Living By Faith

THE GOOD NEWS

It is in and through Christ and the sacrifice of His life that we have been liberated. (Ephesians 1:7 Barclay)

Everything Satan has done in Adam, God has reversed in Christ.
Mark Hankins

The Gospel is the good news that man has been given eternal life through Jesus Christ. That life is the very life of God imparted to His children. It is healing life, overcoming life, reigning life, victorious life and it is the blessed life now- not just for when you get to heaven. It is heaven’s life flowing in you in this world.

God has targeted His power at man’s deepest needs– spirit, soul, and body. God knows the root of your problems, and He has effectually focused His power there. The word “salvation” has a five-fold meaning: deliverance, healing, safety, preservation, and soundness. This is not just a “heaven” message; it is an “earth” message as well.

The Gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16) Someone said that if you think you need more power, you really just need more Gospel. The Gospel is the power of God. The word “gospel” means glad tidings or good news. The Gospel is where God has released His power for the purpose of producing salvation.

Confession: I have eternal life. It is healing life, reigning life, victorious life, overcoming life, and blessing life!

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REDEMPTION: AN EVERLASTING RELEASE

Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2:6)

Christianity does not begin with something you do, but with something that has been done for you in Christ.
Mark Hankins

Faith begins by knowing redemption facts. God paid the price for you in Christ two thousand years ago. Everything Jesus did in His death and resurrection was
done for you, or as some translations say, “in your behalf.” You could say Jesus gets the glory for everything that has been done, but you get the credit because He was acting in your behalf.

Satan’s dominion over mankind has been permanently broken because of what Christ has done. Redemption is not a temporary thing that must be added to by man or replaced later by something more effective. The Amplified Bible calls it, “A complete redemption, and an everlasting release.” (Hebrews 9:12) An everlasting release means it lasts forever. God has left nothing out.

Confession: All that I need is supplied in Christ. My past, present, and future have been taken care of. My spirit, soul, and body have been taken care of — all because of what Jesus has done for me!

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GOD’S MASTERPIECE

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

In Christ, you are not just a different person; you are a new kind of person!
Mark Hankins

While preaching in Paris, I had the opportunity to visit the Louvre. With over eight miles of galleries, one million works of art and more than 400,000 masterpieces, I knew I would not be able to see everything. So I headed right for the Mona Lisa (one of the most world-famous masterpieces) and spent extra time there. If you see all the other paintings and sculptures, and miss the Mona Lisa, you have missed the most important work of art.

The same is true of the Bible. It contains the world’s greatest collection of God’s works of art. However, if you see all the beautiful pictures in the Word of God and miss God’s greatest masterpiece, then you will have really missed the Bible.

The Bible is the story of man’s redemption. The Bible is about Jesus, our Redeemer, and His work. All sixty-six books contain pictures of God’s plan and purpose to restore man to Himself.

Confession: I am a new creation in Christ. Old things are passed away, and everything made new. I am God’s Masterpiece – a man in Christ!

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THE SECRET PLACE

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:5-6)

Moses was getting in on God’s plan of redemption— man belongs at the right hand of God—meaning in His presence.
Mark Hankins

When I was nineteen I went to my daddy’s church one day and began to pray. After praying in the Holy Ghost for two and a half hours, the Spirit of God fell on me. God spoke to me, “There is a place for you by Me. I want to show you your place.” The Lord took me up into the heavenly places in a vision. I saw a big rock. God said, “This is your place — right by Me! I have had your place by Me reserved for you even before you were born. I prepared it ahead of time. There is deliverance, healing, prosperity, victory, and blessing in that place.” In His presence I experienced joy and victory like I had never known.

I didn’t know about Exodus 33 until several years later. God had spoken to me exactly what He spoke to Moses: “There is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock.” (Exodus 33:21)

Confession: God has a place reserved for me in Him. God has raised me up in Christ Jesus to be together with Him in heavenly places.

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GOD SEES YOU IN CHRIST

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth. (John 16:13)

If you are not impressed with who you are and what you have in Christ, you have not seen Him lately!
Mark Hankins

A man in Christ is a man with the life of God. You are not deity, but you are not only human. You have been born of God. God has given you His very own life. You are not the same person you used to be.

God sees you in Christ, but you must also see yourself in Him. You will never be different until you see yourself differently. The Holy Spirit takes the things of Christ and shows them to us. He is able to project the image of Christ from the Word to the screen of our minds, so we can live in the reality of our redemption.

Take time to renew your mind every day with the reality of redemption. Dare to act like the Bible is true, and it will become real in your life. Allow God to introduce you to your new self!

Confession: I am a new creature in Christ Jesus. I have God’s very own life and nature in me. The life of God is in me now. I know I have eternal life. The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. In Christ, I am redeemed, blessed, and victorious!

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