Living By Faith

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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BOLDNESS TO ENTER

Having therefore, brethren, BOLDNESS to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. (Hebrews 10:19)

Instead of being a victim of our experiences, our experiences
are a victim of us.
Mark Hankins

The word boldness is an important word in the book of Hebrews. The blood of Jesus has given us great boldness and confidence.

“Let us therefore come BOLDLY unto the throne of grace.” (Hebrews 4:16)
“That we may BOLDLY say, ‘The Lord is my helper.’” (Hebrews 13:6)

Some other translations of Hebrews 10:19 translate boldness as freedom of speech or outspoken. As believers, we need to exercise our freedom of speech and be outspoken about the blood of Jesus and who we are in Christ. Instead of being a victim of our experiences, our experiences are a victim of us!

Confession: I have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. I can come boldly unto the throne of grace and I can boldly say the Lord is my helper! I am not a victim of my experiences. My experiences are a victim of me because the blood of Jesus has given me great boldness and confidence!

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YOU ARE ONE STEP AWAY FROM A MIRACLE

For with God, nothing shall be impossible. (Luke 1:37)

You can never achieve the impossible if you never attempt the impossible.
Mark Hankins

Some time ago, I was watching a nationally televised NCAA football game. The team was ranked in the top ten in the country, and the quarterback was one of the best in college football. The quarterback came up to the line, began to yell out the numbers, and bent over to receive the snap of the ball before realizing that he was behind the guard instead of the center. In the middle of calling the play, he took one step over right behind the center, and hollered, “Hut, hut, hut.” The ball was hiked to him, and the play was run successfully.

The Lord spoke to me using this illustration and said, “Some people need to make a small adjustment if they are going to receive from Me. Some people are only one step away from a miracle!” It isn’t difficult, but it requires humbling yourself and moving into closer agreement with God’s ways, power, and plan. Sometimes, it just takes one small step over to receive from God.

Confession: The spirit of faith will position me to possess God’s best blessings. “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” (Mark 9:23)

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