Living By Faith

WILLING TO RECEIVE

And the special gift of ministry you received when I laid hands on you and prayed — keep that ablaze! God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible. (2 Timothy 1:6-7 The Message Bible)

You cannot dishonor people that God has put into your life and expect to receive from them. Mark Hankins

You must honor the people that God brings into your life, because they carry something that is vital to you; they carry revelation. You will have to humble yourself to learn and receive these important things. The Apostle Paul knew first hand the value of supernatural relationships. Paul never would have fulfilled the call of God on his life without the assembly in Antioch. All of Paul’s letters were written after he was launched from a corporate assembly. Paul was launched into his apostolic ministry because of a corporate seeking of the Lord.

Jesus is faithful to send the Word to you in a way that you can understand and receive it to help you fulfill the will of God for your life. God will talk to you through supernatural relationships. How you manage those relationships will determine how much revelation will come to you.

Confession: I understand the value of supernatural relationships. I am willing to humble myself and receive from the people God has brought into my life.

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BLESSED TO SERVE

My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. (Psalm 34:2)

A servant has access to every place the master does because he is serving the master.
Mark Hankins

When you are serving the Master, He gives you the keys to everything because He trusts your heart. That is how you got that close to Him to start with. He has watched you time and time again as you humbled yourself and said, “I am just here to serve. I am not here to promote myself.”

In 1 Peter 5:5-6, Peter said to put on the clothes of a servant. When you dress like a servant, you know you are a child of God. The more you wear the clothes of humility, the more Jesus says to you, “Let Me give you more keys for other rooms. I want to show you some other things that are in My house.” As a servant, you enter the Master’s room. He grants you access.

True humility boasts in the Lord and not in anything I have done or can do. I like to boast about who Jesus is and who I am in Him!

Confession: I make my boast in the Lord! It is not anything I have done or can do. It is who Jesus is and who I am in Him! I am dressing as a servant and humbling myself to be a blessing by serving!

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SUPERNATURAL PROMOTION

Clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you, with humility — as the garb of a servant, so that its covering cannot possibly be stripped from you, with freedom from pride and arrogance — toward one another. For God sets Himself against the proud — the insolent, the over-bearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful, and opposes, frustrates and defeats them — but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves (demote, lower your- selves in your own estimation) under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you. (1 Peter 5:5-6 Amplified)

If God takes you up, no one can take you down! Mark Hankins

We are to honor people who have had an impact upon us spiritually. Even though they may not be perfect, as we honor them we will have the blessing of God in our lives.

We honor these men and women of God by serving them and by giving to them financially. There is a due time when God will exalt you. When He takes you up, no one can bring you down. If someone else promotes you, you can lose it all. If God takes you up, no one can take you down!

Confession: I humble myself (demote and lower myself in my own estimation) under the mighty hand of God, and in due time, He will exalt me!

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HUMBLE YOURSELF

Likewise you that are younger and of lesser rank be subject to the elders — the ministers and spiritual guides of the church, giving them due respect and yielding to their counsel. Clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you, with humility.
(1 Peter 5:5 Amplified)

You need to humble yourself in three ways: to those over you, to those around you, and to those under you. Mark Hankins

First, humble yourself to those who are over you in the Lord. Your pastor is over you as a spiritual father. The Bible talks about double honor for the man or woman of God who has given you spiritual things.

Second, humble yourself to those around you. If you do not humble yourself to those around you, you will never have a proper, lasting relationship with them.

Third, humble yourself to those under you. Be nice to those on your way up, or you may meet them on your way down.

The Lord once told me, “This is one of the keys to your prosperity. It is a greater key than giving to the poor or needy. You have to honor those who are over you in the Lord. When you do that, I will bring their honor on you.”

Confession: I humble myself today by giving honor to whom honor is due. I am blessed as I honor those over me, those around me and those under me!

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REJOICING: A FORM OF HUMILITY

God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (James 4:6)

Rejoicing is a form of humility. Mark Hankins

In 2 Samuel 6, the Ark of the Covenant was coming into Jerusalem. The Bible says when the ark came into the city King David danced before the Lord with all of his might. The scripture says he threw off his royal robe and danced in his under clothes because of the glory that was coming back! David loved to be in the presence of God!

After he had danced before the Lord, David fed the entire nation. When he went to bless his household, his wife told him that he looked like a fool. She despised him in her heart because of his response to the presence of God. David responded to her by saying, “I will yet be more vile than this. I will humble myself in the sight of the people, and I will lower myself in my own sight.” (2 Samuel 6:22)

David’s rejoicing was a form of humility. If you are more concerned with what people think about you than what God thinks about you, you will never walk in victory. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up!

Confession: I will rejoice in the Lord and humble myself before Him because He resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

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