Unafraid to Build 7-13-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Form Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. Cause my nature to become more like Your nature each day. ... "Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and made them afraid to build, and they bribed officials to frustrate their plan throughout the reign of King Cyrus of Persia and King Darius of Persia" (Ezra 4:4-5). You have called us and commissioned us to build Your house according to Your plan. You are building Your church and establishing Your kingdom on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 16:18). Your church is gathering of Your people, filled with Your Spirit, displaying Your glory through our surrendered lives. Your kingdom is within us (Luke 17:21). And in the sovereignty of Your authority, You have empowered us to participate with You in this building plan, with both deep humility and bold faith. You have given us "the keys of the kingdom" and expect us to use them (Matthew 16:19). But the people of the land, resisting the surrender of their hearts to You alone, will try to discourage us, intimidate us, and frustrate us. They try to confuse us and condemn us for trying to follow You and obey the plan You've written in Your Word and sealed into our hearts. In the days of Ezra, they claimed that the gods of their culture were the same as the God of our faith (Ezra 4:1-2). They were offended that Your people would not compromise their faith and abandon their beliefs that You alone were the one true God, in order to settle for the lowest common denominator of faith and worship. So they railed and retaliated against them, slandered and accused them, and tried to demonize and ostracize them to the powers that be of the world (Ezra 4:6-24). And so it is today. But You have given us grace throughout the ages to stand firm in the faith, not bowing our knees to the false gods and their prophets. No matter how unrelenting their attacks or how subtle their tactics, by Your grace our faith will not be broken or moved. You call us and empower us to "continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel" (Colossians 1:23). With the courage and determination You give me by Your grace each day, "I keep the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved" (Psalm 16:8). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we've updated our ministry resources at: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org, including my new book. 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 Come to the Mountain! every Monday night at 7 pm to pray for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray of our ministry. Hosted in the upstairs community room of First Southern National Bank at 3060 Harrodsburg Rd in Lexington. Contact Doris at bndmccray@windstream.net All are welcome! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" http://www.messiah-ministries.org/ 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: http://www.shop.messiah-ministries.org/ Daily Archives: http://www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com/