Living By Faith

POWER IN THE GOSPEL

That I may know him and the power of his resurrection… being conformable to his death. (Philippians 3:10)

The power of the Gospel is destructive and constructive; destructive to the works of the devil, and constructive to the believer. Mark Hankins

The power of the Gospel is seen in both the death and resurrection of Christ. The Gospel gives you the ability to not only speak life but also to speak death to theworks of the devil. The death of Christ put an end to what you were; the resurrection of Christ opened up who you are in your new identity.

Someone might say, “The doctors have told me that I have incurable cancer. They have given me only a few months to live.”  Hold it just a second–not only was there a resurrection in the Gospel, but there was also a death. So you can say, “I curse that cancer and command it to die. I speak death to that cancer.”

What does that mean? “Death” means, “cease to exist.” You can speak to works of the devil that are ruling in your life today and command them to cease to exist in the name of Jesus!

Confession: I speak to the works of the devil that are ruling my life today and command them to cease to exist in the name of Jesus! Now life comes in!

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THE ATTITUDE OF FAITH

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)

The last of all human freedoms is the ability to choose one’s own attitude regardless of circumstances. Viktor Frankl

I once read a book about a man named Viktor Frankl. Viktor was a Jew in a Nazi concentration camp in Word War II. He was constantly badgered harassed, beaten, and made to carry burdens. Viktor said that he could look into people’s eyes and see when they were ready to give up and die.

Viktor Frankl determined that there was one thing the Nazis could not control in his life; they could not control his attitude. He said, “The last of all human freedoms is the ability to choose one’s own attitude regardless of circumstances.”  In other words, he couldn’t control everything, but he could control himself and his attitude.

You may not be able to control what has happened to you in life, but you can control your attitude. God will get you to your destination if you maintain a spirit of faith.

Confession: I have an attitude of faith. I will not allow hopelessness to dominate my life. I believed, and therefore have I spoken. (2 Corinthians 4:13)

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GOD’S DAREDEVILS

The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. (Daniel 11:32 NKJV)

“Exploits” are defined as, “Deeds marked by daring and excellence.” Mark Hankins

When I was about 10 years old, we played neighborhood football in my backyard.  Usually as the game progressed and the smaller boys were losing, the bigger boys would announce loudly, “We’re going to run right up the middle.” And they did!  Sometimes they ran over me!

Their challenge reminds me of David, who announced to Goliath, “This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand… that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” (I Samuel 17:46)  No devil, no man, and no circumstances can stop God’s divine plan for this generation. As God has declared it, we must prophesy and proclaim His power in the Earth.

He is Almighty God! He is a Mighty Warrior! As we hear and know His voice, new confidence and strength comes to us. We will arise with new boldness and declare His dare. It is time for a new generation of men and women to rise up and do great exploits!

Confession:I am rising with new confidence, boldness, and strength.With God all things are possible! All things are possible to him that believeth! (Matthew 19:26, Mark 9:23)

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FROM COWARD TO MIGHTY MAN OF VALOR

He quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. (Romans 4:17)

When Jesus came to preach the Gospel to the poor, He didn’t just pass out a bunch of fish sandwiches! Mark Hankins

The story of Gideon is another classic, yet radical identity change that took place in the Bible. He was living in a hole in the ground and hiding out from the enemy. Every time Gideon tried to do anything, the Midianites destroyed it. In the midst of his hole-in-the-ground existence, God sent an angel to Gideon with a message, “The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour!” (Judges 6:12) God has a sense of humor because at this time in Gideon’s life, there was no evidence of valor!

God’s Word will cause nothingto become something. Gideon chewed on God’s Word to him– “You mighty man of valour” — until he finally swallowed it.  Then with trumpets, pitchers, lamps, and a cry of the sword of the Lord, Gideon and his three hundred-man army whipped the enemy. (Judges 7:20-22) Any time you get involved with God and His Word, He will totally change the way you see yourself and the way you see life!

Confession: It is God that worketh in me both to will and to do of His good pleasure! (Philippians 2:13)

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A NEW DAY OF BOLDNESS

Having therefore, brethren, BOLDNESS to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. (Hebrews 10:19)

Instead of being a victim of our experiences, our experiences are a victim of us. Mark Hankins

The word boldness is an important word in the book of Hebrews. The blood of Jesus has given us great boldness and confidence.

Let us therefore come BOLDLY unto the throne of grace.” (Hebrews4:16)  

“That we may BOLDLY say, ‘The Lord is my helper.’” (Hebrews13:6)

Some other translations of Hebrews 10:19 translate boldness as freedom of speech or outspoken.  As believers, we need to exercise our freedom of speech and be outspoken about the blood of Jesus and who we are in Christ. Instead of being a victim of our experiences, our experiences are a victim of us!

Confession: I have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. I can come boldly unto the throne of grace and I can boldly say the Lord is my helper! I am not a victim of my experiences. My experiences are a victim of me because the blood of Jesus has given me great boldness and confidence!

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