayers? It is Your Spirit who moves us to pray with fervency and urgency for the fire. It's part of Your plan for the redemption of the earth and the souls of men. "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!" (Luke 12:49). Your burning passion for a people who are saved and sanctified, purified in our souls to be "leading lives of holiness and godliness," able to endure Your eternal Presence in our midst is part of Your nature. "Our God is a consuming Fire" (Hebrews 12:29). By seeking Your Presence and praying for Your coming, we are giving You permission to expose and purify our true motives and intents, those we know and those we don't. We are embracing Your plan to prepare our hearts for the coming of the glory of the Lord, living in us and in the midst of our world, the "new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home" (2 Peter 3:13). Our Father has poured out His Holy Spirit to prepare for You a holy bride, a holy people, purified in our souls by Your fire, burning with a passion for Your coming, and prepared to embrace Your eternal Presence here on earth as it is in heaven (Ephesians 5:25-27). We wait for that day with longing hearts. But we also, by Your grace, have the amazing calling and power to hasten the coming of that day (2 Peter 3:12). We hasten it by allowing You to purify us and prepare us for Your coming. Our flesh must be crucified in Christ, our self-centeredness must be slain, our hearts must be consumed with Your all consuming fire. That's how we kindle the flame and prepare the way of the Lord. As we allow You to cleanse our hands and purify our hearts, we are able to "draw near to God" so that You can "draw near to (us)" (James 4:8). And the fire of God will fall. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we join our hearts together in the agreement of prayer for the people of Texas and the Gulf Coast as the endure the sufferings from the destruction of Hurricane Ike. May the people of God be light in the midst of the darkness, as He redeems the suffering and brings hope through Christ for all. Come to the Fountain! This Friday Night 9/19 at 7 pm -- the 3rd Friday Night of every month -- for our ministry's monthly gathering of people from many different churches and streams of the body of Christ across our city for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Hosted in the chapel of Centenary: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY. Please come early for Intercessory Prayer at 6:15. Contact Marilyn at dirofministries@aol.com or 859-422-1794. All are welcome! Come to the Mountain! every Monday night at 7 pm to pray for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray of our ministry. Hosted in the upstairs community room of First Southern National Bank at 3060 Harrodsburg Rd in Lexington. Special Guest Stan Goodenough next Monday Night. Contact Doris at bndmccray@windstream.net All are welcome! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502