Living By Faith

GOD’S ABILITY AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12)

Grace is God’s grip on you; faith is your grip on God! God’s grip is always greater! Mark Hankins

A believer’s responsibility is to trust in God. You study faith, you walk by faith, and you live by faith, but there are times when it may seem like your faith doesn’t have the grip you need. When you sense that, look to the grace of God.

God performs what He has spoken concerning you. You don’t have to bring it to pass; God brings it to pass. Our responsibility is to trust in Him. Brother Kenneth E. Hagin said, “You don’t have to make it happen; you let it happen.”  That is why the person who believes has entered into rest. (Hebrews 4:3)

God has good things planned for you. Trust in Him and watch Him do what He says He will do! For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)

Confession: My responsibility is to trust in God’s ability. He will perform what He has spoken concerning me! I don’t have to make it happen! God will bring it to pass!

  • 0

CONFESSION PRECEDES POSSESSION

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised.) (Hebrews 10:23)

Confession builds the road over which faith carries its mighty cargo. E.W. Kenyon

What comes out of your mouth will make the difference between winning and losing the fight of faith! The good faith fight requires a good profession or confession. The winning strategy is to say what you believe instead of what you feel. Speak the Word of God regardless of how intense the fight becomes! You will possess your inheritance by declaring it with your mouth! It is easier to say what you feel or to talk about how bad things appear to be, but your faith will never rise above your confession.

When you say what God says in His Word, you are building a strong road over which heaven’s cargo can be carried and delivered to you! The devil will put roadblocks, mountains, difficulties, and hindrances in your way. He will try to tell you that God is not faithful and that the Word won’t work. 

If you’ve been wondering why only a few blessings have made their way to your house, perhaps your words have created too narrow of a path. Change your confession to words of faith and construct a wide, clear road for the blessings of God! Confession always precedes possession!

Confession: This is a good fight! I will hold fast my profession of faith without wavering, for He is faithful that promised. (Hebrews 10:23)

  • 0

THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12)

The faith fight is the only fight believers are called to fight. Mark Hankins

There is a fight to faith, but it is a good fight! It is a fight that has already been won! Jesus defeated the devil over two thousand years ago. Your part in the fight is to enforce the victory that Jesus has already won. In order to do that, you will need to keep your faith focused at all times. You’ve got to be ready for the fight and stand strong in the arena of faith from the outset of any challenge.

Abraham Lincoln used to tell a story about two dogs in a fight. He said that one of his neighbors had a little dog that would whip all of the big dogs in the area. When someone asked this man how his little dog could whip the big dogs, he said, “Your big dog is not really ready to fight until the fight is half over. My little dog stays mad!” Are you ready to fight? You stay ready by staying in faith. Don’t let Satan pull you out of the ring by luring you into the arena of feelings, sight, or circumstances. Stay in the field of faith! As long as you are in faith, you defeat the devil every time. Get serious like that little dog! Stay focused on your faith, fight the good fight, and enforce Jesus’ complete victory over the devil!

Confession: I refuse to give one inch to the devil, defeat, or discouragement. I will stay in the arena of faith where I win every time! I walk by faith and not by sight! (2 Corinthians 5:7)

  • 0

FAITH IS AN ACT

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (James 1:22)

As you acknowledge the Word, start acting like it is true. Mark Hankins

What does it mean to be a doer of the Word? When you see something in the Word, you just act on it. You start acting like the Word is true. James 2:26 tells us that faith without works [or corresponding action] is dead!

If the Word says something belongs to you, you can say, “I am going to act on it. I am going to act like it is so. It may not feel like it or look like it, but I am acting on it right now.” As you acknowledge the Word, start acting like it is true. Smith Wigglesworth said, “Faith is an act.”

“But who so looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the word, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” (James 1:25)

What do you look at when you look in the mirror? You look at yourself. In other words, James is saying that if you hear the Word, but you don’t do it, it is like looking in the mirror, going your way, and forgetting what you look like!

Confession: I am not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the Word. I act like the Bible is true. I am blessed!

  • 0

RENEWING YOUR MIND

That ye put off concerning the former conversation [He’s talking about your lifestyle] the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. (Ephesians 4:22)

You won’t change the way you are living if you don’t change the way you are talking. Mark Hankins

The process of putting off the old man and putting on the new man takes place as you renew your mind and line your thinking up with the Word of God. We should always ask, “What does God say about me? What does God say about my circumstances?”  We need to say what God says. We need to agree with God.

In Ephesians 4:22-24, Paul says to “put off the old man” and “put on the new man” by being “renewed in the spirit of your mind.”  To put off is like taking off the old clothes, the old nature, and the old lifestyle. In other words, change the way you are living and talking.

The moment you are born again, you are a new creation, and you are created in righteousness and true holiness. You are not trying to make the new man righteous and holy. Since you have been made a partaker of the divine nature, you are to put on the new man, who is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Confession: Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth. (Psalm 141:3)

  • 0