Living By Faith

OUR IDENTIFICATION WITH CHRIST

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. (Galatians 2:20)

When Jesus was crucified, He took you with Him because He took your identical condition.
Mark Hankins

I heard the story of a fireman in California whose hand was so severely burned that his doctors determined they would have to amputate. One of the doctors wanted to try experimental surgery; he knew that the body has certain regenerative powers. He cut the man’s side open and inserted the burned hand for a period of time. To the doctor’s amazement, when they removed the fireman’s hand from his side, it had begun to heal and grow new skin.

I believe God did a similar surgery with man. When Adam sinned, man’s condition was so bad it looked like God would have to amputate, but God had a plan of redemption. He cut open Jesus’ side and put us “in Christ.” In Him, the power and the grace of God went to work and reversed the condition that Satan had caused. A new man was created — a man in Christ — a righteous man, a victorious man, a redeemed man, a healed man!

Confession: The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

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EVER-INCREASING

The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.
(Daniel 11:32 NKJV)

Every advance in the call and the blessing of God comes from an advance in revelation.
Mark Hankins

God created you to know that there is more available than what you have right now. He’s looking for somebody who will believe God. While everyone else is scared, God is looking for someone who will act in faith — somebody who will know God.

If you want life to be different for you, pray the prayer in Ephesians 1:17-23 every day for at least six months. If you really want to know what the will of God is, if you really want to be in the right place at the right time with the right people, if you really want to be led by the Spirit, take this prayer and pray it.

Believe God for a breakthrough in revelation. Believe for a revolutionary revelation in your understanding, in the eyes of your heart. Believe for a breakthrough in the way you see yourself, the way you see the call of God, the way you see your inheritance, and the way you see your authority as a believer.

Confession: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. (Ephesians 1:17)

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UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection…(Philippians 3:10)

The spirit of wisdom and revelation opens our eyes to the unlimited possibilities of God.
Mark Hankins

Dr. Lester Sumrall once said that most Christians never progress beyond their initial revelation of God. Every breakthrough in faith comes from a breakthrough in revelation knowledge, not necessarily new information. You cannot go forward in faith without going forward in revelation.

Revelation changes our perspective. It is not something you see with your natural eyes or learn by head knowledge. Revelation enables us to see what God sees. The view is very different when we see things from God’s perspective.

We live in this world, but we are not of this world. We are tempted to walk by sight, but we must walk by faith– by revelation knowledge. Holy Spirit is the revealer of revelation. Our natural eyes can’t see it, but our hearts can see it. We are in a revolutionary revelation given by Jesus from the Father by the Holy Spirit.

Confession: The eyes of my heart, my spiritual eyes, are open to receive revelation. The eyes of my understanding are being enlightened still more and more! (Ephesians 1:18 Doddridge Translation)

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WHERE FAITH BEGINS

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
(2 Timothy 3:16)

Every breakthrough in faith comes from a breakthrough in revelation.
Mark Hankins

Revelation is the difference between faith and mental ascent. For the spirit of wisdom and revelation to work in your life, you will have to get beyond the theological, the historical, the geographical, and the doctrinal perspectives of the Bible and enter the realm of the inspirational.

2 Timothy 3:16 says that all scripture is inspired or God-breathed. When revelation is released in your life, you enter a realm where God breathes His Word into your spirit and talks to you personally.

Moving up in faith is a greater challenge than climbing Mount Everest. By the spirit of wisdom and revelation, we can know the limitless possibilities of God’s plan and purpose for our lives. With each new revelation, the Holy Spirit will lead us to another altitude camp. He is our guide, and He will take us to the top if we will listen to Him and follow Him. See you at the top!

Confession: I am moving up in faith by the spirit of wisdom and revelation. For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

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FAITH AND REVELATION

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart. (Psalm 24:3-4)

Double red blood cells…higher altitude
Mark Hankins

The process of climbing the world’s tallest mountain, Mount Everest, takes about three months. Climbers go from lower altitude camps to higher camps, gradually making the ascent. Sometimes they must stay at high altitude camps for as long as three weeks until their bodies adjust to the higher altitude. Red blood cells begin to increase because of the lack of oxygen. By the time they reach the final altitude camp, the red blood cells in their bodies have actually doubled in number to be able to carry enough oxygen to keep them alive. This kind of mountain climbing has to be in your blood for you to survive.

There are some blessings you cannot receive from God at “sea level.” You will have to move up in revelation and in faith to move up higher into God’s presence. Every breakthrough in faith comes from a breakthrough in revelation. The red blood cells of your faith can double so you can move up higher in blessing and fruitfulness in the kingdom of God!

Confession: I am climbing higher in my fellowship with God. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)

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