Sharing the Fellowship of His Sufferings 8-3-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be the center of my heart and soul today. ... "I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the sharing of His sufferings by becoming like Him in His death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead" (Philippians 3:10-11). Lord, our praise went up and Your glory came down last night in ways that words can't describe and our covenant of confidentiality won't allow. But we will never be the same. One thing I can say is that You were speaking to us and showing us how much we honor You and glorify Your name beyond our imagination when we keep looking to You in the midst of our sufferings. You suffered for us in ways we can't begin to comprehend, and as we share in the fellowship of Your sufferings by offering them up to You as You bring us through them, we honor You. This is the power of resurrection life from the dead, life through the death, destruction, sorrow, and grief of a broken, fallen world. Your resurrection power is released in the heavenly realms and poured out in the midst of this earthly realm when we embrace Life even in the midst of death and all that is less than the fullness of the abundance of life. You are the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25). "If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through His Spirit that dwells in you" (Romans 8:11). So in the power of Your grace, we are not to embrace and accept our sufferings, but offer them to You as You bring us through them, out of death and into life. "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in so far as you are sharing in Christ's sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when His glory is revealed" (1 Peter 4:12-13). As we persist in faith, encouraged and empowered by Your Spirit, even in the face of the sharing of the fellowship of Your sufferings, we honor You. "He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of His glory, by the power that enables Him to make all things subject to Himself" (Philippians 3:21). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, thank you for covering us in your prayer during our spiritual retreat in the Shepherd's Pen as we seek to know our Shepherd, hear His voice, and follow His leading more fully and faithfully in our lives. I pray the same for you. God bless you! Order our Ministry Resources at: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org 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" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502