Living By Faith

YOU ARE ONE STEP AWAY FROM A MIRACLE

For with God, nothing shall be impossible. (Luke 1:37)

You can never achieve the impossible if you never attempt the impossible.
Mark Hankins

Some time ago, I was watching a nationally televised NCAA football game. The team was ranked in the top ten in the country, and the quarterback was one of the best in college football. The quarterback came up to the line, began to yell out the numbers, and bent over to receive the snap of the ball before realizing that he was behind the guard instead of the center. In the middle of calling the play, he took one step over right behind the center, and hollered, “Hut, hut, hut.” The ball was hiked to him, and the play was run successfully.

The Lord spoke to me using this illustration and said, “Some people need to make a small adjustment if they are going to receive from Me. Some people are only one step away from a miracle!” It isn’t difficult, but it requires humbling yourself and moving into closer agreement with God’s ways, power, and plan. Sometimes, it just takes one small step over to receive from God.

Confession: The spirit of faith will position me to possess God’s best blessings. “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” (Mark 9:23)

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FAITH DETERMINES YOUR DESTINY

He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out]. (Hebrews 11:6 AMP)

The spirit of faith is necessary to do the will of God.
Mark Hankins

God is sovereign, but He has tied Himself to human cooperation to work out His divine purposes. Jesus said, “According to your faith be it unto you.” (Matthew 9:29) Lilian B. Yeomans said, “God has tied Himself irrevocably to human cooperation in the execution of divine purposes. He has made man’s faith a determining factor in the work of redemption.”

When the woman with the issue of blood touched Jesus, she got healed. Jesus said, “Daughter, your faith has made you whole.” (Mark 5) The first ingredient in the spirit of faith is to believe. Brother Kenneth E. Hagin said the Lord told him, “If her faith made her whole, then your faith will make you whole.”

Faith is absolutely necessary to please God and do His will. God rewards those who earnestly and diligently seek Him! (Hebrews 11:6)

Confession: Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. (Ephesians 3:20)

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WHEN FAITH COMETH, FEAR GOETH

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

In the midst of adversity, David was overcoming fear!
Mark Hankins

There can be no doubt that David had a spirit of faith. He killed Goliath the giant, a lion, a bear, and more than 10,000 Philistines. Case closed — the man had a spirit of faith! However, in the Psalms we see David dealing with fear. We also see that David dealt with fear by believing and speaking. The spirit of faith requires both! David penned these words in Psalm 116: “For You have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears…I believed, therefore I spoke…”

There are over one hundred times in the Bible where we are told, “Fear not.” Jesus said, “Fear not: believe only.” (Luke 8:50) God works by faith; He is a faith God. It pleases God when we have a spirit of faith. (Hebrews 11:6) “We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak.” (2 Corinthians 4:13) We overcome fear as we believe and speak the Word of God.

Confession: The Lord is my light and salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)

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CHOOSE FAITH OR FEAR

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

When the devil says that it is all over, Jesus says that it is not all over; it has just been delayed a little while. Mark Hankins

There will be a moment when you must choose to either believe God or be full of fear. We read about a moment like that in Jairus’ life in Mark 5:35. Jairus was told his daughter was dead. Jesus grabbed Jairus right in the middle of his crisis and gave him a word: “Fear not, only believe.” (Mark 5:36) Jesus will give you a word right in the middle of your crisis, too. He knows what others are telling you. He knows the doubts that are flooding your mind. Jesus hears and says, “I’d like to interrupt the fear and doubt and give you a word from heaven: Fear not, only believe.”

God can take care of you. He can work in your life and undo everything the devil has done. He is able to raise the dead, heal the sick, cast out devils, and turn your whole life around. When He speaks, faith comes. When faith comes, fear goes!

Confession: I choose to speak words of faith and not fear. Jesus said that all things are possible to him who believes. If God is for me, who can be against me? (Romans 8:31)

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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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