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!

  • 0

REDEMPTION REALITY

For as many as were the promises of God in Christ is the yes that fulfills them; therefore through Christ again let the Amen rise through us to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 1:20 Twentieth Century)

It is up to you to say, “Amen!”
Mark Hankins

When we talk about your redemption and who you are in Christ, we are not talking about some figment of your imagination or some religious thing. We are talking about an absolute reality of redemption and righteousness. We are talking about living in the reality that you are redeemed, righteous, victorious, and blessed. You need to live in the reality that old things are passed away, everything has become new, and now you are a new creation.

Jesus is the “Amen.” He brought the reality of redemption into the realm of human experience and into your life. The Twentieth Century version of 2 Corinthians 1:20 says, “…so let the Amen rise through us to the glory of God.” You need to respond to Him by saying, “Amen, so be it.”

Confession: I am in Christ, and I boldly declare and acknowledge right now the good things that are in me in Christ. I am who God says I am today! Yes, affirmative, so be it; it is so, Amen!

  • 0

BOLDNESS IN CHRIST

In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. (Ephesians 3:12)

Righteousness gives you boldness in your prayer life. Mark Hankins

God does not want you dragging, crawling, or sliding into His presence. He wants you to come walking in as a child of God. You have a “standing” with God that the angels do not have. God wants you to walk in saying, “Abba Father, Daddy God, You are my Father, and I am your child.” When you come walking into His presence in Christ and through the blood of Jesus, God cannot find anything wrong with you — not even a trace of sin. You are justified in Christ.

In Him, you have boldness when you pray. You are not a beggar. You come into God’s presence with confidence saying, “I am an heir of God and a joint-heir with Jesus Christ. Father God, I know when I pray, I have this confidence, that whatever I ask for, You hear me, and I know I have the petitions I desire of You.”

We get boldness in the presence of God. We have access, or a way into the presence of God in Christ. We must climb up in Christ by faith declaring, “I am in Him.”

Confession: I am in Christ! I have access with boldness, confidence, and assurance into the presence of God!

  • 0

POSITION, PRIVILEGE, POTENTIAL, POWER, AND PROMISE IN CHRIST

In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him. (Ephesians 3:12)

The blood of Jesus has given us great boldness and confidence!
Mark Hankins

We enjoy great position, privilege, potential, power, and promise In Christ. God sees us In Christ, and we look a lot better In Christ than we do outside of Him. If you are not impressed with who you are in Christ, you haven’t seen Him lately.

We are the workmanship of God created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained for us to walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10) We have come into closest fellowship with Christ. We are In Him. The Apostle Paul uses the phrase In Christ, In Him, and In Whom, over 130 times in his letters. Take your position in Christ and live in the privileges and advantages God has provided for you.

Confession: God sees me in Christ. I am the workmanship of God created in Christ Jesus unto good works. For in Christ dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. I am complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power. (Colossians 2:9-10)

  • 0

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)

  • 0