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THE SECRET POWER OF JOY

Even now you are happy with the inexpressible joy that comes from
heaven itself. (1 Peter 1:8 TLB)

Rejoicing is an act of faith.
Mark Hankins

One day, the Lord spoke to me very clearly and said, “If you only knew what happens in the spirit when you rejoice, you would rejoice every day.” When we rejoice, we are acting like sons and daughters of God!

Rejoicing is an act of faith. Remember the words of Paul in Acts 27:25, “Cheer up…I believe God that it shall be as He told me.” When we believe God, we can cheer up! Believing and rejoicing ushers in the glory and goodness of God in our lives.

Rejoicing enables us to make progress in difficult times. Joy is the secret of faith and endurance. James 1:2 says to count it all joy when trouble comes. This must be why Job laughed at destruction and trouble. (Job 5:22) Of course some people may think you are a fool, but if you have found joy, you have found the secret of survival and success.

Confession: Even now I am happy with the inexpressible joy that comes from heaven itself! The joy of the Lord is my strength. Just like Job, I laugh at destruction and trouble because I know that joy is the secret of faith and endurance. Ha! Ha! Ha!

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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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SACRIFICES OF JOY

And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore, will I offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. (Psalm 27:6)

Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up!
Mark Hankins

David said, “I get in the presence of God, and I offer Him sacrifices of joy.” What would that look like? In other translations it says, “sacrifices of shouting.” Can you imagine David getting in the presence of God?

I remember one time as I was leaving my place of prayer, the Holy Ghost said, “You’re not going to dance? The Father likes it when you dance.” So there I was trying to be spiritual and dignified, and God wanted me to dance. I began to dance and said, “Hallelujah, hallelujah, can’t nobody do me like Jesus, ha, ha, ha!” Suddenly, the Holy Ghost came on me. I thought, “He does like that! I believe I will do that again!” One of the greatest things it did was to crucify my flesh because my flesh did not want to act like that.

Confession: I will offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of joy–sacrifices of shouting! I will dance and sing praises to the Lord!

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RECEIVING THE END OF YOUR FAITH

Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:9)

Your faith has a beginning, a middle, and an end.
Mark Hankins

Joy unspeakable is the bridge from believing to receiving. Many people never receive their miracle because they never get happy enough to believe. Your attitude should be, “I have it right now; it’s mine.”

Your faith has a beginning, middle, and an end. In the middle of a faith fight, you have to tell the devil how it is going to turn out. Jesus is the Author and Finisher of your faith. Your situation may look bad right now, but everything is going to turn out all right!

So how do you demonstrate this supernatural joy? You demonstrate it by rejoicing, smiling, and laughing. I believe joy irritates the devil. He hangs out in places of depression, grief, and sorrow. But where there is joy, the presence and glory of God will come in and run the devil off!

Confession: I believe I have my miracle. I have it right now; it’s mine. I have joy unspeakable and full of glory! I am running the devil off right now!

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SUPERNATURAL JOY

Happy is the people that know well the shout of praise, that lives, Lord, in the smile of thy protection! (Psalm 89:15 Knox)

The Holy Ghost is not just interested in the miracle; He’s interested in you receiving strength!
Mark Hankins

When the Word hits your spirit, there can be conception; then you can give birth to your miracle. In Genesis 18, when the Lord told Abraham and Sarah that she would have a son, she first laughed in unbelief. At some point, however, she must have started laughing in faith. She must have said, “I’m not the performer; I’m just the believer.” Sarah and Abraham then named their miracle, “Ha, ha.”
They named him “Isaac,” which means “laughter.”

The people that know the joyful sound are the ones who get into the presence of God and walk in the light of His countenance. This joy is not dependent on how much money you have in the bank or who likes you; it is supernatural. It comes from heaven. It comes from God. God has this joy in Him and as believers; the same joy is in us!

Confession: I laugh in faith because I realize that I’m not the performer, I’m just the believer. The joy of the Lord is my strength. (Nehemiah 8:10)

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