The Safety of Goshen in the Days of Tribulation 11-17-05

Morning by Morning, Thursday Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let me see You with spiritual eyes and hear You with spiritual ears. Fill my spirit with Your Spirit, as I watch and wait for Your leading. ... "And the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt; there was hail with fire flashing continually in the midst of it, such heavy hail as had never fallen in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. The hail struck down everything that was in the open field throughout the land of Egypt, both human and animal; the hail also struck down all the plants of the field, and shattered every tree in the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were, there was no hail" (Exodus 9:23-26). At one level of interpretation and application of Your Word, it seems that Egypt speaks of the places of our souls in the rebellion of pride against You. And Goshen speaks of the places in submission to You, under the covering of Your hand of protection. Out of Your love for us and Your desire for us to be whole and holy, You release Your judgments against the flesh of Egypt in our souls, so that the life of the Spirit of Goshen may arise and fill our souls with Your Spirit (1 Peter 2:11; Romans 7:23; Ephesians 5:18). Judgment begins with the household of God (1 Peter 4:17). You send Your judgments to bring us to our knees in humility, to turn to You in repentance and faith, that You may destroy our flesh and breathe the newness of Your life into our spirits. Then Your judgments become Your mercy, and Your "mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:13). And another level, Egypt speaks of the nations and people of the earth in rebellion against You; and Goshen speaks of the nations and people in submission to You. "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them" (Ephesians 5:6-7). When Your judgments rain down "hail and fire, mixed with blood" on the earth at the sound of Your trumpet call to repentance in those last days to come, let us find our place of refuge in submission and trusting faith in You -- in the land of Goshen where there is "no hail" of Your wrath (Revelation 8:7; Exodus 9:26). "For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:9). So we need not fear the judgments and wrath of God in our souls and in the places of the earth where we submit to the lordship and receive the salvation of Jesus Christ. We need not fear the days of tribulation to come, nor these that are coming in some measure even now. Those who turn to You in repentance and faith will bring their lives under the hand of Your protection. And the world will have one last chance to see that the only place of safety and peace is to "live in the shelter of the Most High" and to "abide in the shadow of the Almighty" (Psalm 91:1). Out of every tribe and tongue and nation, there will be a people who enter in to the land of Goshen -- the place of safety and shelter even in the days of judgment, tribulation, and wrath. This is the place of the kingdom of God -- the place of submission and faith in the Lord our God. "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22, NKJV). But by Your grace and in Your mercy, "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give it's light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory!" (Matthew 24:29-30) I choose this day to bring every area of my life under the lordship of Jesus Christ in humble repentance and trusting faith -- as best as I can and all by Your grace. I ask you to continue to put to death the things of my flesh that I may live in the life of Your Spirit. Give me courage to embrace Your judgments, that I may have grace to embrace Your mercy. Through the tribulations of Your judgments against my flesh, may I enter in to the fullness of the kingdom of God. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, if you are in the Lexington area, please Come to The Fountain this Saturday night for our monthly, citywide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship -- 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd. People come from all traditions and denominations for a time of intimate worship in the presence of the Lord as the Holy Spirit leads. My friend Ghuna Kumar from India will be preaching and ministering. Paul Cooper from Liberty Worship Center will lead in worship and I will lead in prayer. Our prayer ministry team will be available throughout the evening. All are welcome! To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com