Living By Faith

SEE YOU AT THE TOP

This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek  Your face. (Psalm 24:6 NKJV)

 

“There are some blessings you cannot receive from God at sea level!” – Mark Hankins

 

I watched a documentary about Mount Everest and those who have climbed it. Climbing a mountain is a gradual process that takes climbers from lower camps to higher camps as they make the ascent. During this process, their red blood cells actually double in number in order to carry enough oxygen to keep them alive. This kind of mountain climbing must be in your blood in order for you to survive!

In Psalm 24, God gives a challenge to those who want to move up higher in their fellowship with Him. After He gives the condition of clean hands and a pure heart, God promises that they will “receiving the blessing from the Lord.”

Climbing the Mountain of the Lord is a much higher calling than climbing Mount Everest. It is a place where satisfaction, fulfillment, and blessings flow. It is time for us to move up higher in the glory of God!

 

Confession: I am a part of the generation that seeks the face of God. I am climbing the Mountain of the Lord where there is satisfaction, fulfillment, and blessing!

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MOUNTAIN CLIMBING

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or Who shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord… (Psalm 24:3-5)

 

“The spirit of faith always chooses the Glory Road.” – Mark Hankins

 

The Knox translation of Psalm 24:3 says, “Who dares climb the mountain of the Lord?” The ones who will climb God’s mountain are the ones with the spirit of faith! The spirit of faith always chooses the Glory Road! Climbing this mountain represents obedience to the will of God.

The road on the mountain of God is the Glory Road. Those who choose to travel the Glory Road see the glory of God! The Glory Road is like a spiritual Mount Everest. On this road there is much sacrifice and it is extremely challenging, but when you get to the top and see what is on the other side, you will be glad you chose that road. It requires training and discipline to make it to the top. However, the rewards at the top make the journey worthwhile. Choose the Glory Road and experience the glory of God!

 

Confession: I will dare to climb the mountain of God and obey His will for my life! I choose the Glory Road! I will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of my salvation. (Psalm 24:5)

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PIONEERS IN THE GOSPEL

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:18-19)

 

“It takes faith to forsake, follow, and forget!” – Mark Hankins

 

The spirit of faith is not afraid to leave things behind. It can be difficult to lay aside treasured items and traditional ways of thinking, but the rewards of obeying God should keep you moving forward.

Hebrews 11:27 says that by faith, Moses forsook Egypt. Abraham forsook Ur of the Chaldees to go to Canaan. (Genesis 11:31-12:9) Peter, James, and John forsook their boats and followed Jesus. (Mark 1:17-18)

God is always looking for pioneers — people who will not settle for less than God’s best. The spirit of faith will keep them moving, and those pioneers will keep expecting miracles.

 

Confession: I will forget those things which are behind, and reach forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus! (Philippians 3:13-14)

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A POKE THROUGH JELL-O

The Lord will give strength unto his people. (Psalm 29:11)

 

“The spirit of faith will make a tadpole slap a whale!” – Mark Hankins

 

On October 14, 1947, Chuck Yeager was the first man to fly 700 miles an hour and break the sound barrier. It was difficult to find a man willing to risk the unknown of supersonic flight. Chuck Yeager was a pioneer and became an American hero — He broke the sound barrier that everyone else had been afraid of.

Yeager said, “The real barrier wasn’t in the sky, but in our knowledge and experience of supersonic flight.” He described the supersonic flight as “sipping lemonade on the front porch” and “a poke through Jell-O.”

What barriers do you face as a Christian doing the will of God? What kind of adjustments must be made to break those barriers?  Your own thinking, attitudes, and discipline must be changed in order to break the barriers. The Lord gives strength to His people. The power of God makes the greatest challenges “a poke through Jell-O.” When the barriers are broken, you will experience victory in every area of life!

 

Confession: The Lord has given me strength to break through any barriers I might face. I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might! (Ephesians 6:10)

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BREAKING BARRIERS

For You will light my lamp; The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, By my God I can leap over a wall. (Psalm 18:28-29 NKJV)

 

“The spirit of faith will make you swing out over hell on a cornstalk and spit in the devil’s eye!” – Mark Hankins

 

You will need to break some barriers when you go from glory to glory and from faith to faith. You will experience many breakthroughs as you overcome the enemy and fulfill the will of God, but in order to do so you will have be sure that your candle is lit.

I have been to the First Flat-Faced Church. That is where people have tried to leap over the wall but didn’t make it. They hit the wall. They got their flat faces because they tried to leap over the wall before they got their candles lit.

David knew what it was like to face challenges, but he was always confident that the Lord was with him. He wrote in Psalm 23:4: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; thy rod

and thy staff they comfort me. David allowed God to light his candle, and that is key to making it through life’s darkest valleys.

 

Confession: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)

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