Mark Hankins Ministries

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In Christ

I fly on commercial airlines from time to time and when checking in for the flight, they always ask for proof of identification. I cannot tell them, “Here I am. Can’t you see this is me?” That’s not enough. You cannot prove who you are without presenting official identification. In the Kingdom of God, all of us must carry spiritual identification to do spiritual business. The Word of God must be engrafted into your inner man, so you will live in the consciousness of who you are in Christ (James 1:22). It is your official, legal identification. The anointing of the Holy Spirit will confirm that you are who God says you are, and you have what God says you have. Every touch of the anointing will supply your true identity in Christ.

The words “identification, identity, identical, identified” are all related to each other. Identification is defined in Webster’s Dictionary as: “considering or treating as the same; the condition or fact of being the same in all qualities under consideration.” Many people live and die and never really find their true identity. They never figure out who they are, so they act like someone else. Some identify with a celebrity, sports figure, cowboy, gangster, or someone who made an impression on them. Others identify with a problem that they have and call themselves by that name, such as divorced, alcoholic, or bankrupt. Some people identify with their work so much that if they were to lose their job, they’d lose their identity. Many primarily identify with their race or nationality. There are even websites to help you trace your ancestry. Some have experienced identity theft where thieves have broken into their financial account. Others are confused about their identity and even their gender.

But there is good news! Your identity in Christ supersedes every other identity! What happened to Jesus is greater than anything that has ever happened to you. The reality of redemption will swallow up your old identity. Jesus took your identical condition on the cross so you can receive His identical condition. Just because something has happened to you does not mean that is who you are. Your identity is different from your behavior. The revelation of your identity in Christ Jesus must be stronger than any other identification, and that revelation will change your behavior. You can never rise in life above your own understanding of who you are in Christ. It was God who identified us with Christ in His death, burial, resurrection, and His being seated in Heaven. Therefore, the strongest revelation in the Bible is who we are in Christ Jesus!


Throughout the Bible, God changed people’s identities. Sometimes they did not even recognize who God said they were. For example, God called Gideon a mighty man of valor when he was living in a cave. He changed Abram to Abraham, the father of many, when he had no children. He changed Abraham’s identity and destiny. Sarai’s name was changed to Sarah, meaning princess. Jacob, the deceiver, was changed to Israel, the prince of God.

Saul of Tarsus name was changed to Paul. He went on to write more than half of the New Testament and establish churches during his three missionary journeys.

Jesus changed Simon, whose name meant reed, to Peter, meaning a piece of the rock. The moment the Holy Spirit gave Peter the revelation of who Jesus was, he said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus immediately turned around and gave Peter his identity. He said, “Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:16-19) The moment we confess who Jesus is, He will tell us who we are.

All these Bible characters had to have an identity change to carry the spiritual inheritance God wanted them to carry. We too, must have an identity change to fulfill the destiny and dream God has for us. He may call us something when there is no physical evidence to support it, but He reserves the right as our Creator to show us how He sees us and what He sees in us. Jesus actually holds the copyright for humanity! He is the original manufacturer, and He can re-manufacture, remake, and reveal to you who He says you are! Do not let anyone else tell you who you are. Only God, your Creator, has the right to determine your true identity.

Even Jesus Christ found His identity in the scriptures and declared it. (Isaiah 61:1,2; Luke 4:18) Likewise, you must declare your identity in Christ to fulfill your destiny.

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


Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ... Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it. Ephesians 2:10 (TPT)

FAITH FOR EVERY NATION

For your offering of $20 or more we will send you our brand-new CD set, A Man In Christ and two books, The Power of Identification and Taking Your Place In Christ. We believe these messages will strengthen your faith in this area. You can also download the MHM app and listen to all our messages for free. Remember, you must have a change of identity to fulfill your divine destiny!


This is the message God has mandated for us to take into all the world! A great door of opportunity is before all of us as we partner together. In August, we will be in Turkey for a regional meeting, which will gather pastors and leaders from Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Your prayer and financial support is crucial and will enable us to bring the revelation supply that will ignite and equip them, as well as put our books that have been translated into the languages of Farsi and Turkish into their hands.

A lot of people have asked about the progress of our new Conference Center. We have finished all the construction and now are installing flooring, sound system, screens, TV studio lighting, and ordering the chairs. Our first conference that is open to everyone will be November 7-9, 2023! We are believing for another $200,000 to finish this project! Thank you so much for your generous giving as we have built the Conference Center. We believe it will greatly increase our reach through conferences and the television programs! We declare to you, our partners, that, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus,” Phil. 4:19.

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in Faith

It Is Time To Promulgate!

There are two ordinances in the Church which demonstrate our identification with Christ: water baptism and communion. We know that water baptism represents being buried with Christ and risen with Him to walk in newness of life. The Apostle Paul refers to communion as the “cup of blessing” (1 Cor. 10:16). In fact, communion, or what we call, the “Lord’s Supper,” shows or proclaims our union with Christ in His body and His blood.

PROMULGATE: MAKE IT LEGAL!

1 Corinthians 11:26 says, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” Look at the word “shew.” It is kataggello in the Greek and means “to proclaim, promulgate, declare, and preach.” The word “promulgate” means “to put (a law or decree) into effect by official proclamation.” This same word is used in Colossians 2:15. “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he [Jesus] made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” Jesus was
publicly proclaiming His complete defeat of Satan’s kingdom and our complete victory in His resurrection. If we are going to live like Him, it is time we start declaring some things too. It is time to promulgate!

Make these declarations now: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me. I live by the faith of the Son of God. I am dead to sin. The old person has died, and sin has no dominion over me. I am enjoying a new existence, which is Jesus using my body. I am a new creation. The old is gone and I’m living a fresh, new life!”

THIS IS YOUR SEASON TO BE HEALED AND MADE NEW!


2 Corinthians 5:17 says if any man be in Christ he is a new creation. The New Living Bible says he is “a brand-new person inside.” The Stanter translation says, “...a new world has at once opened upon him, an old world has passed away.” The New English Bible says, “...the old order has gone, and a new order has already begun.”

I also like how the Amplified Bible translates this: “...if any man is engrafted in Christ.” In horticulture, grafting takes place in order to strengthen a plant, to change varieties, or to cause two different plants to grow together as one. However, there can be no grafting without first wounding or cutting them. Likewise, Jesus was wounded so we could be engrafted into Him.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.                                                                     

Isaiah 53:5–6


The word “borne” is the Hebrew word nasa, which means “to lift.” Jesus has lifted our sorrows and has taken our torment so that we can have perfect peace. We do not have to be bound by shame, rejection, or feelings of abandonment. Instead, we can let the cleansing blood of Jesus heal us where we have been wounded by life. His precious blood will silence the accuser’s voice that tell us, “It’s your fault.” It will stop all self-condemnation. Some of the most powerful words are those found in Hebrews 2:14–15: “...through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” We have been delivered by the precious blood of Jesus!

IT IS TIME TO PROMULGATE

Declare right now: “I am a completely new person in Christ. The old person I was is gone. There is a new world opened to me where all things are new. By Jesus’ wounds I am healed and engrafted into Him. He has lifted my sorrows and griefs. I am no longer bound by fear! I now have perfect peace.”

PARTNERS IN CHRIST

This month, we want to offer you our book and CD series titled, “THE NEW.” We believe these resources will strengthen your faith and help you to walk in ALL that God has for you. We recently received a testimony of someone who listened to one of the messages in this series, The New: God Made Me Forget. He shared how much freedom he received from the Word. We believe the same freedom, healing, and victory is available for you through the blood of Jesus.

Posted by Mark and Trina Hankins with

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