Living By Faith

MORE THAN ENOUGH POWER

And how very great is his power at work in us who believe. This power is the same as the mighty strength which he used when he raised Christ from death and seated him at his right side in the heavenly world. (Ephesians 1:19-20 Good News Bible)

Christ’s resurrection was more than a triumph over rigor mortis; it was a triumph over all the forces that held us in bondage! Mark Hankins

Paul used four different words for power in an attempt to describe what great power was released in the resurrection of Christ:

dunamis = dynamite; ability
energia = energy; operative power in exercise
kratos = manifested strength
ischuos = an endowment of strength

Paul said this power, power, power, power that God used to raise Jesus from the dead is not just great but exceeding great. Paul said that this power is great beyond measure — surpassing power — more than enough power.

Confession: The same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in me! This power is overwhelmingly great, incomparably great, immeasurable and unlimited! “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working working of His mighty power.” (Ephesians 1:19)

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THE EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF HIS POWER

And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power. (Ephesians 1:19 NKJV)

The power that raised Christ from the dead made Him supremely triumphant over hell and all its hosts! -Mark Hankins

The resurrection of Christ was evidently the greatest display of omnipotence ever set forth, surpassing even that of creation. Paul prayed that we would get a revelation of the power that was released in the resurrection of Christ.

When God raised the body of Jesus, the material substance of His body changed so dramatically that from that time on that Jesus had no difficulty walking through solid walls. Somehow the very structure of the atoms of his body was altered. This took tremendous power — even more power than God used to create matter in the beginning.

This is what Paul had in mind in his prayer for the Church. Not just the power that was loosed in His body in His triumph over physical death, but also the power that was unleashed spiritually in His triumph over hell and all its forces! That is the power that is at work in us now!

Confession: Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. (Ephesians 3:20)

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X-RAY VISION

I pray that your inward eyes may be illumined… (Ephesians 1:18 NEB)

The entire Bible is written from the spirit of wisdom and revelation.
Mark Hankins

The Apostle Paul saw something by the Spirit of wisdom and revelation that was even greater than what Moses must have seen when he wrote the book of Genesis. Paul’s letters are even different from the four Gospels. The Gospels are photographs of redemption; Paul’s letters are X-rays.

Paul was not physically there for the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, but he wrote about what happened by revelation knowledge. He saw what happened In Christ. God saw us there In Christ. We died with Him, were buried with Him, were made alive with Him, and were raised up together with Him.

The Word of God describes spiritual or unseen realities and explains the mystery of your redemption. You can read the Bible with just your intellect and read it like a regular book, or you can allow the Holy Spirit to open up revelation to you.

Confession: And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 1:19-20)

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MIGHTY MIRACLES REQUIRE FAITH

And He could there do no mighty work, save that He laid His hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief.
(Mark 6:5-6)

The spirit of faith knocks a hole from the natural to the supernatural.
Mark Hankins

We know God is able to do all things. Nothing is impossible with God! People say, “It’s up to God. If God wants to do it, God can do anything. He’s a sovereign God.” Mark 6:5 says, “And He could there do no mighty work.” If God can do anything anytime He wants to, why didn’t Jesus do it right there in His own hometown? Can you imagine Jesus being frustrated because He wanted to do a mighty work, but He couldn’t? The original Greek implies that He tried, but He couldn’t.

What is a mighty work? It is a demonstration of His power and His glory. I believe Jesus wanted to do some mighty Jubilee miracles — some mighty demonstrations of His power — but because of unbelief, He couldn’t do any mighty work. I wonder what He would say about us today?

Confession: I do not lack for faith. God is able to do all things. I believe that nothing is impossible with God. I believe that miracles — mighty works — demonstrations of His power — are manifesting in my life! (Mark 9:23)

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THE LANGUAGE OF REDEMPTION

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart:
that is, the word of faith, which we preach. (Romans 10:8)

The Gospel of Christ is a language of power; it is the power of God working in this world.
Mark Hankins

Speaking the language of redemption will cause a radical change in your thinking and in your seeing. When you speak like God speaks, you will overthrow and overturn anything the devil has done in your life. We must boldly say, “I am who God says I am. I have what God says I have. I can do what God says I can do!” The Gospel of Christ is a language of power, love, faith, victory, and blessing.

Instead of being controlled by the influences of the world, the flesh, and the devil, speaking the perfect language, will cause a revolution — a radical change — in your life. Instead of seeing yourself as a failure, you begin to speak God’s Word. You speak that you are an overcomer and that you have been seated with Christ in heavenly places. You are a winner in Christ!

Confession: I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which He prepared beforehand that I should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

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