Search Menu Toggle navigation
Living By Faith
Search Menu Toggle navigation

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.

  • 0

YOUR INWARD MAN

But he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:17)

Feeling is the voice of your body; reason is the voice of your mind; conscience is the voice of your spirit. Mark Hankins

You are a triune being — spirit, soul, and body — even as God is a triune being — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Your spirit is the part of you that is joined to Christ. It is the part of you that is most like God. Paul called your spirit your “inward” man. Your spirit is the hidden man, the unseen person — the real you!

Paul said to walk in the Spirit, live in the Spirit, and pray in the Spirit. What does “in the Spirit” mean? Paul was talking about an entirely different dimension or realm. Feeling is the voice of your body; reason is the voice of your mind, and conscience is the voice of your spirit.

The first step to walking in the Spirit is to pray in the Spirit. When you spend time praying in the Spirit, it helps you to walk and live in the Spirit. You also have to put on the new man. You are a new creature in Christ — but you must put on the new man by renewing your mind to the Word of God!

Confession: I am born again and my spirit is joined to Christ. I am walking in the Spirit, living in the Spirit, and praying in the Spirit!

  • 0

WINNING THE WAR

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 unrenewed 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!

  • 0

NEW PLACES TO WALK

Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in My ways and keep My charge, then also you shall rule My house [That is authority right there] and have charge of My courts, and I will give you access [to my presence] and places to walk among these who stand here. (Zechariah 3:7)

In your authority as the believer, God has given you access to walk in places you have never been. Mark Hankins 

God is saying, “If you will walk in the light of what I am telling you right now, and if you will live in the reality of who I say you are and what I have done for you, I will give you new places to walk.”

God has some places for you to walk where you have never been before. Jesus said, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and overall the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:19)

There are new places that include miracles, signs, and wonders. That means walking among angels in the glory of God. When you start walking in that atmosphere, you will learn the keys that unlock miracles, signs, and wonders!

Confession: I am in this world, but I am not of this world. The devil is under my feet. All the power of the enemy is under my feet. I am walking in new places!

  • 0

GOD PLUCKED YOU OUT

And the Lord said to Satan, The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! Even the Lord Who now and habitually chooses Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this [returned captive Joshua] a brand plucked out of the fire? (Zechariah 3:2 Amplified)

Your consciousness often shows on your countenance. Mark Hankins

Zechariah 3:3 says, “Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.” Joshua had on some dirty, filthy clothes. Those clothes are a type of disobedience, sin, or the effect of sin.

You see people that still have oppression, fear, guilt, or shame on them. Once you get “in Christ,” you put on the new man. Then you can wear joy, blessing, confidence, righteousness, and glory. God wants you to change clothes!

Do you know God plucked you out of the fire? The devil said, “I have you, and I am going to destroy you.” God said, “Hold it, devil!I have a plan. I have chosen him.He belongs to Me.” You were going down for the last time, but God plucked you out!

Confession: I am getting dressed up in Christ! I am wearing joy, blessing, confidence, righteousness, and glory!

  • 0

Sign up for Living By Faith Blog Subscribers

* = required field

Recent Posts

Categories