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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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MOUNTAIN CLIMBING

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or Who shall stand in His holy place?  He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.  He shall receive the blessing from the Lord… (Psalm 24:3-5)

The spirit of faith always chooses the Glory Road.

Mark Hankins

The Knox translation of Psalm 24:3 says, “Who dares climb the mountain of the Lord?”  The ones who will climb God’s mountain are the ones with the spirit of faith! The spirit of faith always chooses the Glory Road! Climbing this mountain represents obedience to the will of God. 

The road on the mountain of God is the Glory Road. Those who choose to travel the Glory Road see the glory of God! The Glory Road is like a spiritual Mount Everest.  On this road there is much sacrifice and it is extremely challenging, but when you get to the top and see what is on the other side, you will be glad you chose that road. It requires training and discipline to make it to the top. However, the rewards at the top make the journey worthwhile. Choose the Glory Road and experience the glory of God!

Confession: I will dare to climb the mountain of God and obey His will for my life! I choose the Glory Road! I will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of my salvation. (Psalm 24:5)

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A POKE THROUGH JELL-O

The Lord will give strength unto his people. (Psalm 29:11)

The spirit of faith will make a tadpole slap a whale!

Mark Hankins

On October 14, 1947, Chuck Yeager was the first man to fly 700 miles an hour and break the sound barrier. It was difficult to find a man willing to risk the unknown of supersonic flight. Chuck Yeager was a pioneer and became an American hero — He broke the sound barrier that everyone else had been afraid of.

Yeager said, “The real barrier wasn’t in the sky, but in our knowledge and experience of supersonic flight.”  He described the supersonic flight as “sipping lemonade on the front porch” and “a poke through Jell-O.”

What barriers do you face as a Christian doing the will of God? What kind of adjustments must be made to break those barriers?  Your own thinking, attitudes, and discipline must be changed in order to break the barriers. The Lord gives strength to His people. The power of God makes the greatest challenges “a poke through Jell-O.” When the barriers are broken, you will experience victory in every area of life!

Confession: The Lord has given me strength to break through any barriers I might face. I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might! (Ephesians 6:10)

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BREAKING BARRIERS

For You will light my lamp; The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.  For by You I can run against a troop, By my God I can leap over a wall.                         (Psalm 18:28-29 NKJV)

The spirit of faith will make you swing out over hell on a cornstalk and spit in the devil’s eye!

Mark Hankins

You will need to break some barriers when you go from glory to glory and from faith to faith. You will experience many breakthroughs as you overcome the enemy and fulfill the will of God, but in order to do so you will have be sure that your candle is lit.

I have been to the First Flat-Faced Church. That is where people have tried to leap over the wall but didn’t make it. They hit the wall. They got their flat faces because they tried to leap over the wall before they got their candles lit.

David knew what it was like to face challenges, but he was always confident that the Lord was with him. He wrote in Psalm 23:4: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; thy rod

and thy staff they comfort me.  David allowed God to light his candle, and that is key to making it through life’s darkest valleys.

Confession: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)

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FEED ON THE WORD

Put off concerning the former conversation [lifestyle] the old man, which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts; be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24)

Your spirit is literally held hostage until your mind is renewed with the daily washing of God’s Word.

Mark Hankins

You will only be what God intends for you to be when your mind, will, and emotions are dominated by God’s Word. When you feed your spirit on the Word and allow the Holy Spirit to work in you, your mind will be renewed. The same power that is working in your spirit will move up into your head. Then God will start dealing with some of your habits and attitudes.

You might say, “I like a little sin on the weekend and I’m not changing. Sometimes I lose my temper, that’s just who I am. I’ll tithe when I want to, that’s just who I am.”  

The Holy Spirit has a rocket missile launcher going from your spirit to your head. It is launched as you feed upon God’s Word. If you will be still long enough in the presence of God, Jesus will start cleaning house!

Confession: I refuse to be bound by habits, attitudes, sins, or ideas that have controlled my soul, my family, and my life for years. I am a new creation in Christ!

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