Living By Faith

GOD IS A REWARDER

The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. (Ruth 2:12)

With God, payday isn’t always on Friday, but paydays always come. B.B. Hankins

God told Abraham, “Fear not…I am your shield and exceeding great reward.” (Genesis 15:1) Think of the great rewards that God gave to Abraham and his descendants because he believed and obeyed God. Abraham, the father of faith, knew God as a rewarder. The word recompense simply means payday. God has a definite payday for your work of faith.

Years ago, Trina and I were believing God for a financial breakthrough. We had been faithfully giving over thirty percent of our income and were believing that God would multiply our seed sown. One night, I dreamed I ate a Payday candy bar. So the next morning, I went to the local store, bought me a Payday candy bar, and ate it. I told Trina, “It’s payday.” Within 24 hours, we had a pressed down, shaken together, and running over harvest come in! There is a payday! God is a rewarder!

Confession: God has a great payday of blessing for me. There is a full and exceeding great reward for me from the Lord! I rejoice because my payday is on the way!

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A NEW DAY OF BOLDNESS

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

The blood of Jesus has given us great boldness and confidence.
Mark Hankins

Another word that stood out to me in Hebrews was the word, “boldness.” 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.” The blood of Jesus has given us great boldness and confidence. 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.

Now we as believers can take the Word of God and speak with great boldness and confidence! When Satan comes against you, just bring up the story of the blood of Jesus.

Confession: The Lord is my Helper. I can come boldly unto the throne of grace. I am sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:10, 14)

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JOY COMETH IN THE MORNING

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the
Lord delivereth him out of them all. (Psalm 34:19)

God always has an escape route and is faithful to bring us out.
Mark Hankins

I’m glad that the Lord said in Psalm 34:19 that He would deliver us out of all of our afflictions. He did not say half of them or most of them, He said, “out of them all.” God always makes a way out.

The word afflictions means adversity, distress, tribulation, persecution, depression, misery, trouble, and pressure. God never guarantees us that we will be exempt from adversity. However, He does guarantee always to bring us out.

Joy cometh in the morning. It may seem like a long night, but the night cannot last forever. The sun is coming up on a new day. The Sun of Righteousness is rising with healing in His wings (beams), and you shall go forth and grow up as calves released from the stall. (Malachi 4:2) As sure as the sun comes up every morning, your deliverance is on the way. The earth is constantly turning on its axis. Even though you may not feel like it, your situation is turning right now. It may seem dark now, but something is happening. Things are turning, the morning is certain, and the sun is rising!

Confession: Joy cometh! Healing cometh! Blessing cometh! Money cometh! Faith cometh!

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FAITH UNDER TRIAL

Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. (James 1:2 AMP)

God is interested in your character and your whole person, not just your immediate comfort.
Mark Hankins

I was watching a documentary on how people make pottery. Pottery is baked in extreme heat to make it durable and hard, so it is usable. I thought it was interesting that they know a pot is done by the sound it makes. Many times trouble will hit you and get you into serious oven situations. If you stay silent while in the oven, then you are going to be in the oven a long time. But if you will just go ahead and shout for joy, you will make it through!

God wants you to hold steady and stop squirming out of your problems and difficulties prematurely. The natural human tendency is to try to find a way to get out from under the pressure. You have to realize that your faith is on trial, and the devil is trying to knock that faith right out of you. Mix patience with your faith and it will take you through the pressure. Let God build character in you and make you strong enough to receive blessings that you may not have been able to receive before.

Confession: I refuse to give up! I am going to allow my faith to be on trial, and I will not lose!

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THE SECRET POWER OF JOY

Even now you are happy with the inexpressible joy that comes from heaven itself. (1 Peter 1:8 TLB)

Rejoicing is an act of faith. Mark Hankins

One day, the Lord spoke to me very clearly and said, “If you only knew what happens in the spirit when you rejoice, you would rejoice every day.” When we rejoice, we are acting like sons and daughters of God!

Rejoicing is an act of faith. Remember the words of Paul in Acts 27:25, “Cheer up…I believe God that it shall be as He told me.” When we believe God, we can cheer up! Believing and rejoicing ushers in the glory and goodness of God in our lives.

Rejoicing enables us to make progress in difficult times. Joy is the secret of faith and endurance. James 1:2 says to count it all joy when trouble comes. This must be why Job laughed at destruction and trouble. (Job 5:22) Of course some people may think you are a fool, but if you have found joy, you have found the secret of survival and success.

Confession: Even now I am happy with the inexpressible joy that comes from heaven itself! The joy of the Lord is my strength. Just like Job, I laugh at destruction and trouble because I know that joy is the secret of faith and endurance. Ha! Ha! Ha!

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