Living By Faith

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!

  • 0

NO EVIDENCE OF THE ENEMY

But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies. What do ye imagine against the Lord? He will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.
(Nahum 1:8-9)

God will destroy the place the enemy got into your life so that he can never get in again; He will also destroy the evidence.
Mark Hankins

Can you believe God can bring some things to an end? God can bring behaviors and influences that have controlled your life to an end.

Sin shall not have dominion over you. God said that He would stop this affliction. He will stop the problem or condition, and it will never rise again. God will destroy the place the enemy got into your life so that he can never get in again. God will even destroy the evidence.

This is true in any area of your life: poverty, defeat, or sickness. In areas of your life where behavior, influences, or circumstances have controlled you, God will bring it to an end. There is no inferiority, shame, or poverty on you in Christ. There is no evidence on you of what you used to be!

Confession: I believe that God can put an end to the affliction in my life! He will destroy the evidence of what I used to be!

  • 0

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)

  • 1

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)

  • 0

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)

  • 0