Living By Faith

A NEW DAY OF BOLDNESS

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

The blood of Jesus has given us great boldness and confidence.

Mark Hankins

Another word that stood out to me in Hebrews was the word, “boldness.”  The blood of Jesus has given us great boldness and confidence. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace.”  (Hebrews 4:16)  “That we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper.” (Hebrews 13:6)

Some other translations of Hebrews 10:19 translate boldness as “freedom of speech” or “outspoken.” The blood of Jesus has given us great boldness and confidence. 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.

Now we as believers can take the Word of God and speak with great boldness and confidence! When Satan comes against you, just bring up the story of the blood of Jesus.

Confession: The Lord is my Helper. I can come boldly unto the throne of grace. I am sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:10, 14)

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GOD IS RESTORING YOUR JOY

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

If you will refuse to give up and allow your faith to be on trial, you cannot lose!

Mark Hankins

At 75 years of age, Norman Vincent Peal was asked when were the best ten years of his life. He replied, “I haven’t lived them yet!”

Shake off the dust of the past. God will restore the years that the devil tried to mess up in your life. Don’t look back with regret. What the devil meant for evil, God is turning around for your good.

God’s going to do His part, but you have to do your part — you have to rejoice! God has some surprises that are exceeding abundantly above all you could ask or think according to the power that works in you. (Ephesians 3:20)

Confession: God is faithful. He will not allow me to be tempted beyond what I am able to endure. He will always make away to escape! “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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JOY NEUTRALIZES PRESSURE

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God.

 (Acts16:25)

If you allow pressure to push you out of position, you’ll miss your miracle.

Mark Hankins

The Apostle Paul had the Jews, the Gentiles, and the Romans putting pressure on him. During one of the most difficult hours of his life, he began singing praises to God.

The devil can put pressure on you and get you into a corner, but as long as he can’t shut your mouth, you can overcome. Oral Roberts said,“Everyday there’s a miracle coming to you or passing you by.”  That means if you allow pressure to push you out of your position, you’ll miss your miracle.

When you start counting it all joy, it neutralizes the pressure. That is a challenge, but rejoicing is a choice you make that will strengthen you so that your faith and patience will hold you steady. “Is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow and don’t try to squirm out of your problems.” (James 1:2-4 TLB)

Confession:When my patience is in full bloom, I will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete. (James 1:4  TLB)

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MAXIMUM JOY

Consider it maximum joy, my brothers, when you get involved in all sorts of trials. (James 1:2  Berkeley)

The reason the devil is putting pressure on you is because God’s got a blessing for you!

Mark Hankins

I played on the championship football team in high school. We were undefeated, so we always went out fully expecting to win. One day the coach told me, “Now Hankins,” as he grabbed me by my shoulder pads, “you might be able to go around the tackle, but by the time you go around him, what you’re looking for already went by.”

Then he said, “The only way you can play defense is not to avoid the pressure the tackle is putting on you. You can’t go around him–if you do, you will miss what you’re after. You’ve got to fight through the pressure.”

The reason the devil is putting pressure on you is because God’s got a blessing coming for you! So when pressure comes from every side, face it and get happy right in the middle of it! The devil is saying, “Hey, give up and just go around.” You say, “No. I am not going around. I am going through this tackle!”

Confession: The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet ,and he will make me walk upon my high places. (Habakkuk 3:19)

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ENJOYING THE TRIP

Yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. (1Peter1:8)

Believing is always accompanied by joy.

Mark Hankins

Rejoicing activates faith; joy accompanies believing. In 1Peter1:8, the Apostle Peter speaks of some wild, ecstatic, triumphant, heavenly joy, not someday when we get to heaven, but right now! The Amplified Bible says, “You believe in Him and exult and thrill within expressible and glorious (triumphant, heavenly) joy.”

Unspeakable joy is a container of the glory of God. The glory and the abundance of God are manifested in an atmosphere of rejoicing. We are commanded to rejoice; it is not an option! God brought us here to have fun — now we are going to have fun!  God brought us here to have victory — now we are going to have victory! 

Confession:  I rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. I have victory! The glory and the abundance of God are manifesting in my life today!

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