Living By Faith

BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18)

If you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then you are filled with God.
Mark Hankins

When Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit, He said that He is not just coming to visit, but He is going to move in and dwell in you permanently. That means the Holy Spirit is not just coming to visit, He is moving in. He is going to have a change of address. If you are just going to visit someone, you only bring some of your stuff. However, if you are moving in, you bring ALL of your stuff!

The Holy Spirit takes things that belong to the Father and Jesus, and transmits them to you. If you are filled with the Holy Spirit then you are filled with God. The Holy Spirit will expand you to make room for all He has for you.

When the Holy Spirit moves in, He is glad to be there. However, He needs room to bring all of His stuff. He can’t get His stuff in until you get some of your stuff out. We are commanded to be filled with the Spirit.

Confession: I am filled with the Holy Spirit; therefore, I am filled with God. I am making room for the Holy Spirit to move into my life and bring all of His stuff!

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SEISMIC RETROFIT

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man. (Ephesians 3:16)

The Holy Spirit never brings condemnation. He always reveals the blood of Christ. He is the lifting power of the church. Smith Wigglesworth

Years ago, I was driving through San Diego and noticed that some of the buildings had cables running from each of their corners to the ground. I had never seen that on a building before, so I wanted to know what it was. I found out that it was called seismic retrofit. Engineers strategically strengthened these buildings so that when an earthquake hits, they will not collapse. These buildings are strengthened from corner to corner, inside and outside, so after the shaking of an earthquake, they will still stand.

I believe the Holy Ghost can give you some seismic retrofit. You may not have certain strengths in your life, but the Holy Ghost will add things to you. He will strengthen you in your inner man. When the storm is over and the dust clears, you will still be standing.

Confession: God is granting me, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in my inner man (Ephesians 3:16)

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STRENGTH FOR THE BATTLE

But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. (John 16:7 AMP)

“The function of the Holy Spirit is to fill a man with a spirit of power and courage which would make him able triumphantly to cope with life.” – William Barclay

The word Parakalein was used in classic Greek to describe the verb form of Parakletos. The Holy Spirit helps us to translate the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ into our personal victory. The Holy Spirit is not just consolation or sympathy in sorrow or distress; He does much more than that.

The Holy Spirit is our Advocate. He is the Counselor for the defense. He is called in to speak in support of His character in order to enlist the favor of the Judge. The Advocate will present someone else’s case in the most favorable light.

Confession: The Holy Spirit fills me with a spirit of power and courage. Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ. (2 Corinthians 2:14)

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THE MIND OF A GENIUS

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever. (John 14:16)

If you want to study the mind of a genius, be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Mark Hankins

It is clear that the death, burial, resurrection, and the Word of God are very important. However, if that were all we needed, God would not have sent the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is very necessary and it is essential that we know about Him. Jesus and the Apostle Paul spent a great deal of time teaching believers about Him. Jesus was excited because He knew that the coming of the Holy Spirit would usher in a new day for believers.

We must recognize Him. We must respond and yield to Him. He is a Genius. He transmits the mind of Christ to us. We can think like God when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. He gives us uncommon intelligence, insight, and understanding.

Confession: I choose to recognize, respond, and yield to the Holy Spirit. I have uncommon intelligence, insight, and understanding as I yield to the work of the Holy Spirit in my life.

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PIONEERS, SETTLERS, AND MUSEUM KEEPERS

By faith. Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. (Hebrews 11:24-25)

The spirit of faith will make you leave your comfort zone. Mark Hankins

There are three kinds of people: pioneers, settlers, and museum keepers.  

  • Museum keepers are content to dust off the memories of previous generations and talk about the exploits of the past. They live off of the experiences of others and never see God’s power operate in their own lives.  
  • Settlers travel for a while, but become weary of the journey and stop too soon. They get comfortable and never press on to the possibilities ahead.  Some of the tribes of Israel settled too soon and never crossed the Jordan with Joshua. 
  • Pioneers are those who venture into unknown or unclaimed territory. They are the ones who open up new areas; they prepare the way! 

We should qualify as pioneers because the spirit of faith never stops pressing on!  With God all things are possible! (Matthew 19:26)

Confession:The spirit of faith is a pioneer spirit. The spirit of faith in me will push out from the shore and launch into the deep at God’s Word. (Luke 5:4-5)

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