Mark Hankins Ministries

April 2018 - Get Out of the Ruts You've Been Stuck In

GET OUT OF THE RUTS YOU’VE BEEN STUCK IN

Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.
-Isaiah 43:18-19 (Message)

There was a warning sign on a remote and muddy road marked by deep ruts that said, “Be careful of the ruts you get in because you could be stuck in them for the next 60 miles.” That is a long time to be stuck!  It has been proven that we have similar ruts in our brains from repeated ways of thinking. But there is a way to get out of those ruts we have been stuck in. And that is through sanctification.

Sanctification happens when we daily “reckon” on the reality of our union with Christ. The word reckon is an accounting term meaning to record the facts.  It is daily and continually offering every faculty—including our minds—continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit. We are transformed by the renewing of our minds (Eph. 4:23).

The Jerusalem Bible says in Ephesians 4:23 our mind must undergo a spiritual revolution. The first thing that takes place in a revolution is a complete takeover of communication. Philemon 6 says when we acknowledge every good thing which is in us in Christ, our faith will become effective and contagious.  People around us will see a difference. They will catch our faith.

YOU CAN HAVE A FRESH MENTAL ATTITUDE

God wants to do a work in your mind and imagination. Ephesians 4:24 (AMP) says, “Be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude].” Hebrews 10:16 follows this thought: “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, said the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.” The Amplified Bible says, “on their mind will I inscribe them (producing an inward change).”

This new life in Christ comes with a new way of thinking which brings a totally new lifestyle. What you struggled with in your past will be no more. 

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.  But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies...he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.
-Nahum 1:8–9

Sin and affliction have come to an end! That enemy will never come back.

So if anyone becomes united to Christ, he is a fresh Creation; the original conditions have passed away; mark! they have been replaced by new conditions.
-2 Corinthians 5:17 (Wade)

...he becomes a new person altogether—the past is finished and gone, everything has become fresh and new.
-Phillips

The power of the cross brings old things to an end. God has a new plan for your life! It is a dawning of a new day! The accuser must be silent. The enemies of fear, anxiety, shame, and guilt will never rise and come back to haunt you. You’ve put your trust in the blood of Jesus, you’re sanctifying yourself, and God is making a way where there was no way. Get ready for the new!

THE MESSAGE AND WORLD MISSIONS

In March, we concluded our annual Supernatural Leadership Conference. This year’s theme was “The New: Experiencing Breakthrough on Every Level.” It was a tremendous time of practical Bible-based instruction and a time of refreshing through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. There were hundreds of ministers in attendance (pastors, evangelists, teachers, missionaries and leaders) who were strengthened and equipped.

This month’s offer features our BRAND NEW booklet and 3 CD set called, “The New: Experiencing Breakthrough on Every Level.” We believe these materials will encourage you to expect a breakthrough as you obey God’s call in 2018.

We are anticipating a powerful impact being made in our three upcoming mission trips.  In April, we’ll return to Mexico City.  Then in May we are excited to be in Kiev, Ukraine and Nairobi, Kenya!  Your partnership in prayer and financial support will enable us to effectively teach pastors and leaders who come from all these regions. Believe with us for an outpouring from Heaven.

Most of all, we bless you, our partners, with these words from Philippians 4:18,19 (GW):  "Your gifts are a soothing aroma, a sacrifice that God accepts and with which he is pleased.  My God will richly fill your every need in a glorious way through Christ Jesus."

In Christ,
Mark and Trina

March 2018 - No More Condemnation

NO MORE CONDEMNATION

Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.  - Romans 8:33-34

This is the radical, revolutionary revelation of the reality of righteousness. If you believe this, you are a radical. You are not only a radical; you are a revolutionary. This means you are going to change some things in the world.  You have got radical, revolutionary Good News!

It is God who has declared you righteous. It is God who has justified you. God produced your righteousness by the blood of Jesus. Now in Christ, no one can say you don’t measure up or that you aren’t qualified. Why can’t anyone condemn you? Because no one else measures up to God’s standard of righteousness.

GOD WILL NOT REMEMBER YOUR SIN

I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.  - Isaiah 43:25-26

Your justification goes into effect the moment you receive divine approval. Since the blood of Jesus has the power to remove sin from the mind of God, it also has the power to remove sin from your mind. You no longer have to live with a sin consciousness or a guilty feeling, but you can now have a righteousness consciousness.

IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT

Several years ago a lady from our church was driving her family home late one night and fell asleep at the wheel.  The van she was driving turned over, killing her husband and one of her children. She called me in the middle of the night screaming, “I’ve killed my husband and my child!” Immediately we traveled to where she was to be with her. 

After the funeral she came back home, broken and alone. I knew how important it was to be in the presence of God. One Sunday I did not see her in church and told someone to go find her. They searched all around the church and found her outside in the bushes. She had hidden there and was sobbing, heartbroken and oppressed by guilt. She came back in the service that day and kept coming to church.

During one particular service, the Holy Spirit said to tell her, “It’s not your fault. It’s not your fault. It’s not your fault!” The anointing broke the guilt and shame tormenting her as I laid hands on her and she received the power of God. From that moment, she was restored, received peace, and was set free from oppression. If God declares you, “not guilty,” then you are not guilty (Romans 8:33,34).

Psychologists tell us if they could get rid of the sense of guilt, they could help eighty percent of patients who struggle with depression. They try to treat the depression, but what they use cannot reach the root of it. Isaiah 54:14 says, “In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.” The moment you are established in understanding righteousness, you will be far from oppression. What is oppression? It’s a dark cloud hanging over your head, pressure from thinking about what you did and shouldn’t have done. It is impossible to be depressed when you have a revelation of righteousness.   The blood of Jesus has the power to remove sin from the conscience and impart a righteousness consciousness.

FREE FROM SHAME

In the book, The Complete Life Encyclopedia, Christian psychologists, Minirth, Meier and Arterburn, say this about human behavior:

Shame is the issue that drives almost every compulsive, self-defeating behavior known to the human race. Shame is at the root of all addiction – whether it is an eating addiction, spending addiction, drug addiction, or approval addiction. It may be forgotten, hidden, or disguised, but the shame is there, it is real, and it drives behavior. In counseling it is sometimes the shame that surfaces first. In other cases, the addiction surfaces first. Because shame and addiction always go together, whenever we encounter one, we always look for the other – shame and addiction can always be found together.

How are you going to get rid of the shame? If the Gospel of Jesus Christ can get rid of the root of shame in your life, then it can change your behavior. Faith in the blood of Jesus brings freedom from a guilty conscience and replaces it with a sense of righteousness - of being right with God. Your thinking, your talking, and your behavior - everything changes. Most of all you can approach God with confidence and full assurance of faith.

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.   - Hebrews 10:22

…let us draw near with a sincere heart, in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled with the blood which cleanses all guilt from the conscience.  - Way 

Let’s cleanse our hearts from any unworthy feeling… - Jordan

DIVINE APPROVAL

This month we would like to offer you the CD sets, The Power of the Blood of Jesus and Divine Approval.  In addition, we also want to offer you our new book, Divine Approval.  As you listen, read and meditate on these resources, we believe you will have a revelation of righteousness and be set free from depression, shame and constantly seeking approval from others! 

Many thanks to you, our partners, for sending us to the nations.  Our next assignments will be to Mexico City, Nairobi, Kenya and the Ukraine. Your partnership is a tremendous blessing in the furtherance of the Gospel.  We are also distributing thousands of books in Kenya and also in Spanish speaking nations.  Your partnership is causing the Word to grow and multiply around the World.  Paul said in Philippians 4:19, “My God will supply all your need according to His riches in glory.”

We also want to invite you to our Supernatural Leadership Conference, March 13 – 16, 2018.  It is a time of instruction as well as impartation from the Holy Spirit.  Many have said, “It can’t be explained, it must be experienced.”  We invite everyone to come - all believers are welcome! 

In Christ,
Mark and Trina Hankins