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THE PREACHING OF THE CROSS

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.  (1 Corinthians 1:17)

The union between humanity and deity can never be broken. Mark Hankins

Paul used the word “cross” In 1 Corinthians 1:17, not because he was simply talking about the crucifixion. He identified with the cross because that is where God identified with him.

The first step of God’s identification with sinful man began with the incarnation when God became a man, and Jesus came to earth. 

The second step of God’s identification with fallen man was when Jesus told John to baptize Him. When Jesus got in the line with sinners, He said, “Baptize me with those who are confessing their sin.”  John the Baptist did not understand what was happening so he said, “I am not baptizing You.” However, the union between humanity and deity in Jesus can never be broken. Not just for one human generation, but through all eternity.  Jesus is still a man right now at the right hand of God.

Confession: “I consider myself as having died and now enjoying a second existence, which is simply Jesus using my body.” (Galatians 2:20 The Distilled Bible)

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A HAPPY MAN IN CHRIST

I think myself happy, King Agrippa… (Acts 26:2)

You can think yourself happy or you can think yourself sad! Mark Hankins

The Apostle Paul could be shipwrecked, snake bit, beat in the head, left for dead, or confined in prison and still say, “I feel like singing right now because the Greater One is in me.” How would you like to be chained to Paul for about a year and a half? Paul was not some confused, lonely, bitter preacher. He stood before King Agrippa after thirty years and said, “Oh, king, I think myself happy.” (Acts 26:2)

King Agrippa, his sister Bernice, Governor Festus, all the military leaders, lawyers, and other prominent people were there when Paul came in. They wanted to mock him, but you cannot ridicule a happy man. He probably had the least reason to be happy of anybody in that whole crowd. But when he entered he said, “I am a happy man.”

The king said, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” (Acts 2:28) King Agrippa may be the most upset man in hell because he had a testimony from the greatest preacher other than the Lord Jesus Christ, and yet he refused to become a Christian!

Confession: I think myself happy! I am righteous. I am a new creature. I am redeemed. I am blessed!

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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!

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CONTEND FOR THE GLORY

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. (1Peter 1:8)

Unspeakable joy is a container of the glory of God.

Mark Hankins

The glory of God will increase for those who believe. The glory of the Lord is God’s manifested presence. In His presence is fullness of joy so there must be some extraordinary joy in the glory.

The first thing we should do is believe it and declare it. Expect it and it shall come to pass! We are living in the last days. The promises and prophecies are being fulfilled faster and faster. The atmosphere of Heaven and the aroma of praise are filling the church. Be strengthened in your faith and position yourself for “Heaven on Earth!”

Jesus said if you believed, you would see the glory of God. Jesus was not talking about someday far into the future –He was speaking of a manifestation of God’s goodness and power, now! This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Go ahead and rejoice as if your dream is coming to pass! Let the good times roll!

Confession:The glory of God is manifesting in my life because I believe.(John 11:40) God’s promises are being fulfilled in my life and my dreams are coming to pass!

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HEAVEN ON EARTH

But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. (Numbers 14:21)

Jesus came to restore the glory that God intended for us to have!

Mark Hankins

We are living in days of great glory when the glory and the goodness of God break into our lives on a scale that is unprecedented. This is the time of the restoration of glory in the church around the world!

In Deuteronomy 11:21, the phrase, “as the days of heaven upon the earth” is used to describe the special time of blessing the children of God would enjoy in the Promised Land. God gave them instructions on how to act to possess the land. He used the word “possess” seven times in this chapter. Over and over He told them they must possess this land of promise.

We know that God is a faith God and He is pleased by faith. I like to say, “Faith cranks God’s tractor.” For us to enter into all that He has provided for us, we must believe God. We must maintain a spirit of faith to go forward in this time. According to Philippians 3:12-14, we press forward and never look back. Smith Wigglesworth said, “Never look back if you want the power of God in your life.”

Confession: I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14)

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