Search Menu Toggle navigation
Living By Faith
Search Menu Toggle navigation

POWER IN THE GOSPEL

That I may know him and the power of his resurrection…being conformable to his death. (Philippians 3:10)

The power of the Gospel is destructive and constructive; destructive to the works of the devil, and constructive to the believer.
Mark Hankins

The power of the Gospel is seen in both the death and resurrection of Christ. The Gospel gives you the ability to not only speak life but also to speak death to the works of the devil. The death of Christ put an end to what you were; the resurrection of Christ opened up who you are in your new identity.

Someone might say, “The doctors have told me that I have incurable cancer. They have given me only a few months to live.” Hold it just a second–not only was there a resurrection in the Gospel, but there was also a death. So you can say, “I curse that cancer and command it to die. I speak death to that cancer.”

What does that mean? “Death” means, “cease to exist.” You can speak to works of the devil that are ruling in your life today and command them to cease to exist in the name of Jesus!

Confession: I speak to the works of the devil that are ruling my life today and command them to cease to exist in the name of Jesus! Now life comes in!

  • 2

DEAD TO SIN, ALIVE TO GOD

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:11)

When you grasp the doctrine of what God has done for you in Christ, it becomes the center of your deliverance, redemption, and sanctification.
Mark Hankins

Paul says to “reckon” or count it to be so by faith. Reckon yourself to be dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God. Sometimes you should say to yourself, “I am dead to sin.” One translation says, “inert and motionless as a corpse in response to sin.” When sin comes around, say to it, “I am inert. I am motionless as a corpse. I am dead to sin!”

Sometimes people think if they can just get a certain evangelist to lay hands on them, their problems will go away. But your problems will remain unless you have received an understanding of who you are in Christ. The devil will try to challenge you saying, “Who do you think you are?” Thank God for the anointing, but you must live by faith saying, “I am who God says I am.” The just shall live by faith!

Confession: I am dead indeed to sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ my Lord!

  • 0

KNOWING THIS

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (Romans 6:6)

This is the power of being dead to sin: the old man no longer exists.
Mark Hankins

When Paul says “old man,” to whom is he referring? Other translations of Romans 6:6 say, “Our old sinful nature,” “The old person I used to be,” “My old inherited self,” (Jordan, Cressman, Bruce).

Here are a few things the “old man” refers to: my old sick self, my old poor self, my old confused self, my old defeated self, my old condemned self, my old guilty self, and my old sinful self was crucified with Him!

If someone were in the Mafia and decided to testify against the organization, the federal government would have to give him a new identity so that he could not be traced. He would be given a legal identity change including birth certificate, passport, etc. If anyone from his former lifestyle tried to contact him, his mail, legal notices, and bills would be returned marked, “Return to sender. No such person. No such place.” This is the power of being dead to sin: the old man no longer exists.

Confession: My old self was crucified with Christ. I am not the same person I used to be! No such person exists!

  • 0

RIGHTEOUSNESS CONSCIOUSNESS

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us. (Titus 3:5)

Your spirit is recreated in righteousness; it is a gift!
Mark Hankins

You can be born again and still have a sin-consciousness, constantly having guilt-consciousness. You can constantly be thinking about the past, your failures, and your weaknesses. You can develop a righteousness-consciousness.

When you start acknowledging every good thing that is in you in Christ, however, you develop a consciousness that you have been made righteous. You have been redeemed. You are a new creation. You are triumphant in Christ. Start speaking that; your spirit man will rise up, and you will bring your body under subjection.

Righteousness is a gift that has been imparted to your spirit. Your spirit is re-created in righteousness; it is a gift. You are pleasing to God. You are accepted before God just as if you had never sinned. You are justified or righteous just as if you had never sinned.

Confession: It is not by works of righteousness that I have done, but according to His mercy that has saved me! (Titus 3:5)

  • 0

IN CHRIST SURGERY

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. (Acts 17:28)

Mankind needed redemption; we needed the blood of Jesus.
Mark Hankins

A firefighter from California once burned his hand so badly that the doctors thought they would have to amputate. They decided to try another procedure because of the human body’s regenerative powers. Surgeons operated on the firefighter, inserted his burned hand inside his body, and left it in there. When they removed the hand after some days, the skin had begun to grow back again.

God saw that man’s condition was so bad that it looked like he would have to be amputated. He said, “Before we do that, I will do a surgical procedure.” The surgery God performed in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ was such a massive project; He planned it for thousands of years. Because of man’s condition, this “in Christ” surgical procedure was the only way man could be saved. Paul called this a mystery in Colossians 1:26-27. We are joined and identified with Him through redemption!

Confession: In Him I live and move and have my being! I have been redeemed through the shed blood of Jesus!

  • 1

Sign up for Living By Faith Blog Subscribers

* = required field

Recent Posts

Categories