Living By Faith

GET DRESSED UP IN CHRIST

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man…which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind…And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24)

When you get dressed, there is a process you go through. It takes a little time, but it is worth it!
Mark Hankins

Do you want your faith to become effective? The Apostle Paul said in Philemon 6 that the communication of your faith may become effectual or effective by the “acknowledging of every good thing.” It is a continual process to acknowledge every good thing that is in you in Christ Jesus. Your faith will become effective as you continue to acknowledge, think, meditate, declare, and act as if the Bible is true. This process is called “putting on the new man” in Colossians 3:9-10 and Ephesians 4:23-24.

We are talking about putting on some new clothes. You are renewed in knowledge after the image of Him who created you. God likes to dress people up, and He will tell you how to get dressed up. Put on some new clothes with your identification with Christ and who you are in Christ.

Confession: I am who God says I am! I have what God says I have! I can do what God says I can do!

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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!

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SO BE IT

Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. (2 Corinthians 1:20 Message)

You can go to church and walk out in the same condition you came in, even though you said, “Amen! Glory! Hallelujah!” in all the right places.
Mark Hankins

Do you know what “Amen” means? It means, “So be it.” If you are in church and say, “Amen,” you are saying, “So be it.” You ought to consider what you “Amen.” Some people just say “Amen” at timed intervals. They are not even paying attention. One man was preaching and said, “You know, millions of people are going to hell every day.” Then he said, “Amen.” That means, “So be it. Let them go to hell, man. I don’t care.” You need to be careful when you say “Amen.”

Paul is saying, “Amen, so be it.” Jesus is the Amen. Jesus, through His death, burial, and resurrection came and said, “So be it” to everything God has ever promised. He fulfilled it and brought the reality of it into the economy of God. It is no longer just a promise or just some theology; it is an absolute reality.

Confession: What God has promised is affirmative-no question about it!

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PROOF OF IDENTIFICATION

…and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

Many Christians are weak though they are sincere because they have never dared to make a bold confession of who they are in Christ.
E.W. Kenyon

Have you ever checked in for a flight and been asked for proof of identification? You can say, “Here I am. Can’t you see — this is me? I can prove that I exist. Just look.” That is not enough. You have to have some authentic legal proof of identification.

Identification is defined in Webster’s Dictionary as, “to consider or treat as the same, the condition or fact of being, the same in all qualities under consideration.”

Many people live and die and never find their true identity. In the realm of the Spirit you say, “Well, here I am. Obviously, I am who I am.” God will ask, “Do you have any identification on you?” You say, “I sure do, I have some identification right here in Galatians 2:20– I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me.” Your true identity is found in Christ!

Confession: I have found my true identity in Christ. “Now it is not my old self, but Christ Himself who lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20 Noli)

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GENETIC CONNECTION

Lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities…Behold your God! (Isaiah 40:9)

When you speak, there is an identical voice of faith. It sounds like the voice of God.
Mark Hankins

A number of years ago I called my brother’s church. The secretary mistook my voice for his voice because we’re brothers and there is a genetic similarity. She immediately said, “Pastor Mike.” When she said that, I thought I would take advantage of the situation and said, “You know, I really love my brother Mark a lot and would like to express my appreciation to him in a more tangible way. I want you to send my brother Mark a check for $10,000.” The secretary got real quiet on the other end of the phone because she thought I was Mike. Then I said, “I’m just kidding, this is Mark.”

I realized my voice, because of the genetic connection, gave me access to his checking account. That’s why God says, “Lift up your voice and speak.” There is a genetic connection between you and Jesus Christ. There is authority, healing, deliverance, victory, and blessing in your voice.

Confession: I lift up my voice in faith and victory! Mountains have to move! I have authority, healing, deliverance, victory, and blessing in my voice!

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