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THE ENGRAFTED WORD

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.  (James1:21)

The Word doesn’t work unless it is implanted on the inside of you. Mark Hankins

James 1:21 was written to believers. This must mean that after you are born again, your soul still isn’t saved. Your soul is made up of your mind, your will, and your emotions. Even after you are born again, you still have to get your soul saved.

James says to receive the Word with meekness. In other words, humble yourself and be teachable. The engrafted Word has the ability to save, deliver, restore, and make your soul (your mind, will, and emotions) whole.

Why does James call the Word the engrafted Word? The Word will not work for you unless it is implanted on the inside of you. How do you get it implanted? By acknowledging every good thing that is in you in Christ. In other words, you stick with it and keep feeding and meditating on the Word. God already deposited every good thing in you when you were born again, but it is up to you to acknowledge what you have in Christ.

Confession: I lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save my soul!

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YOUR IDENTITY IN THE WORD

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52)

The greater your Word intake, the more Christ will be manifested through you. Mark Hankins

I believe when Jesus was ten, eleven, or twelve years old, He found out who He was by reading it in the scriptures. Jesus identified with the Word as He read Isaiah 61:1,“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.”

Many people, not just teenagers, have an identity crisis. They search for it in some psychology book or by trying to mimic a movie star. They comb their hair like someone they see on TV.  They watch some cowboy movie and think they are John Wayne, or they see a motorcycle rider and think they need a motorcycle and a bandanna around their head too!

You will find your identity in the same book as Jesus did — the Bible. You do not have to spend your entire life searching for your identity. You are a new creature in Christ — your identity is now In Christ!

Confession: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me.  (Galatians 2:20)

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FROM CHILDLESS TO FATHER OF MANY

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing where to I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)

It’s important to understand who you are in Christ because the devil knows if you know your identity. Mark Hankins

One of the greatest stories ever written on changing one’s identity is the story of God appearing to Abram and Sarai. God changed their names and their identities. I believe every time Sarah and Abraham called each other by their new names, they declared who God said they were. Yet, Abraham, “father of many,” didn’t have any children at this point in his life.

That’s how God does business. If He can get you to agree with Him and to agree with revelation knowledge, His Word will not return unto Him void. In other words, the Word has the power to produce what it says if God can get you to agree with it.

Abraham became the father of many nations as well as the father of your faith.  God’s Word accomplished what He sent it out to do.

Confession: The Word of God has the power to produce what it says it will produce. I agree with God’s Word!

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FEED ON THE WORD

Put off concerning the former conversation [lifestyle] the old man, which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts; 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)

Your spirit is literally held hostage until your mind is renewed with the daily washing of God’s Word. Mark Hankins

You will only be what God intends for you to be when your mind, will, and emotions are dominated by God’s Word. When you feed your spirit on the Word and allow the Holy Spirit to work in you, your mind will be renewed. The same power that is working in your spirit will move up into your head. Then God will start dealing with some of your habits and attitudes.

You might say, “I like a little sin on the weekend and I’m not changing. Sometimes I lose my temper, that’s just who I am. I’ll tithe when I want to, that’s just who I am.”  

The Holy Spirit has a rocket missile launcher going from your spirit to your head. It is launched as you feed upon God’s Word. If you will be still long enough in the presence of God, Jesus will start cleaning house!

Confession: I refuse to be bound by habits, attitudes, sins, or ideas that have controlled my soul, my family, and my life for years. I am a new creation in Christ!

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THE GOOD NEWS

It is in and through Christ and the sacrifice of His life that we have been liberated. (Ephesians 1:7 Barclay)

Everything Satan has done in Adam, God has reversed in Christ. Mark Hankins

The Gospel is the good news that man has been given eternal life through Jesus Christ. That life is the very life of God imparted to His children. It is healing life, overcoming life, reigning life, victorious life and it is the blessed life now- not just for when you get to heaven. It is heaven’s life flowing in you in this world.

God has targeted His power at man’s deepest needs– spirit, soul, and body. God knows the root of your problems, and He has effectually focused His power there.  The word “salvation” has a five-fold meaning: deliverance, healing, safety, preservation, and soundness. This is not just a “heaven” message; it is an “earth” message as well.

The Gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16) Someone said that if you think you need more power, you really just need more Gospel. The Gospel is the power of God. The word “gospel” means glad tidings or good news. The Gospel is where God has released His power for the purpose of producing salvation.

Confession: I have eternal life. It is healing life, reigning life, victorious life, overcoming life, and blessing life!

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