The Mystery of Faith 8-31-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I seek Your wisdom. I seek You, for You are Wisdom. … "Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is great: He was revealed in the flesh, vindicated in Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory" (1 Timothy 3:16). At times when we are hurting and we don't understand, the mysteries of our faith drive us to cling closer to You in faith -- faith that You are good, faith that You are for us, faith that You are working in ways we cannot see, faith that You are fighting for us in battles we cannot see. We can't hold on to that kind of faith without holding on to the One who is faithful. That kind of faith if found in a Person, not just principles. It is found in the One who is the Word and our Comfort, not just in comforting words. It is a mystery that Your Kingdom has come but it is not yet fully manifested in the earth. It is a mystery that You are sovereign and in control, yet You set before us each day the choices we must make of our own free will (Joshua 24:14). It is a mystery that You said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me;" and at the same time, You referred to the enemy of our souls as "the ruler of this world" (Matthew 28:18; John 14:30). It is a mystery that You came that we might have life in abundance; yet we face a foe who comes to steel and kill and destroy (John 10:10). It is a mystery that You are our "Prince of Peace;" yet we live our lives in world where disobedience to Your will and Your ways through our generations have opened doors to the wicked and destructive influences of "the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:1-2, NKJV). It is a mystery that You send Your angels to do Your bidding, but there is opposition from fallen angels fighting to resist and delay Your word and Your will for Your children (Hebrews 1:14; Daniel 10:10-14). So we must continue to pray for Your Kingdom to come and Your will to be done -- here on earth in the brokenness and fallenness of our lives in a broken, fallen world, as it is in heaven where there are no sinful choices and no fallen angels. We must hold on to faith through these mysteries of life, which Your Word calls a "fight of the faith" (1 Timothy 6:12). Give us courage and compassion to step in the ring and fight for one another when the mysteries of life and faith seem to be pummeling them into a corner. As we do, the love and power of Your presence makes our faith less mysterious to us and the God of our faith more real to us. In this way, we are growing in grace to become "servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries" (1 Corinthians 4:1). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, thank you for covering our community in prayer in these days where we need the faith of God and the prayers of His heart. 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 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