Made Ready 10-26-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You lead me beside Your still waters; You restore my soul; You feed me with Your Word; You fill me with Your Spirit; and You assure me of Your goodness and kindness that will follow me today and every day of my life. ... “Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready” (Revelation 19:7). Men and women alike, together we are Your bride, longing for the wedding day to come. We are longing for the day the two will become one in a way we’ve never known. As You said in Your Word through the apostle Paul, “Because we are members of His body. ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ This is a great mystery, and I am apply it to Christ and the church” (Ephesians 5:30-32). Like a young woman who longs for the day of her wedding, we long for the consummation and fulfillment of this holy mystery of union with You and communion with Your Spirit. “Anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him” (1 Corinthians 6:17). Lord, let us not only long for You; let us also long to be ready. Let us “be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure” (Revelation 19:8). Let us embrace the purification of our souls and the holiness of heart and life You long to see in Your bride. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, so as to present the church to Himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind—yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27). We can’t make ourselves ready in our own effort or power. We can’t even long for it apart from the leading and stirring of Your Holy Spirit burning within our hearts to set us ablaze with a passion for Christ. So how does the bride make herself ready? How is Your bride made holy and without blemish, clothed with the fine linen, prepared for the day of our wedding with You? By saying, “Come, Holy Spirit. Come make me ready. Come make us ready. Come give us the heart the Lover of our souls longs to see in us—both personally and together as the body and bride of Christ. By saying, “Come, Holy Spirit. Make us hungry and thirsty for righteousness, for the Righteous One.” For then we shall be filled; we shall be fulfilled in the day of our celebration and consummation, the day of the marriage of the Lamb has come (Matthew 5:6). So between this day and that day, I say, “Come.” Together, with one spirit as one body, we say come. “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ ” (Revelation 22:17) In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please join us for these upcoming Messiah Ministries' Events (and please spread the word): Nov 12-14: The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry -- Level II is a focused time of teaching, mentoring, discipleship, personal ministry, equipping, worshipping and prayer led by Tommy Hays and a teaching team of experienced prayer ministers. We will continue to study and experience a Biblical perspective of the ministry of healing and wholeness of spirit, soul and body, and apply the foundational principles of the Kingdom of God for prayer ministry. The course combines dynamic classroom teaching in a small group setting with personal hands-on experience, as students receive personal ministry and are guided in ministry for others. Level II gives deeper experience, opportunity, and practice in healing prayer ministry than our Level I Course. Craig Marsh, gifted by God with the spiritual gift of miracles (1 Corinthians 12:10) will be with us for the last two nights and a healing service. Info/Register Online: Information/RegisterSchoolOfMinistry-Level II Dec 4-6: Healing Prayer Weekend at Asbury Inn, Asbury Seminary, Wilmore, KY… NEW LOWER PRICE from Change in Location! Led by Tommy Hays with worship and personal prayer ministry teams, you'll receive teaching and ministry in a peaceful, worshipful retreat setting. We’ve had wonderful testimonies from our last weekend: Spiritual Principles of Deep Healing— Explore God’s order in every dimension—spirit, soul, and body. Past hurts require healing to realize true freedom. It’s only God’s redemptive power that can bring us back to God’s created plan.Hindrances to Healing— Scripture provides principles that reveal possible barriers that hinder healing, freedom and wholeness. These given over to God, prepare the way for God’s powerful healing love. Info/Register Online: Information/RegisterHealingRetreat