"You were dead through
the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this
world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at
work among those who are disobedient" (Ephesians 2:1-2).
Early today, before
morning's light, I had an opportunity to arise and go to war in the spirit with
the spiritual watchmen of my community against "the ruler of the power of the
air." The tornado sirens began to wail from the city tower. And like many who
were called to arise and take our post on the spiritual wall of our city, I
bowed in my heart to pray in the name of the Lord and then I rose in my spirit
to stand in the strength of the Lord. Like You taught us in Your Word and the
example of Your life, we commanded this storm, "Be still!" (Mark
4:39).
We have a spiritual
adversary who is at work in this world (1 Peter 5:8). And though You come to
bring life and life abundantly, our adversary "comes only to steal and kill and
destroy" (John 10:10). And when he does, Your Holy Spirit stirs up our human
spirits to take the authority we have in the power of Your name and speak
against his plans for our destruction (Matthew 17:20). You command us to press
forward and not back down, to actively resist him and not passively surrender to
him: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee
from you" (James 4:7).
In this broken, fallen
world, being redeemed by our merciful and mighty God, it may not seem like we
win every battle on this side of heaven. That's why You call us to continue to
pray for Your Kingdom to come and Your will to be done, here on earth as it is
in heaven. That's why You call us to continue to embrace the "power and
authority" You give us on earth with Your heaven in us, as the Body of Christ,
filled with the Spirit of Christ (Luke 9:1-2). So until that day finally comes
and Your Kingdom is fully here at Your return, we are to pray in humility and
stand in authority, as Your Spirit leads our spirits.
And on these mornings
when the darkness of the storms have passed, we can arise and shine, shouting
the high praises of God, that Your Light has come and glory of the Lord has
risen upon us! (Isaiah 60:1) We can marvel in Your majesty that our God did
arise and our adversary was scattered. The storms of the night have passed and
the peace of the morning has come. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen.
Be
encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
We're excited that the
registrations for our upcoming Level 1 School of Spiritual
Ministry indicate this may be our biggest class ever! Please come join
us in Lexington in October for our 4 Day School of Spiritual
Ministry for equipping and impartation in healing prayer ministry and
prophetic ministry. Scholarships are available as needed so all can come. Please
see our Events Calendar on the web site for details or to register on-line: www.messiah-ministries.org
Freinds, Sylvia and I will be
traveling today to teach and minister with Laura Beach in Louisville at
the National LifeServe Conference 2011 for spiritual leaders Monday
through Thursday: http://lifeserve.group.com/Please keep us in your
prayers!
Please come for healing prayer
ministry at The Healing Rooms of Lexington every Thursday
Night, hosted by our ministry team in Lexington. Details on our ministry web
site calendar: www.messiah-ministries.org
