Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Morning by Morning, September 17 - Unity of the Spirit, Bond of Peace

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me start this day and every day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit.  ...

"I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:1-3).

There's a bond of peace when we are united in the Spirit. But this bond of peace is not the false peace of passivity, complacency, or compromise.  And this unity of the Spirit is not the false unity of superficial conformity or forced uniformity. It's a peace and a unity that's alive and active, blending together wildly unique and vibrant hearts and souls of infinite variety in the unrestrained creativity of our God, yet with a common heart to live our lives worthy of the calling to which we have been called.

So we desperately need humility and gentleness and patience. We have to continually choose to willingly bear with one another in love. We have to intentionally, deliberately make every effort to persistently maintain this unity in the bond of peace. And none of us are remotely capable of doing any of that apart from the power of the grace of God. Thank You that we never have to.

It's by grace we are saved (Ephesians 2:5). And it's only by the power of that same grace that we live into our calling and fulfill our destiny, together with one another in the unity of the Spirit and peace of Christ to the glory of God.

Lord, give me Your grace to do my part to live this day worthy of Your calling. And if You would, Lord, please give that same grace to everyone around me to be joined with me in this unity of the Spirit and bond of peace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My Friend,  I pray you live into the spirit of unity and bond of peace in beautiful, powerful alignment with the body of Christ around today, all by the power of the grace of God. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!


Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

Share this word to encourage a friend!  Blue 

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Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Morning by Morning, September 16 - Dead to Self, Alive in Christ

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I want Your name to be my first word, Your praise to be my first thought, Your glory to be my first desire, as I begin my day centered in You.  ...

"By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and 'he was not found, because God had taken him.' For it was attested before he was taken away that 'he had pleased God' " (Hebrews 11:5).

Like Elijah, Enoch never died. He was taken up to heaven without ever tasting death. And one day there will be a generation on this earth that will never taste of death; they'll be taken up into Your Presence without ever dying:  "For the Lord Himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel's call and with the sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and the so will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

But I also believe You are speaking a message to us through the life and faith of Enoch beyond looking forward to being part of the last generation who will never die. "We will not all die, but we will all be changed" (1 Corinthians 15:51). I believe You are encouraging us to life our lives in this world, being changed into the image of Christ, dying daily to self so we can truly live in Christ (Romans 8:29).

"Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him" (Genesis 5:24). Perhaps Enoch experienced the fullness of life because he was truly dead to himself and to this world, as he learned to walked with You in the intimacy of Your Presence and the full surrender of his life to You in trusting faith. Perhaps the message to us is that Enoch was no more a part of this world because he was fully dead to this world and fully alive in You.

With the heart of Enoch, fulfilled through faith in Christ, Paul said many centuries later, "It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I know live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). Enoch walked with God; Paul lived in Christ. And so can I.

Lord, teach me and empower me to walk with You in my journey of faith, dead to myself and alive in Christ. Let the grip of the world, the flesh and the devil have no hold on me. But fill me with Your Spirit every day until I walk so closely with You that I, in my flesh, am no more. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My Friend,  I pray you will walk with God, dying to self and living in Christ, more and more every day by the grace of God. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Friends, thank you so much for all your prayers for us last week when  I was speaking at the Men's Retreat at Living Waters in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Brevard, North Carolina. On the first night, two of the young men received Jesus in their hearts for the first time! All of us were greatly encouraged by the moving of the Holy Spirit to restore us, encourage us and strengthen us for battle in the intimacy of God. I've had the honor and joy of ministering to the men there for several years now, where I'm always deeply moved by this powerful ministry that makes all their retreats and youth camps available to all free of charge. Then we experienced great joy together at Joy Outreach Fellowship in Brevard where I was preaching on Sunday morning. I pray the same for you! And I'm so grateful for all you prayers and encouragement that allow the Lord's ministry to flow in this way. 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

Share this word to encourage a friend!  Blue 

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Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Morning by Morning, September 10 - The Pursuit of Kindness

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your name is above every name. So I speak out Your name as I bow my knees and confess these words that Jesus Christ is Lord. Be Lord of my heart and every moment of my day.  ...

"Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. You say, 'We know that God's judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth.' Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" (Romans 2:1-4).

Lord, it's Your kindness that leads to repentance -- not judgment, not argument, not threats of wrath, not manipulation, control, shame or fear. Kindness leads to repentance. "Love is patient; love is kind..." (1 Corinthians 13:4). And You are the greatest expression of love; You are the greatest expression of kindness (1 John 4:8).

So when I'm tempted to judge, let me look at my own heart first. When I'm tempted to condemn, let me turn to the One who does not condemn (John 3:17).

We are to pursue righteousness, but at the same time, we are to be just as passionate in our pursuit of kindness. "Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life and honor" (Proverbs 21:21).

Holy Spirit of the Living God, would You come develop a passion in me for the pursuit of righteousness and the pursuit of kindness (Galatians 5:22). It's the experience of the kindness of God that leads me to repentance; let it be Your kindness in me that leads those around me, especially those I'm tempted to judge, in repentance to You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My Friend,  I pray the Holy Spirit will continue to awaken a passion for the pursuit of kindness in you. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Friends, I'll be in the mountains for the rest of this week and unable to send out my daily prayers. I'm excited to be speaking at the Men's Retreat at Living Waters in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Brevard, North Carolina. I've had the honor and joy of ministering to the men there for several years now, where I'm always deeply moved by this powerful ministry that makes all their retreats and youth camps available to all free of charge. Then I'll be preaching at Joy Outreach Fellowship in Brevard on Sunday morning. Please keep us in prayer for another outpouring of the Holy Spirit. I pray the same for you!

 

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

Share this word to encourage a friend!  Blue 

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Tuesday, September 09, 2014

Morning by Morning, September 9 - "Humble Yourself before Your God"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. As best as I can and all by Your grace, I humble myself to willingly choose to be desperately dependent on You alone.   ...

"He said to me, 'Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words' " (Daniel 10:12).

Lord, I want to set my mind toward You to gain right understanding. I want to set my heart toward You to gain a right spirit. Remind me to seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness. Awaken me when I start to slip back into the slumber of leaning on my own understanding instead of first trusting in You and acknowledging You in all my ways so You can direct my paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Help me learn to more deeply humble myself in Your sight in the first moments of my morning and throughout the moments of my day. Then You can lift my spirit up and guide my steps in the ways that honor You and fulfill me (James 4:10). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My Friend,  may the Lord give you the grace and desire to humble yourself in His sight in the first moments of your morning and throughout the moments of your day. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Friends, I'm excited to be speaking at the Men's Retreat at Living Waters later this week in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Brevard, North Carolina. I've had the honor and joy of ministering to the men there for several years now, where I'm always deeply moved by this powerful ministry that makes all their retreats and youth camps available to all free of charge. Then I'll be preaching atJoy Outreach Fellowship in Brevard on Sunday morning. Please keep us in prayer for another outpouring of the Holy Spirit. I pray the same for you!


Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

Share this word to encourage a friend!  Blue 

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Monday, September 08, 2014

Morning by Morning, September 8 - "Much More than Enough"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me hear what You're saying, see what You're doing, sense Your Presence and follow Your leading.  ...

"Moses then called Bazalel and Oholiab and every skillful one to whom the Lord had given skill, everyone whose heart was stirred to come to do the work; and they received from Moses all the freewill offerings that the Israelites had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning, so that all the artisans who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task being performed, and said to Moses, 'The people are bringing much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.' " (Exodus 35:2-5).

You've given each of us a skill to build up Your people and extend Your kingdom. With our freewill, we're invited to offer our gifts in service to You with "whatever gift each of (us) has received" (1 Peter 4:10). Together, we are the sanctuary You're building, the place of Your abiding Presence on this earth. And Your kingdom is within us (Luke 17:21).

As we seek You to show us our gifts and our place of service to You wherever we are, Your Spirit stirs in our hearts to come do the work of the kingdom of God. Wherever we are, we carry Your kingdom with us, for Your kingdom is within us -- at home, at work, in the market, in the church, down the street and across the oceans. And as we each do our part in this labor of love with the gifts of God, we find we are fulfilled. We find we have "much more than enough for doing the work that he Lord has commanded us to do." And we find Your heart for us is, "Well done" (Luke 19:17).

"Our God will make (us) worthy of His call and will fulfill by His power every good resolve and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in (us), and (we) in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My Friend,  I pray the Holy Spirit will reveal your skill and the gifts of God within you, stirring in your heart to fully offer yourself for the work and glory of the kingdom of God wherever you are. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 
Friends, I'm excited to be speaking at the Men's Retreat at Living Waters this weekend in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Brevard, North Carolina. I've had the honor and joy of ministering to the men there for several years now, where I'm always deeply moved by this powerful ministry that makes all their retreats and youth camps available to all free of charge. Please keep us in prayer for another outpouring of the Holy Spirit. I pray the same for you!


 
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

Share this word to encourage a friend!  Blue 

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Friday, September 05, 2014

Morning by Morning, September 5 - "Before Abraham was, I AM"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I open up my heart and offer up my life to You today, as I spend these first moments of my morning with You alone.  ...

"Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets also died. Who do You claim to be?' Jesus answered, 'If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing. It is My Father who glorifies Me, He of whom you say, 'He is out God,' though you do not know Him. But I know Him; if I would say that I do not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him and I keep His word. Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day; he saw it and was glad.' Then the Jews said to Him, 'You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?' Jesus said to them, 'Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I AM.' So they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple" (John 8:53-59, and see NJKV).

To those who doubted Your identity and Your deity, You said "I AM." And to every question and doubt we have today, to every burden and need, to every wound and bondage, to every trauma and fear, to every battle and injustice, to every sin and lie, You say "I AM."

You are our Lord and Savior, our Healer and Deliverer, our Rock and Refuge, our Comfort and Strength. You are our "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). You are One with the Father, One with the Holy Spirit, and by the grace of God and the mystery of faith, You also desire to be One with us (John 17:22-23).

So by the grace of God and the mystery of faith, I willingly choose to put all my hope and trust in You alone as Lord and Savior of all. "Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is great:  He was revealed in flesh, vindicated in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory" (1 Timothy 3:16).

Great "I AM" -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- You are "I AM" to me (Exodus 3:14). You were "I AM" before Abraham. And You are "I AM" before anything I'll ever encounter or ever need. Now by the grace of God and the mystery of faith, You are mine and I am Yours (Song of Solomon 2:16). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My Friend,  I pray you will know the love and power and grace of our Great I AM in every moment of your day, this day and every day. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 
Phillips, Craig, and Dean
Phillips, Craig, and Dean "Great I Am" Lyrics and Photos Video


Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

Share this word to encourage a friend!  Blue 

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Thursday, September 04, 2014

Morning by Morning, September 4 - Cry Out to Jesus

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift up my heart and speak out Your name, as I begin my day in the communion of prayer with You.  ...

"When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 'Look,' he said, 'I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!' But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them.' When he had said this, he died" (Acts 7:54-60).

Sometimes the best prayer is simply to cry out to Jesus. While the stones crushed his body Your Holy Spirit filled his heart. Stephen cried out to You and "prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.'" There were a lot of things he could have said, a lot of things he could of prayed at that moment between heaven and earth when Stephen let go of his life in this world and took hold of life in the world to come. But his cry of faith was a prayer to You. He cried out to Jesus.

And there You were, just as You said you'd always be.

You're here with us now in every moment when we need You the most. And You always will be, just as You said -- "Remember, I am with you always" (Matthew 28:20).

Sometimes I hear people say you shouldn't pray to Jesus, only to the Father. But Stephen did. And so can we. You are One with the Father and One with Holy Spirit (John 10:30). You are One God in three Persons, three dimensions of the Your One Being, inviting us to know You in a personal way in every dimension of Your Being. It would be hard to know someone if you weren't ever supposed to talk to them.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the invitation to speak to You, to know You, to cry out to You. Thank You for always being there with me when I need You the most -- "always." In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My Friend,  I pray you will know Jesus is always with you, ready to answer and open the eyes of your heart to see Him as you embrace Him whenever you cry out to Him. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

Share this word to encourage a friend!  Blue 

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Wednesday, September 03, 2014

Morning by Morning, September 3 - "Enoch Walked with God" and So Can I

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Take me by the heart and lead me in the way that leads to the life You have for me today.  ...

"Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him" (Genesis 5:24).

I want to walk with You, God. I want to talk with You, Lord. I want to be guided by Your Holy Spirit with a heart full of faith that trusts You to give me the wisdom, courage and power I need to live this day in the way that pleases You. Teach me, lead me, and empower me to "walk by faith" (2 Corinthians 5:7).

"By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and 'he was not found, because God had taken him.' For it was attested before he was taken away that 'he had pleased God.' And without faith it is impossible to please God..." (Hebrews 11:5-6). Enoch's faith pleased You, and his heart of faith allowed him to experience a life of intimacy with You, both on earth and in heaven. I desire no less.

By the grace of God You've given me Your very Spirit to live in my heart (Romans 8:9). And by the grace of God, You even call me Your friend (John 15:15). So my Friend, my Lord and Savior, I want to walk with You and talk with You along this intimate journey in this great adventure of faith every day until the day I am "no more" for this world. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


Tommy,  I pray the Lord Himself with teach you and lead you and empower you to walk by faith with God today and every day. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Friends, I'm excited to be sharing the message on Healing at theFirst Wednesday Prayer & Healing Service at Oak Hills Church this month. Please come join us if you can Tonight, Wednesday Night, September 3 at 7PM at the Crownridge campus of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio. Our Rapha God Ministries prayer team will be joining the Oak Hills Prayer Team for personal ministry after the worship and message. 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

Share this word to encourage a friend!  Blue 

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Tuesday, September 02, 2014

Morning by Morning, September 2 - A Heart for Heaven

Good morning, Lord Jesus. All that I am and all that I have I entrust to You as I begin my day dedicated to Your will, as best as I can and all by Your grace.  ...

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21).

Lord, give me a heart for heaven. Give me a heart that seeks to treasure the treasures of Your heart. Give me a heart that seeks first Your kingdom and Your righteousness, trusting You that then all the things I need will be added unto me (Matthew 6:33).

Some say we shouldn't be so heavenly-minded that we're no earthly good. That sounds really street-savvy and practical, with all the wit and wisdom of trying to stay grounded and keep it real. But Your Word says something very different:  "So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:1-3).

So put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. Teach me and empower me to desire to seek the things that are above with a heart for heaven. By the power of the grace of God at work within me, let me be so heavenly-minded that I can earthly-good for the glory of God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My Friend,  I pray the Holy Spirit will be at work in your heart to be so heavenly-minded hat you'll be earthly-good for the glory of God. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 
Friends, thank you so much for praying for us at the Matthew West Worship and Prayer Event with Rapha God Ministries and Oak Hills Church this past weekend, focusing on forgiveness and our identity in Christ. The worship and stories of God's mercy and love were powerful and the altar was full during the prayer ministry times. We're hearing testimonies of great freedom from the chains of unforgiveness and deep healing from the roots of bitterness. We are children of the one true King!

 
I'm excited to be sharing the message on Healing at the First Wednesday Prayer & Healing Service at Oak Hills Churchthis month. Please come join us if you can Wednesday Night, September 3 at 7PM at the Crownridge campus of Oak Hills Church. Our Rapha God Ministries prayer team will be joining the Oak Hills Prayer Team for personal ministry after the worship and message. 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

Share this word to encourage a friend!  Blue 

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Friday, August 29, 2014

Matthew West
Overcoming the Impossible
Worship & Prayer Event Tonight
Rapha God Ministries | Oak Hills Church
San Antonio, Texas


 
My friend,  please come join us Friday Night, August 29 in San Antonio for a Worship Event with Matthew West, who wrote the powerful songs on Forgiveness and our Identity as Children of the One True King. 

 
I'm excited that my ministry partner Tammy Watts and I will also be speaking on forgiveness and then leading a time of prayer ministry after Matthew West leads us in worship. Introductions by Max Lucado and Randy Frazee.

 
Our Rapha God Ministries teams and the Oak Hills Church teams will then be offering personal prayer ministry in English and Spanish. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to move powerfully in our hearts and come join us if you can!

For those who can't join us in person in San Antonio, there will be a live-stream that begins at 7pm Central Time tonight: http://oakhillschurch.com/live-stream


 

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257
Posted by at
Morning by Morning, August 29 - Child of the One True King

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me hear Your heart as I watch and wait for the leading of Your Spirit in our morning communion of prayer.  ...

"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because (we) are children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So (we) are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God" (Galatians 4:4-7).

Abba! Father! I cry out to You from my heart as a child of God, an heir of God their Jesus Christ my Lord. I cry out to You because Your Spirit moves in me to lift up my eyes to You, to open up my heart to You. And You lift me up into the heavenly realms of Your truth and Your Presence, where I know that I am in Christ and Christ is me, where I'm seated far above everything that would try to steal my sense of identity and destiny, my hope and faith, my peace and joy, at the very right hand of God my Father.

"But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which He loved us even when we were dead though our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace (we) have been saved--and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-7).

As Matthew West sings, "I'm a child of the one true King." Through the blood of Jesus, I'm forgiven and free. By the ever-abiding Presence of the Holy Spirit, I'm filled the assurance my salvation and my identity as a beloved child of God, created to live out my life now and forever in the intimate, personal relationship with the One who created me and loves me as a son of God. I'm a son, not a slave; I'm a friend of God, not merely a servant (John 15:15).

Empower me to know my identity and live out my destiny today, rejecting every false identity the world, the flesh, and the devil would try to offer me. Today and everyday, I'm a child of the one true King. Lord Jesus, You are the "King of kings and Lord of lords" (Revelation 19:16). You are my King and Lord. And I welcome You as "the King of glory" to come in to my heart today and every day (Psalm 24:7). In Jesus' name I pray.

 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My Friend,  with the ever-abiding Presence of God's Holy Spirit abiding in your heart, crying out Abba! Father! may you always know in your heart your content identity as a child of the one true King. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 

 
Friends, please come join us Friday Night, August 29 in San Antonio for a Worship Event with Matthew West, who wrote the powerful songs on Forgiveness and our Identity as Children of the One True King.I'm excited that my ministry partner Tammy Watts and I will also be speaking on forgiveness and then leading a time of prayer ministry after Matthew West leads us in worship. Our Rapha God Ministries teams and the Oak Hills Church teams will then be offering personal prayer ministry in English and Spanish. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to move powerfully in our hearts and come join us if you can!

For those who can't join us in person in San Antonio, there will be a live-stream that begins at 7pm Central Time tonight: http://oakhillschurch.com/live-stream


 

Matthew West | Worship Event | Aug. 29

What are you facing right now that has been hard for you to overcome? Is there somebody in your life who has wronged you? Do you sometimes feel like life isn't anything like you hoped? There are times when some situations or maybe even some relationships feel impossible to get beyond. Forgiving isn't always easy. But through God, you can overcome the impossible.
If you want to know how you can overcome the impossible, we invite you to join Mathew West for an evening of worship, teaching, and prayer as he shares what God has shown him about overcoming the impossible. This is a powerful opportunity to find the peace and freedom that God offers to each of us.
DATE:
 Friday | August 29

TIME:
 7-9 pm | Doors open at 6:30 pm

LOCATION: Crownridge Worship Center

COST: Free and Open to the Public
Spanish Translation Available


Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

Share this word to encourage a friend!  Blue 

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Thursday, August 28, 2014

Morning by Morning, August 28 - "You Will Not Fear the Terror"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Speak to my heart as I listen for Your voice. Lead me beside Your still waters in these first moments of my morning in prayer, my Good Shepherd.  ...

"You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day, or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked" (Psalm 91:5-8).

Father, I believe You are sending Your Holy Spirit to awaken us and unite us in prayer against this darkness of evil that is coming against our world in these days. Bring Your children to safety and bring this enemy to justice. Encourage every fearful heart to hold fast to You through whatever they have to endure by the wicked choices made by wicked people that break Your heart. Give us faith to stand with those being persecuted and terrorized in prayer and wisdom to act according to the leading of Your Spirit.

Send Your Word; send Your Spirit; send Your holy angels to all who are weary and afraid. "For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder, they young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot. Those who love Me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know My name" (Psalm 91:11-14).

Thank You that we can pray from the place of victory, where we are seated with You in Christ far above those wicked powers seeking to steal and kill and destroy (Ephesians 2:4-7). Thank You that we can trust You see it all and You are at work in ways we don't always see and fighting for us in ways we don't always know.

"When they call to Me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them My salvation" (Psalm 91:15-16). You will always be with us as we go through this trouble in these terrifying times at the end of this age, knowing whatever we endure You are with us (Matthew 28:20). And You will have the last word when it's all been said and done (Romans 8:28). Lord, hear our prayer. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 

 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My Friend,  may you stand firm in your faith and move passionately in prayer as we intercede together by the leading of the Holy Spirit of God for all those facing terror in these troubling days in Israel, Iraq, and all over the world. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

Share this word to encourage a friend!  Blue 

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Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Urgent Prayer for Persecuted Christians 8-27-14

My Friend, 

I just received this email from Rick Joyner at MorningStar Ministries where I'm ordained with the Fellowship of Ministries. Please join with me in prayer for our brothers and sisters in Christ in Iraq and everywhere they are being persecuted for our faith in the earth during these troubling times. Even as our heart breaks, we pray from the place of victory, not defeat, in the mighty name of Jesus (Ephesians 2:4-7).

God bless you, my friend,
Tommy


Bart Peacher is a part of the MorningStar pastoral team, and oversees our Moravian Falls retreat center. He received this urgent prayer request today.
- Rick Joyner

The following message came to me from a dear Christian friend in Fair Hope who is extremely reliable. Please send out to your prayer teams.
- Bart Peacher

Dear Friends, 
Just a few minutes ago I received the following text message on my phone from Sean Malone who leads Crisis Relief International (CRI). We then spoke briefly on the phone and I assured him that we would share this urgent prayer need with all of our contacts.

"We lost the city of Queragosh (Qaraqosh). It fell to ISIS and they are beheading children systematically. This is the city we have been smuggling food too. ISIS has pushed back Peshmerga (Kurdish forces) is within 10 minutes of where our CRI team is working. Thousands more fled into the city of Erbil last night. The UN evacuated it's staff in Erbil. Our team is unmoved and will stay. Prayer cover needed!" 

Please pray sincerely for the deliverance of the people of Northern Iraq from the terrible advancement of ISIS and its extreme Islamic goals for mass conversion or death for Christians across this region. 

May I plead with you not to ignore this email. Send it to friends and Christians you may know.

We need to stand in the gap for our fellow Christians.
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