Living By Faith

SHOUT FOR THE VICTORY

Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)

No man can doubt when he learns to shout! Smith Wigglesworth

The spirit of faith will often cause a person to look as foolish as Naaman did, when the prophet Elisha told him to dip seven times in the muddy Jordan River (II Kings 5:14). What God required of Naaman for his healing from leprosy was not difficult, but it seemed too foolish. Naaman’s reasoning almost made him miss his miracle. He finally acted on the prophet’s word and was totally healed!

“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” (I Corinthians 1:27)
In Romans 4:17, we read of Abraham: “I have made thee a father of many nations, before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.” Smith Wigglesworth said, “You must learn to take the victory and shout in the face of the devil, ‘It is done!’”

Confession: I will shout, “It is done!” in the face of the devil and take my victory. It is not by my might, but by the Spirit of God that I will see my miracle come to pass.

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SHOUTING, DANCING, AND RUNNING

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God…every one’s bands (chains) were loosed. (Acts 16:25-26)

When the glory of God manifests, it brings the supernatural power of God! Mark Hankins

The spirit of faith will cause you to shout while the walls are still standing, like God’s people did at Jericho before the walls came down (Joshua 6:20). The spirit of faith will cause you to dance like David did when the Ark of the Covenant was returned to Jerusalem and the glory returned (II Samuel 6:14-15). The spirit of faith may cause you to run like Elijah did when the hand of the Lord came upon him (I Kings 18:46). The rain he had prayed and contended for was coming, and he outran the king’s chariot. The spirit of faith will cause you to sing and praise God loudly, as Paul and Silas did at midnight when they were imprisoned in chains! (Acts 16:25). All of these demonstrations of the power of God were connected to the expressions of faith made by God’s people! God watches as we demonstrate faith and act on the Word!

Confession: I lift my voice with a shout of victory! My faith acts on the Word of God! I will rejoice in the Lord always! (Philippians 4:4)

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GOD PERFORMS THINGS FOR YOU

For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him. (Job 23:14)

The champion enters the ring with a different attitude than the challenger. Mark Hankins

Theologians tell us that the trials we read about in Job lasted less than a year. Job had a bad year, but when you read the last chapter, you find that the Lord gave him twice as much as he had before! Job had some challenges, but he came out the champion!

The Lord said it to me this way: “You will have challenges in life, but you are not the challenger; you are the champion.” The challenger is trying to get something. The champion, on the other hand, says, “I’ve got something.” Every champion faces challengers who try to steal their victory. Satan is the god of this world who does nothing but lie, destroy, and steal. He’s a challenger, but a defeated one!

Jesus said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation [difficulty]: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) You aren’t exempt from challenges. However once you know who you are in Christ, and understand that Christ is in you, you will always overcome. Satan may cause some issues, but like Job, you can smile and say, “God performs things for me!”

Confession: I have the attitude of a champion! In every challenge, I am an overcomer because Christ overcame the world and He dwells in me! (John 16:33)

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THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12)

The faith fight is the only fight believers are called to fight. Mark Hankins

There is a fight to faith, but it is a good fight! It is a fight that has already been won! Jesus defeated the devil over two thousand years ago. Your part in the fight is to enforce the victory that Jesus has already won. In order to do that, you will need to keep your faith focused at all times. You’ve got to be ready for the fight and stand strong in the arena of faith from the outset of any challenge.

Abraham Lincoln used to tell a story about two dogs in a fight. He said that one of his neighbors had a little dog that would whip all of the big dogs in the area. When someone asked this man how his little dog could whip the big dogs, he said, “Your big dog is not really ready to fight until the fight is half over. My little dog stays mad!” Are you ready to fight? You stay ready by staying in faith. Don’t let Satan pull you out of the ring by luring you into the arena of feelings, sight, or circumstances. Stay in the field of faith! As long as you are in faith, you defeat the devil every time. Get serious like that little dog! Stay focused on your faith, fight the good fight, and enforce Jesus’ complete victory over the devil

Confession: I refuse to give one inch to the devil, defeat, or discouragement. I will stay in the arena of faith where I win every time! I walk by faith and not by sight! (2 Corinthians 5:7)

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“LEGO” BIBLE BUILDING BLOCKS

Whosoever shall say… believe those things which he saith… he shall have whatsoever he saith. (Mark 11:23)

Words are the building blocks of faith. Mark Hankins

In Mark 11:23, Jesus said “believe” once. He said “say” or “saith” three times. The speaking part is vital to faith. Faith is released or put to work by speaking.

Jesus used three different Greek words for the speaking part of faith in Mark 11:23. The first “say” is the Greek word epo, which means command. It shows the authority of the believer. The second reference to speaking that Jesus used was the word “saith.”  This word in the Greek is laleo, which means to speak out; use your own voice; be bold!  The third reference to speaking is also the word saith.  However, this Greek word is lego; it means systematic discourse.

Jesus was giving us a lego set of building blocks to teach us how to frame our world according to the picture or diagram He has given us in the Word of God. The Bible gives us a lego set of building blocks for salvation, healing, blessing, prosperity, and victory in life. Take the Word of God and build.

Confession: I have victory in Jesus. My life is blessed! My future is built on the Word of God!

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