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SUBSTITUTION, IDENTIFICATION, UNION

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)

Your identification with Christ is activated by your identical confession of faith of who you are in Christ. Mark Hankins

Everything Jesus did, He did for you; it is set to the credit of your account as though you did it. This is the progression from substitution to identification and union with Christ. When someone is born again, He is a new creature in Christ Jesus; old things are passed away and everything is new. (2 Corinthians 5:17) God would not make an unrighteous new creature. If you are saved, you must be righteous.

When Jesus was raised from the dead, you were justified or declared righteous. You could even say that Jesus was not raised from the dead until you were declared righteous. The penalty for sin was paid in full and God declared you righteous. This is the reason the Gospel is good news to every person!

Confession: The penalty for sin was paid in full and God has declared me righteous!

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YOUR PLACE IN CHRIST

Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. (Psalm 32:7)

Take your place in Christ and get ready for a front-row seat for the glory of God! Mark Hankins 

When Saul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, the first thing he said to Jesus was, “Who are thou, Lord?” (Acts 9:5) The second thing he said to Jesus was, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (v.6) Saul, who became Paul, then spent the rest of his life finding out who Jesus was and doing what Jesus wanted him to do.  Paul coined a phrase that is the signature of his letters: “in Christ.”

The Apostle Paul used the phrase in Christ, in Him, and in Whom over one hundred-thirty times. God sees you in Christ, but you must see yourself in Him. You are a new creature in Christ. In Him you are righteous now, blessed now, healed now, free now, forgiven now, and victorious now!

Take your place in Christ and get ready for a front-row seat for the glory of God!  Experiencing the glory and goodness of God is not just for a select few believers.  God has a reserved seat for you with your name on it!

Confession: I am taking my place in Christ! In Him I am the righteousness of God. In Him I am triumphant! In Him, I am blessed. In Him I am redeemed. In Him, I have a heritage — an identity and an inheritance!

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MY MOMMA RUNS

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, and out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God. (Psalm 40:2-3)

It’s not necessary unless it’s necessary! B.B. Hankins

As I grew up in church, there were some unusual services. Sometimes while we sang, Mom would begin to praise God rather exuberantly and shout, “Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!”  With glory and joy on her countenance, she would shout “Wooooo!” and run around the church! Dad was a little more dignified. After Mom ran, Dad would say, “Now, some of you don’t think that is necessary. It’s not necessary, unless it’s necessary!”  While the congregation tried to figure out what Dad had said, Mom and others who had joined her would finish their rejoicing!

Dad’s preaching and Mom’s praying and running around the church began to make sense to me. I started studying the scriptures that showed me my redemption in Christ. I began to meditate daily on who I am in Christ. The power of God’s Word started to work in me, and I began to understand my identification with Christ.  That’s where victory begins — right where you are!

Confession: The revelation of your words sheds light, giving understanding to the simple.  (Psalm 119:30 NAB)

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THE PREACHING OF THE CROSS

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.  (1 Corinthians 1:17)

The union between humanity and deity can never be broken. Mark Hankins

Paul used the word “cross” In 1 Corinthians 1:17, not because he was simply talking about the crucifixion. He identified with the cross because that is where God identified with him.

The first step of God’s identification with sinful man began with the incarnation when God became a man, and Jesus came to earth. 

The second step of God’s identification with fallen man was when Jesus told John to baptize Him. When Jesus got in the line with sinners, He said, “Baptize me with those who are confessing their sin.”  John the Baptist did not understand what was happening so he said, “I am not baptizing You.” However, the union between humanity and deity in Jesus can never be broken. Not just for one human generation, but through all eternity.  Jesus is still a man right now at the right hand of God.

Confession: “I consider myself as having died and now enjoying a second existence, which is simply Jesus using my body.” (Galatians 2:20 The Distilled Bible)

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THE GLORY: GOD’S MANIFEST PRESENCE

O God, You are my God, earnestly will I seek You; my inner self thirsts for You, my flesh longs and is faint for you, in a dry and weary land where no water is. So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary to see Your power and Your glory.
(Psalm 63:1-2 AMP)

He will manifest His glory where He is invited, where somebody wants Him, and believes in Him.
Mark Hankins

Even though God is everywhere, He doesn’t manifest His presence everywhere. He will only manifest His glory where He is invited, where somebody wants Him, and believes in Him.

You must learn to let the Holy Spirit land on you. You will find out quickly that the Holy Spirit doesn’t land everywhere. If He hasn’t landed on you in a while, you might want to find out what is wrong with your landing strip! When the Holy Ghost lands on you, the glory of God is manifested. When the glory of God is manifested, things begin to change.

Confession: As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. (Psalm 42:1)

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