Sacrament of Hope 3-5-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Continually come into my heart; continually fill me with Your Holy Spirit, as You continually increase and I continually decrease. ... "Jeremiah said the word of the Lord came to me: Hanamel son of your uncle Shallum is going to come to you and say, 'Buy my field that is at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for the right of possession and redemption by purchase is yours.' ... And I bought the field.... For thus says the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land" (Jeremiah 32:6-15). You led Jeremiah to purchase a plot of land in Israel at a time when Jerusalem and all Israel was under siege from the king of Babylon. The city would be destroyed and the people taken captive in exile as their sins of rebellion and unbelief brought them under Your judgment and opened the gates to destruction from their enemies. Yet, even in judgment, You remember mercy (Habakkuk 3:2). Even through destruction, You bring restoration -- in Your timing and in Your way. Though Jerusalem would be destroyed and Israel would be held captive in the land of her enemies for seventy years, just as You had prophesied through Jeremiah, one day Your people would return to begin again (Jeremiah 25:11). The purchase of the land was a sacrament of hope -- a physical declaration of a spiritual reality. Though Jeremiah prophesied judgment, he also prophesied restoration. And the owner of land has legal rights -- physical rights, and therefore, spiritual rights. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). The love of our heart is the measure of our authority. Over the past year or so, I believe You have led me to purchase land, to speak and pray with the authority You give by the love You've placed in my heart. By Your grace, we bought a home in Wilmore, Kentucky -- the site of many significant, historic revivals, birthed from repentance and prayer at Asbury College (where they just named Dr. Sandra Gray their first woman President -- a spiritual mentor, a faithful friend, and a wise board member of our ministry -- Praise You, Lord!). And by Your grace, we bought stock in the oil company -- dedicated the glory of God by its board of directors -- that holds the legal rights from the government of Israel to drill for oil and minerals under Megiddo and the surrounding region of Israel. You have given me a heart of love to place my treasure in Kentucky and Israel -- to speak and pray with the authority You give for protection and for revival, for spiritual transformation of hearts and souls, cities and regions. Though there may be days of judgment and war in the conflicts of heaven and earth, there will also be a day of great restoration and revival. I have purchased the land, but You have purchased my soul. "The right of possession and redemption by purchase is Yours" (from Jeremiah 32:7). Let this purchase of land be my sacrament of hope. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, the oil company I mentioned is Zion Oil & Gas www.zionoil.com/company/vision Come to the Mountain! on Monday nights to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you" (Psalm 122:6) Doris & Bob McCray of Messiah Ministries, will be leading a weekly Meeting to Pray for Israel on Monday nights, starting Tonight, March 5th @ 7 p.m. These prayer gatherings will meet in the Community Room, upstairs at First Southern Bank, 3060 Harrodsburg Road (Corporate Center) in Lexington, Kentucky. Come join us if you can and pray along with us if you can't. Please spread the word. My apologies for the mistaken web link yesterday morning to our Celebrate Recovery ministry in Lexington at Centenary. The correct link is: www.CRLex.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 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 .