Living By Faith

STAND IN YOUR FAITH

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

The devil cannot destroy you anytime he wants–he needs your cooperation. Mark Hankins

Many times people self-destruct. I do not believe the devil can kill you anytime he wants. If so, you would already be dead because he does not like you, and he would like to destroy you. 1 Peter 5:8 says the devil goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. That means he cannot devour everyone. The next verse says, “Whom resist steadfast in the faith.” Another translation says, “Stand rock-like, immovable in your faith.”

Stand in your faith in what God has done for you in Christ, in who you are, and in what you have in Christ. You resist the devil. The devil cannot destroy you anytime he wants — he needs your cooperation.

You have to get up each morning acknowledging every good thing that is in you in Christ! Resist the devil! Stand strong in your faith by recognizing who you are in Christ!

Confession: In Him I am strong! In Him I am blessed! In Him I have boldness and access to the presence of God!

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MASTER YOUR BODY

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (1 Corinthians 9:27)

You are a spirit; you have a soul, and you are living in a body. Mark Hankins

The Bible says your spirit pulls against your flesh, and your flesh pulls against your spirit.  There are things your body wants to do that your spirit knows are not right. The Bible calls that “the lust of the flesh” in Galatians 5:6. Throughout the fifth chapter of Galatians, Paul lists the works of the flesh. Your spirit desires to seek after God, to walk with God, and to know God.

Your body will dominate you if it gets a chance.Sometimes your body does not want to go to church. Your body might be saying, “Let’s stay home. I am tired. I don’t feel good.” You have to say, “No, body, you are going to church. Get up right now!” You need to get your body moving! Paul said, “I keep under my body and I bring it under subjection.”  In other words, he said, “I master my body. I control it.”

Confession: I keep my body under and bring it into subjection. I am going to church, I am going to read my Bible, and I am going to pray!

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GET YOUR WEAPONS OUT

Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13)

The moment you are born again, I am convinced that the devil puts a target on you. Mark Hankins

You have to get the blood of Jesus, the name of Jesus, and the Word out and use them. You have to get the Word in your mouth, get it engrafted inside of you, and put on the armor of God. Put on your helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, belt of truth, Gospel shoes, and shield of faith to stop every fiery dart. Then get the sword of the Word of God out and say, “Alright, devil, I am ready for you now!”

Jesus told Peter, “Satan has desired to have you…but I have prayed for you.” (Luke 22:31-32) This is not meant to scare you, but make you aware.

Jesus is praying for you! You have the power of the blood. You have the cross. You have the resurrection. You have the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The Greater One lives on the inside of you!

Confession: I put on the armor of God and withstand the devil. I have the power of the blood of Jesus and the anointing of the Holy Spirit working in my life! The Greater One lives inside of me!

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YOUR NUMBER ONE BATTLE

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Satan knows that if he can capture your thought life, he has won a great victory. Mark Hankins

I heard a story once about a man who asked a well- known evangelist to pray for him that he would never have another bad thought. The evangelist said, “If I could do that for you, I would do it for myself!”

You must realize that as long as you are in this world, Satan has access to you, and he can bring thoughts and suggestions to your mind. This does not mean you are not saved. As a matter of fact, Satan knows if he can capture your thought life, he has won a great victory. 

The devil will tell you that if you thought something, you ought to say it or do it. However, you decide what you will do with those thoughts. I like the way Dad Hagin said it: “Just because Satan brings thoughts to your mind doesn’t mean they are sin. Thoughts may come and thoughts may persist, but thoughts that are not acted upon die unborn.”

Confession: I cast down every imagination and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God. I am bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ!

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A GLORY FASHION SHOW

Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith. (I Peter 5:8-9)

If the devil can get you under condemnation, he can cheat you out of your inheritance! Mark Hankins

Do not expect to breeze through this life without an adversary. The more anointing and glory you get, the more you move up on the devil’s hit list! Your picture is up in the post office of hell announcing, “MOST WANTED -Get him, stop him somehow!”

The devil is the accuser of the brethren. He will take you back as many years as necessary to get you under guilt and condemnation until you hang your head. Revelation 12:10-11 tells us the way to overcome him is by the word of your testimony. 

It is time for some new clothes! Get dressed up in the glory! God wants to have a fashion show like Paris or Rome has never seen. He wants to dress you in righteousness, glory, honor, and humility and let you come walking out with the glory of Jesus on you!

Confession: I know what God can do. He brought my family, my children, and my grandchildren, and me out of the horrible pit and put my feet on the rock. Look what the Lord has done!

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