"One Body" 2-19-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Bread of Life. Though we are many, there is one bread and one body in You. ... "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we are all baptized into one body -- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free -- and we were all made to drink of the one Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). The city-wide church of our community will come together as one body tonight for an ecumenical service at my home church. We will be greatly honored to host Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa from the Vatican. He is the priest to Pope Benedict, having been appointed by Pope John Paul II as Preacher to the Papal Household. You have given him a great passion to preach the gospel, to encourage the teaching of core, foundational Christian principles through the Alpha Course, and to help Catholic Christians around the world seek to be Spirit-filled and alive in Christ. You are bringing together the body of Christ from every tribe and tongue and nation throughout the earth. Though we are many members, we are one body. Though our many traditions do not agree about all doctrines and interpretations of Your Word, we believe in our hearts and proclaim with our mouths the essential core -- "Jesus is Lord" (Romans 10:9). "And no one can say, 'Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:3). The more Your body throughout the earth is filled with Your Spirit, the more we will proclaim "Jesus is Lord" with one heart and soul as one body. We will see Jesus in one another and the world will see Jesus in us. As these world-wide strongholds of division, insecurity, and pride crumble and fall, we will see in our lifetime the Father answer Your high priestly prayer: "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one. As You, Father, are in Me and I am in You, may they also be in Us, so that the world may believe You sent Me" (John 17:20-21). Your Word calls us to humble ourselves before You, looking beyond the differences that divide us to the One who unites us. This is a unity of diversity, not conformity, grounded in the common truth of the Word of God and growing in the understanding of the One who is the Truth by the Spirit of Truth living in us. Your Word calls us "to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling -- one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all" (Ephesians 4:1-6). Father, answer the prayer of Jesus in the power of Your Spirit in our hearts and our community and throughout the earth -- Lord, let us learn to be one, so that the world will know that the Father has sent His Son. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please join if you can and pray for us if you can't for our city-wide ecumenical service with Fr. Cantalamessa hosted at my home church, Centenary United Methodist in Lexington, Kentucky tonight, Monday 2/19 at 7:00. www.centenarylex.com/alpha/cantalamessa/ He will also be speaking several times tomorrow 2/20 at my seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, Asbury TheologicalSeminary www.ats.wilmore.ky.us/news/archive/12152006.php One dimension of our vision at Messiah Ministries is see the city-wide church come together as the body of Christ, and this seems to be a very significant spiritual event toward that end in our community. Please stand with us in prayer for the unity of the body of Christ in our region and in yours. God bless! 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. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794