Living By Faith

SUPERNATURAL PROMOTION

Clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you, with humilityas the garb of a servant, so that its covering cannot possibly be stripped from you, with freedom from pride and arrogancetoward one anotherFor God sets Himself against the proudthe insolent, the over-bearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful, and opposes, frustrates and defeats thembut gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves (demote, lower your- selves in your own estimation) under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you. (1 Peter 5:5-6 Amplified)

If God takes you up, no one can take you down! Mark Hankins

We are to honor people who have had an impact upon us spiritually. Even though they may not be perfect, as we honor them we will have the blessing of God in our lives.

We honor these men and women of God by serving them and by giving to them financially. There is a due time when God will exalt you. When He takes you up, no one can bring you down. If someone else promotes you, you can lose it all. If God takes you up, no one can take you down!

Confession: I humble myself (demote and lower myself in my own estimation) under the mighty hand of God, and in due time, He will exalt me!

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HEAVEN ON EARTH

But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. (Numbers 14:21)

Jesus came to restore the glory that God intended for us to have!

Mark Hankins

We are living in days of great glory when the glory and the goodness of God break into our lives on a scale that is unprecedented. This is the time of the restoration of glory in the church around the world!

In Deuteronomy 11:21, the phrase, “as the days of heaven upon the earth” is used to describe the special time of blessing the children of God would enjoy in the Promised Land. God gave them instructions on how to act to possess the land. He used the word “possess” seven times in this chapter. Over and over He told them they must possess this land of promise.

We know that God is a faith God and He is pleased by faith. I like to say, “Faith cranks God’s tractor.” For us to enter into all that He has provided for us, we must believe God. We must maintain a spirit of faith to go forward in this time. According to Philippians 3:12-14, we press forward and never look back. Smith Wigglesworth said, “Never look back if you want the power of God in your life.”

Confession: I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14)

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GIVING ACCESSES THE GLORY

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

Your giving will tap into God’s riches in glory.

Mark Hankins

Paul said to the Philippian believers, “Because you gave, and gave again, I have all and abound.”  Their giving tapped into God’s riches in glory.

Some of God’s paydays are better than money! You can see the same principle with Cornelius in Acts 10. He was a devout man that feared God. He gave “much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.” (Acts 10:2)  His prayers and his giving came up as a memorial before God and the glory of God came to his family. Cornelius and his whole house were filled with the Holy Spirit.  

We are living in days of great glory when the glory and the goodness of God break into our lives on a scale that is unprecedented. Whenever we say, “Glory!” we are including all of the goodness of God. One commentary defined the glory as including wealth, numbers, commerce, power, wisdom, promotion, superiority, dignity, authority, nobility, splendor, valor, magnificence, extraordinary privileges, and advantages. Jesus came to restore the glory that God intended for us to have!

Confession: My giving taps into God’s riches in glory! Praise God! His paydays are better than money!

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JOY’S MULTIFACETED CONNECTION

But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. (Psalm 68:3)

Joy and rejoicing are simply a choice that we make daily.

Mark Hankins

Look at all of the blessings of God that are connected to joy.  Joy is connected to:  

  • God’s presence (Psalm 16:11)
  • God’s strength (Nehemiah 8:10)
  • God’s salvation (Isaiah 12:3)
  • The anointing – the oil of joy (Hebrews 1:9)
  • God’s medicine (Proverbs 17:22)
  • God’s Word (Jeremiah 15:16; Psalm 119:162)
  • Prosperity (2 Corinthians 9:6-10; Psalm 105:37-45)

It seems that if Satan can steal our joy, then he can damage a lot of other things in our lives.

It is clear that God did not create us to be miserable. He created us in Christ to enjoy life and to have dominion. Joy is one of the great secrets of faith. One of my favorite pictures of Jesus is the one of Him laughing triumphantly. Jesus sits in the heavens and laughs. (Psalm 2:4) Make the choice to rejoice!

Confession: I rejoice with exceeding great joy because I know that I am blessed.  God created me to enjoy my life and have dominion. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice! (Psalm 63:7)

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REJOICING: A FORM OF HUMILITY

God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (James 4:6)

Rejoicing is a form of humility.

Mark Hankins

In 2 Samuel 6, the Ark of the Covenant was coming into Jerusalem. The Bible says when the ark came into the city King David danced before the Lord with all of his might. The scripture says he threw off his royal robe and danced in his under clothes because of the glory that was coming back! David loved to be in the presence of God!

After he had danced before the Lord, David fed the entire nation. When he went to bless his household, his wife told him that he looked like a fool. She despised him in her heart because of his response to the presence of God. David responded to her by saying, “I will yet be more vile than this. I will humble myself in the sight of the people, and I will lower myself in my own sight.” (2 Samuel 6:22)

David’s rejoicing was a form of humility. If you are more concerned with what people think about you than what God thinks about you, you will never walk in victory. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up!

Confession: I will rejoice in the Lord and humble myself before Him because He resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

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