Mark Hankins Ministries

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The North Side of the Mountain

Several years ago, I bought Trina a beautiful grand piano. One day, I heard beautiful classical music when I came into the house and knew someone other than Trina was playing our piano. I walked into the room and was ready to confront this stranger in my house.  What I didn't know was that the piano tuner had come to tune it.  He quickly introduced himself and I calmed down and began to talk to the gentleman as he finished tuning the piano. He explained to me that our piano had a particularly “sweet” sound. 

I was curious as to what makes a piano have a sweet sound?  When I asked him what he meant, he explained that piano manufacturers prefer to use the wood from the spruce trees that grow in the highest parts of the mountains. The higher altitudes and the cold north winds make it difficult for trees to grow and survive. As a result, the wood grain usually grows stronger together. He said most piano manufacturers prefer the wood that comes from the trees growing on the north side of the mountain. In fact, some will only use the wood from the north side of these particular trees because this wood produces the sweetest sounds. I found it interesting that the sweetest music comes from the trees that grow in the most brutal environment.

Many times, we face difficult things in life that threaten to destroy us. However, the Holy Spirit works in our spirits with mighty power and enables us to stand. He will cause the “wood grain” to grow finer so that the “sweet sounds” of joy and faith are heard coming from within. The very things the devil meant for destruction can result in your faith becoming stronger.  What the devil meant for evil, God has turned for good!

When the Apostle Paul and Barnabas found themselves in jail after preaching the gospel, instead of complaining, they prayed and sang praises to God. The sweet sounds of praise resulted in the earthquake that set them free!  The greatest men and women of God have all faced challenges on the “north side” of the mountain.  Refusing to quit, they acted on the Word of God and found strength to do the will of God.  Isaiah 41:10 AMPC says, “Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.” The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 3:16 (AMPC) wrote, “May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].”

What will you do when you are facing the pressures of life and you feel like you’re that spruce tree growing on the highest, coldest, north side of the mountain?  What is the secret to surviving and finishing your course?  How can you make a sweet sound instead of a broken, out-of tune noise?  Count it all joy!

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations, knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.  James 1:2-3

The joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10

Rejoice in the Lord always…. Philippians 4:4

How can you rejoice in the middle of trouble?  You KNOW something other people don’t.  Paul said, “I KNOW whom I have believed,” 2 Timothy 1:12. In Job 19:25, Job said, “I KNOW that my Redeemer liveth” (Job 5:22).  1 Peter 1:8-9 says, "Yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith.”   You must know that the “wood grain” of your spirit is growing strong and fine, and you will overcome.  You will see God’s perfect and entire plan.  Get ready for the sweet sound of victory that gives glory to God!”

Our recent mission to Turkey was a powerful success that strengthened pastors and church leaders who came from Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Pakistan, Bulgaria, Europe, and the US. Thank you for your generosity to help distribute our books to these people groups.  You enabled many pastors to receive the teaching and the deluge of the Holy Spirit that fell.  Get ready for a massive harvest! 

Thank you also for your partnership on the new Conference Center.  You are invited to our first conference on November 7 – 9, 2023.  We would love for you to make plans to come and be a part of our first meeting as we teach on one of my favorite subjects, In Christ.

For a gift of any amount, we will send you the CD set, North Side of the Mountain and our book, The Holy Spirit is a Genius.  We believe these items will feed your faith.  Thank you for your faithful partnership with us and we declare that “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”


In Christ,
Mark and Trina Hankins

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The Holy Spirit: Our Strengthener

I have found that the Holy Spirit has a reputation for working with some real losers and making them champions! Smith Wigglesworth, said that with the power of the Holy Spirit, he was a thousand times bigger on the inside than he was on the outside. He said, “The Holy Spirit has power over your intellect and power over your voice. He has the power to magnify Christ in a way you never could without his help.” The Holy Spirit will take what Christ has done for you and translate it into your personal victory (John 16:13-15 AMPC).

There is an effective prayer found in Ephesians 3:14-21. Paul prays that God, through the Holy Spirit’s power, “...would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.” The Holy Spirit lives in you, the believer, and supplies strength to the things in your character that may be weak. His assignment is to take all Jesus has done for you and make it a reality in you.

Jesus said in John 16:7, “It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”

The Greek word for Comforter is parakletos. It not only means consolation, sympathy in sorrow or distress, but it includes much more. William Barclay describes the work of the parakletos this way: “The function of the Holy Spirit is to fill a man with the spirit of power and courage; which would make him triumphantly cope with life. The narrowing of the word “comforter” has resulted in the undue narrowing of the work of the Holy Spirit. He is called in to render service; to help in a situation with which a man by himself cannot cope; He will keep a man on his feet when left to himself would collapse. The Holy Spirit enables him to pass the breaking point and not break.”

One powerful way the Holy Spirit strengthens and helps us is by making intercession for us. Romans 8:26,27 says, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” P.C. Nelson explains the Greek meaning for that phrase is: “groanings that cannot be uttered in your articulate speech.” The Holy Spirit comes to our aid when we are at a loss as to what to say or how to pray. The Holy Spirit takes hold together with us when we pray.

Rick Renner gives this insight on the Greek meaning of the word “infirmities.” He explains that this is a crippling disease, mental oppression, a terminal condition, and reoccurring plague, which is incurable. It is as if a person has fallen into a pit with no way of escape. YOU MAY HAVE GIVEN UP, BUT HE NEVER DOES! This is when the Holy Spirit, who is your Helper, your First Responder, gets in the pit with you, makes intercession, and lifts you out of an incurable or hopelessly reoccurring situation.

One way to strengthen yourself spiritually is to build yourself up on your most holy faith by praying in the Spirit. The only way you can be defeated is if you are spiritually depleted. Jude 20 says, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.” The New English Bible uses the words, “fortify yourselves.” The Amplified Bible says, “make spiritual progress.” You are actually enriching your faith when you pray in the Spirit.

For example, the substance Uranium-235 (U-235) can be compared to the substance of your faith (Romans 12:3; Hebrews 11:1). U-235 is used to make nuclear power and once U-235 is enriched; it becomes extremely powerful. Just one pound of highly enriched U-235 can be used to power a nuclear submarine or aircraft carrier for 25 years and is equal to about a million gallons of gasoline. When you consider the fact that a pound of U-235 is smaller than a baseball and a million gallons of gasoline would fill a container as tall as a five-story building, you get an idea of the amount of energy available in just a little bit of enriched U-235!

U-235 which is enriched to 2-3% is used for civilian use such as electricity. However, weapons-grade U-235 must be enriched to over 90% for it to have explosive amounts of power. Just as U-235 can be enriched, your faith can be enriched as you pray in the Spirit. Just a little mustard seed size of enriched faith can move a mountain. It will cause you to rise out of the pit you have been in. With the help of the Holy Spirit, your Strengthener, you will gain a tremendous advantage and win an overwhelming victory!

This month we would like to offer you our book, The Holy Spirit is a Genius, and our 4 CD set, The Holy Spirit: My Best Friend for your offering of $20 or more. We believe these resources will give further light and revelation of the help and strength that come from the Holy Spirit.

FAITH TO FAITH AND GLORY TO GLORY

We are thankful to be celebrating 50 years of preaching and teaching the Word of God around the world this year. We are also excited that our new MHM Conference Center is over 75% completed and will help expand our reach even further in 2023. We are so thankful for our wonderful partners who pray for us, give, and are a constant encouragement to us as we take this message of faith to many nations. We declare this blessing to you, “You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus,” Philippians 4:19 (MSG).

In Christ,

Mark & Trina Hankins

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