Courage for “Such a Time as This” - March 7, 2023

 

Morning by Morning, March 7 - Courage for “Such a Time as This”   Good morning, Lord Jesus. King of Kings and Lord of Lords, come rule and reign in my heart, mind, soul, and strength in all I say, all I do, and all I am, this day and every day. ...   These are the days of Purim for Jewish people around the world. These are days to honor the stories of Esther and Mordecai from the Bible. They were called by God to stand up and speak out in the days when Haman sought to use the power of the government to destroy the people of God, as recorded forever and to be remembered in our days to embrace the courage of the Lord in the face of whatever forces of destruction or persecution we may encounter and overcome (Esther 4:1-17).   At the heart of the story are Mordecai’s challenging words to Esther to not remain silent in the face of the threats and pressures and customs around her, but to speak up for her people, even at risk to her own position and place of influence, and even to her own life. At first, Esther is hesitant. But then everything changes when she receives the challenging words from Mordecai that define the pivoting moment in the story:   “If you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).   The words of Mordecai are a type and foreshadow of the words of the Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts to take courage, to stand up, to speak out at the right time and in the right way. We have “come to the Kingdom for such a time as this.” And that Kingdom is the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is within us (Luke 17:21). The Kingdom of God is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). And the Kingdom of God is expressed to the kingdoms of the world through us as the Body of Christ (1 Peter 4:11).   In these days when we remember the conviction and the courage of Esther, let us embrace the conviction and the courage of the Holy Spirit within us. Like Esther and Mordecai, You call us and empower us to be salt and light in the midst of the kingdoms of our world (Matthew 5:13-16). So let us not lose our saltiness, nor let our lights grow dim. Let our hearts not fail nor shrink back from our duty and our destiny as the heart and the Body of Christ in our times. With the courage of Your Holy Spirit in our hearts, may we not remain silent, but stand up and speak out as You lead in the face of our own challenging days. We are blessed to be alive and active in our world with Your Kingdom in our hearts “for such a time as this!” In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. Be encouraged today! In the love of Jesus, Tommy Hays   My friend, may the Holy Spirit empower you with courage to stand up and speak out as He leads you in your places of influence in our world, for such a time as this, in Jesus' name. God bless you!  Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries Mailing Address: 412 S. Adams Street #148 Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 Please share this word to encourage a friend! Anyone can sign up for free at: https://messiah-ministries.org

Please Keep us in Prayer for These Messiah Ministries Events March 7 Teaching my Tuesday Night Class at Bridge Church on Free to Be Like Jesus -- Transforming Power of Inner Healing and Spiritual Freedom. March 9-11 MorningStar Ministries School of the Prophets in Fort Mill, SC. Excited my books are now in the MorningStar bookstore! March 12 Free to Be Like Jesus Course on Sunday Mornings at 9:00am (In Addition to my weekly Tuesday Night Course at 6:00pm) Teaching a 6 week series at 9am at Bridge Church, Fredericksburg, TX on Spiritual Freedom, Maturity, and Authority (March 12 to April 16) Based on my Books Free to Be Like Jesus and First the Spirit https://www.amazon.com/author/tommyhays March 13 Faith & Family Day at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas with Matt Long March 15, 23, 29 Equipping the Restoration Ministry Teams in Healing and Deliverance Prayer Ministry for MorningStar Ministries Online Connect Groups March 16-19 Leading a Prayer Revival at Olney Methodist Church in Olney, Illinois March 25-26 Leading a Setting Hearts Free Weekend Encounter at Grace Community Church in Tahoka, Texas. Global Methodist Church gathering. Saturday Night and Sunday Morning. Open to all. April 21-22 Preaching Revival at the Barn! 6pm Each Night The Barn behind Yee Haw Ranch Outfitters in Fredericksburg, Texas Please come and start spreading the word as we pray for Revival! April 24-27 Fellowship of Ministries Retreat with MorningStar Ministries April 29 Officiating the Wedding of Karen Lindsay's Daughter Sarah and John May 5 Next Messiah Ministries' Men's Retreat in the Texas Hill Country. All men are welcome! We had fantastic feedback from our "pilot" retreat in February. Send me an email if you are interested! May 10 Speaking at San Antonio Aglow International Ministries - Day Time Lighthouse. 10 to Noon. Contact: sa.day.aglow@gmail.com   July 17-31 Preaching an Evangelistic Crusade in Kenya! Wednesday Mornings Joining with MorningStar Ministries to Lead Online Restoration Ministry Sessions for Online Connect Groups from around the world.   Personal Ministry Appointments Spiritual Direction Sessions and Personal Prayer Ministry Sessions of Inner Healing & Spiritual Freedom by Appointment and as the Holy Spirit leads. Please keep us in prayer for spiritual breakthrough and transformation! Let us know if you'd like to set up a session:  tommyhays@messiah-ministries.org   Sessions are without cost and all contributions help support the calling and vision of Messiah Ministries. https://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute

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