Living By Faith

MAKING ADJUSTMENTS

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)

“When you are born again, you move out of the devil’s territory and you are relocated to a new place in Christ.” – Mark Hankins

Throughout the Bible, we see God moving men and women into the proper orbit to be used by Him. You can see this in the life of Abraham. Abraham had to do some moving. He had to make some adjustments so he could receive and transmit. God is constantly working with people to change their thinking, speaking, and acting, in order to open up the miraculous for them.

God wants to bless you. He wants to make you a blessing. He has some “rockets” to help you move into position to see His glory. He has given His Word, the Holy Spirit, and the five-fold ministry gifts to help you make adjustments. It takes some changes to get the glory, and it takes the glory to get some changes. You are being changed so you can fit and function in the proper orbit and realize your full potential in Christ.

Confession: It is God that is working in me both to will and to do of his good pleasure. He is changing my thinking, speaking, and acting. I am being changed so that I can realize my full potential in Christ!

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MY MOMMA RUNS

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, and out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God. (Psalm 40:2-3)

“It’s not necessary unless it’s necessary!” – B.B. Hankins

As I grew up in church, there were some unusual services. Sometimes while we sang, Mom would begin to praise God rather exuberantly and shout, “Hallelujah! Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!”  With glory and joy on her countenance, she would shout “Wooooo!” and run around the church! Dad was a little more dignified. After Mom ran, Dad would say, “Now, some of you don’t think that is necessary. It’s not necessary, unless it’s necessary!”  While the congregation tried to figure out what Dad had said, Mom and others who had joined her would finish their rejoicing!

Dad’s preaching and Mom’s praying and running around the church began to make sense to me. I started studying the scriptures that showed me my redemption in Christ. I began to meditate daily on who I am in Christ. The power of God’s Word started to work in me, and I began to understand my identification with Christ.  That’s where victory begins — right where you are!

Confession: The revelation of your words sheds light, giving understanding to the simple.  (Psalm 119:30  NAB)

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THE ANOINTING ABIDES IN YOU

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie. (I John 2:27)

“The reality of the power of God, that unction or anointing, will teach you all things.” – Mark Hankins

The Lord told Moses and Aaron to go to Pharaoh. He said that He would multiply His signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. (Exodus 7:3) Aaron did as the Lord commanded and went before Pharaoh. He cast down his rod and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh called his magicians and they cast down their rods, which also became serpents. But all of a sudden, Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.

The real gifts of the Spirit will eat up the false manifestations. You do not need to be afraid of the counterfeit. All you need is the reality of the gifts of the Spirit. The anointing will teach you all things. The anointing will teach you what is the truth!

Confession: I have an unction from the Holy One, so I know all things. The anointing teaches me what is real and what is truth and not a lie!

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SOUL, BE STILL!

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalm 46:10)

Get your spirit tuned up and the Holy Spirit will begin to make things clear to you.” – Mark Hankins

God will reveal things to you as you get your body and your mind quiet. You may finally get your body to stop, but often your mind is still going. In Psalm 46:10, the psalmist David said,“Soul, I am talking to you. Soul, be still! Be still!”

Old-timers use to call this “praying through” in the Holy Spirit. Before you make any major decision, you must pray through. You should never make any major decision based on circumstantial evidence; it should be based on what the Holy Spirit is saying to your spirit. Whether things look good or bad, once you have the witness of the Holy Spirit on the inside, it will be all right.

Paul said, “My outward man is perishing, but my inward man is renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16) So the key to your future is what is happening in your inward man.

Confession: I speak to my soul and command it to be still before the Lord. My inward man is being strengthened day by day.

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THE KEY TO YOUR FUTURE

And they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (Galatians 5:24)

“Most Christians allow their body to have their spirit gagged and tied up in the basement.” – Mark Hankins

The part of you that is born again is your spirit. It receives eternal life, but you still must do something with your mind and your body. It is possible to be saved or born again and still have your body out of whack. Your mind can still be controlled with wrong thinking. You will stay frustrated if your body or your mind is dominating your spirit.

Paul said that they that are in Christ have crucified the flesh with its affections.  Crucifixion is painful. This means that you deny your body certain things it wants to do, wants to say, and wants to consume. If you do just the opposite of what your body wants, you will be pleasing God.

The Holy Spirit wants to strengthen your spirit. Then your inner man will rise up and tell your body to shut up and line up with the Word. Your spirit man — your inward man — will do this!

Confession: I am strengthened with might by the Holy Spirit in my inner man. Christ dwells in my heart by faith and I am rooted and grounded in love. I am filled with all the fullness of God!  (Ephesians 3:16-19)

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