Morning by Morning, April 2 - "Preparing the Way of the Lord" with "Patient Endurance"
"I, John, your brother who share with you in Jesus the persecution and the Kingdom and the patient endurance, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, "Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches" (Revelation 1:9-11).
John was Your faithful disciple and close friend (John 21:20). He taught Your word and obeyed Your word, offering his life as a living sacrifice and passionate ambassador of the testimony of Jesus. He lived into the fullness of the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of God lived in him. "For the Kingdom of God is ... righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17). And, at the same time, he also endured "persecution" with "patient endurance" for the faith in his heart and the witness of his life. Though he was full of faith, abiding in Your Kingdom, with the King of the Kingdom in his heart, he also endured "tribulation" as a "companion in tribulation" with his fellow believers and disciples of his day (Revelation 1:9 KJV). He was willing to remain true to You and Your word in his heart, even if it meant suffering for the sake of Christ.
As John encountered You, You encouraged him. You said, "Do not be afraid; I Am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, and see, I Am alive forever and ever; and I have the keys of Death and of Hades. Now write what you have seen, what is, and what is to take place after this" (Revelation 1:17-19). Just as You encouraged John, so John encourages us through all that You spoke and all that he wrote to encourage and inspire Your faithful disciples of John's generation and of every generation to come.
Living in the Kingdom does not exempt us from persecution and tribulation. But by living in the Kingdom, You equip us and empower us to live out our faith, to be the testimony of Jesus with our lives, in the "patient endurance" that only Your Spirit abiding in our hearts can supply.
We truly have no idea of the measure of persecution and tribulation we may be called to patiently endure until Your return. But now is the time to be prepared -- to prepare our hearts and to "make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:17). Just like John the Baptist came "with the spirit and power of Elijah (to) go before (You), to turn the hearts of parents to the their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" before Your first coming, so You are sending Your Spirit to do the same before Your second coming (Luke 1:17; Malachi 4:5).
Come, Holy Spirit. "Prepare the way of the Lord" in my heart (Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:3). Equip me and empower me to stand firm in the faith no matter what may come in my generation just like it came in John's generation. We need "the Revelation of Jesus Christ" as much in our day as in his day (Revelation 1:1). But like John, my we look up to You with the eyes of our heart; may we say with the eyes of our faith, "Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him" (Revelation 1:7). And like John, may we hear Your eternal words in to our troubled or fearful hearts, "I Am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty!" (Revelation 1:8).
Just as You said to Your first disciples of that first generation, so You continue to say to Your disciples of our generation, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world!" (John 16:33 NKJV) "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" come! (Revelation 22:20 NKJV) "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
My friend, may you be equipped and empowered by the Spirit of Christ in you, preparing the way of the Lord with patient endurance, even as we long for the coming of the Lord, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
First Wednesday Worship and Healing Service, April 3rd.
Friends, I'm excited to be sharing a word of hope and healing at the First Wednesday Service at Oak Hills Church, Crownridge, in San Antonio this coming Wednesday Night at 7PM in the West Auditorium.(Oak Hills Church led by Max Lucado and Travis Eades). All are welcome so please come join us if you can and pray for us if you can't. God bless you!
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257
Please share this word to encourage a friend!
