Living By Faith

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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GOD’S WAY OF THINKING

But of him [of God] are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. (1 Corinthians 1:30)

To make wisdom effective in your life, you must acknowledge it. Mark Hankins

Wisdom is God’s way of thinking. God doesn’t necessarily think the way you do, and He doesn’t always see things the way you see them. If you want to see yourself the way God sees you, get the Word out and see what He says about you. Wisdom has to do with the revelation of all that God has done for you in the death burial, and resurrection of Christ.

Jesus is made unto you righteousness, which is right standing with God. Once you are born again, you have the same standing with God that Jesus has. Jesus is made unto you sanctification, which is separation from the world and dedication to God. What Jesus has begun in your life, He will bring to full completion. He is the author and the finisher of your faith. Hallelujah!

Confession: I thank God that I am in Christ Jesus and He is made unto me wisdom. I don’t have to go through life with my own thinking, my own plans, my own ways, or my own ideas. Jesus is made unto me wisdom. I have God’s thoughts, His ways, His plans, and His ideas!

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RENEWING YOUR MIND

That ye put off concerning the former conversation [He’s talking about your lifestyle] the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. (Ephesians 4:22)

You won’t change the way you are living if you don’t change the way you are talking.
Mark Hankins

The process of putting off the old man and putting on the new man takes place as you renew your mind and line your thinking up with the Word of God. We should always ask, “What does God say about me? What does God say about my circumstances?” We need to say what God says. We need to agree with God.

In Ephesians 4:22-24, Paul says to “put off the old man” and “put on the new man” by being “renewed in the spirit of your mind.” To put off is like taking off the old clothes, the old nature, and the old lifestyle. In other words, change the way you are living and talking.

The moment you are born again, you are a new creation, and you are created in righteousness and true holiness. You are not trying to make the new man righteous and holy. Since you have been made a partaker of the divine nature, you are to put on the new man, who is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Confession: Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth. (Psalm 141:3)

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GOD’S WAY OF THINKING

But of him [of God] are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. (1 Corinthians 1:30)

To make wisdom effective in your life, you must acknowledge it.
Mark Hankins

Wisdom is God’s way of thinking. God doesn’t necessarily think the way you do, and He doesn’t always see things the way you see them. If you want to see yourself the way God sees you, get the Word out and see what He says about you. Wisdom has to do with the revelation of all that God has done for you in the death burial, and resurrection of Christ.

Jesus is made unto you righteousness, which is right standing with God. Once you are born again, you have the same standing with God that Jesus has. Jesus is made unto you sanctification, which is separation from the world and dedication to God. What Jesus has begun in your life, He will bring to full completion. He is the author and the finisher of your faith. Hallelujah!

Confession: I thank God that I am in Christ Jesus and He is made unto me wisdom. I don’t have to go through life with my own thinking, my own plans, my own ways, or my own ideas. Jesus is made unto me wisdom. I have God’s thoughts, His ways, His plans, and His ideas!

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JESUS WENT TO THE SYNAGOGUE

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. (Luke 4:16)

Jesus had studied the Word and found Himself in the Word!
Mark Hankins

Jesus went to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and as His custom was, He went to the synagogue. Jesus went into the synagogue on the Sabbath Day as He usually did and stood up to read. Jesus went there all the time. His mama and daddy taught Him to go there.

You might say, “I don’t need to go to church because the Lord and I have our own thing.” If Jesus went to the synagogue as God, you ought to go to church.

They gave Jesus the book of the prophet Isaiah. When He opened the book, “he found the place where it was written.” (Luke 4:17) Jesus had studied the Word until He found Himself in the Word!

Do you know how He found it? He was looking. While everybody else was playing games, Jesus was studying the prophets. Luke 2:52 says, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” You can grow in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man by finding yourself in the Word of God.

Confession: I am growing in God. I am increasing in wisdom and in favor with God and man.

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