That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts and 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)

“When you get in Christ you are introduced to a whole new realm—the realm of God!” – Mark Hankins

Paul said to put off the former lifestyle, your old conversation, and your old way of living and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Evidently this change doesn’t happen instantly when you are saved, because he was talking to Spirit-filled Christians. There is a battle between your born-again spirit and your un-renewed mind. 

How are you going to win this war? You are going to have to have your weapons ready.  What are your weapons? They are the blood, the Word, and the name of Jesus. You also have another help, the anointing of the Holy Spirit, which destroys every yoke of bondage. You might think that all you need is a vacation when what you really need is the blood of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit breaking that yoke off of your soul and your mind!

Confession: I put off my former lifestyle and renew my mind to the Word of God. The blood of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit destroy every yoke of bondage in my life!

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. (Hebrews9:12)

“The death of Christ stops sin and the resurrection of Christ opens up a whole new life.” – Mark Hankins

Why does it say, “He entered in once into the holy place”? Jesus whipped the devil so badly and took care of man’s condition ONCE through His death, burial, and resurrection that He won’t ever have to do it again!

Through the death of Christ, God brought the dominion, control, and the effect of sin to an end. Hebrews 9:26 says that through one sacrifice, He put an end to sin. Other translations say,“to do away,” “to abolish,” or “to bring to an end.”

Do you believe what God did in Christ is big enough to take care of anything that is messing with you? It doesn’t matter what it is; what God did in Christ is big enough to take care of it. The Gospel is the power of God. The death of Christ stops sin, and the resurrection of Christ opens up a whole new life!

Confession: God abolished, put away and destroyed sin in my life ONCE and for all. Sin has lost its dominion and control in my life!

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. (Acts 17:28)

“Mankind needed redemption; we needed the blood of Jesus.” – Mark Hankins

A firefighter from California once burned his hand so badly that the doctors thought they would have to amputate. They decided to try another procedure because of the human body’s regenerative powers. Surgeons operated on the firefighter, inserted his burned hand inside his body, and left it in there. When they removed the hand after some days, the skin had begun to grow back again.

God saw that man’s condition was so bad that it looked like he would have to be amputated. He said, “Before we do that, I will do a surgical procedure.”  The surgery God performed in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ was such a massive project; He planned it for thousands of years. Because of man’s condition, this “in Christ” surgical procedure was the only way man could be saved. Paul called this a mystery in Colossians 1:26-27.  We are joined and identified with Him through redemption!

Confession: In Him I live and move and have my being! I have been redeemed through the shed blood of Jesus!