Living By Faith

THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him… (Ephesians 1:17)

“I want to know how God created this world… I want to know His thoughts; the rest are details.” – Albert Einstein

On October 14, 1947, Captain Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager became the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound. With this historic flight, Yeager ushered in the beginning of America’s launch into outer space and NASA’s modern space shuttle program. 

Breaking the sound barrier also broke the fear of the unknown. Yeager later described his supersonic flight as “A poke through jell-o,”  “Sipping lemonade on the front porch,” and “A perfectly paved speedway.” The real barrier was not in the sky; it was in man’s lack of knowledge regarding supersonic flight.

Christians often face challenges and barriers in doing God’s will. Even the most difficult barriers can be broken, and believers can go to places in God they have never been. The Apostle Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1 contains the necessary ingredients for every Christian to breakthrough any barriers they face. Paul called this necessary ingredient the “spirit of wisdom and revelation.”

Confession: I have the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ!

  • 0

A FINISHED WORK

Lord our God, masters besides You have had dominion over us…Therefore You have punished and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.(Isaiah26:13-14 \ NKJV)

“Once you get a revelation of your redemption, the only way the devil can defeat you is to deceive you.” – Mark Hankins

I remember when our troops first went to war with Iraq after 9-11. Newscasters reported that American troops had secured control of the Baghdad Airport and were in control of the city. Simultaneously, however, Iraqi networks aired video footage saying that Sadaam Hussein was still in control. Sadaam Hussein had been overthrown, but he was still sending out propaganda influencing people’s lives. In reality, this former tyrant master had fled the city and was hiding in a spider hole!

Our redemption is a complete, finished work. However, the devil likes to air his propaganda and make us think that he is still in control. Isaiah tells us that the devil may have ruled over us at one time in our lives, but because of our redemption in Christ, he no longer has control of our lives.

Confession: They [the former tyrant masters] are dead, they shall not live and reappear; they are powerless ghosts, they shall not rise and come back. (Isaiah 26:14 | AMP) 

  • 0

A GREAT BEDTIME STORY

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in ONCE into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (Hebrews 9:12)

“Jesus cancelled and abolished sin ONCE for all time for all men.” –Mark Hankins

ONCE! That’s all it took! What Jesus did for us in His death and resurrection, He only had to do ONCE! ONCE He shed His blood. ONCE He paid the price for our freedom.  ONCE He put away and abolished sin. ONCE He dethroned and defeated Satan.  ONCE for all time! ONCE for all mankind! ONCE for the cure of every condition! He only had to die ONCE so that every blessing in heaven could be ours.

Whenever you face any challenge, remember this story and tell it again, “ONCE UPON A TIME!” Jesus defeated Satan so badly He only had to do it ONCE!

When Satan comes against you, just bring up this story and say, “ONCE upon a time…” and the devil will leave. Now, we as believers can take the Word of God and tell the devil a bedtime story. Say, “Devil, ONCE upon a time Jesus defeated you for all eternity.” Speak the Word of God with boldness and rock the devil to sleep!

Confession: But as now is, He has ONCE for all at the consummation and close of the ages appeared to put away and abolish sin by His sacrifice [of Himself]. (Hebrews 9:26 | AMP)

  • 1

REVELATION KNOWLEDGE

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (Matthew 16:16)

“Revelation that comes from God changes your identity.” –Mark Hankins

In Matthew 16:15, Jesus asked the disciples, “But whom say ye that I am?”  Peter answered Jesus and said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus told Peter, “You did not learn this through your five senses; you learned it through revelation knowledge.” The Father God revealed to Peter Who Jesus Christ is. When Simon Peter received this revelation knowledge of who Jesus is — the Christ, the Son of the Living God — Jesus turned to him and said, “I’m telling you who you are, Simon. No longer will you be tossed to and fro. I am changing your name to ‘Rock.’”

Revelation that comes from God will change your identity. When Peter got a revelation of who Jesus was, Jesus then told Peter who he was. When you find out who Jesus is, you can’t walk away without Jesus telling you who you are. This revelation of Who Jesus Christ is,is essential to every believer. The foundation of the church is the revelation of Jesus.

Confession: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

  • 0

REDEMPTIVE REVELATION

Where there is no vision [redemptive revelation of God], the people perish. (Proverbs 29:18 |AMP)

“Revelation is a very personal thing.” –Mark Hankins

You could say, where there is no redemptive revelation of God, the people are poor, sick, depressed, and defeated. Where there is no redemptive revelation of God, the people do not know the call of God, or the inheritance and authority that belongs to them.

Thank God we don’t have to live that way! We can have a redemptive revelation of God by the spirit of wisdom and revelation. By having the eyes of our hearts flooded with light, we can know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glory, and the exceeding greatness of His power to us who believe.

The authority of the believer in the Earth is based on what Jesus has already done for us in His death, burial, and resurrection. This is the center of Paul’s revelation. That is why Paul prayed in Ephesians 1 that God would give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.

Confession: And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:22-23)

  • 1