Morning by Morning, February 26 - Standing in Faith Between the Living and the Dead with the Incense of Prayer

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I seek Your face and call on Your name to begin my day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with Your Holy Spirit. ...

 

"On the next day, however, the whole congregation of the Israelites rebelled against Moses and against Aaron, saying, 'You have killed the people of the Lord.' And when the congregation assembled against them, Moses and Aaron turned toward the Tent of Meeting; the cloud had covered it and the glory of the Lord appeared. Then Moses and Aaron came to the front of the Tent of Meeting, and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Get away from this congregation, so that I may consume them in a moment.' And they fell on their faces. Moses said to Aaron, 'Take your censer, put fire on it from the altar and lay incense on it, and carry it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them. For wrath has gone out from the Lord; the plague has begun.' So Aaron took it as Moses had ordered, and ran into the middle of the assembly, where the plague had already begun among the people. He put on the incense, and made atonement for the people. He stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stopped" (Numbers 16:41-48).

 

The stories of the Old Covenant speak to us about spiritual principles of the New Covenant. "Now these things occurred as examples to us, so that we might not desire evil as they did" (1 Corinthians 10:6). An evil desire that arose in the hearts of the Israelites, as Moses and Aaron led them out of Egypt and through the wilderness, was the desire to rebel against God and His leadership of the people through Moses and Aaron. First, Korah spoke against Moses and assembled the people in rebellion, but suffered the consequences of his rebellion and disobedience at the hands of the wrath of God (Numbers 16:1-35). And now, "the whole congregation" were joining in rebellion against God and His leaders, accusing them of being the hand of God's wrath against Korah and his followers (Numbers 16:41). They too would now suffer the wrath of God in response to their rebellion, as a great plague began to move throughout their camp, taking the lives of those who stood in rebellion -- "for wrath has gone out from the Lord; the plague has begun" (Numbers 16:46).

 

Even then, Moses and Aaron did not join in accusation against the people for their rebellion against God and His leaders. Instead, they turned to God (Numbers 16:42), they "fell on their faces" in humility and prayer to make intercession for the people that mercy would triumph over judgment, even when judgment was deserved (Numbers 16:45).

 

The thought came to Moses' heart to send Aaron with his censor of fire and its burning incense from the altar of the Tabernacle into the midst of the people to "make atonement for them" (Numbers 16:46). "(Aaron) stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stopped" (Numbers 16:48).

 

There are many spiritual principles to learn from this account. But one that speaks to me today is the power of prayer in the face of a plague. No matter the source of the plague, even if we are the ones who have opened the door to our own destruction in our lives or in our world, the heart of God is to call us to prayer. The burning incense speaks of intercession. Carrying the censor from the Tabernacle to the place of the plague speaks of putting action to our prayers and running to the battle instead of hiding in fear. Standing between the living and the dead speaks of standing in our place of authority in the name of the Lord to speak against the plague, the sickness, the disease, the destruction, and the death that would seek to consume us. And that the plague was stopped speaks of the mercy of God, that mercy triumphs over judgment, that prayer prevails, that's there's authority of life over death, that faith in God overcomes whatever we face.

 

In this Old Covenant story, Aaron the priest went among the people to "make atonement" for the sins of the people and to stop the plague (Numbers 16:46). Under our New Covenant in You, the Blood of Jesus has made atonement for us. "For in (Jesus Christ) all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him God was pleased to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the Blood of His Cross" (Colossians 1:19-20).

 

Through the Blood of Your Cross, You have taken upon Yourself every plague or virus, every sickness we endure and every sin we allow, that we could humble ourselves before You in prayer and take our stand with You in faith against all we face. "Surely He has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgression, crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the punishment that made us whole, and by His bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:4-6 fulfilled in Jesus Christ, Matthew 8:16-17). "He Himself bore our sins on His Body on the Cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by His wounds (we) have been healed" (1 Peter 2:24).

 

Come, Holy Spirit. Draw us to the deep place of intimate prayer, to the humble place of willingly choosing to be desperately dependent upon You alone, to the trusting place of believing in faith that You see every form of sickness or death, virus or plague, in our hearts or our bodies or our world, coming against us to destroy us. Rise up within us to take our stand, with authority and prayer in the power of the name of Jesus and in the mercy of the atoning Blood of our Savior, even between the living the dead. Let our prayers arise like burning incense; let Your mercy triumph over judgment (James 2:13); and let life in You prevail over the sickness, disease, and death of this world (John 10:10). The Coronavirus cannot trump the Crown of Christ! 

 

In the authority of Your name, let us run to the battle and not hide away in fear. Let us declare in the authority and power of Your name, "This far and no more!" (Job 38:11) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you run to the battle for your family and all the Lord has entrusted to you with responsibility and authority in the name of Jesus to take your stand with the incense of prayer and see His mercy triumph and His life prevail over whatever you face, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 

  

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, February 25 - "This Far and No More!"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I'm waiting and watching for Your leading -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...

 

"Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind ... 'Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb? -- when I made the clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed bounds for it, and set bars and doors, and said, 'Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stopped?'" (Job 38:1-11)

 

You said to the sea, "This far and no more." And You continue to speak in Your sovereignty, "This far and no more" to all that would seek to overwhelm us and overcome us. 

 

We live daily in a broken and fallen world, where choices have consequences and where many choices are made in the freedom we have that are wrong choices, even wicked choices, that break Your heart, that oppose Your will, that unleash evil and destruction in our world. But none of that will have the last word, as we turn to You and call on Your name. There are boundaries to our brokenness and there are limits to the license of our freedom.

 

No matter what we endure, no matter how much it breaks Your heart or violates Your will, You are there with us by Your Word and by Your Spirit to redeem it and cause it to work together for good (Romans 8:28). You never "will" evil and You never "will" sin -- those are our choices from our will -- but You will never let the evil and the sin our choices have its full say or have the last word. Your Word is the final word and Your sovereignty has the final say. Even our spiritual enemy -- the thief who comes to kill and steal and destroy (John 10:10) -- must yield to Your rebuke (Zechariah 3:2; Jude 1:9) and must bow to the authority of Your name (Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew 28:18). And You are with us through whatever we face (Isaiah 43:1-7; Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20).

 

As with the boundaries of the sea, "You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth" (Psalm 104:9). "Do you not fear Me? says the Lord; Do you not tremble before Me? I placed the sand as a boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss they cannot prevail, though they roar, they cannot pass over it" (Jeremiah 5:22). You assure us of Your sovereignty, even as we endure our challenges. "No testing has overtaken (us) that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and He will not let (us) be tested beyond (our) strength, but with testing He will also provide the way out ("the way of escape" NKJV) so that (we) may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

 

One of the ways You provide for us is for us to intercede in prayer and to stand up and speak out in the authority we have in Your name as children of God and disciples of Christ (John 14:13; Matthew 18:19 and 21:22; John 15:7). As You said to Your first disciples, You continue to speak to all Your disciples, "Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for. You. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours" (Mark 11:22-24).

 

So Lord, in these days of Coronavirus, of famines or plagues or earthquakes or terror or political turmoil, or worries of economic collapse or spiritual warfare or suffering the consequences of selfish and sinful choices in our lives and our generations, "teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1). Teach us to take our authority in Your name, as we seek Your face, listen for Your voice, and obey Your will from the deep place of intimate prayer. As You said long ago, You continue to say:  "See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you" (Luke 10:19). 

 

Teach us how to pray and teach us how live into our identity and authority in You. Teach us how to trust in Your sovereign will and make right choices in submission to Your will in the freedom You allow. Teach us how to agree with Your word we've heard from You in prayer to speak to the mountain of whatever we face in the authority of Your name, "This far and no more!" In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you be drawn into the deep place of intimate prayer to hear and to speak what the voice of the Lord is saying with authority in faith to whatever you face, "This far and no more!" in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

       
Gandalf in Lord of the Rings

    

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, February 24 - Who Am I?

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You here in my heart and in every moment of my day -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...

 

"What are mere mortals that You should think about them, human beings that You should care for them? Yet You made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of everything You made, putting all things under their authority.... O Lord, our Lord, Your majestic name fills the earth!" (Psalm 8:4-9 NLT)

 

Lord, who am I, that You should think of me? Who am I, that You should care for me? Who am I, that You should crown me with glory and honor, that You would entrust me with such authority and dominion in Your creation? ...

 

All that was lost in Adam has been restored and redeemed in Christ. "Yes, Adam's one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.... So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 5:18-21 NLT)

 

Who am I that You would humble Yourself in the likeness of human flesh and blood for me, that You should die for me, that You should pay the sacrifice of Your blood for me? (Philippians 2:5-11)

 

Yet, even as I ask, I hear Your Spirit speaking to my spirit. ...

 

"You are My beloved son, a child of God, created in My image for My glory. You are forgiven and free in Me, called by My name, cleansed in My blood, sealed with My Spirit. You are worth the Sacrifice and I want you to see yourself as I see you."  ...

 

Yes, Lord. "For in Christ Jesus (we) are all sons of God, through faith" (Galatians 3:26 ESV). "To all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12). "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are" (1 John 3:1). "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). "(We) are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that (we) may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called (us) out of darkness and into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). "(We) are God's temple and God's Spirit dwells in (us)" (1 Corinthians 3:16).

 

By the power of Your grace, I choose to see myself as You see me. And instead of denying Your wonderful grace and extravagant cost of Your incomprehensible Sacrifice out of some sense of false religious pride or false religious humility, I choose to embrace Your gift and my identity as a beloved son, a beloved child of God -- literally worth dying for.

 

You first loved me, and now I love You (1 John 4:19). You laid down Your life as a Sacrifice for me, and now I lay down my life as a living sacrifice for You (Romans 12:1). Secure in my identity, may I honor You with my destiny. All that I am, all that I have, and all that I do, may I "do everything for the glory of God" as a beloved child of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you be secure in your identity as a beloved child of God and honor God with you life as you live into your destiny in Him, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

               

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, February 21 - "Come, Enter the Joy of the Master"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Take me deep into Your presence to hear Your voice and sense Your leading -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ...

 

"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last -- dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on. His trip. The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master's money. After a long time their mast returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money" (Matthew 25:14-19 NLT).

 

You've created each of us uniquely from anyone else on the face of the earth. We are each "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14). No two leaves on a tree, no two fingerprints on our hands, no two snowflakes that fall from the sky are the same; and neither are any of the children of Your creation. And You have called us and gifted us and anointed us "in proportion to (our) abilities" and according to Your purposes. And in a sense, You've "entrusted" Your Kingdom to us. "God has given us this task of reconciling people to Him.... We are Christ's ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us" (2 Corinthians 5:18-20 NLT).

 

One day soon, You will return. And like the master in the story, You will call us each one to give account of all You've entrusted to us and commissioned us to do in the authority of Your name in security of our identity as sons and daughters of God, as ambassadors of Christ. "Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God" (Romans 14:12 NLT).

 

As in the story, we won't be judged in comparison to one another, but by what we've done with what You've entrusted to each of us based upon our abilities and assignments. Two servants served the master well. "The master was full of praise. 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!'" (Matthew 25:21 NLT). But one servant buried what he had in a hole. He didn't waste the master's money, but he did waste his opportunity to please his master as a faithful steward and servant. His fear held him back so that he wasted what he had and squandered his opportunity to find fulfillment in his master's joy (Matthew 24:25).

 

Lord, I know Your love for me will never change, no matter what I do or don't do, even if I were to waste every moment of my life and squander away every opportunity and assignment You entrust to me. Nothing will separate me from Your love (Romans 8:38-39). The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23). Like Billy Graham always said "There's nothing I could ever do to make You love me more; there's nothing I could ever do to make You love me less." And at the same time, I know You desire so much more for me. I know You desire for me to be found faithful in obedience, to be found fruitful in service, and to find fulfillment in bringing joy to Your heart, as I live into my identity in You as a child of God and ambassador of Christ. 

 

You're the One who given me the abilities and entrusted me with the calling that fits exactly who You've created me and called me to be, unlike anyone else. You're the One who's put the very desire in my heart to please You with my life. And when it's all been said and done, I long to hear Your words, "Well done, My good and faithful servant, My beloved child. Come, enter your reward. Come, enter the joy of your Master" (from Matthew 25:21). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you find fulfillment as you enter into the Master's joy, being found faithful in obedience and service to Him in all He has uniquely entrusted to you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

              

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, February 19 - "The Fullness of Time"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me hear, as I listen; help me see, as I look -- waiting here in Your presence for Your leading to begin my day in communion with You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...

 

"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" (Galatians 4:4-5).

 

My Father God, give me grace to trust in Your timing -- in "the fullness of time." Give me patience to wait, faith to trust, determination to endure, even as I press in for the breakthrough with expectant faith for all that is to come. It will come. All that You've purposed and planned will all come, all will be fulfilled, but all in Your time. 

 

So between this time and that time, between today and the day to come of "the fullness of time," help me believe and rest in the truth that You make all things beautiful in Your time (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

There's a tension between expectant faith and waiting on the Lord. Both are important to learn. And only You can us the grace to live in the tension between the already and the n0t-yet, between resting in the truth that it is already done, already accomplished, already finished through the work of the cross, while at the same time, expectantly praying for all to come together, for all to come forth, here on earth as it already is in heaven.

 

In a sense, I can say, "It can't happen for me soon enough." And at the same time, in another sense that's just as true, I'd have to admit, "I couldn't handle it if it all happened to me at once." So You invite me to trust You, to trust Your timing, to trust Your wisdom, to trust Your ways. You invite me to "lean not on (my) own understanding (but) in all (my) ways to acknowledge (You), (trusting You) shall direct (my) paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV).

 

You're the One who gives me faith to expect the good things to come. And You're also the One who give me patience to let You have Your way in me and in everything and everyone else around me so that the good things come at just the right time -- in "the fullness of time." Whether we like it or not -- and it's usually "not" -- patience is one the fruit of the Spirit You've developing in us (Galatians 5:22). And it's one of the principles of the Kingdom of God that "through faith and patience (we) inherit the promises" of God (Hebrews 6:12).

 

So Lord, I'm excited and expectant and full of faith for this season at hand! But at the same time, let me also be full of patience, as You unfold it all in Your beautiful way, in Your time, in "the fullness of time." In the meantime, I'm confident of this:  Not one of Your words will fall to the ground unfulfilled; and not one of Your words will return to You void, but all will be accomplished and fulfilled (Isaiah 55:11). He who began a good work in me and my world will be faithful to complete it (Philippians 1:6). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you be filled with expectant faith and trusting patience in the One who is faithful to complete the good work He has begun in His beautiful way and in His perfect time, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 

Pakistan Ministry. Praising God for another mighty move of His Holy Spirit in Pakistan through our Skype Internet Ministry last night! Each month we set up a big screen for me to preach through our interpreter on site in a different village, with a follow-up ministry team. We just received this report from Pastor Fazal with these pictures and exciting testimonies coming in so far!  "Dear Pastor Tommy, Thanks very much to share Powerful Word of God in unreached Village. Thanks Lord 345 Souls are Saved and 38 People are healed now!" (Some specific testimonies were healing from breathing problems, freedom from ten years of joint pain, healing from kidney stone pain). Amen!! Praise God!! 

 

Thank you to all my friends who pray for us and support us to make this ministry possible!

            

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, February 18 - Through the Storms

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart to guide my steps in Your paths -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...

 

"On that day, when evening had come, (Jesus) said to them, 'Let us go across to the other side.' And leaving the crowd behind, they took Him with them in the boat, just as He was. Other boats were with Him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But He was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him up and said to Him, 'Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?' He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Peace, Be still!' Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, 'Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?' And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, 'Who then is this, that even the wind and the seas obey Him?' (Mark 4:35-41)

 

You never said we wouldn't face storms. Even if we're following You. Even if we know You're right there in the boat with us. The winds can still come and try to blow us off course. The waves can still come and try to beat us down. The seas of circumstances that suddenly rise up and try to overwhelm us rarely seem to wait for the best timing.

 

But we are not alone. And You are right here with us. You're still Lord of the wind and the waves. You're still sovereign over all our circumstances. And we turn to You in faith -- even in the midst of the fear we're facing at the moment -- You rebuke our storms and You steady our spirits. "Peace! Be still!"

 

Many are afraid of the Coronavirus. Many are afraid of the direction of the country, the protection of our children, the sufficiency of our bank accounts, the fulfillment of our dreams. And many of those storms are very real. But so are You! And so is Your presence and Your power to rise up and speak to our storms and to our spirits to "Be still!" to "Be at peace!" to "Trust in the Lord for You are good and You are God and Your mercy endures forever!"

 

So whom shall I fear? So what shall make me afraid? Just like those first disciples of Yours, I began this journey with You and I'm trusting in You -- as best as I can and all by the power of Your grace -- to get me to the other side! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 

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

My friend, may you be filled with faith to trust in the One who is with you through every storm and will be faithful to get you to there other side of whatever you're going through, for He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Friends, so for the delay in getting my prayer out this morning. I was preaching into Pakistan through our Skype Internet Ministry, where I get to preach once a month into a different village. We set up a protector and screen, with an interpreter and team to share the healing love of Jesus Christ! This message about the storm was my message to them this morning (Tuesday night there). Praying to hear reports and testimonies of salvation, healing, and freedom in the mighty name of Jesus! Excited to see what God will do!  Thank you so much for all your prayers!

           

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!