Restore One Another 5-25-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be exalted in the heavens and here in my heart. … “My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted” (Galatians 6:1). How tempted we are to judge the transgressions of others. How tempted we are to be offended by the unrighteous actions of others and then blinded to the self-righteous actions of ourselves. If someone in a relationship of accountability and trust with us stumbles or falls in transgression, we should speak the truth in love as You lead (Ephesians 4:15). We shouldn’t sweep the sin under the rug, but we also shouldn’t shout it from the mountaintops. If we “have received the Spirit,” You call us to “restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness”—not accuse and condemn such a one in a spirit of judgment and self-righteousness. You call us to humbly remember that none are righteous, no not one, and but for the grace of God go I, not excusing their sin or our own, but remembering we all need a Savior full of mercy and grace who never stops loving us and reaching out to us even when we sin. Some of our ministry leaders have been with me at our annual MorningStar Fellowship of Ministries leadership retreat. You led Rick Joyner and Bob Jones to reach out to Todd Bentley in his journey of restoration to ministry. All three have been speaking with us this week about that journey. I was deeply moved by the prophetic dream You gave Rick Joyner about the ministry of restoration: He saw one of his own children in a deep ditch filled with raw sewage, struggling to get out, but helpless to do it on their own. Then a man came and reached down into all the mess and lifted his child up and out of the pit. His heart was so filled with overwhelming joy and love for the man who helped his child that he’d gladly be willing to give the man anything he asked. And then You said to Rick, “That’s My heart toward those who are willing to restore My children.” Father, give me Your heart for restoration of Your children. Help me be willing to reach out to them, to reach down to them, to want to see them freed and cleansed and restored through repentance and healing to the image of God they were created to express. Thank You for sending those with Your heart who have been willing to reach down to me. Deliver us from the spirit of offense and self-righteousness. Impart to us the Spirit of mercy and grace, not blinded by the fault sins of those in relationship with us, but also not hardened to Your desire to see each of us redeemed and restored, revived and renewed to overcome our transgression by the power of Your blood and the mercy of Your grace. Thank You for doing that for Todd; thank You for doing that for me. Those who are forgiven much, then love much (Luke 7:47). Freely do we receive from You, and freely are we to give to one another (Matthew 10:8). And whatever we sow into the lives of others, so we will reap in our own lives as well (Galatians 6:7). I want to sow mercy, because as You know, I need it. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please keep our team in prayer this week at this leadership retreat with other ministry leaders to share prophetic perspective on world events, while being further equipped for ministry in our MorningStar Fellowship of Ministries (www.morningstarministries.org). Restoration is a key part of our ministry and vision at Messiah Ministries. Thank you for sowing seeds into our ministry and into the lives of those the Lord is restoring and renewing though His ministry of healing, deliverance, and spiritual transformation. God bless you with all that He is imparting to us in these days. Thank you for praying for us at The Fountain last Friday Night. The Lord's Presence was incredible, as the Holy Spirit sang over us corporately and personally through the ministry of Heather Butler from Wales. There was tremendous healing and encouragement for us all! Please come join us in person or in prayer whenever you can! Please share these morning prayers with anyone who may be interested. Subscribe by email to Tommy Hays at Messiah Ministries: MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org To order my books and our ministry resources or contribute to our ministry on-line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Messiah Ministries; 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 God bless you!