One King. One Kingdom. - September 11, 2020

 Morning by Morning, September 11 - One King. One Kingdom.

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be high and lifted up, here in my heart and every moment of my day. 

 

"Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!'" (Revelation 11:15)

 

On "9-11" I always remember the day the towers fell and all who lost their lives that day, when all our lives were forever changed from that day forth.

 

But as that infamous scene comes to mind this morning, I also see with the eyes of my heart towers and buildings all around the world coming down. And this Scripture comes to mind of the time to come when all the "towers" of this world, all the places that are high and lifted up in our hearts and our world that would take the place that You alone are to have, come falling down.

 

There will come a day when "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ." There is one King and one Kingdom. And there is only One who will rule and reign forever and ever. "Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end" (Isaiah 9:7). "He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end" (Luke 1:33). "His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and His kingdom is one that shall never be destroyed" (Daniel 7:14).

 

There will come a day when "we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, 'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.' So then each of us will give an account of himself to God" (Romans 14:10-12). In that day, the Word You spoke through Your prophet Isaiah of this day to come will be fulfilled, "I have sworn by Myself; the word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return,  that to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath" (Isaiah 45:23). All will be fulfilled in Christ, for "Every knee shall bow ... and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11). 

 

One King. One Kingdom. 

 

And all the towers and kingdoms of this world will fall before the One who is "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" (Revelation 19:16), before the One who is "Lord of All" (Romans 10:12; Acts 10:36). All will bow before the One who alone is worthy of it all (Revelation 4:11). In that day, the kingdoms of this world will have become the kingdom of our God and of His Christ (Revelation 11:15). 

 

Lord, as I bow before You and confess before my world, let the kingdom of my heart become Your kingdom today. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may the King of Kings and Lord of Lords rule and and reign in your heart and in our world, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. And I join with you and all the world as we remember those who lost their lives and loved ones on that tragic day of September 11, 2001. God bless you, my friend!           

New 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!

In Repentance, Returning, and Rest We Shall Be Saved - September 10, 2020

 Morning by Morning, September 10 - In Repentance, Returning, and Rest We Shall Be Saved

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of my thoughts, here at the beginning of my day. ...

 

You're always inviting us to more fully trust in You alone. You're always calling us to come out of the world and come to You. You're always setting before us the choice of life or death, blessing or curse, trusting in You or trusting in our ourselves, giving in to the ways of the world or seeking to walk in the ways of God. And Your heart is always that we would repent and return and rest in You, that we might receive all Your mercy and love for all of us. But the choice is ours.

 

A strong word of warning comes to my heart today. As You spoke to Your children in Israel, so You're speaking to Your children in our day. You assured them that "in returning and rest you shall be saved" (Isaiah 30:15), but first warned them not to "reject this word" (Isaiah 30:12). You warned them of what was to come if they would not turn their hearts to You alone as the Source of their provision and protection for themselves, for their children, and for their nation:

 

"Go now, write it before them on a tablet,

    and inscribe it in a book,

so that it may be for the time to come

    as a witness forever.

For they are a rebellious people,

    faithless children,

children who will not hear

    the instruction of the Lord;

who say to the seers, 'Do not see';

    and to the prophets, 'Do not prophesy to us what is right;

speak to us smooth things,

    prophesy illusions,

leave the way, turn aside from the path,

    let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.'

Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel:

Because you reject this word,

    and put your trust in oppression and deceit,

    and rely on them;

therefore this iniquity shall become for you

    like a break in a high wall, bulging out, and about to collapse,

    whose crash comes suddenly, in an instant;

its breaking is like that of a potter's vessel

    that is smashed so ruthlessly

that among its fragments not a sherd is found

    for taking fire from the hearth,

    or dipping water out of the cistern.

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:

In returning and rest you shall be saved;

    in quietness and in trust shall be your strength" (Isaiah 30:8-15).

 

In Your mercy and love, pour out Your Spirit of repentance and return upon our land and into our hearts. Let us find no "rest" in our own strength, our own wisdom, our own power, our own provision, our own ways that are apart from You -- for "apart from You, (we) can do nothing" (John 15:4). Apart from You, even what we think are our most righteous deeds are only as filthy rags in Your sight (Isaiah 64:6). 

 

We need You, Lord -- now, more than ever before. Awaken us from our slumber. Bring us to our knees. Call us to call upon the name of the Lord, that we may be saved. For only in "returning and rest" shall "(we) shall be saved." But as we do, then "in quietness and in trust" You "shall be (our) Strength" (Isaiah 30:15).

 

For those who repent and return and rest in You, there is mercy. As You spoke of Your promise and the blessing to the children of Israel, even in the midst of their rebellion and pride, seeking to rely upon themselves instead of fully trusting in You alone, You were always so ready and willing to pour out Your mercy upon them and their land if they would only turn to You and call on Your name:

 

"Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you;

    therefore He will rise up to show mercy to you.

For the Lord is a God of justice;

    blessed are all those who wait for Him" (Isaiah 30:18).

 

As You declared this message of hope through Isaiah in his day, so You continue to declare this message of hope in ours:

 

"Truly, O people of Zion, inhabitants of Jerusalem, you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you. Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide Himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it" (Isaiah 30:19-21).

 

Father, in the name of Jesus, may we hear the call of Your Holy Spirit in our day, in our hearts, and in our land. "This is the way; walk in it. This is My heart for you; turn to Me and embrace it. In repentance and return, you will find your rest and your strength in Me." ...

 

Yes, Lord. Let it be so, here in our hearts, here in our land, here in our day. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 

Lord Jesus, make me more like You each day. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you repent and return and rest in the Lord -- in your heart and on behalf of our nation, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!           

  

Thursday Night, October 1st. Save the Date! 

I'm excited to be sharing a word of encouragement and hope at the Central Texas Area Aglow Meeting at the Kendall Inn of Boerne, Texas on Thursday Night, October 1st. My wife Rocio and I will be ministering the healing love of God after the message, in a deep atmosphere of worship and prayer. Come join us at 7:00 pm and spread the word! More details to follow. 

Free to Be Like Jesus!

--Transforming Power

 of Inner Healing & Deliverance

   

Amazon.com/AuthorTommyHays

New 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!

"One" with God? - September 8, 2020

Morning by Morning, September 8 - "One" with God?

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are One with the Father and One with the Holy Spirit. I welcome You now to be One within me, in the mystery of faith and only by the grace of God. ...

 

"I ask not only behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one. As You, Father, are in Me and I am in You, may they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. The glory that You have given Me I have given them, so that they may be one, as We are One, I in them and You in Me, that they become completely one, so that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me" (John 17:20-23).

 

We could spend a lifetime and maybe even all eternity seeking to understand the depths of the unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as One God, in three Persons. And we could spend even longer than all eternity (if that were possible) seeking to understand the depths of how we become one with You through Christ. And yet, this is the Promise of the Word of God from the "red letter" words of this prayer of Jesus -- "As You, Father, are in Me and I am in You, may they also be in Us.... I in them and You in Me."

 

Likewise, Your Word invites us to take hold of Your promise, "Anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him" (1 Corinthians 6:17). I think we can't even begin to fully grasp on this side of heaven just how deeply You desire that we become so intimately united as "one" with You -- heart to Heart, spirit to Spirit, from glory to glory. In the same way, I think we can't even begin to fully grasp Your goal of truly making us like You: "His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Thus He has given us, through these things, His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature" (1 Peter 1:3-4).

 

"Participants of the divine nature." Wow, if that were not the very Words of Scripture in the Bible itself, that would sound like blasphemy. How can we, being human, become "participants of the divine nature" with One who is holy Other and wholly Other? You'll always be our Creator and we'll always be Your created; and at the same time, You've created us for a level and depth of intimacy and unity in some dimension of our being it's hard for us to understand and embrace. ...

 

A Scripture that comes to mind for our journey of transformation into Christ-likeness is this: "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:19-20).

"Crucified with Christ," I come alive in Christ. And alive in Christ, I become one with You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. All this may be beyond our pay grade but it's not beyond the price You paid by Your grace for every one of us to experience:  "But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which He loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ -- by grace you 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).

 

Lord, let the eternity of seeking to comprehend "the immeasurable riches of (Your) grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" begin. "See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and this what we are.... Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when He is revealed, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. And all who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:1-3).

 

 And even though I don't fully comprehend it, I'm choosing this day to embrace it -- to embrace You, to be united to You, to become one with You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. It's all by Your grace and only by Your grace, the grace we have as the gift of God by all You've done for us and all You're doing within us. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 

Lord Jesus, make me more like You each day. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you become more like Jesus each day, crucified with Christ and alive in Christ, to be united to the Lord and one spirit with Him, by the power of God's grace at work within you, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!           

  

Thursday Night, October 1st. Save the Date! 

I'm excited to be the Keynote Speaker at the Central Texas Area Aglow Meetingat the Kendall Inn of Boerne, Texas next to Peggys-on-the-Green. My wife Rocio and I will be ministering the healing love of God after the message, in a deep atmosphere of worship and prayer. Come join us at 7:00 pm and spread the word! More details to follow.

Healing Academy Tonight at The Bridge Church in Fredericksburg, Texas. Friends, please keep us in prayer as Rocio and I continue our ministry on Tuesday Nights, teaching and equipping for healing prayer ministry. May we learn and also experience the power of God's love tonight. Praying the same for you! Let us know if you'd like us to come to your church or community, as we start to make travel plans again!

Free to Be Like Jesus!

--Transforming Power

 of Inner Healing & Deliverance

   

Amazon.com/AuthorTommyHays

New 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!

More Like Jesus Each Day - September 7, 2020

 Morning by Morning, September 7 - More Like Jesus Each Day

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Take me by the hand and lead me by the heart -- Hand to hand, Heart to heart, Spirit to spirit -- as You lead me in the way that leads to life in You today. ...

 

"Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.... But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through His Spirit that dwells in you" (Romans 8:5-11).

 

To "set (my) mind on the things of the Spirit" is to entrust my mind to Your Mind, my thoughts to Your Thoughts, my will to Your Will, my spirit to Your Spirit. I decrease, as You increase. I surrender more of me to more of You. I yield more of my ways, so I can walk more faithfully in Your ways. More of my flesh is put to death, so more of Your Spirit can live in me.

 

It's a daily journey. It's a moment by moment choice. "So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh -- for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God" (Romans 8:12-14).

 

I'm a child of God, being led by the Spirit of God. I'm a beloved son on the journey of being conformed into the image of the Son of God -- more every day, as I set my mind on You and yield my spirit to Yours (Romans 8:29). And You've given me Your Spirit -- the Holy Spirit, "the Spirit of Christ," the "Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead" -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God -- to do this in me as I surrender to You. All of me yielding to all of You. And it's Your very Spirit, abiding in me, living in me, fully alive within me, who bears witness with my spirit that I am Your child and I'm on this journey (Romans 8:15-17).

 

Thank You, Lord. Lord, have Your way in me today -- and every day. "We ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved.... Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness...." (Romans 8:23-26). Help me, Holy Spirit of the Living God --"Spirit of Christ" at work within me -- on my life-long journey to become more like Jesus, morning by morning, day by day, moment by moment. 

 

As I set my mind on the things of the Spirit, "looking to Jesus" (Hebrews 12:2), You'll be changing me into Your image "from glory to glory" by Your Spirit, alive and at work within me (2 Corinthians 3:18). "Christ in (me), the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). As You are, so am I to be (1 John 4:17). 

 

Lord Jesus, make me more like You each day. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you be led by the Spirit of God as a child of God, looking to Jesus and allowing His Spirit to make you more like Him each day, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!           

  

Thursday Night, October 1st. Save the Date! 

I'm excited to be the Keynote Speaker at the Central Texas Area Aglow Meeting at the Kendall Inn of Boerne, Texas next to Peggys-on-the-Green. My wife Rocio and I will be ministering the healing love of God after the message, in a deep atmosphere of worship and prayer. Come join us at 7:00 pm and spread the word! More details to follow.

Free to Be Like Jesus!

--Transforming Power

 of Inner Healing & Deliverance

   

Amazon.com/AuthorTommyHays

New 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!

Pursuing the Lord "Face to Face" - September 4, 2020

 Morning by Morning, September 4 - Pursuing the Lord "Face to Face"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. In worship and prayer, I wait you're your leading as I seek Your face and listen for Your voice -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ...

 

"For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known" (1 Corinthians 13:12).

 

I look forward to the day when I will see You "face to face." Not just a fleeting glimpse, not just a reflection in the corner of my eye, not just an indirect glance as though looking through a dark mirror dimly, but "face to face." My eyes looking directly into Your eyes and Your eyes looking directly into mine. My heart completely unveiled to Your heart and Your heart completely unveiled to mine. Nothing between us, nothing of the sin or shame, the fears or failures, the doubt or unbelief -- but fully present in Your presence. "Face to face."

 

That day will come. "Se we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord -- for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him. For all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:6-10).

 

But before that day comes, You've given us Your Spirit, who moves in our hearts to long for a deeper, more intimate experience of Your presence now. "He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee" (2 Corinthians 5:5). Your Holy Spirit stirs in our human spirits with a longing, yearning hunger for more, "longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling" as we're longing to encounter Your heavenly embrace.

 

You've created us to seek You, to pursue You, to be willing to settle for nothing less than You drawing us near to experience You as closely as we possibly can in the place we are in our hearts. Moses did. "The Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to a friend" (Exodus 33:11). Abraham did. "When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, 'I am God Almighty, walk before Me, and be blameless" (Genesis 17:1). Jacob did, even as he sought to wrestle You until You blessed him, saying, "I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved" (Genesis 32:30). Doubting Thomas did, as You changed his doubts into faith in his deeply personal encounter when he cried out the highest declaration of Your Deity in all the Scripture, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). Paul did, when You confronted his hardened heart to forever change his life on his Road to Damascus experience (Acts 9:5).

 

You've put it in our hearts to pursue You and seek You, even to seek Your face, even knowing "No man can see (God) and live" (Exodus 33:2). There's something in us that must die, for us to see You. And there's something You're speaking to us about pursing Your presence when You say, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" (Matthew 5:8). "Who will ascend the hill of the Lord? And who will stand in His holy place? Those who have clean hands and pure hearts.... They will receive blessing from the Lord.... Such is the company of those who seek Him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob" (Psalm 24:3-6).

 

I don't yet understand how it all fits together -- how I'm stirred to seek Your face and pursue Your presence, as those before me have, while yet no one can see God and live. Right now, on the one hand, I can only know in part (1 Corinthian 13:9) and "see in a mirror, dimly" (1 Corinthians 13:12). But on the other hand, at the same time, I'm moved to passionately pursue You as deeply, as personally, as intimately as I can on this side of heaven, as with the heart of David: "One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple... I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" (Psalm 27:4-13). By the grace of God, I will settle for nothing less. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you settle for nothing less in your passionately pursuit of the Lord than the most intimate encounter you can have with Him on this side of heaven, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!           

  

Thursday Night, October 1st. Save the Date! 

I'm excited to be the Keynote Speaker at the Central Texas Area Aglow Meeting at the Kendall Inn of Boerne, Texas next to Peggys-on-the-Green. My wife Rocio and I will be ministering the healing love of God after the message, in a deep atmosphere of worship and prayer. Come join us at 7:00 pm and spread the word! More details to follow.

Free to Be Like Jesus!

--Transforming Power

 of Inner Healing & Deliverance

   

Amazon.com/AuthorTommyHays

New 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!