"He is not Here, for He is Risen!" - April 4, 2021

 

Morning by Morning, April 4 - "He is not Here, for He is Risen!"   Good morning, Lord Jesus. I wake up this morning of the Resurrection Sunday of Holy Week, during these days of the remembrance and celebration of Passover, to come close to You with excitement and expectancy to hear what You'll say and see what You'll do -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.    "Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said! Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that His is risen from the dead! ..." (Matthew 28:1-7)   God's not dead. He is alive!   Death and the devil didn't win. Hell couldn't hold You down. The grave couldn't keep You hidden away. The stone couldn't seal You up. You overcame it all in the victory of the cross and the power of the resurrection!   And because You overcame, we can overcome. Because You had victory, we can have victory. Because hope and faith won the day by the power of God in You, hope and faith by the same power of God in us will win the day for us!   "If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies also through His Spirit who dwells in you" (Romans 8:11).   Father, You sent Your Spirit to raise Jesus from the dead. And You send that same Spirit in that same power to raise us from the dead -- to give is the victory of life over death, of hope over despair, of faith over fear. By the power of Your grace at work in us, at work in our world, hope and faith will win the day! You are our Hope. You are our Faith. You are our Answer and only Hope for all we face, as we put all our faith in You alone.   For death is swallowed up in victory! ... Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! (1 Corinthians 15:54)   We're not overcomers unless we've overcome something. We don't have a testimony unless we've been tested. We can't be more than conquerors unless we've had something to conquer. And the empty tomb is the eternal witness of the power of God to empower us to overcome whatever we're going through in our world today and in our world to come!   "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love" (Romans 5:3-5).   Let the same Power that raised Jesus from the dead stir up the hearts of God's people around the world to release Your power of hope and faith to overcome as never before! Let everything we're going through develop endurance and character and hope in us that can't be held down or sealed off or shut up. Let Your resurrection life and power arise in us to shine in our world as we remember and celebrate what You have done!   Around the world, as we remember the victory of the cross and the empty tomb, let us receive and embrace Your promise and power of faith and hope:  "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit!" (Romans 15:13) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friend, may you be filled afresh with hope and faith in the One who overcome the grave and the devil so that we can overcome all that we face in the resurrection power of the risen Christ, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! Tommy & Rocio Hays Messiah Ministries 17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407 San Antonio, Texas 78257 Please share this word to encourage a friend! Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at: Messiah-Ministries.org

Join us and Pray for us! Some of Our Upcoming Events: April 18th Preaching the Sunday Services at the Bridge Church in Fredericksburg, Texas 9:00 and 10:45, live and livestream. bridgefbg.com April 22-24th Fellowship of Ministries Retreat for MorningStar Ministries, Fort Mill, South Carolina.  April 25-26th Healing Prayer Services at Coker UMC San Antonio, TX In-Person, April 25th- 6:30 PM, Coker Sanctuary- 231 E North Loop Rd San Antonio, TX 78216 (Note: Use the Wurzbach Parkway Entrance as the N. Loop Entrance is closed due to construction) Via Zoom, April 26th- 6:30 PM Coker.org/Pray Coker's Announcement: The Lord invites all who are burdened to come to Him. At 6:30 PM on April 25th and 26th we are making the space- in-person first, and then online- and will have the prayer team available to pray healing prayers over you (for both inner and physical healing). We will begin with a time in worship, declare of Jesus as our Savior & Healer, hear a message of hope, continue into a time of corporate prayer, and then if you would like individual prayer you can join the prayer ministers in the room on the 25th, or online in a smaller Zoom Room on the 26th, for individual prayer. The service will be co-led by Rev Adam Knight and Rev Tommy Hays (author, and founder of Messiah Ministries). Worship will be provided by Randall Kitchen. The service will be offered in person the first night, and on Zoom the second. Both services will be similar- so you can join in the one you are most comfortable in (or both if you would like). Details and updates will be posted online at Coker.org/Pray.   Registration is not required, but will allow us to e-mail you any updates- register online here: https://form.jotform.com/210816571607152 Please Direct Questions Communications@coker.org May 14-16th Keynote Speaker at 2021 Spring Conference of Central Texas Area Aglow in Kerrville, Texas featuring international worship leader Terry MacAlmon in an outdoor worship evening Friday Night at the Empty Cross at Kerrville Coming King Prayer Garden, followed by our conference Saturday and Sunday. Contact Christina Roberts at christinaroberts@att.net Register Here On-line for Aglow Conference Tuesday Nights Teaching Life Transformation Course live in person every week at the Bridge Church in Fredericksburg, Texas from 6 to 8:00. All are welcome to come join us at any time along the course. Based on the principles of my book Free to Be Like Jesus! Tuesday Mornings Teaching by Zoom on Deliverance Ministry Training for leaders of MorningStar Ministries Connect Groups. Ten week series. Thursday afternoons Continue Teaching Healing Prayer Ministry by Zoom for Coker United Methodist Church San Antonio, Texas prayer team. Eight week course.

Remember the Sacrifice of the Cross - April 2, 2021

 

Morning by Morning, April 2 - Remember the Sacrifice of the Cross Good morning, Lord Jesus. On this day we remember the cross, I remember You and Your sacrifice of love for me.  ... “And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered (Jesus) wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when He tasted it, He would not drink it. And when they had crucified Him, they divided His clothes among themselves by casting lots; then they sat down there and kept watch over Him. Over His head they put the charge against Him, which read, ‘This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.’ Then two bandits were crucified with Him, one on His right and one on His left. Those who passed by derided Him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.’ In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him, saying, He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in Him. He trusts in God; let God deliver Him now, if He wants to; for He said, ‘I am God’s Son.’ The bandits who were crucified with Him also taunted Him in the same way. From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’ When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, ‘This man is calling for Elijah.’ At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, ‘Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him.’ Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed His last.  At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After His resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now when the centurion and those with Him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, ‘Truly this Man was the Son of God!’” (Matthew 27:33-54)  Yes, this Man was the Son of God. This Man was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). This Man was the Messiah of Israel and Savior of all, the Suffering Servant who led a sinless life and willing laid it down that we could be forgiven and free by the sacrifice of His love through the power of His blood in fulfillment of the prophetic promise of the Word of God in Isaiah 53: He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:3-6). Lord Jesus, as “the iniquity of us all” was laid upon You, as You bore “the chastisement for our peace” and all “our griefs” and “sorrows” and “transgressions” and “iniquities,” the Father turned His face away. And in prophetic fulfillment of Psalm 22, You cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? (Psalm 22:1). In that moment when all our sin separated You from our God, You were forsaken for a moment that we would never be forsaken forever. You paid the price for our sins in the way we never could. Truly we have no idea of the suffering You endured in Your spirit as You endured the cross and descended to hell in separation from the Father on our behalf (1 Peter 3:18-22). So before we hurry on in celebration of the joy of Your resurrection, may we take time to remember the sacrifice of the cross, with hearts of eternal gratitude all You’ve done for us. Lord Jesus, thank You for the cross. Thank You for the debt You paid and the gift You gave that can never be repaid, but only accepted and embraced through Your love and grace for every one of us. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friend, may you remember the sacrifice of the cross and embrace all our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has done for every one of us, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you!  Tommy & Rocio Hays Messiah Ministries 17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407 San Antonio, Texas 78257 Please share this word to encourage a friend! Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at: Messiah-Ministries.org

Join us and Pray for us! Some of Our Upcoming Events: April 18th Preaching the Sunday Services at the Bridge Church in Fredericksburg, Texas 9:00 and 10:45, live and livestream. bridgefbg.com April 22-24th Fellowship of Ministries Retreat for MorningStar Ministries, Fort Mill, South Carolina. April 25-26th Healing Prayer Services at Coker UMC In-Person, April 25th- 6:30 PM, Coker Sanctuary- 231 E North Loop Rd San Antonio, TX 78216 (Note: Use the Wurzbach Parkway Entrance as the N. Loop Entrance is closed due to construction) Via Zoom, April 26th- 6:30 PM Coker.org/Pray Coker's Announcement: The Lord invites all who are burdened to come to Him. At 6:30 PM on April 25th and 26th we are making the space- in-person first, and then online- and will have the prayer team available to pray healing prayers over you (for both inner and physical healing). We will begin with a time in worship, declare of Jesus as our Savior & Healer, hear a message of hope, continue into a time of corporate prayer, and then if you would like individual prayer you can join the prayer ministers in the room on the 25th, or online in a smaller Zoom Room on the 26th, for individual prayer. The service will be co-led by Rev Adam Knight and Rev Tommy Hays (author, and founder of Messiah Ministries). Worship will be provided by Randall Kitchen. The service will be offered in person the first night, and on Zoom the second. Both services will be similar- so you can join in the one you are most comfortable in (or both if you would like). Details and updates will be posted online at Coker.org/Pray.   Registration is not required, but will allow us to e-mail you any updates- register online here: https://form.jotform.com/210816571607152 Please Direct Questions Communications@coker.org May 14-16th Keynote Speaker at 2021 Spring Conference of Central Texas Area Aglow in Kerrville, Texas featuring international worship leader Terry MacAlmon in an outdoor worship evening Friday Night at the Empty Cross at Kerrville Coming King Prayer Garden, followed by our conference Saturday and Sunday. Contact Christina Roberts at christinaroberts@att.net Register Here On-line for Aglow Conference Tuesday Nights Teaching Life Transformation Course live in person every week at the Bridge Church in Fredericksburg, Texas from 6 to 8:00. All are welcome to come join us at any time along the course. Based on the principles of my book Free to Be Like Jesus! Tuesday Mornings Teaching by Zoom on Deliverance Ministry Training for leaders of MorningStar Ministries Connect Groups. Ten week series. Thursday afternoons Continue Teaching Healing Prayer Ministry by Zoom for Coker United Methodist Church San Antonio, Texas prayer team. Eight week course.

Tommy & Rocio Hays | Messiah Ministries "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Healing from the Inside Out"

Free to Be Like Jesus —Transforming Power of Inner Healing & Deliverance Amazon/TommyHays/ FreeToBeLikeJesus Morning by Morning, 365 Day Prayer Devotional for Deeper Intimacy with God Amazon/TommyHays/ MorningByMorning

Wrestling in Prayer, But Faithful in Obedience - April 1, 2021

 

Morning by Morning, April 1 - Wrestling in Prayer, But Faithful in Obedience Good morning, Lord Jesus. Wonderful, merciful Savior, let Your blood cleanse my sins and Your love fill my heart, as I begin my day thankful to You and all You’ve done for me. ... “He came out and went, as was His custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed Him. When He reached the place, He said to them, ‘Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.’ Then He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, ‘Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet, not My will but Yours be done.’ Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and gave Him strength. In His anguish He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. When He got up from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, and He said to them, ‘Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial’” (Luke 22:39-46). On this Thursday before the Friday of the cross, as we journey with You in remembrance of the events of that holy week when You were crucified, dead, and buried, yet raised from the dead in the glory of Your resurrection, I’m remembering Your wrestling in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. You had shared Your last supper, what we now call The Lord’s Supper, with Your disciples; and now You were wrestling in prayer, in what we might call The Lord’s Surrender, with Your Father. As courageous and as committed as You were to fulfill all You came to do on this earth on our behalf, You still asked our Father if He was “willing” to “remove this cup” from You. You had spoken of this “cup” and what it meant with Your disciples as You shared the Passover Meal with them that same night, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the New Covenant in My blood” (Luke 22:20). It would be Your blood poured out from Your cross that would forever seal the New Covenant for those first disciples and for every disciple to follow You in the generations to come. But Your wrestling in prayer led to Your surrendering in trusting faith and faithful obedience to the perfect will of our Father and the only way of our salvation through Your sacrifice of selfless love. “Not My will but Yours be done” was Your prayer of surrender and our way of salvation. In many ways, the victory of the cross at Calvary was only possible because of Your decision of surrender in the prayer of Gethsemane. You humbled Yourself before our Father and “became obedient to the point of death -- even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). When You returned from Your prayer to find Your disciples sleeping and commanded them, “Get up and pray” so that they would “not come into the time of trial,” You had just passed Your trial through prayer. Their trial would be to be to stand by You in trusting faith and faithful obedience, as You had warned (Luke 22:28). But unlike You, they would not pass their trial, as they scattered and fled, instead of standing firm in the faith in You no matter the cost (Matthew 26:56). Lord Jesus, just as an angel of the Lord came to strengthen You in Your time of trial, send the Spirit of the Lord to strengthen us in our times of trial. Give us courage and commitment to fulfill all You’ve created us to be called us to do as Your ambassadors of Christ in the body of Christ in our generation. Even when we wrestle with the cost of our faithfulness, give us Your grace of offer our lives as a living sacrifice to You, just as You offered Your life for us (Romans 12:1).  Father, awaken us from our sleep. Revive us by Your Spirit. That we might “not come into the time of trial” and fail to stand firm in our faith when our time of trial comes, no matter the cost. “Not (our) will but Yours be done.” In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friend, may you be awakened, revived, and strengthened in the Spirit to stand firm in your faith for Jesus no matter the cost whenever your time of trial may come, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you!  Tommy & Rocio Hays Messiah Ministries 17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407 San Antonio, Texas 78257 Please share this word to encourage a friend! Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at: Messiah-Ministries.org

Join us and Pray for us! Some of Our Upcoming Events: April 18th Preaching the Sunday Services at the Bridge Church in Fredericksburg, Texas 9:00 and 10:45, live and livestream. bridgefbg.com April 22-24th Fellowship of Ministries Retreat for MorningStar Ministries, Fort Mill, South Carolina.  April 25-26th Healing Prayer Services at Coker UMC San Antonio, TX In-Person, April 25th- 6:30 PM, Coker Sanctuary- 231 E North Loop Rd San Antonio, TX 78216 (Note: Use the Wurzbach Parkway Entrance as the N. Loop Entrance is closed due to construction) Via Zoom, April 26th- 6:30 PM Coker.org/Pray Coker's Announcement: The Lord invites all who are burdened to come to Him. At 6:30 PM on April 25th and 26th we are making the space- in-person first, and then online- and will have the prayer team available to pray healing prayers over you (for both inner and physical healing). We will begin with a time in worship, declare of Jesus as our Savior & Healer, hear a message of hope, continue into a time of corporate prayer, and then if you would like individual prayer you can join the prayer ministers in the room on the 25th, or online in a smaller Zoom Room on the 26th, for individual prayer. The service will be co-led by Rev Adam Knight and Rev Tommy Hays (author, and founder of Messiah Ministries). Worship will be provided by Randall Kitchen. The service will be offered in person the first night, and on Zoom the second. Both services will be similar- so you can join in the one you are most comfortable in (or both if you would like). Details and updates will be posted online at Coker.org/Pray.   Registration is not required, but will allow us to e-mail you any updates- register online here: https://form.jotform.com/210816571607152 Please Direct Questions Communications@coker.org May 14-16th Keynote Speaker at 2021 Spring Conference of Central Texas Area Aglow in Kerrville, Texas featuring international worship leader Terry MacAlmon in an outdoor worship evening Friday Night at the Empty Cross at Kerrville Coming King Prayer Garden, followed by our conference Saturday and Sunday. Contact Christina Roberts at christinaroberts@att.net Register Here On-line for Aglow Conference Tuesday Nights Teaching Life Transformation Course live in person every week at the Bridge Church in Fredericksburg, Texas from 6 to 8:00. All are welcome to come join us at any time along the course. Based on the principles of my book Free to Be Like Jesus! Tuesday Mornings Teaching by Zoom on Deliverance Ministry Training for leaders of MorningStar Ministries Connect Groups. Ten week series. Thursday afternoons Continue Teaching Healing Prayer Ministry by Zoom for Coker United Methodist Church San Antonio, Texas prayer team. Eight week course.

“Not One Stone Will Stand” - March 31, 2021

 

Morning by Morning, March 31 - “Not One Stone Will Stand” Good morning, Lord Jesus. I seek to start my day centered in You -- grounded in Your Word and filled with Your Spirit. ... “When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, (Jesus) said, ‘As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down’” (Luke 21:5-6).  Every temple that doesn’t make room for Jesus will come down. Even the beautiful things, even the religious things.  “Not one stone” will stand that doesn’t acknowledge You as “the “Chief Cornerstone”: “Coming to Him as to a Living Stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, ‘Behold, I lay in Zion A Chief Cornerstone, elect, precious, And He who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.’ Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, ‘The Stone which the builders rejected Has become the Chief Cornerstone,’ And ‘A Stone of stumbling And a Rock of offense.’ They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:4-10). Our hearts are Your temple, Lord Jesus. And You are our Chief Cornerstone. So when the time comes that all things that can be shaken will be shaken, that only that which cannot be shaken remains, our faith and hope will remain firm in You -- our Rock and Cornerstone, as King of kings and Lord of lords, forever abiding in the temple of our hearts. For those whose faith is grounded in You -- steadfast and unshakeable -- “(we) are the temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in (us)” (1 Corinthians 3:16). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friend, may you be steadfast and unshakeable in your faith grounded in the One who is your Chief Cornerstone in the temple of your heart, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you!  Tommy & Rocio Hays Messiah Ministries 17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407 San Antonio, Texas 78257 Please share this word to encourage a friend! Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at: Messiah-Ministries.org

Join us and Pray for us! Some of Our Upcoming Events: April 18th Preaching the Sunday Services at the Bridge Church in Fredericksburg, Texas 9:00 and 10:45, live and livestream. bridgefbg.com April 22-24th Fellowship of Ministries Retreat for MorningStar Ministries, Fort Mill, South Carolina. April 25-26th Healing Prayer Services at Coker UMC In-Person, April 25th- 6:30 PM, Coker Sanctuary- 231 E North Loop Rd San Antonio, TX 78216 (Note: Use the Wurzbach Parkway Entrance as the N. Loop Entrance is closed due to construction) Via Zoom, April 26th- 6:30 PM Coker.org/Pray Coker's Announcement: The Lord invites all who are burdened to come to Him. At 6:30 PM on April 25th and 26th we are making the space- in-person first, and then online- and will have the prayer team available to pray healing prayers over you (for both inner and physical healing). We will begin with a time in worship, declare of Jesus as our Savior & Healer, hear a message of hope, continue into a time of corporate prayer, and then if you would like individual prayer you can join the prayer ministers in the room on the 25th, or online in a smaller Zoom Room on the 26th, for individual prayer. The service will be co-led by Rev Adam Knight and Rev Tommy Hays (author, and founder of Messiah Ministries). Worship will be provided by Randall Kitchen. The service will be offered in person the first night, and on Zoom the second. Both services will be similar- so you can join in the one you are most comfortable in (or both if you would like). Details and updates will be posted online at Coker.org/Pray.   Registration is not required, but will allow us to e-mail you any updates- register online here: https://form.jotform.com/210816571607152 Please Direct Questions Communications@coker.org May 14-16th Keynote Speaker at 2021 Spring Conference of Central Texas Area Aglow in Kerrville, Texas featuring international worship leader Terry MacAlmon in an outdoor worship evening Friday Night at the Empty Cross at Kerrville Coming King Prayer Garden, followed by our conference Saturday and Sunday. Contact Christina Roberts at christinaroberts@att.net Register Here On-line for Aglow Conference Tuesday Nights Teaching Life Transformation Course live in person every week at the Bridge Church in Fredericksburg, Texas from 6 to 8:00. All are welcome to come join us at any time along the course. Based on the principles of my book Free to Be Like Jesus! Tuesday Mornings Teaching by Zoom on Deliverance Ministry Training for leaders of MorningStar Ministries Connect Groups. Ten week series. Thursday afternoons Continue Teaching Healing Prayer Ministry by Zoom for Coker United Methodist Church San Antonio, Texas prayer team. Eight week course.

Tommy & Rocio Hays | Messiah Ministries "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Healing from the Inside Out"

Free to Be Like Jesus —Transforming Power of Inner Healing & Deliverance Amazon/TommyHays/ FreeToBeLikeJesus Morning by Morning, 365 Day Prayer Devotional for Deeper Intimacy with God Amazon/TommyHays/ MorningByMorning

The Way of the Cross Against Our Culture Today - March 30, 2021

Morning by Morning, March 30 - The Way of the Cross Against Our Culture Today Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me in the way that leads to life in You today. ... “From that time on, Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.’ But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’ Then Jesus told His disciples, ‘If any want to become My followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?’” (Matthew 16:21-26) The way of life in You is the way of the cross. And the way of the cross is to die to ourselves, to die to our approval in the eyes of the world and the demands of a culture that would deny You. The way of the cross has a lot more to do with taking a relentless stand against godless legislation in the Senate than merely obsessing about the world’s marketing of the world’s tennis shoes that glorify Satan. Both may be aimed at the hearts and minds of our children, but the laws of the land, signed into law by the highest executive office in the land can set in motion the destruction of generations of our children, and their children, and their children for the remaining years to come. The way of the cross has a lot to do with courage instead of cowardice, boldness instead of compromise, speaking with the voice of the Holy Spirit in the authority of the name of Jesus and His church on this earth instead of sitting back in silence. Well-intended Christians -- like Peter before the day of the cross and the resurrection and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost -- may try to keep us from following You in the way of the cross that’s willing to lay down our lives, our reputation, our following, our goodwill with a growing godlessness of our culture. But the way of the cross calls us to take up our cross and follow You no matter the cost. Not only for the sake of ourselves and our eternal life, but for the sake of our children and their children and their children and their eternal lives. As You said on Your way to the cross, teaching us the way of the cross, “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in Me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling block comes!” (Matthew 18:6-7) Let us not stumble on the way of the cross. Let us not stumble by surrendering in silence to the ways of the world. Let us not convince ourselves it’s ok to just worship away while our children are washed away in a sea of confusion and deception in the growing godlessness of our generation. The way of the cross is never popular and never easy. But it’s always right. And it’s always required of those who would truly follow You. So Lord, give us courage and grace to take up our cross and follow You on the way of the cross today. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friend, may you be empowered with the courage and grace of God to take up your cross and follow Jesus, even against the way of our culture today , in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you!  Tommy & Rocio Hays Messiah Ministries 17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407 San Antonio, Texas 78257 Please share this word to encourage a friend! Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at: Messiah-Ministries.org

Join us and Pray for us! Some of Our Upcoming Events: April 18th Preaching the Sunday Services at the Bridge Church in Fredericksburg, Texas 9:00 and 10:45, live and livestream. bridgefbg.com April 22-24th Fellowship of Ministries Retreat for MorningStar Ministries, Fort Mill, South Carolina.  April 25-26th Healing Prayer Services at Coker UMC San Antonio, TX In-Person, April 25th- 6:30 PM, Coker Sanctuary- 231 E North Loop Rd San Antonio, TX 78216 (Note: Use the Wurzbach Parkway Entrance as the N. Loop Entrance is closed due to construction) Via Zoom, April 26th- 6:30 PM Coker.org/Pray Coker's Announcement: The Lord invites all who are burdened to come to Him. At 6:30 PM on April 25th and 26th we are making the space- in-person first, and then online- and will have the prayer team available to pray healing prayers over you (for both inner and physical healing). We will begin with a time in worship, declare of Jesus as our Savior & Healer, hear a message of hope, continue into a time of corporate prayer, and then if you would like individual prayer you can join the prayer ministers in the room on the 25th, or online in a smaller Zoom Room on the 26th, for individual prayer. The service will be co-led by Rev Adam Knight and Rev Tommy Hays (author, and founder of Messiah Ministries). Worship will be provided by Randall Kitchen. The service will be offered in person the first night, and on Zoom the second. Both services will be similar- so you can join in the one you are most comfortable in (or both if you would like). Details and updates will be posted online at Coker.org/Pray.   Registration is not required, but will allow us to e-mail you any updates- register online here: https://form.jotform.com/210816571607152 Please Direct Questions Communications@coker.org May 14-16th Keynote Speaker at 2021 Spring Conference of Central Texas Area Aglow in Kerrville, Texas featuring international worship leader Terry MacAlmon in an outdoor worship evening Friday Night at the Empty Cross at Kerrville Coming King Prayer Garden, followed by our conference Saturday and Sunday. Contact Christina Roberts at christinaroberts@att.net Register Here On-line for Aglow Conference Tuesday Nights Teaching Life Transformation Course live in person every week at the Bridge Church in Fredericksburg, Texas from 6 to 8:00. All are welcome to come join us at any time along the course. Based on the principles of my book Free to Be Like Jesus! Tuesday Mornings Teaching by Zoom on Deliverance Ministry Training for leaders of MorningStar Ministries Connect Groups. Ten week series. Thursday afternoons Continue Teaching Healing Prayer Ministry by Zoom for Coker United Methodist Church San Antonio, Texas prayer team. Eight week course.

The Fear of Man Betrays the Son of Man - March 29, 2021

 

Morning by Morning, March 29 - The Fear of Man Betrays the Son of Man Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You here in my heart and every moment of my day -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ... “Now the festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called Passover, was near. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve; he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers of the temple police about how he might betray Him to them” (Luke 22:1-4). For the religious leaders who were “afraid of the people,” their fear of man was greater than their fear of God. Their fear of losing their position, their fear of losing their control, their fear of losing their power over the hearts and minds of the people blinded their faith and hardened their hearts. Their fear of man led to the betrayal of the Son of Man. And that’s when “Satan entered into” their plan “to put Jesus to death.” How many times have our fears lead us to betray our faith in You? How many times have we allowed the fear of man to take the place of the fear of the Lord in our lives? How many times have we made room for the devil to blind our faith and harden our hearts out of our insecurities and fears of what people might think if we were to stand firm in our witness for You in our world? “The fear of man brings a snare, but one who trusts in the Lord will be protected” (Proverbs 29:25). As it happened with those who had to make their choice to speak up for You or speak against You, to follow You or flee from You when You walked this earth, so it is for us as You set before us the choice to walk with You each day. “Nevertheless, many of the leaders believed in Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, for fear they would be put out of the synagogue. For they loved praise from men more than praise from God” (John 12:42-43). Lord, forgive us for every time we’ve given into the fear of man. Forgive us for every time we’ve let insecurity and the need to be included in the culture overcome our witness as Your followers in our world. We submit this area of our hearts to You, so we can resist the devil and command him to flee in the authority of Your name, because he has nothing in us (James 4:7). “Deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13). Deliver us from the sin and the snare of the fear of man. Deliver us from the insidious slippery slope of compromise with Your truth and complacency in our faith. Free us for faithfulness, to stand firm in our faith, that we would not betray You at the cost of saving our pride and our place in a culture now consumed with looking to put to death Your name and Your influence in our world. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friend, may you be healed of any insecurities and freed from the fear of man to stand firm in your faith in your witness of Jesus in your world, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you!  Tommy & Rocio Hays Messiah Ministries 17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407 San Antonio, Texas 78257 Please share this word to encourage a friend! Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at: Messiah-Ministries.org

Join us and Pray for us! Some of Our Upcoming Events: March 26-27th Thank you for praying for us for a powerful time of encountering the Lord where "iron sharpens iron" with one another in the fiery forge of the Holy Spirit at our Mens' Retreat at Cowhead Creek Ranch this weekend. Praise God! April 18th Preaching the Sunday Services at the Bridge Church in Fredericksburg, Texas 9:00 and 10:45, live and livestream. bridgefbg.com April 22-24th Fellowship of Ministries Retreat for MorningStar Ministries, Fort Mill, South Carolina.  April 25-26th Healing Prayer Services at Coker UMC In-Person, April 25th- 6:30 PM, Coker Sanctuary- 231 E North Loop Rd San Antonio, TX 78216 (Note: Use the Wurzbach Parkway Entrance as the N. Loop Entrance is closed due to construction) Via Zoom, April 26th- 6:30 PM Coker.org/Pray Coker's Announcement: The Lord invites all who are burdened to come to Him. At 6:30 PM on April 25th and 26th we are making the space- in-person first, and then online- and will have the prayer team available to pray healing prayers over you (for both inner and physical healing). We will begin with a time in worship, declare of Jesus as our Savior & Healer, hear a message of hope, continue into a time of corporate prayer, and then if you would like individual prayer you can join the prayer ministers in the room on the 25th, or online in a smaller Zoom Room on the 26th, for individual prayer. The service will be co-led by Rev Adam Knight and Rev Tommy Hays (author, and founder of Messiah Ministries). Worship will be provided by Randall Kitchen. The service will be offered in person the first night, and on Zoom the second. Both services will be similar- so you can join in the one you are most comfortable in (or both if you would like). Details and updates will be posted online at Coker.org/Pray.   Registration is not required, but will allow us to e-mail you any updates- register online here: https://form.jotform.com/210816571607152 Please Direct Questions Communications@coker.org May 14-16th Keynote Speaker at 2021 Spring Conference of Central Texas Area Aglow in Kerrville, Texas featuring international worship leader Terry MacAlmon in an outdoor worship evening Friday Night at the Empty Cross at Kerrville Coming King Prayer Garden, followed by our conference Saturday and Sunday. Contact Christina Roberts at christinaroberts@att.net Register Here On-line for Aglow Conference Tuesday Nights Teaching Life Transformation Course live in person every week at the Bridge Church in Fredericksburg, Texas from 6 to 8:00. All are welcome to come join us at any time along the course. Based on the principles of my book Free to Be Like Jesus! Tuesday Mornings Teaching by Zoom on Deliverance Ministry Training for leaders of MorningStar Ministries Connect Groups. Ten week series. Thursday afternoons Continue Teaching Healing Prayer Ministry by Zoom for Coker United Methodist Church San Antonio, Texas prayer team. Eight week course.

Tommy & Rocio Hays | Messiah Ministries "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Healing from the Inside Out"

Free to Be Like Jesus —Transforming Power of Inner Healing & Deliverance Amazon/TommyHays/ FreeToBeLikeJesus Morning by Morning, 365 Day Prayer Devotional for Deeper Intimacy with God Amazon/TommyHays/ MorningByMorning