Author: Hank

Welcome to Hank’s Place

At the Cross, Jesus took our sins – all of them, past present and future. And hung on that Cross while the incredible wrath of God was poured out in punishment for those sins: yours, mine, everyones. Jesus took it all, out of love for us, to the point of death. Don’t you think for a moment that God does not love you!

He gave us His righteousness in exchange; a free gift—but friend, it is a gift that can only be received by faith. And, He caused us to become heirs of God, sons of God with a full inheritance. It is beyond comprehension. We don’t know the half of it!

Now, here is the issue: so many folk, including many pastors, seminary professors, televangelists and such, miss the Cross. They pay lip service, yes, but not grasping that everything has changed. So, they bring the old covenant stuff, which was not written to you, right on over into your life: law and grace getting mixed together—that is a toxic mixture my friend — for it keeps you from moving forward in who you are in Christ Jesus and keeps you from being a powerful, world-changing Christian!

Let’s take an example today of the big difference the Cross makes for us. I pray you can see the mega change. Before the Cross we were blessed if we obeyed and cursed if we didn’t. But after the Cross we are blessed because Christ obeyed, and through him we are redeemed from the curse of the law.

Not sure? Listen to Deut 11:26-28 “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today; and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known.”

Now listen to Post-Calvary: Eph 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” Where is the ‘to do’ list? Where are the threats? They are not there, my friend.

How about: Gal 3:13 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree””

Give Jesus praise today: believe in Him and you are blessed. Don’t belittle or overlook Christ’s sacrifice at Calvary by entertaining error filled theology that says you have things you must do in order to receive blessing from God. Yes, there are plenty of good things you can do as a Christian – but nothing you can do can ‘earn’ you favor with God.

So, give it up, rejoice in Jesus, and Come Alive!

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place

Have you had days where you wondered where Jesus was? Well, so did the disciples! Let’s learn from two Storms of Life stories.

The first is Mk 4:36-41. After a busy day of ministry, as evening was approaching, Jesus gets into a boat with His disciples and instructs them to cross over ‘to the other side.’ Soon after they set sail, Jesus goes to sleep on a cushion in the back of the boat. An epic storm descends on the lake. It’s night, the huge waves are washing over the boat and even the seasoned fishermen among them are terrified.

Ever been terrified by a sudden storm of life descending upon you? And where is Jesus – well He’s there, but asleep? Doesn’t He care? That’s what they ask Him. Jesus stills the storm: “Hush, be still.” And asks them why were they afraid; why did they still have no faith?

Friend, if you are in Christ today, Jesus IS with you. It may be a sudden storm of life—but know this: Jesus IS with you, even if He appears to be sleeping. Take courage! Fear NOT! Fear not, but speak to that storm now, just like Jesus did, using His name, and tell it to hush up. As a Christian, a little anointed one, you have the authority in His name. Use it!

In Mt 14:22-33, after another full day of ministry (feeding 15-20,000 men, women, children), the disciples are following Jesus’ instructions to cross over to the ‘other side.’ Only this time Jesus has tarried to dismiss the people and take some time to pray alone on a mountain.

No fierce storm this time, but the winds are contrary and they have been straining at the oars for hours, maybe 6 or 8 hours. Jesus sees them, and comes to them, walking on the water. If His disciples are in trouble, Jesus wants to be with them. He comes to them. Friend, be encouraged! If you are in any sort of trouble at all, even just exhaustion over life’s issue: Jesus is on His way to you – and as in this instance, He is passing by! Do you get it?

You may not yet understand the truth that Christ is in you and you are in Him—keep growing! Learn from this pre-Calvary story: Jesus draws near to you in times of difficulty. So, what do you do about it? REACH OUT to Jesus, Call to Him. Ask for help in time of need. You’ll get it–and from that experience with the Living God quelling the storms in your life, you will Come Alive!

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place

In Mt 16 Jesus asked His disciples who the people said the Son of Man was. He delighted in calling Himself the Son of Man. Well, the people did not have a clue; one of the prophets maybe. Then Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was – Simon responded with a revelation: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” But did they get it?

At the start of His ministry, Jesus was water baptized by John, and in Mt 3:17 a voice from heaven declares, “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” Did they get it? Some thought it thundered.

Soon after, Philip brings Nathanael to Jesus, and in Jn 1:49 Nate declares “You are the Son of God, You are the King of Israel!” Did they get it?

Knowing Jesus true identity is not easy! In Mk 4 after Jesus calms an intense storm on the Lake, with a word, the disciples wonder, who is this man who speaks to the wind and waves and they obey Him? They don’t get it.

A bit later, in Mt 14, they are rowing across the lake at night and Jesus comes walking on the water to them – after He saves Peter from an early death by drowning, the disciples are beginning to get the picture, for they say, “you are certainly God’s Son!”

In Mt 17 a voice from heaven declares to Peter, James, and John, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, listen to Him!” In spite of the declarations, the miracles, the fulfilled prophecies—people, even the disciples, were having trouble seeing Jesus as the Savior, Son of God.

True, Jesus could say troubling things, as in John 6 about having to eat his body and drink his blood. Or how about at the Last Supper, when He, their teacher and Lord, put on a servant’s garment and washed their feet. The coming King of Israel, the Messiah could not, would not, do that, would He?

You see, when our minds, just like theirs, are set on man’s interests and purposes, when we are looking at things from a human perspective, it is hard to see the real Jesus. You know, if Jesus is really God and loves everyone, why is there famine, and injustice and suffering and dictators?

Friend, don’t let that be you! We don’t understand very much – just ask Job – but God’s not asking us to: He wants us to believe on His son, who died for our sins so we could become sons of God ourselves through the Resurrection.

Don’t hold back, don’t let human reasoning keep you from the prize. Don’t sit on the fence: jump into Jesus, Come Alive!

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place

Here at Hank’s Place we never get tired of reminding you that the Cross – what Jesus did there – changes everything! Back in the beginning, before the Cross, Adam and Eve did not believe God and a heap of trouble came to this world. Centuries later, Abraham did believe God, and in so doing was counted righteous before God. What his deeds were did not matter, for it was – and still is – is what we believe that is of foremost importance to God. Sarah believed God and received a child in her old age. Isaac believed God – he sowed in a time of famine and reaped a 100 fold return. Jacob, well, sometimes he believed and was called Israel, while other times he staggered in unbelief and was called Jacob. His unbelief resulted in ‘issues’ in this life for him.

He’s like a lot of us, my friend: don’t ridicule him but learn from his life. Later, the children of Israel wanted God to tell them what to do – and on Mt Sinai, God  did just that, giving them a covenant of works: doing good meant blessings for them; doing wrong meant troubles.

A look at history, a look at our own lives – will show us we can’t get it right on our own, our performance is never adequate – we desperately need a savior! That Savior, Jesus is here! He’s the end of law for righteousness. The Law led us to Jesus; and now it is back to our believing, not our doing, that matters to God.

So does that mean good works don’t matter? Does it mean we can sin as we wish because grace is abounding everywhere? You may be thinking that if sin has been dealt with on the Cross, then you can sin all you want and get away with it! Don’t be silly, my dear friend!

True, we no longer have to do good to get blessings; we already have them all in Christ Jesus. Eph 1:3. We do good because that’s our new nature!

Is sinning attractive to you? If so, I would say to you that:
– You do not know God very well.
– You do not know the love of God very well.
– You do not understand forgiveness very well, and
– You have no true idea of who you really are in Jesus as a Righteous New Creation.

You could choose to sin, but why would you?

Sin does not become you, my friend; acting righteously DOES.

Embrace the truth today of who you are because of Calvary, and Come Alive!

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place

As human beings, you and I, we have an innate desire to impress God with our own goodness. If you are familiar with young children, you’ll see them do some little thing and say, “Look daddy! Look mommy! Look at what I did!” Well, this innate desire is in conflict with God’s own desire, which is to impress us with HIS GOODNESS!

God is GOOD. It is His nature. Remember Jeremiah 32:40, where the prophet foretold of a new covenant, in which God would do us GOOD. Not on a basis of reward for our performance, but because of His nature, because of who HE IS.

Not sure? Consider Ro 2:4 “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness/goodness of God leads you to repentance?”

Perhaps you have been told that you must repent and get your life together before God will help you. Get right with God first and then He will bless you. NO NO NO that is not what God is like. That is RELIGION and that is NOT what the Bible says!

As we just heard, God is GOOD and does everyone good. It is His nature, AND, that goodness leads us to repentance. See? FIRST we experience His goodness, and from that we repent from our ways and turn toward Him!

Read John 3:14-17. Jesus said He had to be crucified so whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. The Father gave His son to be crucified so whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent His son into the world to SAVE the world, not to judge it!

Read the Bible and see for yourself! Then, believe it! Stop striving to please God. Receive His goodness today, and Come Alive! 

https://youtu.be/l0mWBYREJrg

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place

Here is a stone: petros, or Peter to you and me. In Jn 1:42 when Andrew brings his brother Simon to Jesus, Jesus says to him, “…you shall be called Peter — a stone.” Then in Matt 16:18 we find Jesus saying to him, “…you ARE Peter…,” but remarkably Jesus never calls him by that name! Perhaps he had to grow into it.

Listen to Mt 16:13-18: Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”

Stones: Jesus calls Peter a small stone, Petros. Then He says upon this R O C K I will build my church — the word for rock is petra, a huge stone. At this time the Nabataeans were thriving in the city of Petra in Jordan, population over 20,000 people, carved from a single huge rock! What imagery for the church!
30 years later when Peter is writing his first letter, he refers to Jesus as a Living Stone, and those who believe as living stones being built up into a house for God. This moment was cast in stone for him!

Peter was given a revelation by the Father: he heard it. Then he spoke it. Could this be the spiritual rock Jesus was referring to: the Church triumphant, comprised of those who have received a revelation of Jesus Christ, who declare it and in so doing become part of the living stones of this Church that hell cannot overcome!

My wife states she grew up in a Christian home, did all the church and Sunday school stuff, was even a theology minor in college, but it was not until, as Paul says in 
Gal 1:16, that God was pleased to reveal the Son in her, that she truly saw Jesus for who He is. She spoke it out — and CAME ALIVE!

How about you, friend? May our God reveal Jesus to you today — make that confession: Jesus Christ, God’s Son, your Savior, and Come Alive!

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place

Here at Hank’s Place the focus is on JESUS – and what happened, what JESUS did at Calvary. Mankind’s sins were placed upon Jesus, the punishment for those sins given to Jesus – and righteousness imparted to us; that is, to anyone–everyone who believes upon Jesus! He even made us what Paul calls New Creations in His righteousness. 2 Cor 5:17.

There has been a superseding of the covenant God put into effect at Mt Sinai, with a better covenant, one of grace, in Jesus’ blood; a covenant in which God has sworn to do us GOOD – again, to anyone, everyone, who believes in Jesus, God’s son, our Savior.

This is an amazing truth. Friend, we need to go beyond mere mental assent of this truth, to go beyond mere marveling, and BELIEVE it, and step into this new identity we have been given! Do you believe the words of 2 Cor 5:17, that you are a righteous new creation? Is that the identity you identify with?

This is so important! Consider: in Matt 16, after some 2 years of being together, Jesus asks his disciples who do the people say he is; then, he asks who do they, the disciples, say he is. They respond with what the people are saying, but have no answer themselves until Simon Peter gets a divine revelation: “You are the Christ, the son of the Living God” he says!

There is much more to this, but today let me ask you a 3 part question about your identity: 1) who do people say YOU are? 2) who does God say YOU are? And 3) who do YOU say you are? For what you believe will mean the difference between life as God has intended for you, or what the devil has desired for you – or somewhere in between! I urge you, don’t settle for less than God’s truth about you!

Know this, dear believer: you ARE righteous. You have been made an HEIR of God and are FAVORED of God, because of Calvary. Toss out any doubt about it! People, parents, loved ones, teachers, co-workers may say another thing; but I say: BELIEVE God’s word concerning you; reject the lies, and you – will Come Alive! 

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place

Previously, I was sharing with you the nearly unimaginable truth of the Gospel, the mystery hidden for long ages, but now revealed: Christ IN you. The Anointed One living in anyone who believes in Him – outsider, insider, with or without pedigree, Jew, Gentile – whatever, for God loved us and gave up His life for all of us while we were yet sinners.

The great I AM is within us. We were never meant to go through life doing the best we can and hoping for mercy on Judgement Day. No way! Life’s journey is taken with Jesus IN us. The Emmanuel (God with us) of Old Testament prophecy has become God IN us — that’s far better! We have been given a new life and this new life is in Him and Him in us. This new life is NOT obtained thru hard work and disciple. This new life is RECEIVED by trusting in a good Father who delights to share His life with His children. That’s the Gospel truth!

Consider: Eph 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”

This is amazing; Paul reveals the Father HAS blessed us with EVERY spiritual blessing in Christ. He mentions the heavenly places because God’s will is always done there – here on earth there are doubters and devils, and both interfere with His will being done — but that discussion is for another day. Friend, God is on your side; He is not holding back on you. Not sure?

Consider:
Jn 14:14 ‘“If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it.”
Jn 16:23 “If you ask the Father for anything in my name, He will give it to you.”
Ro 8:32 “He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us ALL things!”
So much for prayers ending in “…if it be thy will” and the demonically inspired twist on Phil 4:19, “He’s only promised to meet our needs and not our wants.” Follow these lines of thinking and you’ll be sinking into double-mindedness: don’t go there!

When it comes to you, dear friend, God desires intimacy. He yearns to share LIFE together with you, in loving intimacy, sharing your thoughts and emotions, the things that are on your heart.

God has already blessed you by sending His son to live in you and because of that, all spiritual blessings are yours. You are NOT a creature of LACK! It is time to move out of the doubting shadowlands, friend. Get to know Him intimately, and you’ll Come Alive!

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place

Most Christians have zero understanding of “Christ in me.” Let me help you a wee bit with that today, all right?!

When an outsider looks at the Cross, he may be puzzled—what sort of God are they telling me about? One who demands blood sacrifices? Yuucch! One who even demanded the death of His Son? Count me out! What they fail to see, but you can help them to see: is that the Cross is the focal point, the ground zero, of the greatest rescue mission in all time. By the greatest super-heros ever: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Don’t sell the Cross short, friend, and what was accomplished there!

Col 1:13 says the Father rescued us from the the domain of darkness and transferred us, in an instant, into the kingdom of His beloved Son. And the previous verse says the Father has qualified us – I’ll say it again, the Father has qualified us, to share in His inheritance. In Col 1:20 Paul states that Jesus has reconciled us through the blood of the Cross. Jesus also QUALIFIED us to receive God’s infinite inheritance by making us holy, blameless, and beyond reproach. At the Cross! What a team of super-heros!

Then Paul speaks of the mystery of God, also called the mystery of the Gospel, which is Christ Himself. Col 1:26-27 tell us it has been hidden for long ages, but is now revealed. Christ has at long last been revealed — the very riches of God’s glory shining. And shining where? IN the Gentiles who believed! The Gentiles, without any genuine religious history, traditions, practices, no priesthood, no commandments. Those ignorant gentiles! Christ was shining in THEM!! Christ IN you, my friend. Christ in me! IN! Not over there, over here, not in Jerusalem, but IN EVERYONE who believes, period.

When you believe on the Lord Jesus — He comes to live IN you. All the riches of glory, in the form of none other than Jesus Himself, has come to live IN you.

When Moses asked who was speaking to him through the burning bush of Exodus, the reply was, “I am.” This same “I AM” is IN us today, dear Christian.

Are you sick? Listen to Jesus in you say, “I AM your healer.” Oppressed? Hear Jesus in you saying, “I AM your deliverer!” Depressed? Jesus is saying “I AM your joy.” Agitated? “I AM your peace.” I AM your provider. I AM your salvation. I AM your blesser. IAM your future. I AM the answer to your every need, and I live IN you.

Get ahold of this today my friend, and Come Alive!

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place

2 Cor 5:21 is one of my favorite verses – “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” The Father placed our sins upon His innocent son Jesus, who, out of love, took not only them but the punishment sin deserved – and gave us in exchange a gift: His own righteousness. Ro 5:17 declares it is a gift, it is nothing we can earn.

And what is righteousness? It is defined as being made acceptable to God and placed in right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness. We are treated as righteous by God on account of what Jesus has done. You have become God’s child, totally approved by Him in every way – as a gift. I tell you, the Good News is awesomely GOOD!

For years after becoming a Christian I tried to find my approval before God through what I did, and my efforts were driving the very life out of me. I could not see the truth of 2 Cor 5:21 or Ro 5:17, and why not? I’ll tell you plainly: from childhood I had a demon of unworthiness in me – it would continually tell me I was not good enough, what I did was not good enough, and when I became a Christian, it would tell me again and again that God was not pleased with me.

I am sure most all of you have that same or a similar demon in you, even though you are a Christian. And that’s GOOD NEWS! What? True! Because you can cast out a demon and be done with it, without counseling, without drugs, therapy, or 12 steps.

After years of suffering, I began learning about righteousness! Then, in the early morning hours one day, I had a migraine headache and asked Mary to pray for me. She was mostly asleep and mumbled, “I command that demon of unworthiness to come out of Hank.” She didn’t know the name of it; the Holy Spirit revealed it to her.

And by the power of the Holy Spirit that thing was tossed out of me – in a moment, and I was FREE! Having total self-confidence. Total lack of fear. Knowing I was one of God’s sons and He was pleased with me. My life changed from that moment on — I had Come Alive as never before!

If what I’ve said is resonating within you, my dear friend, rebuke those demons. Cast them OUT. If you don’t know how, get in touch with us. We can help you get free of those hindering spirits so you can receive the truth and Come Alive yourself!

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*