Mark Hankins Ministries

Filter By:
in Faith

January 2021 - When God Captures Your Imagination

Dear Partner,

MEDITATION: WHEN GOD CAPTURES YOUR IMAGINATION

The power of God’s Word upon the imagination of a believer can create change - it doesn’t matter what is against you - it can change.  We see this in the story of Jacob in Genesis 30 and 31.  Jacob had been working for his father-in-law Laban and was ready to go out on his own. The agreement between them was that when Jacob left he could take all the streaked and spotted animals as his payment, but Laban broke the agreement and kept them for himself.

So, Jacob took fresh branches and peeled the bark so that they looked streaked and spotted.  He placed them in the water where the animals came to drink and to mate.  The young born to his solid-colored animals were streaked and spotted.

Jacob “saw” in a dream how to get God’s best.  He was dreaming or meditating.  The image of the spotted and streaked branches made an impression on the animals and on Jacob, too.  What was impossible came to pass as the image of what was possible was imprinted on their minds. Jacob’s streaked and spotted herd kept multiplying until he became very wealthy. Gen. 31:10 AMP says, “And I had a dream at the time the flock conceived. I looked up and saw that the rams which mated with the she - goats were streaked, speckled, and spotted.”

God’s Word is Spirit and it is life.  It is creative and as we sit before His promises, they paint a picture on the canvas of our minds that turns our doubt to faith and makes new things come to pass.  When you meditate on the Word, God, who is one with His Word,  captures your imagination.  Peter uses the phrase, “the loins of your mind” in 1 Peter 1:13, referring to your creative mental ability.  “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”

TRANSFORMING POWER

There is transforming power in meditating on God’s Word because the Holy Spirit works with the Word.  The word transformation in the Greek is metamorphoo, which means transform, change, transfigure.  It means being changed from the inside out. Two examples of transformations or a metamorphosis are a frog and a butterfly.  In Mark 9:2, Jesus was transfigured or transformed.  The glory that was in Him shined upon Him, on His face, His clothes. Another example of being transformed is Romans 12:2, “…be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” 

Now it’s time to be made new by every revelation that’s been given to you. And to be transformed as you embrace the glorious Christ-within as your new life and live in union with him! For God has re-created you all over again in his perfect righteousness, and you now belong to him in the realm of true holiness.” Ephesians 4:23-24 (TPT)

When you meditate on the Word of God, you are transformed mentally and physically.  You are glorified as God captures your imagination! 

Joshua attributed his success to meditation on God’s Word day and night (Joshua 1:8).

David delighted in the Word continually.  Each verse of Psalm 119 refers in some way to the delight and power David found as he meditated on the Word. “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day,” (Psalms 119:97). 

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night; and He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psalm 1:2,3 KJV

You thrill to God’s Word, you chew day and night.  You’re a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, never dropping a leaf, always in blossom.   (The Message Bible)                    

It shall not be anxious and full of care in the year of drought, nor shall it cease yielding fruit.  Jeremiah 17:7,8 AMPC

He is like a tree planted along the riverbank, with its roots reaching deep into the water-a tree not bothered by the heat nor worried by long months of drought. Its leaves stay green…. (Taylor)

Serene and calm through droughts, bearing fresh fruit every season. (Message Bible)

 It has no worries in the year of drought, and never ceases to bear fruit. (Jerusalem)

David said his delight was in the Law of the Lord.  What are those laws?  They are the Law of Faith (Romans 3:27); the Law of Love (1 Corinthians 13); the Law of the Spirit of Life (Romans 8:2); the Law of Sowing and Reaping (2 Corinthians 9:6-11). Every Christian is personally responsible to tap into the power of God through meditation, prayer and action.

HOW TO MEDITATE

The dictionary defines the word meditate as this: to talk with yourself, mutter, cogitate; it is an inward and outward conversation; it means to study, chew over, think over, ponder, excogitate, muse, reflect, mull over, speculate. The word cogitate means to think deeply, think out, think up, dream up, and to hatch.  Excogitate is to invent; create mentally. Meditation is a relationship with the Word of God.  Philippians 4:8 tells us to meditate or think about things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and begin praising instead of worrying.

For Christians, there is an escape from the corruption around us.  Through the new birth, God has given “exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:3,4) But the opposite is true also.  Romans 8:6 says, “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”  When your mind is under the influence of the Word and the Spirit, it produces life and peace.  The Word becomes engrafted in you as you meditate in it and the Word is able to save or restore your soul, which is your mind, your will and your emotions (James 1:21). When you are speaking God’s Word, pondering, muttering, turning it over, digesting, and dreaming about all of these great promises that are given to you, you begin to draw up divine power, just like a tree draws water out of the soil it is planted in.

 In the natural, digestion begins in the mouth and doctors say you should chew your food 32 times before swallowing.  God’s Word is faith food and is meant to digested spiritually through meditation. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).  Jeremiah 15:16 says, “Your words were found and I did eat them and they were to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.” -The Message Bible says, “Your words showed up, I ate them - swallowed them whole.  What a feast!”  Jerusalem Bible says, “I devoured them.”  Taylor translation says, “Your words are what sustained me, they are food to my soul.”

 In Mark 4, Jesus taught the importance of hearing the Word and compared it to seed. The most important thing was for the roots of the seed to go down into the soil, causing growth and fruit to come forth. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Wherever you have a need in your life, begin to gather seeds of the Word so that you can plant them in your heart and grow a crop of healing, peace, finances and even your family’s salvation.  While meditating on the Word of God, you are taking your medicine and your faith will grow. He sent His Word to heal you (Psalm 107:20, Proverbs 4:20-22).

 When God’s thoughts get in your eyes, your ears, your mouth, they will show up in your life. Paul practiced meditation.  In 1 Timothy 4:15, he said, “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear to all.” Those around you can see the results of the Word working in your life.  1 Corinthians 3:6 says, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.”  The planting occurs when you first hear the Word and then must be watered by repetition. Some reject the watering process and get no results from the Word they heard. If you don’t see increase, check out your watering or your meditation on the Word. 

Meditate in the Word until the light of revelation comes.  “The entrance of Thy Word giveth light,” Psalm 119:130.  David Yongii Cho said, “The language of the Holy Spirit is visions and dreams. We should always try to visualize the end result as we pray...If you have not visualized clearly in your heart exactly what you hope for, it cannot become a reality for you...Vision is the mother of faith.” 

ALLOW GOD TO CAPTURE YOUR IMAGINATION IN 2021!

This month we want to offer you a wonderful tool that will help assist in your study of the Word of God.  The Spirit Filled Scripture Study Guide is loaded with scriptures from over 120 different translations.  The Study Guide has sections such as faith, healing, righteousness, the Holy Spirit and more that will help you meditate on the Word.  For your offering of $35 or more, we will send you this study guide so you can feed your faith on the Word of God.


We want to thank you for your continual and faithful partnership with us in World Missions.  We are continuing to teach the Word in our daily LIVESTREAM Bible School and DAILY TELEVISION.  We are also moving forward with new BOOK TRANSLATION PROJECTS in new languages.  We are so thankful for your partnership with us as we continue to distribute the Word of God through every available way possible.  We are so close to breaking ground in our new CONFERENCE CENTER.  We are meeting with builders and just recently got the Fire Marshall approval.  Thank you for your generous giving toward this GLORY BARN! 

 In Christ,

 
Mark and Trina

 

 

 

Posted by Mark and Trina Hankins with
in Faith

December 2020 - GOD IS ABLE

TOP TEN PROMISES THAT RELEASE GOD’S ABILITY

 When facing impossible situations, it’s important to know YOU are the believer and GOD is the performer.  Remember the great and mighty things He has done and then put your faith in His ability. 

 God has never said, “Uh-oh!” He always has a plan.  GOD IS ABLE!  

Your belief system must be connected to your sound system.  Dr. Lilian B. Yeomans said it this way, “God has tied himself irrevocably to human cooperation in the execution of divine purposes. He has made man’s faith a determining factor in the work of redemption.”  Human cooperation begins with faith in your heart and is released with words of faith, such as: “I believe!” 

 Here is a list of 10 PROMISES THAT RELEASE GOD’S ABILITY. 

  • And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord,” then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you (Matthew 9:28-29).

 The moment they confirmed their belief by saying, “Yes, Lord” Jesus was able to open their blind eyes.  The first step to receiving their sight was to put their faith in Jesus’ ability. 

God delights in His children stepping out over the aching void with nothing under their feet but the Word of God.  -Lillian B. Yeomans        

  • For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless, I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that day (2 Timothy 1:12).

 Paul said this after many difficult hardships. Have faith in God’s ability to keep what you’ve committed to Him.  He has never changed His mind about the people He has called or the gifts He has given. There is a day of reward coming. I like what Martin Luther, who was persecuted greatly for his faith, said: “There are two days in my calendar: This Day and That Day.”  

There is an old song that expresses this well: It will be worth it all when we see Jesus! Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ. One glimpse of His dear face, all sorrow will erase. So bravely run the race ‘til we see Christ.

  •  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:25).

 “Therefore, He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them,” AMPC.  

Trust God’s ability to save. Remember the Greek word for save is sozo, which includes healing, preservation, provision, soundness and deliverance. When we pray for others, we are partnering with God to save them. Jesus is the intercessor in heaven while the Holy Spirit helps us to intercede here in the earth. 

  • For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted (Hebrews 2:18). He is able to aid those who are tempted.  

“For because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is able [immediately] to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are being tempted and tested and tried [and who therefore are being exposed to suffering],” AMP.   

The prodigal son left his father’s house and spent his inheritance on foolish living. He was living alone in a pig pen. When his money was gone, so were his friends.  One day he came to himself and decided to get up and go home. His father was watching for him to come home, just as he’d done since the day his son left.  Perhaps in his heart, the father heard the cry of his lost son, because when he saw the boy walking up the road, he ran to meet him.  When the Father God hears our cry for help, He is able to run to help us in time of need.

  • And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform (Romans 4:19-21).

Our God is a performer!  He is able to perform miracles.  Abraham received a promise from God that he would be the father of a great nation, but at 100 years of age he still had no heir.  It looked impossible.  But as he turned to God alone and began to praise the one who gave him the promise, His praise strengthened his ability to receive a miracle that turned back time and made him a father.  Abraham put his faith completely in God’s ability. God is able also to perform His promise to you today! 

  • Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king (Daniel 3:17). 

Three young Hebrew men were on trial for their stand for God.  They were thrown into the fiery furnace, but they had faith in their God’s ability to deliver them.  They proved that when you stand for God, He will stand for you!  Jesus walked into the fire with them and delivered them.  When they came out of the furnace they didn’t even smell like smoke! 

  • Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand (Romans 14:4). 

If God is for you, who can be against you?  Satan is the accuser, but Jesus is our Advocate and you can trust the power of His blood to make us stand.  That should make us reconsider accusing any child of God, no matter what they’ve done. You can be confident that the good work God has begun, He will bring to a full completion.

 

  • God is not only the author, but the finisher of your faith. “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy (Jude 1:24).  

One the day of Pentecost, Peter didn’t even mention his failure and that he denied Jesus three times.  He could have ended up in “preacher’s rehab,” but when he was baptized in the Holy Spirit, he stood up and preached the Gospel. Thousands were saved!  Jesus had kept him from falling and now he was doing exactly what Jesus said he’d do.  Jesus’ prayer brings the keeping power of God and ability to finish your course with joy. 

  • And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8). 

God’s ability will work in your finances, as it did for some of the poorest members of the church in Macedonia.  Because of their joy-filled generosity, they moved from extreme poverty into financial prosperity.  Instead of being the needy ones, God’s ability gave them the ability to give out of their abundance to help other churches. 

  • Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us (Ephesians 3:20). 

God desires to reveal His grace and great plan of redemption through the church. He uses ordinary people who take their place in Christ and are strengthened with the mighty power and love of the Holy Spirit. Smith Wigglesworth said, “We are commanded by God to be filled with the Spirit, and in the measure you fail of this, you are that far short of the plan of God.”  God is able do great and mighty things to and through anyone who is filled with His Presence. 

You will have what you desire in proportion to your faith. Feed your faith on these TEN PROMISES THAT RELEASE GOD’S ABILITY.  We have enclosed a card with these scriptures so you can keep them in front of you.  Say, “Lord, I believe. Help me get rid of unbelief.”  

This month we have a BRAND-NEW CD set we want to offer you, God is Able.  We encourage you to get these messages and feed your faith on these scriptures.  Expect to see God’s ability in your life, your family, your finances, your health – in EVERY area of your life.  For your offering of $25 or more this month – we will send you these messages as well as the CD set, Opening the Door to the Supernatural, and the book, Faith Opens the Door to the Supernatural.  We believe your faith will stay strong and you will see mountains moved and God’s faithfulness in your life.  

We agree with you for the ability of God to be manifested in your life!  We are so thankful for your partnership with us.  We want to ask you to send your picture (either by mail or via email ) so we can add them to our partner wall in our office.  We pray for you, our partners, every day.  

As partners with us, you share in the grace of God in our lives and we know that our God will supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus!  

In Christ,

Mark and Trina

Posted by Mark and Trina Hankins with

12345678910 ... 2526