Living By Faith

GIVING ACCESSES THE GLORY

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

Your giving will tap into God’s riches in glory.
Mark Hankins

Paul said to the Philippian believers, “Because you gave, and gave again, I have all and abound.” Their giving tapped into God’s riches in glory.

Some of God’s paydays are better than money! You can see the same principle with Cornelius in Acts 10. He was a devout man that feared God. He gave “much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.” (Acts 10:2) His prayers and his giving came up as a memorial before God and the glory of God came to his family. Cornelius and his whole house were filled with the Holy Spirit.

We are living in days of great glory when the glory and the goodness of God break into our lives on a scale that is unprecedented. Whenever we say, “Glory!” we are including all of the goodness of God. One commentary defined the glory as including wealth, numbers, commerce, power, wisdom, promotion, superiority, dignity, authority, nobility, splendor, valor, magnificence, extraordinary privileges, and advantages. Jesus came to restore the glory that God intended for us to have!

Confession: My giving taps into God’s riches in glory! Praise God! His paydays are better than money!

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POSITION, PRIVILEGE, POTENTIAL, POWER, AND PROMISE IN CHRIST

In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him. (Ephesians 3:12)

The blood of Jesus has given us great boldness and confidence!
Mark Hankins

We enjoy great position, privilege, potential, power, and promise In Christ. God sees us In Christ, and we look a lot better In Christ than we do outside of Him. If you are not impressed with who you are in Christ, you haven’t seen Him lately.

We are the workmanship of God created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained for us to walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10) We have come into closest fellowship with Christ. We are In Him. The Apostle Paul uses the phrase In Christ, In Him, and In Whom, over 130 times in his letters. Take your position in Christ and live in the privileges and advantages God has provided for you.

Confession: God sees me in Christ. I am the workmanship of God created in Christ Jesus unto good works. For in Christ dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. I am complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power. (Colossians 2:9-10)

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THE SECRET OF POWER…CHRIST IN YOU

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

The reality for every Christian is that we are in Christ, and Christ is in us.
Mark Hankins

Think about these words and say them out loud, “Christ lives in me.” God has placed us In Christ. This position of faith gives us great privilege. In Christ, we have access to the Father with confidence, and we have great potential In Him. We are ever-increasing in faith and love and are on the way to our divine destiny In Christ.

The same power that raised Christ from the dead is available to believers In Christ. There are also exceeding, great, precious promises that belong to us In Christ.

In Christ, God says a giant “yes” to us and we answer, “Amen, so be it!” We agree with God and live in the reality of our redemption In Christ.

Confession: I have great potential In Christ! I have access to the Father with confidence. The life that I now live, I live by faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me. I agree with God and live in the reality of my redemption in Christ!

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MAXIMUM JOY

Consider it maximum joy, my brothers, when you get involved in
all sorts of trials. (James 1:2 Berkeley)

The reason the devil is putting pressure on you is because
God’s got a blessing for you!
Mark Hankins

I played on the championship football team in high school. We were undefeated, so we always went out fully expecting to win. One day the coach told me, “Now Hankins,” as he grabbed me by my shoulder pads, “you might be able to go around the tackle, but by the time you go around him, what you’re looking for already went by.”

Then he said, “The only way you can play defense is not to avoid the pressure the tackle is putting on you. You can’t go around him — if you do, you will miss what you’re after. You’ve got to fight through the pressure.”

The reason the devil is putting pressure on you is because God’s got a blessing coming for you! So when pressure comes from every side, face it and get happy right in the middle of it! The devil is saying, “Hey, give up and just go around.” You say, “No. I am not going around. I am going through this tackle!”

Confession: The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me walk upon my high places. (Habakkuk 3:19)

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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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