Star of Hope Rising - December 11, 2020

 Morning by Morning, December 11 - Star of Hope Rising

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart, as I seek to follow in Your steps today. ...

 

"In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, 'Where is the Child who has been born King of the Jews? For we observed His star at its rising, and have come to pay homage'" (Matthew 2:1-2).

 

Before hope was fulfilled, the wise men saw hope from afar.

 

Long before the day of the birth of Christ, they looked up to the sky and saw a star of hope in the heavens. As the star was rising in the sky, hope was rising in their hearts. So they followed that star until their hope was fulfilled.

 

There was something unique about this star that spoke to their hearts that there was something unique about this Child. They probably didn't know that the fulfillment of their hopes was destined to be the fulfilment of the Promises of God and the hope of mankind. 

"For so it has been written by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a Ruler who is to shepherd My people'" (Matthew 2:5-6).

 

The wise men followed their hearts and hopes. They followed "the star they had seen at its rising until it stopped over the place where the Child was" (Matthew 2:9). And on that day, their hopes were turned to joy. "When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they knelt down and paid Him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh" (Matthew 2:9-11).

 

Holy Spirit of the Living God, come fill our hearts with hope. Come lift up our eyes to the heavens, from where our help comes from. Give us courage and faith to keep following the star of hope You cause to shine in our hearts until our hopes are fulfilled in You. "Hope deferred make the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled in a tree of life" (Proverbs 13:12).

 

Fulfill the desires You've put in our hearts, Father. Fill our hearts with Your new life. Like wise men on a journey going to see the King, we believe with expectant faith and hopeful hearts that our journey will end in joy! And we will bow down and pay homage to the One whose hope does not disappoint. 

 

"Hope does not disappoint us because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). So arise and shine in our hearts, Holy Spirit of God, O Star of Hope, who always leads us to the King. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may hope rise in your heart with expectant faith and courage to pursue the promises our Father has put into your hearts by His Holy Spirit on your journey to the King and His kingdom purposes in your life and our world, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. And I join with you and so many in prayer for our nation through this challenging time. God bless you, my friend! 

Monthly Pakistan Evangelistic Crusade through our 

Skype Internet Ministry Yesterday.

We praise God for a great gathering of people hungry to hear the Gospel at our meeting last night in Pakistan, where I was able to share a message of hope and healing. So many came even though it was very cold. 

We're excited to have just received this Praise Report from Pastor Rizwan Fazal who sets up the meetings and interprets my message and prayer live: "Thank the Lord! 247 Souls are Saved and 19 Persons are Healed from different things. Me and my wife Mehwish request please help us to support Bonded Labor Christian Slaves Families at Brick Kiln before 20th December." If you would like to join us in helping these families, please add this message to your on-line contribution for this designation.

Here are a few photos Pastor Rizwan just sent:

 

 

 

 

Please keep us in prayer to continue these monthly crusades and evangelistic outreach in Pakistan! God bless you!

Run to the Battle! DVD Set Now Available

from Our Recent Conference at Ignite Church

 

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Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

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"Seize the Hope" - December 9, 2020

 Morning by Morning, December 9 - "Seize the Hope"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Arise in my heart, my thoughts, my words, and my actions as I seek to abide in You and welcome You to abide in me today -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...

 

"When God made a promise to Abraham, because He had no one greater by whom to swear, He swore by Himself, saying, 'I will surely bless you and multiply you.' And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Human beings, of course, swear by someone greater than themselves, and an oath given as confirmation puts an end to all dispute. In the same way, when God desired to show even more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of His purpose, He guaranteed it by an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us. We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus, a Forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek" (Hebrews 6:13-20).

 

Your Word "strongly encourages" us to "seize the hope set before us."

 

What is it to "seize the hope," Lord? ...

 

As I wait for Your words, what comes to my heart is this: "To seize the hope is to aggressively take hold of the hope I've put in your heart. Too many are passive in their hope, just as too many are lukewarm in their faith. Faith and hope, like love, are active and not passive, intended to be passionately pursued, not passively received. Just as I command you to "pursue love," to exercise faith, so you are to pursue hope, to "seize the hope" I've set before you." ...

 

Yes, Lord. Some Scriptures come to mind to confirm Your spoken word by Your Written Word: "Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts" (1 Corinthians 14:1). Abraham "staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God" (Romans 4:20). "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force" (Matthew 11:12).

 

So by the power of Your grace at work within me, I choose to "seize the hope (You've) set before (me)." No turning back. No shrinking back. No surrender and no retreat from all I believe You've put in my heart to pray and proclaim, to see and to say, in the authority of Your name and in agreement with Your Word and Your will. Despite the wind and waves of the sea of doubt and unbelief, I choose to seize the hope, to stand firm in the faith, to pursue Your love, and to advance Your kingdom by actively, aggressively trusting in the promises of God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you be empowered by the Holy Spirit and filled with the grace of God at work within you to seize the hope the Lord has set before you and stirred up within you, standing firm in the faith and advancing His kingdom through your prayers and proclamations in the authority of His name, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. And I join with you and so many in prayer for our nation through this challenging time. God bless you, my friend! 

Run to the Battle! DVD Now Available

from Our Recent Conference at Ignite Church

Messiah-Ministries.org

Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Tommy & Rocio Hays | Messiah Ministries

Messiah-Ministries.org

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No Shrinking Back - December 7, 2020

 Morning by Morning, December 7 - No Shrinking Back

 

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

 

"Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet 'in a little while, the One who is coming will come and will not delay; but My righteous one will live by faith. My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.' But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved" (Hebrews 10:35-39).

 

No shrinking back. No turning back. No giving in or giving up. 

 

By the power of Your grace, give us confidence and endurance to hold on to Your promises as we persist in faith. What seems like a lifetime is really only "a little while." But "the One who is coming will come and will not delay." As always, You'll be right on time.

 

When You come, will You find faith on earth? Will You find faith in Your people who are called by Your name? Will You find faith in me? ...

 

As the father cried out for the freedom of his son in the midst of his spiritual battle at hand, "I believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24)

 

Now is not the time to waver in faith, to step back in unbelief, or to surrender in doubt. Now is not the time to shrink back but to press in. Now is the time to run to the battle and press the fight all the way to the enemy's gates, believing every word You've spoken into our hearts will not fail but will surely come to pass. For not even the gates of hell will prevail against You and Your people who called by Your name (Matthew 16:18).

 

As Moses said to the people of God just when all seemed lost: 'Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today!" (Exodus 14:13) "Today" may seem like a day too late, but with confident faith we choose to believe and dare to proclaim "the One who is coming will come and will not delay!" In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

Friend, may you be filled with confident faith, with no shrinking back, but pressing in and standing firm in your faith and bold in your proclamations according to the leading of the Holy Spirit in your heart, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. And I join with you and so many in prayer for our nation through this challenging time. God bless you, my friend! 

Run to the Battle! DVD Now Available

from Our Recent Conference at Ignite Church

Messiah-Ministries.org

Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Tommy & Rocio Hays | Messiah Ministries

Messiah-Ministries.org

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

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"Shouted from the Housetops" - December 4, 2020

 Morning by Morning, December 4 - "Shouted from the Housetops"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift my eyes and open my heart to hear what You say and see what You show, as I begin my day centered in You. ...

 

"Jesus turned first to His disciples and warned them, 'Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees -- their hypocrisy. The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!'" (Luke 12:1-3 NLT)

 

What was covered up will be revealed. What was shut up will be shouted. Hypocrites and liars cannot run and cannot hide any longer, for "the time is coming" for all that was hidden in darkness to be exposed by the Light.

 

As You went on to say, we need not fear those who would try to suppress us and silence us. All should "Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, He's the One to fear" (v. 4-5).

 

There's mercy and grace for all who repent. But for true repentance, there must be true confession for the sin. "If we confess our sins, He who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). "Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:7-9). And "the time is coming" for the harvest of all that's been sown. By the power of Your grace, let us not give up.

 

Come, Holy Spirit. Let the Light of the Living God bring all things out of darkness and into the light of truth. Set things right. Make things just. Reveal and expose for all to see and for all to hear! Let it all be shouted "from the housetops" -- from the Court House, from the White House, and from every house seeking to know and willing to hear the truth. "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!" (Joshua 24:15) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you not grow weary and never give up, for the time of harvest is coming, as you are being filled the Light and the Spirit of the Living God, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. And I join with you and so many in prayer for our nation through this challenging time. God bless you, my friend! 

 

Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Tommy & Rocio Hays | Messiah Ministries

Messiah-Ministries.org

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

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"Setting" Ourselves to Seek the Lord for Our Nation - December 3, 2020

 Morning by Morning, December 3 - “Setting” Ourselves to Seek the Lord for Our Nation

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Arise in my heart, Holy Spirit of God, as I entrust my life and my day completely to You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirt of God. ...

 

“After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, ‘A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; already they are at Hazazon-tamar’ (that is, En-gedi). Jehoshaphat was afraid; he set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the towns of Judah they came to seek the Lord” (2 Chronicles 20:1-4).

 

When the king was afraid, “he set himself to seek the Lord.” And all Judah “assembled” with him “to seek the Lord.”

 

How did he “set” himself in seeking You? ...

 

Your Word says he “stood in the assembly ... in the house of the Lord” (v. 5). Then he declared Your authority and power to prevail over the enemies coming against their nation (v. 6-7). 

 

He remembered and proclaimed Your promise that You would “hear and save” whenever Your people would turn to You in times of “disaster, sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine” (v. 8-9). And in humility he acknowledged the honest facts before him that the enemies of the nation would surely prevail if You Yourself did not intervene and act on their behalf, crying out, “O our God, will You not execute judgement upon them? For we are powerless against this great multitude that is coming against us” v. 12). Finally, he committed it all into Your hands in trusting faith and confident surrender, declaring, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You” (v. 12).

 

With their eyes on You, coming together in prayer in the house of the Lord, You heard and You answered. “Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel (saying) ‘Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not fear or be dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God’s.... This battle is not for you to fight; take your position, stand still, and see the victory of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you!’” (v. 13-17)

 

As they “rose early in the morning and went out” against them, those appointed to go “before the army” declared Your goodness with thanksgiving and praise (v. 20-21). “As they began to sing and praise (You) set an ambush against (the enemies of their nation)” (v. 22). At Your hand, the enemies of their land were “routed” and even began “to destroy one another” (v. 23).

 

The people of God “returned to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord hand enabled them to rejoice over their enemies!” (v. 27) Then “the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel!” (v. 29).

 

Our battle in our nation is not against flesh and blood, but the spiritual forces of darkness, always seeking to steal, kill, and destroy our calling and destiny as a people of God and a nation under God (Ephesians 6:12; John 10:10). And Your Spirit is stirring in our hearts to keep worshipping You, in prayer and praise, rising early every morning and going out to battle to take our position, to stand firm, and to see the victory of the Lord on our behalf. 

 

Right now, we “see the victory of the Lord” by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). But we believe with expectant faith You have hear our prayers, You have seen our hearts turn, and You are setting ambushes against the spiritual enemies of our nation to route them and destroy them in ways that only You can do. And when You do what only You can do, so that all will see the miraculous intervention of God, the fear of God will come upon this nation and all the nations of the world who look and see what You have done. In the great “harvest” of revival and awakening to come, we will rejoice with great joy over Your great victory! (Matthew 13:39) In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you set yourself to seek the Lord for our nation, see the victory of the Lord with eyes of faith, as He ambushes and routes the spiritual enemies of our land, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. And I join with you and so many in prayer for our nation through this challenging time. God bless you, my friend! 

Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Tommy & Rocio Hays | Messiah Ministries

Messiah-Ministries.org

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at:

Messiah-Ministries.org