Thursday, April 24, 2008

Signs of the Coming of the Kingdom 4-24-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let Your Word wash over me. Let Your Spirit fill me. ... "To Him who loves us and freed us from our sins by His blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever" (Revelation 1:5-6). You have already made us to be a kingdom through the power of Your love and the victory of Your cross. We are the kingdom of heaven on earth, a kingdom possessed by the faith of the children of God (Matthew 19:14). Our heavenly Father "has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:13-14). This kingdom of the Son is now within us (Luke 17:21). And as Your Word declared long ago, "The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed" (Daniel 2:44). You are my King. And with every choice I make by Your grace to embrace Your kingdom, Your kingdom comes. When I forgive instead of resent, Your kingdom comes. When I sacrifice what is rightfully mine for the sake of another, Your kingdom comes. When I willing entrust my thoughts to Your thoughts, my desires to Your desires, and my ways to Your ways, Your kingdom comes. These are the signs of the coming of the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. "How great are His signs, how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His sovereignty is from generation to generation" (Daniel 4:3). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'll be teaching a workshop this weekend called "Healed and Free to Let the Spirit Flow" at the 2008 International Conference for Lay Pastors Ministry April 25-26, being hosted in Lexington at my home church this year. Please come join us. Register on-line www.laypastors.com Laura Beach of our ministry will also be teaching and my good friends Rev. Greg Gallaher and Mary Beth Ludt will be the plenary speakers. Call Centenary Church for details at 859-269-2800 Please come join us if you can for our Messiah Ministries Celebration Dinner May 2nd. Our friend and prophetic psalmist Heather Butler from Wales will be with us to give an inspiring word and we'll hear stories of God's glory. If you're not able to come but sense the Lord's leading to join in our vision and calling with your giving or your prayers, please send us a note of encouragement. We're a faith-based ministry raising all our own support to fulfill our calling -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God." Please RSVP by 4/25 to Marilyn Walker at 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com (reservations required for planning). Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org