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DON’T GIVE THE DEVIL A CHANCE

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection. (1 Corinthians 9:27)

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and do not give the flesh a chance. Mark Hankins

Your flesh still has certain desires that you have to deal with. Do not put yourself in situations where your flesh will be able to take advantage of you and drag you through lust. Paul said in Colossians 3:5 that you have to crucify the flesh and mortify the deeds of the body.

The devil will say to you, “If you are saved, you are a new creature. You can still hang around certain kinds of sin.” If there has been a problem and a weakness in your life, just don’t make any provision for that. You need to tell the devil, “No, I understand what my limits are, and it is best for me to stay far away from that temptation.”

Put on what is in you in Christ and don’t give the devil a chance. You might say, “I am in the world. I cannot help but come across certain things.”  That is true, but you should not be looking for temptation, you should be doing your best to stay away from it. Acknowledge who you are in Christ then put to death the deeds of the body.

Confession:  I am a new creature in Christ. Old lusts, thoughts, temptations, and habits are crucified. I keep under my body and bring it into subjection! (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 9:27)

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EXPERIENCE JESUS

For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.  (2 Corinthians 5:13)

Religion and tradition bring death; Jesus brings life and a living experience with Him. Mark Hankins

In 2 Corinthians 5:13, Paul simply said, “If we have lost our minds, it is God’s fault.” Many people thought Paul was crazy because he had such a radical experience with Jesus Christ.  His life turned in a totally different direction. I am sure his mama, daddy, his kinfolks, and his old friends thought he was crazy and had lost his mind.

I believe your experience with Jesus ought to be so strong and put such a dividing line in your life that your old friends do not even want to be around you anymore! They will say, “We do not want to be around him. He is always talking about Jesus and wanting to go to church.”

Have you ever had the Holy Spirit come upon you with such revelation of the goodness of God and what God has done for you in Christ that you feel like you have lost your mind? You may want to shout, jump, run, and roll in the floor!

Confession: I am beside myself because of what God has done for me in Jesus! Oh, the possibilities that are mine in Jesus!

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SO BE IT

Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. (2 Corinthians 1:20  Message)

You can go to church and walk out in the same condition you came in, even though you said, “Amen! Glory! Hallelujah!” in all the right places. Mark Hankins

Do you know what “Amen” means?  It means, “So be it.”  If you are in church and say, “Amen,” you are saying, “So be it.” You ought to consider what you “Amen.” Some people just say “Amen” at timed intervals. They are not even paying attention. One man was preaching and said, “You know, millions of people are going to hell every day.”  Then he said, “Amen.”  That means, “So be it. Let them go to hell, man. I don’t care.” You need to be careful when you say “Amen.”

Paul is saying, “Amen, so be it.”  Jesus is the Amen. Jesus, through His death, burial, and resurrection came and said, “So be it” to everything God has ever promised. He fulfilled it and brought the reality of it into the economy of God. It is no longer just a promise or just some theology; it is an absolute reality.

Confession: What God has promised is affirmative-no question about it!

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CONTEND FOR THE GLORY

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. (1Peter 1:8)

Unspeakable joy is a container of the glory of God.

Mark Hankins

The glory of God will increase for those who believe. The glory of the Lord is God’s manifested presence. In His presence is fullness of joy so there must be some extraordinary joy in the glory.

The first thing we should do is believe it and declare it. Expect it and it shall come to pass! We are living in the last days. The promises and prophecies are being fulfilled faster and faster. The atmosphere of Heaven and the aroma of praise are filling the church. Be strengthened in your faith and position yourself for “Heaven on Earth!”

Jesus said if you believed, you would see the glory of God. Jesus was not talking about someday far into the future –He was speaking of a manifestation of God’s goodness and power, now! This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Go ahead and rejoice as if your dream is coming to pass! Let the good times roll!

Confession:The glory of God is manifesting in my life because I believe.(John 11:40) God’s promises are being fulfilled in my life and my dreams are coming to pass!

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EXPERIENCE THE GLORY

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Keep your confidence; there is a great payday that is certain.

Mark Hankins

Keep believing and obeying God and His Word. He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. When God rewards, He rewards well! God is not cheap, nor does He withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly! (Psalm 84:11)

God is called the “God of Glory” in Acts 7:2. In Ephesians 1:17, God is the “Father of Glory.” His glory includes wealth, numbers, commerce, power, wisdom, promotion ,superiority, dignity, authority, nobility, splendor, valor, magnificence, extraordinary privileges, and advantages. Jesus came that we might enjoy the same glory. (John 17:22-24)

Your payday is coming; when it arrives, it will come with everything that the glory of God denotes. We have great confidence and expectation in the Lord. God’s reward system is unlimited!

Confession: God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that I ask or think, according to the power that works in me! (Ephesians 3:20)

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