Living By Faith

ACKNOWLEDGING EVERY GOOD THING THAT IS IN YOU IN CHRIST

That the communication of they faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. (Philemon 6)

Every believer needs to have a daily acknowledgement or confession of who he or she is in Christ. Mark Hankins

We often spend too much time focusing on our bad qualities and what is wrong with us. If you look at what is wrong with you long enough, it will get worse.  Paul is saying that for our faith to become effective or effectual, we need to acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ. How do you acknowledge them? By confessing, speaking, or acting on the Word of God.

When you first get up in the morning and look at yourself in the mirror you should take time to acknowledge some of the good things of who you are in Christ. When you are driving down the road, begin to confess who you are and what you have in Christ. It will change your prayer life because often you will quit asking God for things that the Word says already belong to you!

Confession: Wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption are mine because I am in Christ!

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CHANGED FROM WITHIN

Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter’s house, and behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. (Jeremiah 18:2-4)

God is the original “people person”; He specializes in making people over again and giving them brand new identities. Mark Hankins

God can give you a new identity. He made you, so He ought to be able to remake you. God is not someone who just does repairs. We are talking about the One who creates people. God creates people out of nothing. No scientist has ever figured out how to make people because God is the manufacturer! 

God told Jeremiah, “You go down to the potter’s house, and I am going to show you that when people have defects in them, I will make them over again.”  God is in the business of changing people’s identities. He remakes you from the inside out. When you are born again, your spirit is recreated. Then He builds from the inside out — changing your mind, renewing it, rebuilding your thinking and attitudes, and then changing your body and your actions.

Confession: God has given me a new identity. He is rebuilding me from the inside out!

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A WHOLE NEW IDENTITY

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)

Once you are lost in Christ, the devil can’t even find you! Mark Hankins

I believe the moment you receive Christ you become a new creation in Him. It takes a while to feed on the Word before you say, “I’m not even the same person anymore. I have a whole new identity.”

If you witnessed a crime and the FBI got hold of you and wanted to give you a new identity to protect you, they would change your address, your Social Security number, and all records concerning every bill that you owe. They would totally wipe out your past to protect you.

God wiped out your old identity when you were born again. He wiped out your past. Every account, sin, or claim the devil had on you has been wiped out. Once you are lost in Christ, the devil can’t even find you! Hallelujah!

The devil can’t find you unless you stick your fleshly head up and say,“Hey,it’sme!” Slap your head and get it back down in there, man! You want to talk about my past, my feelings, and my failures? God says, “I don’t want to talk about that. You are dead and your life is hid with Christ in Me. You’ve got a new identity now.”

Confession: I am dead to sin and my past. My life is hid with Christ in God. I am lost in Christ!

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BECOMING LIKE CHRIST

Clothe yourselves with that new and better self, which has been created to resemble God in the righteousness and holiness which come from the truth. (Ephesians 4:24 Weymouth)

The greatest reward for obeying God is not what you get, it’s what you become! Mark Hankins

Even though you are born again and a new creature in Christ, you must decide to allow the Holy Spirit to tell you the truth. Why? Because the truth will set you free; then you can be all that God wants you to be. Wrong attitudes, compromise, sin, and disobedience will stop the flow of the life of God so the image of Christ is not working in you and cannot be fully formed in you.

Other people may have never known what your true personality was like because of all the things that have happened and all the trash piled on top of you. Let the Holy Spirit begin to work in your spirit, lead you into all truth, and show you who you are in Christ.

It’s time for change — I’m not talking about moving to another house. I’m talking about a move on the inside of you! Once you find out who you are in Christ and let Him be formed in you, every gift, talent, calling, and purpose of God will begin to take shape in your life.

Confession: I am who God says I am. I have what God says I have. I can do what God says I can do. Christ has redeemed me!

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IN CHRIST: ACCESS TO THE FATHER

And the veil in the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. (Mark 15:38)

God sees us in the blood of Jesus and welcomes us into His presence. Mark Hankins

When Jesus was crucified, the veil in the temple that separated man from the Holy of Holies was torn from the top to the bottom. This signified that the Holy Place was open for every man to enter into the closest fellowship with God. In Hebrews, the Apostle Paul says that veil was the body of Jesus. When His body was broken for us, we were granted access into Christ. When His blood was shed, we were accepted in Christ. In Him we have the closest fellowship with the Father God. The veil in the temple was the body of Jesus and we are in Christ. When He was wounded we were engrafted into Him. Now we are new creatures in Christ.

Through the blood of the everlasting covenant you will be made perfect in every good work to do His will. You will be launched into a new level of victory and blessing as you apply the blood constantly with boldness and full assurance of faith! (Hebrews10:19-25)

Confession: I have been granted access to the Father by the blood of Jesus.I am the righteousness of God in Christ!

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