Living By Faith

FEAR NOT, ONLY BELIEVE

As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. (Mark 5:36)

I choose to fear not, only believe. Believing is a choice.
Mark Hankins

The Bible tells us in Luke 21:26 that in the last days, people’s hearts will fail them because of fear. According to 2 Timothy 1:7, God did not give us a spirit of fear. If God did not give us a spirit of fear, where did it come from? Fear comes from the devil. God is a faith God. When you have a spirit of faith, you do not have a spirit of fear.

Fear has several relatives and companions: doubt, anxiety, stress, and worry. Every one of these negative emotions stems from fear. It is impossible to have a spirit of faith and a spirit of fear at the same time.

In Mark 5, Jairus could have believed the bad report, gotten in fear, and given up on his miracle. But Jesus said, “Fear not, only believe!” There will be a fight to keep your faith strong in the worst of your circumstances. When you choose to believe God, all things are possible!

Confession: I choose to believe God. I am not anxious or worried because the peace of God guards my heart and mind in Christ Jesus! (Philippians 4:6-7)

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BELIEVE IT AND SAY IT

Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God that it shall be even as it was told me. (Acts 27:25)

The spirit of faith believes and speaks!
Mark Hankins

The spirit of faith works by believing and speaking. The spirit of faith requires your “speaker” to be hooked up to your “believer.” In other words, for faith to work properly, it must be in your heart and your mouth. (Romans 10:8-10; Mark 11:23)

The word spoken to you must be spoken through you. The Apostle Paul illustrated this in the middle of a life-threatening storm at sea. One person with the spirit of faith can change the destiny of many others. Paul said, “It shall be even as it was told me.”

The spirit of faith does not guarantee that you won’t have any storms in life. However, the spirit of faith is what enables you to face the storms and overcome.

God’s Word is the foundation for our faith. What does the Word say? What has God spoken to you? Believe it and say it. The Word of God will take you through the storms of life and enable you to finish your course.

Confession: I will be of good cheer, “for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.” (Acts 27:25) I will believe God through every storm. I believe and speak the Word of God. I will finish my course (2 Timothy 4:7)

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SEE YOU AT THE TOP

This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek  Your face. (Psalm 24:6 NKJV)

There are some blessings you cannot receive from God at sea level!

   Mark Hankins

 

I recently viewed a documentary about Mount Everest and those who have climbed it. Climbing a mountain is a gradual process that takes climbers from lower camps to higher camps as they make the ascent. During this process, their red blood cells actually double in number in order to carry enough oxygen to keep them alive. This kind of mountain climbing must be in your blood in order for you to survive!

In Psalm 24, God gives a challenge to those who want to move up higher in their fellowship with Him. After He gives the condition of clean hands and a pure heart, God promises that they will “receiving the blessing from the Lord.

Climbing the Mountain of the Lord is a much higher calling than climbing Mount Everest. It is a place where satisfaction, fulfillment, and blessings flow. It is time for us to move up higher in the glory of God!

Confession: I am a part of the generation that seeks the face of God. I am climbing the Mountain of the Lord where there is satisfaction, fulfillment, and blessing!

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GOING WHERE YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN

And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go:  for ye have not passed this way heretofore. (Joshua 3:3-4)

If God told us everything, we would not have to walk by faith.

Mark Hankins

Joshua needed to have a spirit of faith to lead the nation of Israel out of the wilderness into the Promised Land of Canaan. The people were commanded to move from their place, keep their eyes on the ark, and follow it at a certain distance. They were going into new territory. They had never passed that way before.

It seems that God led them in increments of 2,000 cubits (or about 3/5 of a mile). God often gives us only one or two steps at a time. He tells us enough so that we can obey by faith. He doesn’t always tell us everything, but He tells us enough so that we can obey and walk by faith!

Confession:  The Lord orders my steps. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delighteth in his way. (Psalm 37:23) A mans heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.  (Proverbs 16:9 NKJV)

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BELIEVE AND SPEAK

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)

Jesus said to me, “My words in your mouth are just as powerful as My words in My mouth.” Reinhard Bonnke

The Word of God was spoken out of the mouth of God before it was written. God spoke it, men spoke it, and finally men penned it. It was spoken before it was written, and it was written so it might be spoken. II Timothy 3:16-17 says, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. When the Word says, given by inspiration of God, it literally means, God-breathed.

The Word of God in your mouth is tantamount to receiving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation from God! The spoken Word gives the life of God to everyone who has the spirit of faith. The spirit of faith believes, speaks, and acts on the Word of God.

Confession: I will believe and speak the Word of God. For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

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