Heart of Mercy 6-16-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. Take away from me what’s not of You and leave for me only what is. … “Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:28-29, NKJV) It’s a great sin to treat the blood of Christ as “a common thing.” It’s an “insult” to the Holy Spirit of the Living God, who is a Spirit of mercy and grace. When we judge others for the actions of their lives that are now under the blood of the Lamb as if to say, “That’s how you are; that’s how you’ll always be; you’ll never change,” we “trample the Son of God underfoot” and exalt ourselves as lord in the place that only You are to have. That’s never the mind of Christ. That’s never the heart of God. That’s coming into agreement the accuser instead of coming into agreement with the Redeemer, being used of Satan to destroy someone rather than being used of God to restore someone .When we do, we are the ones who are handed over into torment that comes from a critical spirit and a vengeful heart. Then we are the ones who subject to the judgment of God by rejecting the power of the blood of Jesus to forgive and redeem and transform any life of sin and shame into a life that displays the mercy and power and love of God. Then we will be the ones who suffer the consequences of our hardened hearts and self-righteous spirit that dishonors as “a common thing” the very blood that saved us and cleansed us from all unrighteousness to give us a clean slate and a fresh start. “And again, the Lord will judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (v. 10:30-31). So give me Your heart of mercy. Your mercy is so much a part of the Father heart of God. We cannot be ambassadors of Christ or display to the world the nature of our Father without the nature of Your mercy in our hearts. You don’t ignore our sins or deny our struggles, but at the same time, You also see who You’ve created us to be—speaking life instead of death, redemption instead of accusation, mercy instead of judgment. In the heart of God, “mercy triumphs over judgment,” but at the same time, “judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy” (James 2:13). O Lord, I need Your mercy. I need the full measure of the power of the blood of Jesus in my life. Let me never treat it as “a common thing” but honor You by honoring all You do in the lives of those who humble themselves to call on Your name to be forgiven of their sin and cleansed in the power of Your blood. Let me look for the good of God in others, calling forth the diamond, even as You break off the rough. Let me be one who seeks out the hidden treasures in the hearts of those wounded and bound, but being healed and freed by the One who redeems all things to bring beauty out of ashes, joy out of sorrow, and glory out of shame. That’s Your heart, and that the heart I want to have. That’s the heart I want You to have for me, so that’s the heart I want You to give to me for others. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! This Friday Night June 18th at 7PM, the 3rd Friday Night of every month, for our Messiah Ministries monthly city-wide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Led by Messiah Ministries and hosted at Centenary United Methodist Church, 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky. Come drink deeply from The Fountain of Living Waters as we worship Jesus in the freedom of His Holy Spirit. I will be leading in Prayer while Brooke and Shannon Barrett will be leading in Worship and as we also honor Laura Beach and her ministry this month. All are welcome and please spread the word! Contact Marilyn Walker, our Dir. of Ministries for details 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com Friends, here's a note from Laura Beach with Equipping Lydia Ministries about events coming up. We'll be celebrating Laura's ordination as a Deacon in the United Methodist Church during part of our time together at The Fountain this Friday Night, as we pray blessings for her at the conclusion of our three year mentoring journey for her. Please come join us next Friday Night! Friday, June 18, 2010 – Spiritual Refreshment Retreat Women of Faith, you are invited to come away with Equipping Lydia on Friday June 18. We will have our monthly spiritual refreshment retreat at A Quiet Place in Bryantsville, Kentucky. That evening, retreats are also welcome at the Messiah Ministries Fountain Healing Service which begins at 7 p.m. at Centenary Church on Tates Creek Road in Lexington. It will be a beautiful day of healing rest. To register for the retreat, email retreats@equipinglydia.org or go to www.equippinglydia.org for details. There is no need to register for the Fountain. Friday, June 25 - Mother, Are You Sitting Down? Lisa Baker's story of God's amazing love and faithfulness for a mother and her daughter. Lisa Baker’s testimony as a mother is one of yielding to God through the challenge of raising a beautiful but strong willed child. If you are a mother who needs a word of hope, come and be encouraged and strengthened by God’s love through Lisa’s journey with her daughter Jaime. 9 a.m. – 12 noon, Lexington, Kentucky. For details, go to: http://www.equippinglydia.org/PDFs/lisabaker.pdf or www.equippinglydia.org Subscribe for free by email to me 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!