Morning by Morning, January 18 - From Intimidation and Timidity to Intimacy and Authority!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You here in my heart and every moment of my day -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ...
"'And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to Your servants to speak Your word with all boldness, while You stretch out Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.' When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness!" (Acts 4:29-31).
The rulers of their age tried to silence the voice of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. They called the followers of Jesus before their councils and demanded that they submit to their control (v. 5). The rulers challenged their authority and their right to speak and to pray in the name of Jesus (v. 7). They tried to silence their voice, shackle their freedom, and shut down their movement -- even forbidding them to speak in the name of Jesus (v. 17).
But the disciples of Jesus, the followers of Christ, would have none of it. In the face of all the intimidation and threats of the rulers and authorities -- who were actually the ones who were deeply afraid to the power of this mighty name of Jesus and the move of the mighty Spirit of God -- they would not relent in their passion for this movement the Lord Himself had seared into their hearts, as they responded in faith and stood their ground with courage of conviction, declaring for all to hear, no matter the cost:
"Whether it is right in God's sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard" (v. 19). "Filled with the Holy Spirit," they would not back down (v. 8). No surrender. No retreat. This mighty movement that was stirring in their hearts and stirring in the land was not coming to end, but just beginning! The stronger the opposition, the greater the intensity of their determination.
Intimidation was only fueling the flames of deeper intimacy with their God and greater authority in His name in a great outpouring of His Spirit:
"They raised their voice to God with one accord and said: 'Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:
'Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?
And the people plot vain things?
The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His Christ.'
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His Christ.'
For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus!'
And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness!" (v. 34-31)
Hallelujah! Lord, let it be so in our and our day! Fill us with Your Holy Spirit. Turn intimidation into intimacy and timidity into authority in a great move of Your Spirit in our hearts, in our land, in our day! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend may you be filled afresh with Holy Spirit of God, letting Him turn intimidation into intimacy and timidity in into authority in your life and in your prayers for all the Lord has entrusted to you, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Standing firm with you in faith,
in our hearts and in our land.
2021 Hope and Healing Conference and Ministry at Moore Than Enough Ministries Worship Center in Ohio This Past Weekend.
Friends, thank you so much for all your prayers for us during our ministry trip to Ohio this weekend at Grafton United Methodist Church outside St. Paris and with our good friends Pastors David and Linda Moore at More Than Enough Ministries' Worship Center in Sidney! Such hunger for God and passion for Jesus! We saw and heard many testimonies already of healing and deliverance, physical miracles and emotional breakthrough, all with a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit and the fanning of the flames of a holy Fire that will not be quenched! Much powerful prayer and intercession for our nation and for this movement! We're praising God for all He has done and all He is doing! Praying the same for you! Rocio and I are so grateful for your prayers for us!
Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:
Tommy & Rocio Hays
Messiah Ministries
17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407
San Antonio, Texas 78257
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