"Partners of Christ" 2-2-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Source of my strength. Fill me afresh today with the peace of Your presence and the power of Your Spirit. ... "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Why do you cry out to Me? Tell the Israelites to go forward. But you lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the Israelites may go into the sea on dry ground. ... Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left" (Exodus 14:15-22). In Your sovereignty, You often choose to demonstrate Your power through Your people. You delivered the Israelites from their pursuing enemies by driving back the sea, yet You chose to do it through the hand and staff of Moses. Moses was crying out to You to deliver the people, but You empowered Moses to be the means of Your power. You said, "You speak to the people. You command them to go forward. You lift up your staff. You stretch out your hand." Only at the point of his obedience did You move to demonstrate Your power. It was not Moses' power that drove back the sea, but Yours. Yet You drove back the sea through him. This was not an affront to Your sovereignty and omnipotence; it was obedience to Your will and command. When You fed the five thousand, You said to Your disciples, "You give them something to eat" (Matthew 14:16). As they obeyed Your command, You multiplied the loaves and fishes as You "gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds (v. 14:19). When You sent out Your disciples to minister healing and deliverance, as they proclaimed the coming of the kingdom of God in Your name, You "gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases" (Luke 9:1-2). And when You restored Peter from his sin and commissioned him to share the good news of Your gospel and shepherd Your people, You didn't just say, "Watch Me feed My sheep." Instead, You commanded him, "Feed My sheep" (John 21:17). Lord, teach me my part in cooperation with Your power in this mystery of the partnership of ministry, where You choose to demonstrate Your power through Your people for Your glory. Give me the humility and wisdom to always know You are the Source of all power; and give me the courage and faith to always know You desire to manifest Your power through Your people. Through the mercy of Your grace cleansing our sins and the power of Your Spirit living in our hearts, we are "holy partners in a heavenly calling" (Hebrews 3:1). We are "partners of Christ" (v. 3:14). In the astonishing mystery of faith, the same power of the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in me (Romans 8:11). Your power is made perfect through my weakness, "so, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me" (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). In both humility and in faith, teach me how to lift up the staff of Your authority and stretch out my hand in Your power, in submission and obedience to Your command. And to God be the glory. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays 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