Living By Faith

UNFORGIVENESS CAN CAUSE DISEASE

Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled. (Hebrews 12:15 NKJV)

The cure for certain diseases is forgiveness! Mark Hankins

I believe that we will never find a cure for certain diseases because all diseases are not simply physical or biological. Some have their roots in a curse that comes from breaking a spiritual law.  That means the devil is the source of it all!

Guard against bitterness. Remember, unforgiveness is the greatest enemy to your faith so you must deal with it quickly.  When the devil tries to trick you into being unforgiving or bitter because of an injustice, all kinds of incurable diseases may result. You might not have done anything to be in the pit you are in, but you must forgive. Medicine will not be able to cure some diseases because the cure for them is spiritual. Sometimes you will have to deal with something in your heart before you can receive your healing. The cure for certain diseases is forgiveness!

Confession: I will obey the Word of God. It is life and health to my flesh.I will guard my heart, for out of it springs the issues of life! (Proverbs 4:22-23)

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GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE

The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord. (Proverbs 20:27)

The fire of God moves you from your comfort zone into greater possibilities and accomplishments. Mark Hankins

Many people don’t follow God because they fear the unknown, but faith is obeying God even amidst the unknown. Abraham obeyed God without knowing where he was going. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. (Hebrews 11:8) Faith obeys even when you don’t have all of the information! When God lights your spirit, you will do things that you never thought you could do!

The spirit of faith is more than a formula; it is a fire in the spirit of man! The revelation of the Word of God will set your spirit aflame! God is a consuming fire, and when His Word burns in your heart, it will allow you to overcome every situation in life!

Confession: Revelation of the Word of God sets my spirit on fire! I am moving out of my comfort zone. I will trust in the Lord with all of my heart and lean not unto my own understanding. In all of my ways I shall acknowledge Him, and He shall direct my paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

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PIONEERS, SETTLERS, AND MUSEUM KEEPERS

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. (Hebrews 11:24-25)

The spirit of faith will make you leave your comfort zone. Mark Hankins

There are three kinds of people: pioneers, settlers, and museum keepers.  

  • Museum keepers are content to dust off the memories of previous generations and talk about the exploits of the past. They live off of the experiences of others and never see God’s power operate in their own

lives.  

  • Settlers travel for a while, but become weary of the journey and stop too soon. They get comfortable and never press on to the possibilities ahead.  Some of the tribes of Israel settled too soon and never crossed the Jordan with Joshua. 
  • Pioneers are those who venture into unknown or unclaimed territory. They are the ones who open up new areas; they prepare the way! 

We should qualify as pioneers because the spirit of faith never stops pressing on!  With God all things are possible! (Matthew 19:26)

Confession:The spirit of faith is a pioneer spirit. The spirit of faith in me will push out from the shore and launch into the deep at God’s Word. (Luke 5:4-5)

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SHOUT FOR THE VICTORY

Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)

No man can doubt when he learns to shout! Smith Wigglesworth

The spirit of faith will often cause a person to look as foolish as Naaman did, when the prophet Elisha told him to dip seven times in the muddy Jordan River (II Kings 5:14).  What God required of Naaman for his healing from leprosy was not difficult, but it seemed too foolish. Naaman’s reasoning almost made him miss his miracle. He finally acted on the prophet’s word and was totally healed!

“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” (I Corinthians 1:27)

In Romans 4:17, we read of Abraham:  “I have made thee a father of many nations, before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.”  Smith Wigglesworth said, “You must learn to take the victory and shout in the face of the devil, ‘It is done!’”

Confession:  I will shout, “It is done!” in the face of the devil and take my victory. It is not by my might, but by the Spirit of God that I will see my miracle come to pass.

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JESUS ON THE INSIDE

All things that the Father hath are mine; there fore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (John 16:15)

The Holy Spirit is your “unseen connection” between heaven and earth. Mark Hankins

You are in union with Christ by virtue of the Spirit of God. Therefore, whatever is being said in heaven is also said in your spirit. You don’t have the same capacity as God, but you do have the same quality of life that God has. You can enjoy a quality of life that doesn’t come from the Republicans, Democrats, welfare, or social programs. You can enjoy a quality of life that no company can guarantee you, with no special help when you retire. You can say, “It is good because I have the same life in me that is in God right now.”

You don’t have to adjust your spirit’s TV set according to the filth, sin, lust, and violence that are all around you. You can adjust your set to what is playing in heaven: holiness, fire, purity, love, righteousness, and glory. I’ve got my set hooked up to heaven. How? I’ve got an unseen connection: the Holy Ghost. I am adjusting my set right now. It is tuned in. Where does all this happen? It happens in your spirit once you are born again!

Confession: By the Spirit of God, I have the same quality of life on the inside of me that God has!

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