Author: Hank

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At a time when the world was ruled by the Romans, and politics was filled with hatred, and people were groaning over injustices, John 1:29 records in Galilee, far from Washington and political hotbeds, John the Baptist, seeing Jesus come toward him and saying, “… Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

John’s gospel with a few words proclaimed Jesus’ destiny: sacrificial agony and death on the cross for the sin of all mankind. Something far greater than government and politics.

Notice that John didn’t say, “Behold, the great example,” or “Behold, the great teacher” – it was “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

One powerful sentence summarizing the work and purpose of Jesus’ coming: to resolve the greatest issue of all: the sin problem afflicting humanity.

The sacrificial lamb who takes away…. THE sin. THE sin. John does not say ‘sins’ but THE SIN of the world: as if the whole mass of human transgression and evilness was bound together, in one black, ugly bundle — and laid upon Jesus. It conveys the sense that the entire guilt of humanity was collected into one — and placed upon Jesus.

Of the WORLD. This one sacrifice was sufficient to forgive every sin. Cleanse every sinner. Make everyone righteous before God. Not only of those who would believe in Him – but sufficient for every person ever born – or who will yet be born. Of every sin committed and every sin yet to be committed.

This is — VERY Good News! 

John 3:17-18 in the Message Bible says it well, “God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending His Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in Him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust Him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.”

It’s that failure to believe that will send a person to hell, that cannot be forgiven. 

So, while it is still called “Today” — be Jesus focused. Be that witness. Give that testimony. Share the love of God. It’s what the world needs — to COME ALIVE!

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What a grand day it is, my friend! For we are living in New Covenant times. Jesus did all the necessary stuff for us to become sons and daughters of the Living God. We ARE righteous new creations without condemnation — without sin, for He has taken our sin away. Forever.

In this New Covenant He has put His laws into our minds and written them, not on stone but upon our hearts! And talk about awesome — Heb 8:12 says He will be merciful to us and remember our sins no more! Not IF we obey, not IF we are good little Christians. NO! It’s unconditional: Believe upon Jesus and God WILL be merciful to you.

Heb 4:16 refers to God’s throne now as the Throne of Grace! And urges us to draw near with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Today if you think you have to pray and pray, harder and harder, rising earlier and earlier, to have God hear you — if you think you have to fast and sacrifice and shut yourself off from your family and others in order to hear from God — or have those prayers answered; well, may I suggest you are in a place of unbelief, of DISOBEDIENCE to Jesus’ work at Calvary! Shocked? I hope so!

He has made us holy, that means set apart, by His blood. Set in a place where our prayers ARE heard, and we hear His voice. Our efforts to be holy cannot improve on what Jesus has done. So enter in my friend, through the blood; and find rest in His presence.

Recently there was a huge Christian gathering at our capitol, to pray for our nation. One awesome speaker followed another. Many made reference to 2 Chron 7:14 – IF My people who are called by My name .. THEN.…

“If — then?” IF we get our ducks lined up, THEN God will act on our behalf? Hey! Jesus lined up all our ducks, everyone’s ducks, so God could be merciful to all, and then He took away the ducks, replacing them with His everliving, everlasting BLOOD. It’s about His blood. Believe His blood is sufficient.

Then pray for America! Come BOLDLY before your Heavenly Father today. Heb 4:16. BOLDLY ask for His mercies on America, her leaders, her people. BOLDLY ask for His grace to abound in this land – not because America deserves it – it’s not about those ducks – it’s what JESUS has done. 

Yes, take advantage of what Jesus has done – by praying BOLDLY, that this nation may — COME ALIVE!

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Last message we took a look at Isaac, Rebekah, Esau and Jacob. A family where no one trusted anyone, not even God. They struggled with believing God and His unbreakable, unshakeable promises regarding birthright and blessing.

Many many Christians are in a similar struggle – a struggle to receive their inheritance – an inheritance purchased for them by the blood of Jesus! Ephesians chapter 1has a few of them. Ro 14:17 Righteousness, peace and joy are some others.

An earthly inheritance is sometimes thwarted by evil family members or others. Maybe you know someone who was robbed of their rightful inheritance? Human nature is nasty. In Matthew 21 Jesus told the parable of the son, the vineyard, and the workers. The owner sent servants to receive the produce at harvest time. The workers mistreated them. He sent his son. Verse 38 says, “But when the workers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’” And they did kill Jesus.

But God’s Word does not fail. The death (and resurrection) of Jesus opened the door for countless millions of heirs to be born into the Kingdom having a breathtaking inheritance! Including you and me!

What about OUR spiritual inheritance? Is something keeping you from righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit? Suffering under condemnation? Or experiencing an open heavens from which God’s fullness and grace and mercies and blessings are raining down, irregardless of YOUR performance?

What’s the main block to receiving God’s inheritance? Same as with Isaac’s family: a lack of trusting God. Unbelief.

Read Hebrews 3 & 4 closely. It warns an evil unbelieving HEART, of the deceitfulness of sin. It tells of a generation of people who heard the word of God, His promises — but it did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in their hearts.

Three times the writer of Hebrews refers to the Israelites as being disobedient. We usually think of disobedience as some sinful action, or a refusal to do something. Notice the writer is speaking of disobedience — of the heart.

God saying, “Believe Me.” And demonstrating His goodness, mercies and salvation. The people saying in their hearts, “We will NOT believe you.” “We refuse to take you at your word!” “We will go back to Egypt. We will make golden calves. We will keep our idols and keep on doing our idolatrous practices.” Heart first, then actions.

OUCH! My friend, ouch! Today, while it is still called “Today” — believe that every promise of God is YOURS. Believe what God says about you is true. Let His word define you, not your circumstances — and COME ALIVE!

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Let’s take a look today at a family in Jesus’ lineage: Isaac and Rebekah, their children Esau and Jacob.

When the children were struggling in the womb, it says in Gen 25:22 that Rebekah inquired of the Lord – and He told her that the older shall serve the younger. That’s the birthright – Jacob would be the heir of God’s covenant of salvation. By God’s choice.

Did she treasure this divine news? Share it with Isaac? With the children? We don’t really know.

But we do know from Gen 25:29-34 that Esau, the outdoorsy guy, when hungry, sold his birthright for a bowl of stew to his something of a scoundrel brother Jacob. The birthright determined who would inherit the covenant God made with Abraham; it was REALLY IMPORTANT.

So odd — Jacob was scheming in the flesh to gain something God had said was already his. And Esau – saw no value in it, at least not if you are hungry! And according to God’s word it wasn’t his to sell. Sheeez.

It gets worse in chapter 27. Jacob already has the birthright; and now he steals the blessing! You might read up on birthrights and blessings in the Old Testament – VERY important stuff!

Another oddity. Isaac insists on giving the blessing to Esau, the one whom God did not choose, who despised his birthright, and who married pagan wives that caused his parents great distress. What was Isaac doing? Maybe it was the willfulness of his old age. Did he realize he was acting contrary to God’s word?

In this house, it seemed no one trusted anyone else. Or trusted God.
Instead of trusting God to fulfill what He had promised, Rebekah used manipulative scheming to accomplish what she thought was God’s plan – and, likely, also her preference. Spurgeon has commented that good men have gone very wrong when they have thought of aiding in the fulfillment of promises of God.

It seems in this tragic story, everyone lost. Everyone suffered, because they insisted on their own solutions rather than trusting God’s word and finding rest in it.

NEVERTHELESS, God still accomplished His purpose. Isn’t that encouraging? Our mess-ups do not automatically result in a thwarting of His purposes, although they may mean difficulties for us in this life.

Yes, this life, TODAY. We have a birthright and blessings that are ours through Jesus Christ. Let me ask you (and me) — are we functioning according to our birthright and receiving God’s blessings – by faith? Or are we wearing out through scheming and maneuvering in human wisdom and energy – to build a bigger church, bigger ministry, have a better life – compromising ethics and integrity just to ‘help God out.’ Hmmm.

Eph 1:3-14 show us a FEW of the riches that are ours by birthright, the new birth, in Jesus. For example:
Every spiritual blessing is ours. Don’t do without a single moment longer!
We are chosen in Jesus, adopted into God’s family. Reject rejection, friend!
Totally accepted by God in Jesus. No conditions!
Totally redeemed. Totally forgiven. No conditions – it’s the blood!
The riches of God’s grace are ours. We are saved by grace through faith, and there’s much more.

Be transformed by THESE TRUTHS; you’ll — COME ALIVE!

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In this tumultuous year of 2020, it’s good to have a heavenly perspective. It will keep you cool, calm, and sane my friend! And what could be more heavenly than the book of Revelation?

It begins, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place…” Hey, we’ve be waiting 2000 years! Well, ‘soon take place’ is the Greek expression “en entachie” which means once they begin, things will unfold rapidly. The events described in Revelation WILL happen and once they begin, it’s boom boom boom! God victorious!

Now, verse 8 reads, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Jesus is giving us assurance, no matter what our circumstances, or plagues, wars, riots, COVID, whatever. He is saying He is the Beginning – the One who created all things (John chapter 1) and He is the Omega, the Ending. He will wrap all things up in due time.

And as the Almighty, He has authority over the beginning, the ending, and everything in between, like right now! Rest ASSURED Jesus is directing human events toward His desired fulfillment.

By the way, that word, “ALMIGHTY” in the Greek is “pantokrater” – literally, “the One who has His hand on everything.” It’s used ten times in the New Testament, nine of them in Revelation. So Jesus is revealing — that He is Sovereign. The supreme, absolute, unrestricted, unlimited, unconditional, paramount ruler of all things, in particular, mankind. The devil is a mighty liar, father of lies, and the biggest loser. Jesus alone reigns Supreme.

So friend, remember, you are a member of TEAM JESUS. Christ is in you. You are complete in Him. You have what it takes, in Christ, to be more than a conqueror in these days of COVID and political distress. Jesus, the supreme ruler, Sovereign GOD who died for you, is IN you.

So don’t fret; pray. With thanksgiving. With expectation. Almighty God WILL bring you through.

Believe it, and — COME ALIVE!

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Friend, US elections are around the corner. America has done more for sharing the Gospel, more in terms of generosity toward the poor, more for the support of Israel than any other nation. Ever. Is it any wonder that evil spirits, VERY evil spirits, would want to destroy America? God is wanting to revive America, not destroy her!

If you are an American, you have opportunity to vote. Do not let deceiving spirits disturb your composure or sway your voting!

So who to vote for? Team Trump? Team Biden? I’m assuming you are a Christian. As such, you are both a child of the Living God and part of…TEAM JESUS.

TEAM JESUS —Tell Everyone About Me: JESUS.

Therefore, when you vote, you have an obligation before GOD Himself to vote…biblical values. Biblical values are GOD values, for GOD wrote the Bible. 

Society may waver and flutter this way and that regarding morality, permissiveness, corruption. What’s ‘right’ yesterday might be called ‘wrong’ tomorrow. 

I urge you, keep a heavenly perspective my friend. VOTE Biblical Values! GOD values.

Check out your candidates, from president on down to your local city council. Here are just three areas to check:

1- Pro-life, or abortion. Allowing little children to come to Jesus — or be killed in the womb. You are standing before Jesus. How do you vote? Tell Him.

2 – Marriage. As defined in the Bible, or as defined by loud voices all around you? You are standing before Jesus. How do you vote? Tell Him.

3 – Law and Order. 1 Tim 1:9-10 says, “law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching.” How do you vote? Tell Jesus.

Team Trump; Team Biden. Which supports pro-life? Which supports abortion? Which supports traditional marriage? Which supports law and order? Which supports lawlessness, protests and rioting?  Friend, you are a member of TEAM JESUS first. 

VOTE accordingly, and help America — COME ALIVE!

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In Mark 1:15,  Jesus comes on the scene, and He is preaching! Declaring the Kingdom of God is at hand, like crashing upon us like a huge tsunami. It’s time, He says, to repent and believe the Gospel. The long awaited time of God’s rule in the hearts and lives of men had arrived in the person of Jesus the Christ.

His cousin John had been preaching a message of repentance for forgiveness of sins. People could receive a cleansing from their sins, but there was no power to abstain from further sin. Soon they would have to confess again, repent again. And again. And again.

But with Jesus it’s repent (turn), and believe the Good News: a Savior was on the scene, bringing with Him God’s Kingdom. And as we express faith in Him, not only are all our sins forgiven, but we are changed into new creatures, creatures that are righteous before God. Without stain or blemish, forever, for the blood of Jesus ever lives to cleans us from all unrighteousness. Check out 2 Corinthians 5.

What about today’s generation? Have they placed their faith in the Jesus? Have they believed the Good News? Have YOU? Have you put your trust in HIM, or are you first trusting in yourself to get it right?

I’ve met Christians, many Christians, who struggle daily with ‘getting it right’ before God. Trying their absolute best, and of course failing daily. They see themselves only as failures. Believing in Jesus our sin sacrifice, is what God is looking for, not trying to EARN our forgiveness.

Paul in Acts 20:21 says it is repentance toward God and FAITH in our Lord Jesus Christ. He loved us while we were yet sinners — enough to die for us. How much more now that you have turned to Him! 

Friend, you are FREE from condemnation for your are in Christ. Ro 8:1. Do not let spirits of condemnation and failure hinder your marvelous walk in the Spirit!

Throw them off today, and  — COME ALIVE!

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Peter walked on water. Humans cannot do that but Peter did – for awhile at least. Matt 14:22-33. For awhile he lived life above the circumstances; living a supernatural existence, beyond the natural laws of life. 

He stepped out of that boat when Jesus bid him – come. Peter did — and lived — the impossible. The wind was contrary. The waves were tossing that boat around. And Peter stepped out of that boat — and lived above it all!

Then we come to verse 30. It begins, “BUT” Trouble lies ahead! Seeing the wind, Peter became frightened. And then — began to sink.

We cannot see the wind, right? We can see the effects of the wind though. And for Peter to see those waves meant what? That he had taken His eyes off of Jesus, his thinking off of Jesus’ word to him, and placed them upon his circumstances. A pretty natural thing I think.

The result? Fear entered into Peter. It grabbed ahold of Peter. It engulfed him, like the water a moment later. Thankfully, Jesus is in the search and rescue business and He then grabbed ahold of Peter, lifted him up, saying – “Why did you doubt, O you of little faith?” The Greek conveys the sense that Jesus was gently saying, “Why did you doubt, O Mr Little Faith.” Or, “Why did you doubt, O Little Faith man?” Can you hear Jesus smiling and looking pleased with Peter? I can.

Consider today my friend. A Chinese virus prowling about, seeking whom it may devour. Can’t see it, but you surely see the effects of it. There are those who actually contract it and have symptoms, sometimes very severe. Secondly, there are those who walk in fear of it – their eyes on the virus, not Jesus, and what little faith they may have had, has vanished. They are ready to respond in hysteria, respond to the media fear mongering, ready to contract the illness.

Friend, don’t you see? This is OUR opportunity to walk on the virus tossed waters of this life! WE don’t have to live in fear! Even under the Old Covenant we had protection — if we believed: read Ps 91. A thousand may sink on our left, 10,000 on our right, but the devastating virus shall NOT approach us believers.

Remember, Father has translated us OUT of the domain of darkness ; we now live in the kingdom of His beloved son, Col 1:13. Let’s believe it. Let’s walk in faith today — no matter how big those waves. 

Jesus is pleased with every step of faith we take however small. He is able to keep us disease free and joyful and cause us — to COME ALIVE!

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All around us we find a mental health crisis. Chinese COVID and demonically inspired hatred of our president, have raised the anxiety level of most humans to the breaking point. Depression. Sleeplessness. Inability to function. Outbursts of anger. Violence even. Social media has become a weapon of darkness. Violent and evil feelings are vented for all to see in hopes we become – infected. Be like them.

There is a pathway to freedom from this mental and emotional stress, anxiety and fear – the renewing of our minds. Ro 12:2. “And do not be conformed to this world, world’s system, world’s way of thinking, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.…”

A mind set on things of this world, of life in the flesh, a life without the Spirit, is DEATH, whereas the mind set on the Spirit is LIFE and PEACE.” Ro 8:6.
So freedom comes as we stop thinking like the world thinks.

Watching a lot of news? Lots of social media? May I suggest your mind is NOT being renewed to God’s ways. There is no transformation out of this world’s system taking place. The world’s way of thinking is thinking based only on feelings, of thinking based only on doing. Feelings and doings.

Life based on feeling says, “How do I feel today? How do I feel about my job? How do I feel about my spouse? How do I feel about worship? How do I feel about the preacher?” “The president?” How I feel is my reality. Life by feeling will never experience the transforming power of God, for it is worldly thinking.

Life based on doing says, “Don’t give me your theology. Just tell me what to do. Give me the 4 points for this; give me the 7 keys for that.” Politically, let me riot and destroy to make my point. Life by doing will never experience transforming power of God, for it is worldly thinking.

God is not against the principles of feeling and doing. He is a God of powerful and passionate feeling and He commands us to be doers. But feelings and doing are insufficient foundations for the Christian life.

The first questions cannot be: “How do I feel?” or “What do I do?” Facebook is full of people who wander aimlessly, swallowed up by feelings and doings (mostly rants and judgments). Rather, our questions must be “What is true here? Where is truth? We find truth in what God’s Word says! We find truth in what the Spirit of the Living God speaks to us.

My dear friend, take time to read and meditate upon the word of God. And pray! Speak to our Father; talk to Jesus. Ask for divine wisdom and understanding, for the unfolding of – the TRUTH. Yes, spend time with God. Ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

You’ll be transformed, anxieties will leave, peace will come — you will COME ALIVE!

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At Hank’s Place we love coffee. In fact, for the past several years I’ve been roasting our own special blend of love in a cup.

Recently Mary and I visited Homestead Heritage, an agrarian Christian community just outside of Waco, TX. In the course of visiting I met Ben, (PHOTO) their own coffee roaster. Ben began with the same home roaster machine I use, but in his quest for that perfect cup of coffee, he went and bought an entire coffee plantation in the mountains of Ecuador! And the totally computer controlled 40 thousand dollar Diedrich roaster you see in the photo.

In addition, he is developing a machine to sift green coffee beans. (PHOTO) At gravity speed this machine examines each and every bean, looking for rejects. (VIDEO) Tiny jets of compressed air shoot the beans that don’t make it out into the reject pile!

Too small? Rejected. Split? Rejected. Chipped or a bit of rust or blight? Rejected and so on! The machine is looking to REJECT all but the best of the beans. 

This man is on a quest to achieve the very best cup of coffee ever and he’s well on his way!

Did you know many Christians, and I hope not you, think the same way about God? That He’s looking to reject the many and accept only the very best for His eternal kingdom?

NO! What works in the quest for the perfect coffee is NOT the way the Father works – Remember Jesus? 

He was the totally perfect one — who died for us. The Father’s plan, full of amazing grace, was to QUALIFY as many imperfect people as possible for His son’s kingdom!

God simply asks us to believe it, that God so loved the world He would do this – and BOOM we join His family. Jn 3:16.

Whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved – no exceptions. Acts 2:21.

Don’t fear the ‘sorting machine’ at the end of your life, dear friend, for you who believe are already accepted beans in the Lamb’s book of life.

And we all, as one family, are well on our way to becoming that perfect brew for the Father. 

Smell that aroma? Smell it today — and COME ALIVE!

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