Living By Faith

FOCUSED AND CLEAR

Your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians… (Ephesians 1:18 The Message Bible)

We can rise above the turbulent atmosphere of our past experiences.
Mark Hankins

NASA launched the Hubble telescope in 1990 and it revolutionized the study of our universe! Many mysteries of our universe have been revealed by the Hubble’s discoveries. However, with everything that we are coming to understand about the universe, there is still so much more to be discovered.

In Ephesians 1, the Apostle Paul described the spirit of wisdom and revelation as the “eyes of your understanding being enlightened.” The spirit of wisdom and revelation makes it possible for us to see the mystery or unseen realities of our redemption.

In Christ we have been launched into heavenly places to be able to clearly see God’s plans and purposes. When the spirit of wisdom launches us into orbit for a closer view or clearer picture, we can then see what God sees!

Confession: My eyes are focused and clear. I can see exactly what God is calling me to do. I am grasping the immensity of this glorious way of life He has for Christians! (Ephesians 1:18 The Message Bible)

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THE CHURCH ON DISPLAY

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Ephesians 3:9-11)

One cannot help but be in awe when one contemplates the mysteries of eternity. Albert Einstein

The word mystery means, “A profound secret kept cautiously concealed, hidden for generations, something that excites curiosity and wonder.”

The mystery of our redemption is now revealed in Christ! Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1:17-23 is for the church to advance and influence every generation through the power of revelation. God wants the church to enjoy and display the light and revelation of Jesus Christ to all men as well as to the unseen powers in heavenly places. The church is experiencing a breakthrough in revelation of mysteries that is bringing a revolution to this generation. We contend for exponential increase in revelation!

Confession: I contend for the revelation knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. I will display the light and revelation of Jesus Christ to all men as well as to the unseen powers in heavenly places!

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THE WHOLE ELEPHANT

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.
(Ephesians 1:17-18)

The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.
Albert Einstein

When I think about revelation, I often think about the story of the four blind men that were each holding on to a different part of an elephant. One held the tail and said an elephant was like a rope. One held the leg and said an elephant was like a tree. One held the trunk and said an elephant was like a snake. One felt the side of the elephant and said he was like a wall. Each man’s revelation was limited to the part of the elephant he experienced.

Many of us are like that today with our relationship with God. God wants to open our eyes to see the whole elephant. There is more that God has for us. Revelation opens God’s goodness and power to us and through us!

Confession: I know the love of Christ which passes knowledge that I may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:19)

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A PROFOUND SECRET

Therefore if any man be IN CHRIST, he is a new creature: old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Every advance in the call and blessing of God comes from an advance in revelation. Mark Hankins

Revolution is something that effects radical change. It can be any fundamental complete change or the replacement of a government or political system. Revelation of who you are in Christ will cause revolution in your life!

The Apostle Paul’s revelation of Jesus Christ caused radical change in his life as well as the lives of countless millions over the past 2000 years. What God has revealed In Christ has uncovered the eternal purpose for every man. God’s love, God’s power, God’s goodness, God’s righteousness, and God’s wisdom are all revealed in the Gospel of Christ!

A. J. Gordon said it this way, “These two words, ‘In Christ’ give us profound insight into the Divine method of salvation. These two words open to us mysteries and secrets that were hidden for ages and generations.”

Confession: I am a new creature In Christ! Old things have passed away and all things are made new! “For the law of the Spirit of life In Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2)

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MIGHTY MIRACLES REQUIRE FAITH

And He could there do no mighty work, save that He laid His hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief.
(Mark 6:5-6)

The spirit of faith knocks a hole from the natural to the supernatural.
Mark Hankins

We know God is able to do all things. Nothing is impossible with God! People say, “It’s up to God. If God wants to do it, God can do anything. He’s a sovereign God.” Mark 6:5 says, “And He could there do no mighty work.” If God can do anything anytime He wants to, why didn’t Jesus do it right there in His own hometown? Can you imagine Jesus being frustrated because He wanted to do a mighty work, but He couldn’t? The original Greek implies that He tried, but He couldn’t.

What is a mighty work? It is a demonstration of His power and His glory. I believe Jesus wanted to do some mighty Jubilee miracles — some mighty demonstrations of His power — but because of unbelief, He couldn’t do any mighty work. I wonder what He would say about us today?

Confession: I do not lack for faith. God is able to do all things. I believe that nothing is impossible with God. I believe that miracles — mighty works — demonstrations of His power — are manifesting in my life! (Mark 9:23)

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