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HUMBLE YOURSELF

Likewise you that are younger and of lesser rank be subject to the elders — the ministers and spiritual guides of the church, giving them due respect and yielding to their counsel. Clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you, with humility.

(1 Peter 5:5 Amplified)

You need to humble yourself in three ways: to those over you, to those around you, and to those under you. Mark Hankins

First, humble yourself to those who are over you in the Lord. Your pastor is over you as a spiritual father. The Bible talks about double honor for the man or woman of God who has given you spiritual things.

Second, humble yourself to those around you. If you do not humble yourself to those around you, you will never have a proper, lasting relationship with them.

Third, humble yourself to those under you. Be nice to those on your way up, or you may meet them on your way down.

The Lord once told me, “This is one of the keys to your prosperity. It is a greater key than giving to the poor or needy. You have to honor those who are over you in the Lord. When you do that, I will bring their honor on you.”

Confession: I humble myself today by giving honor to whom honor is due. I am blessed as I honor those over me, those around me and those under me!

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GET DRESSED UP IN CHRIST

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man… which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind… And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24)

When you get dressed, there is a process you go through. It takes a little time, but it is worth it! Mark Hankins

Do you want your faith to become effective?  The Apostle Paul said in Philemon 6 that the communication of your faith may become effectual or effective by the “acknowledging of every good thing.” It is a continual process to acknowledge every good thing that is in you in Christ Jesus. Your faith will become effective as you continue to acknowledge, think, meditate, declare, and act as if the Bible is true.  This process is called “putting on the new man” in Colossians 3:9-10 and Ephesians 4:23-24.

We are talking about putting on some new clothes. You are renewed in knowledge after the image of Him who created you. God likes to dress people up, and He will tell you how to get dressed up. Put on some new clothes with your identification with Christ and who you are in Christ.

Confession: I am who God says I am! I have what God says I have! I can do what God says I can do!

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PRESENT TENSE

Therefore if any man be in Christ….(2 Corinthians 5:17)

Whatever is true of anyone else who is in Christ is true about you. Mark Hankins

I like the fact that 2 Corinthians 5:17 is written in the present tense. When you are born again, you be in Christ. Whatever is true of anyone else who is in Christ is true about you. If you be in Christ, then what be in Christ be in you!

Hebrews 11:1 is also in the present tense. It says, “Now faith is.”  In other words, if it is going to be, it is not faith. If it used to be, it is not faith. God introduced Himself to Moses by saying, “I AM that I AM.”

What is God’s last name? AM is God’s last name! That is present tense. When you get in Christ, you am in Him. Whatever amin Him amin you right now.  Whatever be in Him, be in you. You are not trying to be, hoping to be, or going to be–right now you be in Him. Now faith is.

The moment you declare who you are in Him, your faith will work. Otherwise, you will always try to be, hope to be, and want to be. You need to forget who you are naturally and get up every morning seeing who you are in Him. You are complete in Him.

Confession: In Christ I have been made righteous. In Him I have peace with God. I am in Him and I AM is in me!

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SHAME-FREE LIVING

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 10:11)

Since we are free from the motivating power of shame, we are now under a new motivating power of righteousness. Mark Hankins

It is especially interesting that professional psychiatrists recognize the power and influence of shame in shaping people today. It drives human behavior. Many have misdiagnosed their own problems and conditions. This has caused many to try to fix their behavior with more and more doses of shame and guilt.  Instead of curing the problem, shame perpetuates the problem.

The cure is at the cross of Jesus Christ. Jesus took our condition and we were engrafted into Him.  Now, God sees us In Christ.  We must consistently see ourselves in the light of the death, burial, and resurrection. We reign in life through the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness through one man, Jesus Christ.

Confession: I am the righteousness of God in Christ.I reign in life through one man, Jesus Christ. “For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:17)

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FAITH IN GOD CAN CHANGE ANYTHING

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. (Mark 9:23)

Any man can be changed by faith, no matter how he may be fettered. Smith Wigglesworth

I have a niece who used to live in Italy. One day she came home with her paper from grade school and was crying. She had drawn a picture and one of the kids from the class had taken her paper and put a big ugly mark on it. She is a tenderhearted girl, so she was very upset. Her mom, trying to comfort her, encouraged her to settle down. She then took a pen and began to try to fix the picture.She started working with the ugly mark and before long it had become a beautiful flower.

Many people spend their lives whining and crying about what the problems of life have done or what kind of mark the devil has put in their life. If we will go to God and let Him show us a new picture, He will take the marks and turn them into something beautiful.

When you have a spirit of faith, you don’t just see the problems and the bad experiences you have had, you see what God can do when you come to Him.

Confession: I have a spirit of faith. It may look like something bad has happened to me, but I believe that God is going to make something good out of it.

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