Morning by Morning&#8212;Daily Prayer Journey with Tommy Hays

Please Keep us in Prayer for These

Messiah Ministries Events

October 25 - Tuesday Night Class at Bridge Church

Teaching my 9 Month Freedom Equipping Course:

Based on my Book Free to Be Like Jesus

The Bridge Church at 6:00 in Fredericksburg. All are welcome!

November 17-19

Teaching our Level 2 Weekend Intensive School of Ministry in Lampasas, Texas

January 12-30

Central Mexico Ministry Trip

Freedom Encounter Weekends, Rocio Leading a Women's Conference, Seminars and Prayer Ministry, Wedding in Uruapan, Morelia, Ixtapa

February 3-4

Leading a Messiah Ministries Spiritual Retreat at T Bar M Ranch, New Branfels, Texas. All are Welcome!

February 18

South Texas Aglow Annual Conference in Laredo, Texas

Rocio and I will be leading a session on Inner Healing Prayer Ministry

Wednesday Mornings

Joining with MorningStar Ministries to Lead Online Inner Healing and Deliverance Ministry Sessions for the 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:

Sessions are without cost and all contributions help support the calling and vision of Messiah Ministries.

https://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute

Free On-line Video Series

Setting Hearts Free!

My Core Teaching and Ministry

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

The Destiny of a Destroyed Nation Restored - October 19, 2022

Morning by Morning, October 19 - The Destiny of a Destroyed Nation Restored

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I look and listen, as I seek to begin my day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. ...

There was a time when the nation of Israel was under siege, and they were judged for the sins of the people and of their leaders when the armies of Babylon came and destroyed their temple and their nation. There was a time of great suffering in their exile. But there was also a time of great prayer and travail in the hearts of the intercessors, like the prophet Daniel, who would not let it go and would not give up on Your plans and purposes for the nation (Daniel 9:1-27).

You heard their prayers and even began to move in the hearts of rulers of the world to make a way for restoration of what was lost. We see a record in Scripture of the earthly decree that released from the courts of heaven:

“Then King Darius made a decree, and they searched the archives where the documents were stored in Babylon. But it was in Ecbatana, the capital in the province of Media, that a scroll was found on which this was written: ‘A record. In the first year of his reign, King Cyrus issued a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be rebuilt, the place where sacrifices are offered and burnt offerings are brought; its height shall be sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits, with three courses of hewn stones and one course of timber; let the cost be paid from the royal treasury. Moreover, let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God that Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon be restored and brought back to the temple in Jerusalem, each to its place; you shall put them in the house of God” (Ezra 6:3-5).

Just as You turn the hearts of rulers, You turned the destiny of the nation. You made room for restoration. You made provision for Your purposes. Against all odds. When all seemed lost. You broke through to give Your people another chance in their nation.

“Then, according to the word sent by King Darius, Tattenai, the governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates did with all diligence what King Darius had ordered. So the elders of the Jews built and prospered, through the prophesying of the prophet Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished their building by command of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus, Darius, and King Artaxerxes of Persia, and this house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius” (v. 13-15).

It was “by command of the God of Israel” and also “the prophesying of the prophet” and building work of “the elders” along with the “decree” of world rulers -- all fashioned together in Your time and in Your way according to Your will -- that this time of restoration and reversal of the destiny of the nation came to pass and the work was “finished.”

This move of God carried out by the hand of God moving in the hearts of people and leaders in miraculous ways was for “the rebuilding of this house of God” that had been destroyed (v. 8). And when the work was finished, there was a time of joyful celebration:

“The people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy!” (v. 16).

They remembered the day of their great deliverance from Egypt through the day of Passover and the celebrated this restoration of their nation that was no less miraculous:

“On the fourteenth day of the first month the returned exiles kept the Passover. For both the priests and the Levites had purified themselves; all of them were clean. So they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves. It was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile and also by all who had joined them and separated themselves from the pollutions of the nations of the land to seek the Lord, the God of Israel. With joy they celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread seven days, for the Lord had made them joyful and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel” (v. 19-22).

O God, move in our hearts today. Move in the hearts of world leaders and those in authority today. Move miraculously to restore the heart of our nation, to redeem us from our sins and failures, and to fulfill the destiny of all that is in Your heart to do through our land and through our hearts. Even now, before we see it fulfilled with our eyes, despite whatever darkness or battles we must go through, fill our hearts with joy for all that You will do.

Can You do it? Will You do it?

What comes to my heart is the cry of the heart of another praying prophet with a passion for his nation:

“Listen, a roar from the city!

A voice from the temple!

The voice of the Lord,

dealing retribution to his enemies!

Before she was in labor

she gave birth;

before her pain came upon her

she delivered a son.

Who has heard of such a thing?

Who has seen such things?

Shall a land be born in one day?

Shall a nation be delivered in one moment?

Yet as soon as Zion was in labor

she delivered her children!” (Isaiah 66:6-8)

Lord, let it be so -- here in our hearts and here in our land. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

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

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:

Please Keep us in Prayer for These

Messiah Ministries Events

October 18 - Tuesday Night Class at Bridge Church

Teaching my 9 Month Freedom Equipping Course:

Based on my Book Free to Be Like Jesus

The Bridge Church at 6:00 in Fredericksburg. All are welcome!

November 17-19

Teaching our Level 2 Weekend Intensive School of Ministry in Lampasas, Texas

Wednesday Mornings

Joining with MorningStar Ministries to Lead Online Inner Healing and Deliverance Ministry Sessions for the Online Connect Groups from around the world.

Personal Ministry Appointments

Sessions are without cost and all contributions help support the calling and vision of Messiah Ministries.

https://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute

Free On-line Video Series

Setting Hearts Free!

My Core Teaching and Ministry

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

The Challenging Character of Jesus - October 18, 2022

Morning by Morning, October 18 - The Challenging Character of Jesus

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind, Your desires in my heart, Your words in my mouth, as You lead me by Your Spirit through every moment of my day. ...

“But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who asks of you, and if anyone takes away what is yours, do not ask for it back again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive payment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for He Himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:27-36).

Being more like Jesus is as much about becoming more “merciful” as it is about moving in the miraculous. It’s as much about allowing Your Spirit to develop our character as it is about anointing us with charismatic gifts.

And at the heart of that supernatural character development is the evidence of how we treat people -- especially the most challenging people, like the ones that hate us and hurt us, curse us and mistreat us, judge us and misunderstand us, or even just flat out ignore us. Embracing the true character of Jesus is the most challenging choice we’ll ever face in this life.

We all know the Golden Rule, “Do unto other as you would have them do unto you,” which is taken from this very Passage of Scripture. But we don’t always remember just how challenging and counter-cultural this command of Yours really is. Being “merciful” as “children of the Most High” is marked by being much more radically loving, extravagantly giving, and graciously forgiving than even most of the most committed followers ever come close to living out.

We, of course, can’t even begin to do this or even desire to do this apart from You. It’s not in our nature. And that’s point. You want to change our nature, as You develop our character into the nature and character of Christ (Romans 8:29), as we are being transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2).

This transformation is not just a little tweaking here and there. It’s a crucifixion of our flesh (Galatians 2:20); it’s a circumcision of our heart (Romans 2:29). It’s resurrection of our new self as a “new creation” in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), but it’s a resurrection lifestyle not merely a one-and-done prayer, as we “die daily” to our old ways of thinking and living, of loving just those who are easy to love and being merciful only to those who we think deserve our mercy (1 Corinthians 15:31). It’s answering a call and commitment asked of every would-be disciple and follower of Christ, as You continue to set before us this choice every day: “If any wish to come after Me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).

That hasn’t changed. And even though it’s all by the power of Your grace and the moving of Your Spirit in our heart to change us and develop us, it’s also a willing choice that we must make every day to say, “Yes, Lord. Do this in me.”

It’s not an easy road, even as we rest in You and trust in the finished work of Your cross. It’s not meant to be. In fact You said, “Enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). Pressing even further, You said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and do many mighty works in Your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from Me, you who behave lawlessly’” (Matthew 7:21-23).

How I need Your grace every moment of every day. I thank You for the grace that saved me, but I’m also desperately dependent upon Your grace to sanctify me, to make me more like You every day. Apart from You, I can’t begin to do this or even desire this (John 15:5). So I thank You that I’m not apart from You, that Your Spirit is living in me, changing my heart and developing my character to make me more like You, giving me both the desire and the power to please You and honor You with this sliver of time with the opportunities I have on this side of Heaven (Philippians 2:13).

As I’m seeking You in as much trust and surrender as I can this morning, I believe You are showing me a little more deeply just what it means to become more like You. This is all part of Your call and command for us to “grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ” on our spiritual journey “to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-16). Lord have Your way in me today and every day. I say, Yes, Lord, do this in me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you choose daily to embrace the challenging character of Jesus, by the power of God's grace and the work of His Spirit in you, making you more like Jesus each day, 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:

Please Keep us in Prayer for These

Messiah Ministries Events

October 18 - Tuesday Night Class at Bridge Church

Teaching my 9 Month Freedom Equipping Course:

Based on my Book Free to Be Like Jesus

The Bridge Church at 6:00 in Fredericksburg. All are welcome!

November 17-19

Teaching our Level 2 Weekend Intensive School of Ministry in Lampasas, Texas

Wednesday Mornings

Joining with MorningStar Ministries to Lead Online Inner Healing and Deliverance Ministry Sessions for the Online Connect Groups from around the world.

Personal Ministry Appointments

Sessions are without cost and all contributions help support the calling and vision of Messiah Ministries.

https://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute

Free On-line Video Series

Setting Hearts Free!

My Core Teaching and Ministry

Monday, October 17, 2022

Baptism of Fire - October 17, 2022

Morning by Morning, October 17 - Baptism of Fire

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me hear Your heart, as I rest in Your Presence and wait for Your leading -- Heart to heart, Spirit to spirit, Deep to deep. ...

On the last night of the School of the Prophets at MorningStar Ministries last weekend, about a hundred of us in the center of the gathering, along with Chris Reed, all smelled an overpowering smell of smoke. There wasn’t anything burning or smoking in the natural realm, but something was certainly on fire in the spiritual realm!

The Director of the School, Ed Perez had referred early in the weekend to “the baptism of fire.” What came to my mind was the words of John the Baptist, in his ministry of preparing the way of the Lord for Your first coming:

“In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,

‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord;

make His paths straight’” (Matthew 3:1-3).

John declared to all who were drawing near to God to embrace the Kingdom of heaven with repentant and pursuing hearts:

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but the One who is coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not worthy to carry His sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor and will gather His wheat into the granary, but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:11-12).

And the very next Verse says: “Then Jesus came...” (v. 13).

Part of the purpose of this baptism “with the Holy Spirit and fire” is to prepare the way of the Lord in our hearts and in the earth. Just as John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way of the Lord for Your first coming, so the Father has sent the Holy Spirit to prepare the way of the Lord in the Body and Bride of Christ for Your second coming.

The Last Book of the Old Testament, just before the proclamation of the coming of Christ in the First Book of the New Testament prophesied of this:

“See, I am sending My Messenger to prepare the way before Me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple. The Messenger of the covenant in whom you delight--indeed, He is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of His coming, and who can stand when He appears?

“For He is like a refiner’s fire and like washers’ soap; He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord, as in the days of old and as in former years” (Malachi 3:1-4).

Holy Spirit, You are that Messenger. You are that Refiner’s Fire. Just as You filled John the Baptist when he was still in his mother’s womb for this calling and assignment to prepare the way of the Lord (Luke 1:15), so You are filling the hearts of the Body and Bride of Christ to prepare the way of the Lord for the second coming of Christ. You are refining and burning “the chaff” out of us. You’re burning out of us all that is not yet like Jesus. And You are setting us a blaze with a passion for Jesus.

Who will endure the day of His coming? Who can stand when He appears? ... Those who have been purified and refined in the Refiner’s Fire, those who have embraced the baptism of “the Holy Spirit and Fire.”

As David prophesied long ago of this day:

“Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?

And who shall stand in His holy place?

Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,

who do not lift up their souls to what is false

and do not swear deceitfully.

They will receive blessing from the Lord

and vindication from the God of their salvation.

Such is the company of those who seek Him,

who seek the face of the God of Jacob” (Psalm 24:3-6).

Come, Holy Spirit. Baptize me in Your Holy Fire. Burn the chaff out of me, everything in me that is not yet like Jesus. Wash and cleanse my soul. By the power of Your grace, I want to be part of that Body and Bride of Christ, with the way of the Lord prepared in my heart:

“Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, so as to present the church to Himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind, so that she may be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27).

By the power of Your grace working in me, burning in me, cleanse my hands and purify my heart to be lifted up to the Lord my God alone, as I seek the face of God and embrace the Fire of God -- this holy baptism of Fire. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you embrace the baptism of the Fire of God as you seek the face of God, preparing the way of the Lord in your heart and in the earth, 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:

Please Keep us in Prayer for These

Messiah Ministries Events

October 18 - Tuesday Night Class at Bridge Church

Teaching my 9 Month Freedom Equipping Course:

Based on my Book Free to Be Like Jesus

The Bridge Church at 6:00 in Fredericksburg. All are welcome!

November 17-19

Teaching our Level 2 Weekend Intensive School of Ministry in Lampasas, Texas

Wednesday Mornings

Joining with MorningStar Ministries to Lead Online Inner Healing and Deliverance Ministry Sessions for the Online Connect Groups from around the world.

Personal Ministry Appointments

Sessions are without cost and all contributions help support the calling and vision of Messiah Ministries.

https://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute

Free On-line Video Series

Setting Hearts Free!

My Core Teaching and Ministry