Living By Faith

RISE UP IN FAITH

For as the human body apart from the spirit is lifeless, so faith apart from (its) works of obedience is also dead. (James 2:26 AMP)

Even in the middle of adversity, your faith will get you to your destination.
Mark Hankins

I went to a hot-air balloon festival once in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A man from the church I was ministering at had a hot-air balloon in the competition and took me in the balloon with him. Not long after we took off, he told me that we had absolutely no control over the direction of the hot-air balloon. He said the only thing that we had control over was the altitude of the balloon.

The balloons that had made it to 3,500 feet were heading north. There was a different wind blowing at 3,500 feet that caused the balloons to go the opposite direction. We noticed that all of the balloons at 1,000 feet were heading south. Unfortunately, that was the wrong direction. The target was on the north side of Albuquerque!

This experience reminds me of people following Jesus and obeying God. If you want to get on the target that God has for you, you are going to have to rise up in the Spirit, rise up in the reality of your redemption, and rise up in faith.

Confession: I have a divine destination. I choose to rise up in the Spirit where there is another wind blowing!

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THE ATTITUDE OF FAITH

We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak. (2 Corinthians 4:13)

The last of all human freedoms is the ability to choose one’s own attitude regardless of circumstances.
Viktor Frankl

I once read a book about a man named Viktor Frankl. Viktor was a Jew in a Nazi concentration camp in Word War II. He was constantly badgered harassed, beaten, and made to carry burdens. Viktor said that he could look into people’s eyes and see when they were ready to give up and die.

Viktor Frankl determined that there was one thing the Nazis could not control in his life; they could not control his attitude. He said, “The last of all human freedoms is the ability to choose one’s own attitude regardless of circumstances.” In other words, he couldn’t control everything, but he could control himself and his attitude.

You may not be able to control what has happened to you in life, but you can control your attitude. God will get you to your destination if you maintain a spirit of faith.

Confession: I have an attitude of faith. I will not allow hopelessness to dominate my life. I believed, and therefore have I spoken. (2 Corinthians 4:13)

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GOD’S OSCARS FOR ACTORS OF FAITH

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Faith is an act.
Mark Hankins

The spirit of faith has an attitude and an action. Believing is the attitude and speaking is the action. When we keep our speaker connected to our believer, the spirit of faith carries us to our divine destiny.

Hebrews 11 lists some heroes of faith. The phrase “by faith” is used 20 times in reference to men and women who did the will of God. They received the promises of God in their generation, and they are influencing the lives of millions of believers even today.

The spirit of faith is necessary to do the will of God and finish the course He has for you. God wants you to finish your course, keep the faith, serve your generation according to the will of God, and finish with joy. (2 Timothy 4:7; Acts 13:36)

Roll out the red carpet and get the camera ready! It’s time for some more actors of faith. The awards are eternal!

Confession: I am an actor of faith! My speaker is connected to my believer. The spirit of faith is carrying me to my divine destiny!

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GOD’S GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM

For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries. (1 Corinthians 16:9)

The devil is not trying to stop just you; he is after the eggs you are carrying.
Mark Hankins

The salmon is known as a fish with a fighting spirit. They challenge the strong current, rapids, rocks, and even bears to reach their destination. God put a remarkable Global Positioning System in salmon that enables them to travel as far as 2,000 miles to locate the exact stream where they were born. They go up that particular stream, lay their eggs, and fertilize them. There are also bears in the streams trying to catch the salmon and end their journey. The bears are actually after the salmon for their eggs because they like to eat the eggs more than the fish.

The remarkable story of the salmon is similar to the life of faith and the fight of faith. God has an exact destiny for you. When we finish the course God has designed for us and lay the eggs He has given us; our lives are multiplied a million times and reach the next generation!

Confession: God can get me in the right place, at the right time, with the right people! I have a spirit of faith to overcome any adversity that comes against me!

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THE TRAJECTORY OF FAITH

The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth forever: forsake not the works of thine own hands. (Psalm 138:8)

God is a champion at “putting” people in the right direction.
Mark Hankins

One day, I watched a championship golf match on television. One of the greatest golfers in the world stood on the green needing to make a very critical putt. He walked around the green and viewed the location of the ball from several different angles. He carefully prepared to putt as the crowd watched almost breathlessly. When he hit the ball, it looked like he putted the wrong way!

Amazingly, the ball turned and headed right into the hole. As the crowd cheered, I sat there amazed that he had made the putt. However, from my view, I could not see the lay of the land on the green. The golfer judged it perfectly and the ball landed right in the hole.

Every man or woman in Christ has a definite trajectory of faith and destiny. When it looks like God is putting you the wrong way, remember — He is a champion. He is able, by His Spirit, to get you in the right place at the right time to fulfill the call of God on your life.

Confession: God is “putting” me in the right direction. He is a champion. The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me. (Psalm 138:8)

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