Living By Faith

MASTER YOUR BODY

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (1 Corinthians 9:27)

You are a spirit; you have a soul, and you are living in a body. Mark Hankins

The Bible says your spirit pulls against your flesh, and your flesh pulls against your spirit. There are things your body wants to do that your spirit knows are not right. The Bible calls that “the lust of the flesh” in Galatians 5:6. Throughout the fifth chapter of Galatians, Paul lists the works of the flesh. Your spirit desires to seek after God, to walk with God, and to know God.

Your body will dominate you if it gets a chance. Sometimes your body does not want to go to church. Your body might be saying, “Let’s stay home. I am tired. I don’t feel good.” You have to say, “No, body, you are going to church. Get up right now!” You need to get your body moving! Paul said, “I keep under my body and I bring it under subjection.” In other words, he said, “I master my body. I control it.”

Confession: I keep my body under and bring it into subjection. I am going to church, I am going to read my Bible, and I am going to pray!

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A GLORY FASHION SHOW

Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith. (I Peter 5:8-9)

If the devil can get you under condemnation, he can cheat you out of your inheritance!
Mark Hankins

Do not expect to breeze through this life without an adversary. The more anointing and glory you get, the more you move up on the devil’s hit list! Your picture is up in the post office of hell announcing, “MOST WANTED – Get him, stop him somehow!”

The devil is the accuser of the brethren. He will take you back as many years as necessary to get you under guilt and condemnation until you hang your head. Revelation 12:10-11 tells us the way to overcome him is by the word of your testimony.

It is time for some new clothes! Get dressed up in the glory! God wants to have a fashion show like Paris or Rome has never seen. He wants to dress you in righteousness, glory, honor, and humility and let you come walking out with the glory of Jesus on you!

Confession: I know what God can do. He brought my family, my children, and my grandchildren, and me out of the horrible pit and put my feet on the rock. Look what the Lord has done!

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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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