Living By Faith

THE WORD WORKS

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing as under of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

The Word will cut controlling influences off of your life. Mark Hankins

Ephesians 6:17 tells us that the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, will reach into your soul and cut things out that are hindering you from fulfilling the will of God. Nothing can separate your soul and your spirit but the Word. God says that you are a new creature in Christ and that you have been made righteous and triumphant, but your mind is in disagreement; your circumstances are in disagreement; your feelings are in disagreement. But the Word of God is like a sharp sword and it will cause your circumstances and feelings to agree with God.

The Word will cut things out of your soul that are not in agreement with God’s Word.  What happens when you begin to acknowledge who you are in Christ?  The Word will cut controlling influences off of your life!

Confession: I am who God says I am. I am an overcomer. I have been made righteous. I am the righteousness of God in Christ!

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FEED ON THE WORD

Put off concerning the former conversation [lifestyle] the old man, which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts; be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24)

Your spirit is literally held hostage until your mind is renewed with the daily washing of God’s Word. Mark Hankins

You will only be what God intends for you to be when your mind, will, and emotions are dominated by God’s Word. When you feed your spirit on the Word and allow the Holy Spirit to work in you, your mind will be renewed. The same power that is working in your spirit will move up into your head. Then God will start dealing with some of your habits and attitudes.

You might say, “I like a little sin on the weekend and I’m not changing. Sometimes I lose my temper, that’s just who I am. I’ll tithe when I want to, that’s just who I am.”  

The Holy Spirit has a rocket missile launcher going from your spirit to your head. It is launched as you feed upon God’s Word. If you will be still long enough in the presence of God, Jesus will start cleaning house!

Confession: I refuse to be bound by habits, attitudes, sins, or ideas that have controlled my soul, my family, and my life for years. I am a new creation in Christ!

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FAITH IN THE BLOOD OF JESUS

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus…by the law of faith. (Romans 3:25-27)

Faith in His blood is the power and the vehicle that launches the believer into the very presence of God.
Mark Hankins

What a wonderful sight it is to see a space shuttle launch. You can see it rise slowly, then rocket into another world. The power, the sound, and the sight are fascinating. The giant fuel cells that propel it are necessary to get it out of this atmosphere into outer space. The shuttle leaves the law of gravity behind and enters a world of weightlessness. I like to compare that to faith in the blood of Jesus.

Faith in His blood launches the believer into another realm where the new law of faith rules. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus breaks the law of sin and death. The weight of sin that once held you down is broken and you are free. Think of the possibilities and the power in the blood of Jesus!

Confession: I am no longer bound by the law of sin and death! I am free through faith in His blood and the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus!

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THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL

The law put a curse on us. But Christ took away that curse. He changed places with you. Christ put himself under that curse. (Galatians 3:13 | Deaf)

The Gospel is the good news that man has been given eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Mark Hankins

Jesus demonstrated the Gospel by healing the sick and setting the captives free in this world. Paul preached the Gospel, and the crippled man at Lystra received faith to be healed as he heard the message. (Acts 14:7) Paul said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on thy feet.” The man leaped and walked. The people thought Paul healed the man, but it was simply the demonstration of the power of the Gospel.

To see what the curse of the law is, you need to turn to Deuteronomy 28:15-68. This list includes everything from sickness and poverty to disaster in the family and the nation. You can see the reverse of the curse by reading Deuteronomy 28:1-13. All these blessings shall come on you and overtake you. Christ hath redeemed you from the curse! Even now the curse is broken!

Confession: I am blessed in my family; I am blessed in my body, and I am blessed in my business because Christ has redeemed me from the curse of the law!

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GLORY! GOD IS ALL GOOD

For how great is his goodness. (Zechariah 9:17)

The length, depth, breadth, and height of God’s goodness overwhelmed Moses. He had an experience with the Glory of God!
Mark Hankins

Can you imagine what it would be like to have God’s entire goodness pass before you? That is exactly what happened to Moses — God revealed His goodness to him. The length, depth, breadth, and height of God’s goodness overwhelmed Moses; he had an experience with the glory of God. The glory of God so changed Moses’ whole countenance that his face radiated. His face was shining! The glory of God touches and affects every aspect of your life.

I like David Baron’s commentary on Zechariah 9:17: “Goodness is that attribute of God whereby He loveth to communicate to all who can or will receive it, ALL GOOD — yea Himself, who is the fullness and universality of good, creator of all good, not in one way, not in one kind of goodness only, but absolutely, without beginning, with- out limit, without measure. This good, His goodness bestoweth on all and each, according to the capacity of each to receive it; nor is there any limit to His giving, save His creature’s capacity of receiving.”

Confession: The glory of God is the goodness of God. The goodness of God is changing my life! God is a good God!

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