Mark Hankins Ministries

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November 2020 -  Pass the Breaking Point

CHARGED UP

While traveling through the airport, I looked high and low for a place to charge my cell phone. I noticed a group of people gathered around a station where you could plug in any model of phone for a quick energy charge.  Even though my phone had 100,000 different sources of information on it, none of them were useful if my phone ran out of power.  So, I pressed in to get my phone plugged in!

It is the same with a Christian.  We have limitless possibilities in Christ, but none work if our spirits are not charged up.  There is a gauge on cell phones that shows how much power the battery has.  Wouldn’t it be great if Christians had a power gauge on their foreheads?  When the power is low, faith, love and joy begin to get weak.  Cell phones usually need to be charged up daily.  God is the only self-energizing Being and we have to be charged continuously with the power that comes from Him.  I love Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21.  This is a post-resurrection prayer every Christian should pray daily.

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height; and to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

 Recognize the Power on the Inside

Most prayers we pray have to do with the things outside us, but this prayer in Ephesians 3 has to do with the inner man. “...even though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day,” 2 Corinthians 4:16.  When I was in San Diego, I noticed many buildings had cables running along the outside from the top to the bottom, corner to corner. When I asked why, I found out that these buildings had been built without proper reinforcements to preserve them from damage during an earthquake. They had gone back with the cables to strengthen these structures so they wouldn’t collapse.

The first thing Paul prays in Ephesians 3 is for our spirits to be strengthened.   There must be a reinforcing of the Holy Spirit to keep us from collapsing during difficult times. The Philips translation puts Ephesians 3:16 this way, “…and I pray then that out of the glorious richness of his resources he will enable you to know the strength of the Spirit’s inner reinforcement….”

 Passing the Breaking Point

The Greek word “Parakletos” is translated Comforter and gives a wonderful description one of the functions of the Holy Spirit.  His activity is to comfort (parakalein in the Greek).  It means to exhort or urge and the example given is a general who exhorts his troops who are about to go into battle.  He rallies and cheers them to fight, to accept the risk of battle.  He will give a speech to urge others on and put courage into the faint-hearted.  He is one who makes a very ordinary man cope gallantly with a perilous and dangerous situation. It is the kind of comfort and consolation in distress which keeps a man on his feet, when, left to himself, he would collapse. It is the comfort which enables a man or woman to pass the breaking point and not to break. (William Barclay)

There are four ways we can strengthen or charge our spirits.  (1) PRAY IN THE SPIRIT.  When we pray in the Spirit, we are speaking to God and are edified, built up, or charged (Jude 20; 1 Corinthians 14:2).  (2) FEED ON THE WORD.  Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.  Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Matthew 4:4; Romans 10:17).  (3) SPEAK THE WORD AND PRAISE GOD.  “Out of the mouths of babes and infants, you have established strength,” “perfected praise.” (Psalm 8:2; Matt. 21:16; Jeremiah 1:12, Joshua 1:8; Revelation 12:11) (4) SUPERNATURAL RELATIONSHIPS.  God has designed the body of Christ with “joints” and “ligaments” knit together for the supply of nourishment (Colossians 2:19; Hebrews 10:24,25)

Because of supernatural relationships and partnerships in Jesus’ ministry and in the early church great things were accomplished. Likewise, we thank God for you, our partners! Because of your financial and prayer support, lives are daily transformed by the Word received through books, television, the internet, social media and our MHM app.  Check out our new products on the insert included in this letter!  Ground is about to be broken for the new MHM Conference Center, which will host conferences and prayer.  Many who have been blessed from the Word distributed by MHM are contributing, and construction will soon begin! Many are giving $1,000 or any amount to help meet our remaining goal of $400,000. “And those who are taught the Word must share all good things with their teacher; a sharing of wealth takes place between them.” Galatians 6:6 (TPT).  This is our promise from Philippians 4:19: “My God shall supply all YOUR needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 In Christ,

Mark and Trina

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September 2020 - September to Remember

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Dear Partner,

2020 has been an unforgettable year of many challenges.  For some it’s been one of loss and for many, it’s been a year of open doors to new opportunities.  We believe this month will be A September To Remember.  The Holy Spirit has been reminding us of story after story of God’s miraculous provision when we trust Him in the area of our finances.  “Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,” 1 Chronicles 16:12.  Let’s take time to remember, to testify, and to tell our children what the Lord has done for us.

Years ago, when I was a pastor, the biggest giver in the church walked out and I felt hopeless.  I was wondering how we would support the missionaries and pay the bills without this man’s support.   The Lord spoke to me and said, The biggest giver is still here.”  When I asked Him who that giver was, He said, “It’s Me!  As long as I’m here, you’ll never lack for anything.”  I have to say that was true and God has never failed. 

I remember when I was part of a meeting at my dad’s church.  I wasn’t ministering during this service, but one of the speakers was teaching from 1 John 5:14-15 about how we can receive anything we ask for when we praySeveral of this pastor’s church ladies were sitting on the row behind me. I commented to Pastor David Shearin, who was sitting beside me, that “anything” means refrigerators.  I was confused as to why I said that but on the inside the Holy Spirit said, “There’s a woman sitting behind you who has prayed and believed Me for a refrigerator.”  At the end of that meeting, I got up and shared what the Holy Spirit told me and asked that woman to stand.  One of those women stood up. She told us she was caring for a houseful of foster children and her refrigerator had gone out.  The day before she had gone to the store to look at refrigerators.  She did not have the money to buy one, but she prayed and believed God He would provide.  I told her the Lord told me to buy it for her.   Immediately this lady began to rejoice like I’d never seen before!   She danced, she shouted, and before long we all joined in!  God cares about His children.  He hears every believing prayer and sends the answer when we pray.

I also remember the time I bought my dad a Rolex watch. I actually wanted a Rolex, but the Holy Spirit prompted me to get him one first.  He was getting up in age and all he had ever worn was a Timex.  I took him to the jewelry store, and he picked out a beautiful Rolex.  I really didn’t have the money to do that (I made payments for a year on it) but I never regretted honoring my dad.  After he went to heaven, my mother gave me his Rolex and it’s the watch I wear today.  Another time, I wanted to get him a new suit.  We were at the store and he couldn’t make his mind up between two suits that he really liked.  I realized this was my opportunity to bless my father.  I counted it an honor to spend the extra money and bought him both suits, along with shirts and ties.           

Another unforgettable moment to remember was in the Philippines.  A group of ministers from Vietnam were attending our conference and I felt like the Holy Spirit wanted to bless them, so I called them forward and gave them each a hundred-dollar bill.  They were so thankful and actually fell on their faces and began to weep in gratitude.  I later found out the wages they earned in an entire year was only one hundred dollars.  Jesus wanted to bless them.  I was so grateful to be a part.

Remember the woman who broke the alabaster box of perfume and poured it on Jesus’ head?  While some around criticized her extravagant demonstration of love, calling it a waste, Jesus said, “Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always...but me ye have not always,” Mark 14:6.  She didn’t realize it at the time, but she was actually anointing Jesus for His burial. The rich fragrance of the oil must have comforted Him with each step towards His crucifixion, reminding Him of this woman’s gratitude and worship.  She will never be forgotten, and her story is still being told wherever the Gospel is preached. 

God wants to bless His children, but He uses people to reach out with generosity to help or honor them.  Opportunities are everywhere if we will take them. We recently ate at a restaurant and the waitress was a preacher’s daughter and a Bible School student.  We gave her a good tip and she was so thankful that God prompted us to bless her more.  In fact, all the pastors at the table wanted to give and she was blessed with over $800.   What we didn’t know was she was broke, had just wrecked her car, needed money to go home and she had just cried out to God for a breakthrough.  Her need was our opportunity to make a difference, to let her know her Father God would take care of her.  There’s no telling where the blessing will end when we are generous.

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith,” Galatians 6:10. The blessings of giving are not just financial, but they are spiritual and eternal.   “Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. I am full, having received...things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:15-19.   

Your partnership with the ministries of MHM are a sweet-smelling aroma that get the attention of God.  We believe as you remember what the Lord has done and recognize the opportunities He has given; this will be an incredible “September To Remember.”

In Christ,
Mark and Trina

Click here to see more information about the MHM Conference Center.   

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