Destined for Glory 10-13-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I rise today to follow You. … "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (from Colossians 1:27). "Destined for Glory" were the first words that came to mind as I woke this morning. I went to bed last night thinking about the theme of a week of spiritual renewal I'll be leading in early November in western Kentucky. The pastor asked me to share messages about our calling to holiness of heart and life, and I guess my spirit was at work seeking the leading of Your Spirit as I slept. We are but dust, yet we destined for glory -- Your glory shining through us with Christ in our hearts. Peter wrote his first letter as an apostle "to the exiles of the Dispersion" throughout that part of the world "who have been chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with His blood" (1 Peter 1:1-2). But those exiles who had been dispersed by the persecution of the early church of mostly Jewish believers who received Jesus as their long-awaited Messiah, were not the only ones who were "chosen and destined by God" to be "sanctified by the Spirit" and "obedient to Jesus Christ." You are "not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). Your invitation and promise of grace is always that "whosoever believes" in the Son of God "should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16, NKJV). But You were reminding those who were exiled as strangers in a foreign land to remember their destiny despite their dispersion, to remember their calling despite their circumstances. They were chosen by God and destined for glory. You were reminding them that though they would experience dark days, Your Spirit would arise upon them and shine through them with the light of Your glory. In Christ Jesus their Messiah, they were the fulfillment of the prophecies of Your Word of a people to come who would be sprinkled by the blood of the Lamb as a holy people of God. "Arise, shine, for your Light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you" (Isaiah 60:1). And Your call to arise and to shine with the light of Your glory has not changed. You choose all who will answer Your call by Your grace to the destiny of Your glory -- "Christ in you, the hope of glory." I choose to keep answering Your call to holiness of heart and life, to be "sanctified by the Spirit" through Your grace. I welcome the light of Your glory, the glory of the manifest presence of God my Father living in me by the Holy Spirit of the Living Christ. "For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live in Him." Thank You for waking me from my sleep to remind me again that though I am a stranger living in a foreign land in this broken, fallen world, my "citizenship is in heaven." From there, my Lord and Savior comes that I "may be conformed to the body of His glory" (Philippians 3:20-21). By Your grace, I am sprinkled by Your blood, sanctified by the Spirit, and destined for glory. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please come join us for several days of Spiritual Renewal if you are in the area from November 5-8 at the First Methodist Church of Madisonville, Kentucky -- named "Destined for Glory" this morning. And please keep our Lexington area community in prayer and join us if you can for our conference this Saturday October 14, "From Brokenness to Breakthrough -- Healing from Grief, Sorrow, Trauma, and Pain in a Broken World." I'll include again our flyer below. Please forward this on to those who may need it and to those who would stand with us in the agreement of prayer. We'll also be gathering for prayer to prepare the way this Friday Night October 13 at 7:00 pm (in the Hospitality Room). God bless you and thank you! 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 From Brokenness to Breakthrough Healing from Grief, Sorrow, Trauma, and Pain in a Broken World Saturday, October 14, 2006 A day of Teaching, Worship, & Healing Prayer Ministry with Rev. Tommy Hays Spiritual Director, Messiah Ministries www.messiah-ministries.org Rob Poindexter leading worship for Evening Healing Service Brooke Perkinson & Shannon Barrett leading worship for the day Grief, Sorrow, Trauma, and Pain -- the emotional wounds of our past can define and determine the rest of our lives unless we find ways to express them and release them to God. One way is through compassionate and gentle healing ministry of prayer. Together, we will seek to understand God's healing principles and welcome His healing presence to draw out the pain and pour in His love, releasing us to live out our destiny in freedom from the pain of the past. All are welcome! Please come join us and spread the word! Pre-register by October 12 $15/person; $25/couple; lunch included; ($5 more at the door) Full Scholarships to cover the full cost are available where needed, so that all who seek prayer ministry may come. To Register with Credit Card by Phone: Call Marilyn Walker, Director of Ministries: 859-317-1591 Or Send Check/Money Order to:Messiah Ministries2800 Tates Creek Rd.Lexington, KY 40502 Where:The Foundryat Centenary United Methodist Church2800 Tates Creek Rd.Lexington, KY When:Saturday, October 14th, 20069: 00 am-9:00 pm (morning and afternoon worship/teaching/ministry; evening worship and healing service) For information about Rev. Tommy Hays and Messiah Ministries of Lexington, KY: www.messiah-ministries.org Order our DVDs or CDs on Spiritual Transformation through inner healing and deliverance prayer ministry on-line or Email Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com or call 859-317-1591 Please forward this note to everyone who would be interested and please include this note in your church bulletins, newsletters, announcements, an d other contacts. God bless you and I hope to see you there! Tommy Hays Messiah Ministries