Hank’s Place

Welcome to Hank’s Place —                  

Jesus is on our side. FOR US, never against us. Not IF we perform, not IF we get it right, not IF we obey His commands. He is FOR us. Do you understand? John 3:16 begins, “For God so loved the world, He gave.… Before the world got itself together. Before the world got it right. Well, the world still hasn’t gotten it right. Before the world even existed, Jesus went to bat for us: totally, completely. Encouraging, isn’t it? 

Psalms 3:3 expresses this truth: ‘Jesus is forever the Lifter of our head.’ Never run from Jesus, dear friend, even if you’ve just committed the worst mess-up ever. Run TO Him. He will lift you up, lift your head. He dispenses fresh hope. Catch His promise in Psalm 94:19, “When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your comfort delights my soul.” 

But what if we have been diagnosed as having a mental illness? Such individuals have seldom found help within the Church – society  shuns them – and the church most times. Isn’t Bible reading, prayer church attendance and fellowship supposed to be cure-alls? Not for those of us battling mental illness. And what about Jesus? Does He say, “Just suck it up, stop with your excuses and live life like you are supposed to?”NO, that’s not OUR Jesus! 

Consider the leper of Matthew 8:2-4. In Jesus’ day, only “whole” people were allowed to participate in temple life. Those with diseases such as leprosy had to stay away. They weren’t welcome. They were considered infectious and untouchable. But Jesus was not afraid to touch the untouchables.

As Paul Ellis of New Zealand has said, “When we cultivate the attitude that church is a place for perfect people with perfect hair and perfect smiles, we inevitably marginalize those who are going through hard times. “You’ve got to be walking in victory every day.” But what if you’re not? What if you can’t get out of bed because you’re bound with anxiety and fear? What then? People suffering with mental illness and emotional instability can be made to feel like the lepers of old.”

If we are mentally unwell does NOT mean we are sinners. ALL of us were probably in a mentally unwell place throughout 2020. Think about it! In that place it’s hard to grab ahold of truths such as Christ IS in us, Jesus has died FOR US and His love is unconditional toward us. Overcomer in Christ? What’s that?!

Well, Jesus had a thing for lepers. He healed so many! It shows His heart is always FOR the broken and hurting — for those outside the camp — for those who can’t get out of bed — for those whose medicine cabinets are full of Zoloft and Prozac. He is FOR you and FOR me dear friend. You and I may not have had a diagnosis of mental illness, but all of us have struggles with anxiety, depression, stress and a whole bunch of life issues.

So – Let’s let Him lift our head today — we’ll COME ALIVE!

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Welcome to Hank’s Place —                  

In case you haven’t noticed, fear is still running amok in our streets. People are asking one another: “Did you get a vaccine yet? Which one? Effectiveness? 2nd dose?” Boosters? The New York Mets and Yankees stadiums will have separate sections for those vaccinated and those who are not. The vaccinated section can be fully seated, the other will be 6 foot separations. You’ll have to wear a mask in both, regardless. Outdoors. In the breeze. 

It is one thing to pray, to listen to the Spirit, to think things through, but this is the other thing.

The fear of death, that great weapon of the devil, Hebrews 2:14-15, is parading itself across all media — does it cause fear to arise in you? Are you one of those folks wearing a mask inside your car on the freeway? While swimming? Skydiving?

Well here at Hank’s Place we love the Gospel — and we don’t love the Chinese virus, any plague, ANY FEAR. Living in fear and obeying media commands is not OUR future my friend, this is not OUR portion today — or ever. You are a believer, not an unbeliever, correct? I urge you, take a moment and reaffirm your believing in Jesus Christ, who reigns as LORD over ALL.

Peter believed the word of the Lord and walked out on the water, Matthew 14:28. Storms of life caused him to take his eyes off of Jesus and he faltered a bit — but there was Jesus. And Jesus is here today in the storms of our life, too. Peter cried out as he went down and Jesus was there. Be assured dear friend, if we cry out, Jesus is there. 

And keep this in mind: in Luke 10:17-20 it says Jesus gave His followers AUTHORITY in the spirit realm. To mash the enemy — without fear of being harmed. It’s true, it’s God’s word, but for it to be true for us — we should believe it. Say NO to demons, to all the power of the enemy — including FEAR.

Remember the word of God found in Psalm 91 — and believe it! He IS our refuge. He DOES rescue us from hidden traps. From night terrors. Violence by day. Disease at night. From disaster. Others may succumb, drop like flies right and left — but we who place our trust in the Lord will be untouched.

GOD says so. Let’s believe it. Let’s hold onto God for dear life. As The Message says, “Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times; I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party.” Psalm 91:15.

He won’t reprimand us if we have a moment of fear: He will rescue us, throw a party and we’ll — COME ALIVE!

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Here at Hank’s Place we love the Gospel — this Good News that Jesus Christ, Son of God, was crucified for us, died for us, and rose again in triumph, for us — in order to save us from our sins, taking the punishment for those sins, transforming us from unworthy creatures deserving eternal wrath — into sons and daughters of the Living God, destined to live with God the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and with our brothers and sisters in Christ, eternally! 

That’s a message worth sharing, isn’t it. Whether they believe it or not, receive it or not, we have been “commissioned” it says in Matthew 28:19, to share this message with the world.

Listen to Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:17 “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made of no effect.” Paul forewarns us that the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Indeed, he adds, “has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world? …and God was pleased through the foolishness of this message preached, to save those who believe.” 

Although Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; we preach Christ crucified to – everyone. “We preach Christ crucified.” That reminds me of a story…. There once was a church. With adjectives. Vibrant. Alive. Dynamic. Thriving. Countless decisions for Christ, baptisms, ministries, outreaches – the envy of many other churches. Over the doorway of the church, carved in stone, was 1 Corinthians 1:23: “We Preach Christ Crucified.” And they did. 

But over the years their fervor began to wane – ivy grew up the church walls and obscured a word of the inscription. It now said, “We Preach Christ” – indeed, they spoke well of Jesus, the good things He’d done, the healings, the words, the inspirational example, but no longer crucified – for US. More time went by and the ivy grew and the fire of life in the church further waned. Those marvelous words over the doorway now read, “We Preach” – and they did, but it was about this and about that and no longer Christ, the crucified Messiah – for US. 

More time, more ivy, less fire. Visitors to the church saw a message over the door. It now read, “We” – for the church had become a social club, a fine gathering place for friendships, connections and such, but no word concerning the Christ, crucified – for US.

Although this story is about a church my friend, but it could easily be about you and me. Let’s not forget our Great Commission, to let the world know about Jesus, the Cross, His death and resurrection – and the eternal benefit. It’s Good News. And it will cause others — to COME ALIVE!

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Welcome to Hank’s Place –

Here at Hank’s Place we keep the Gospel simple — for a simple reason: because it is!

For God so loved the world – that HE gave – His only Son – that whoever – believes in Him – should not perish – but have eternal LIFE. John 3:16. Simple. Revealing. Incredibly profound.

The preceding 2 verses add to this. In them John tells us that the Son had to be, “must be” he says, crucified (shudder) – that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.

Believe in Him? Believe in Him just what, exactly? Well, Jesus IS the Son of God for one thing. Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 explains that Christ died for us, was buried, raised up on the 3rd day – all in accordance with the Biblical prophecies.

In 1 Corinthians 15:20-26 Paul declares Christ was raised – the first fruits of ALL who will be raised from the dead. We too shall rise from the dead, you see. Good News! And there will be a final judgment when even death and hell will come to an end in the Lake of Fire – wait – I’m getting ahead of myself in the Gospel’s simplicity, sorry, but it so encouraging to know that the end of wickedness is foretold – by God – so it is a sure thing.

The Gospel – the Good News – has a focus: JESUS CHRIST. The Gospel is not about us — it is all about Him. Religion has a different focus: us. What we must do to make ourselves acceptable to God. Religion says, “Clean up your act in order to be accepted.” NOT Good News. 

I believe the Philippian jailer in Acts 16:30 was thinking along these lines when he fell before Paul and Silas and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul got him straightened out quickly. “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Good News.

Don’t be fooled my friend. The Gospel is about Jesus. Pilgrimage? No. Your ‘paying the price?’ No. Jesus did. Your life reformation? No. Baptism? No. Convert to Judaism first? No. The mystery of the Gospel is that it is for everyone. Without reservation. Without pedigree. Believe in Jesus Christ – and He will come to dwell within you and make all things NEW.

Way back when I was a young Christian, during what was called the Charismatic Movement (“Charis” means GRACE by the way), we would sing a simple little song, “There is Power in the Blood” – referring to Jesus’ life given up as a sacrifice for us. It went, “Would you be free from your burden of sin? There’s power in the blood, power in the blood.” Jesus’ life given for us. “Would you o’re evil a victory win? There’s wonderful power in the blood. There is power, power, wonder working power in blood, of the Lamb. Repeat. Simple. True. Like the Gospel. 

Today, consider the precious blood of the Lamb – and its power. You’ll — COME ALIVE!

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Last Hank’s Place I was sharing with you from Ephesians 3 on the wonderful, beyond measure, love of God leading to being filled up with ALL the fullness of God. THAT — is a mouthful!

May we be strengthened with power by the Holy Spirit in the inner man, Paul prayers, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith….

The Amplified says, may God, out of the riches of His glory, strengthen and spiritually energize us with power through His Spirit in our innermost being and personality!

What’s that tell you? It tells me Jesus is totally awesome and mighty and beyond our capacity — and we have no chance of inviting Him into our hearts — until the Holy Spirit strengthens us – oh thanks be to God….

Then Paul prays that we become rooted and grounded in LOVE. Well, that sounds like enough, but from Paul’s perspective it’s just the beginning! Becoming rooted and grounded in love enables us to comprehend the infinite scope of God’s love. Comprehend?

The Message Bible says that with both feet planted firmly on love, we’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. So reach out and experience its breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. I want that — how about you?

The Amplified adds, may we come to know practically, through personal experience, the love of Christ which far surpasses mere knowledge without experience, that we may be filled up throughout our being to all the fullness of God, so that we may have the richest experience of God’s presence in our lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself.

Being flooded with God Himself – O happy day!

Now, knowing His love in this way leaves no room in our hearts and minds for other things. Things like: resentment. Unforgiveness. Hatred. Bitterness. Rejection. Fear of rejection. Inferiority. Pride. LOVE NEVER FAILS. All these other things are swept away by the unfailing love of God. The enemy may have placed many obstacles to His love in our lives, but look: here comes that tidal wave of LOVE — immeasurably high and wide and long — and sweeping every obstacle into oblivion.

Today, if you are struggling with resentment, unforgiveness, rejection — whatever — stop struggling, but pray like Paul did. Soon that tidal wave of God’s love, and His Fullness, will sweep away all that junk — and Y O U will — COME ALIVE!

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I have a confession to make. I believe the Word of God — is true. I believe He stands behind His Word — and with Him having all authority and all power — His Word WILL come to pass.

Here in America, many of us, likely you, groan as we see our beloved country heading toward ruin in the hands of the wicked. We cry to God, “How much longer,” don’t we?

Well, God does not approve of wickedness in places of authority. He has said, Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” God has said, Proverbs 16:12, “It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts, because a throne is established on righteousness.” God has also said, Proverbs 11:5, “the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.” And He has said, Proverbs 11:19, “the one who pursues evil attains his own death.”

These are TRUE words from God. So be encouraged friend, for righteous vindication is on its way.

Let’s look at Jesus a moment. In John 1:17 John says the Law was given through Moses; but grace and truth were realized (found their full expression) through Jesus Christ. The new covenant, thanks to Jesus, has an inexhaustible supply of grace — “grace upon grace” says verse 16, and truth. This is in total contrast to the old order of rigid laws and regulations as given through Moses.

Grace upon grace, or grace for grace — literally, it’s ‘grace instead of grace.’ You could think of it this way: as one piece of divine grace, so to speak, begins to recede, it is replaced by another, and another…. It is never exhausted. Like ocean waves. The harsh unyielding law as the focus of divine revelation has been replaced by Christ Jesus, Who has become OUR WAY OF LIFE. I’m ‘feeling’ better already as I consider our Jesus – aren’t you?

Here’s another ‘feeling better’ passage. It’s Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21. It’s a great prayer for all of us to pray. Paul’s asking that we truly know the love of God – which is beyond knowing. And, now get this — and, that we may then be filled to ALL the fullness of God. 

Think about that. The bible commentator Adam Clarke states, “to be filled with God is great. To be filled with the fullness of God is greater still. But to be filled with ALL the fullness of God – Him who fills all in all – is utterly bewildering to our senses and confounds our understanding.”

So ask Him my friend, and God will pour His love into you, and fill you with ALL the fullness of Himself. Yes, ask Him today — and COME ALIVE!

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I’ve Good News! Christ is risen. Christ has risen indeed!
Because He lives, we know His sacrifice was sufficient for our sin-debt! Because He lives, we know all who believe in Him also live — eternally!

Romans 5:1 tells us faith in Jesus has resulted in our justification, granting us peace with God. Life will still have its daily battles, but it is not against God my friend! Jesus has seen to that!

Christ died for the ungodly — that was you and me. Yep. Jesus demonstrated God’s love for us – in dying for us – while we were yet sinners. Romans 5:8. 

Paul adds in the next verses that if His death brought us reconciliation and justification, and saved us from the wrath of God to come, how much much more shall we be saved by His life! There are good things in store – for you – from the hand of God. Believe it!

Comprende? While we were enemies of God – that’s when we were reconciled to Him. Think of the blessings we will enjoy, Paul tells us, now that we are reconciled and have become His friends, actually more than friends — His sons and daughters!

Sure we were guilty, sure, we were condemned, but God, because of His great love and being rich in mercy, forgave us – at great personal cost – and has lifted us up to sit with Him in the heavenlies. And in the coming ages we can look forward to further demonstrations of the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7.

Did you know in Romans 5:15-17 Paul uses the expression “Free Gift” five times! What is this free gift he’s referring to? It is the gift of Righteousness that has brought us justification. “Praise God,” we can say, “for there is nothing wrong with us.” 

The devil never ever ceases to condemn and accuse us. He points his finger at every slip up, every mess up, real or imagined, that we do. After all, outwardly we are still being transformed, growing, into the image of Jesus Christ. You know, putting off the old man, putting on the new behavior. But by this free gift of Righteousness we are enabled to reign in this life NOW. We don’t have to wait. Romans 5:21. And it says grace also reigns through righteousness. That means grace teaches righteousness. Grace teaches us to live lives all about Jesus and others, not about ourselves

So REJOICE, for it is Easter Sunday, and a glorious day indeed — to COME ALIVE!

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Coming to you today from Denver Colorado.

1 Jn 1:9 says, “If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Many Christians live in this verse – struggling to stay IN the will of God, to DO the will of God, and hearing voices saying they have ‘missed it’ again and again. And again. Always coming up short. Feeble Christians, not at all like their brethren. 

My dear friends: if that’s you – chill! I have Good News. This verse, indeed this opening chapter, is not directed toward Christians! When John wrote, it was the early days of Gnosticism. They were coming out of the woodwork. False prophets were seeking to lead people astray. 

John addresses this serious matter. He begins with his credentials. He heard and saw the Lord’s ministry. He witnessed Jesus death, resurrection and glorious ascension. He is a credible source. Then he declares the son of God was manifested here on earth, and He offers us eternal life. Eternal life is found only in the Son.

So, how do we know John is preaching to the non-Christian here? 

Verse 3 – he says he is proclaiming these things so you may have fellowship with ‘us.’ He is preaching to the lost. Verse 6 – if we walk in darkness we do not practice the truth. He is preaching to the lost for believers walk in the light as He is in the light — get it? He is preaching to the lost.

Verse 8 – he writes to those who do not have the truth in them. Jesus is the Truth. John 14:6. Jesus is in us. He is preaching to the lost.

In Verse 10 – John says if you say you have not sinned you make God a liar. Gnostics said they had no need of God’s grace, of forgiveness because they had not sinned. Like self-righteous people today who say ‘I’m basically a good person.’

Verse 7. If we walk in the light (that’s what believers do) …  “the blood of Jesus His son cleanses us from all sin.” NOT because we live ‘right’ or examine ourselves daily and confess our sins all the time. We are clean because the blood of Jesus cleanses us and goes on cleansing us.

Notice “all sin” – not just confessed ones, not repented ones — no conditions. It is NOT up to us to maintain our salvation. His blood cleanses from all sins, not conditionally based on our willingness to confess them.

Since the word confess in 1 John 1:9 means to say the same thing as, in view of the earlier verses that addressed people who say they have no sin, John is letting people who say they have no sin know that the way to salvation is to agree with God, that they, like ALL people, have indeed sinned and are in need of a Savior.

We are saved by confessing Jesus as Lord. Romans 10:9. Let someone know the Savior has come. His name is Jesus. Share the Good News. Help someone today — to COME ALIVE!

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I love the way Paul begins his epistle to the Galatians. It’s verses 3 and 4, for he speaks of the gospel of this grace of God. God, who gave Himself — for our sins, to deliver us from something right now — this present evil age. And all this is by the will of God. Amen and amen!

Then he makes note of those who are turning from the Gospel of this grace of God – to a different gospel. They are turning from a PERSON, for the Gospel is centered upon Jesus — to something much less — a mere idea.

In verses 6 and 7 Paul describes this ‘other’ gospel as different. It is illegitimate (‘which is not another’ which is what he says. It’s not ‘good’ at all, but in fact ‘trouble.’ It’s a distortion of the true Gospel – he calls it a ‘perverted gospel.’ Anyone preaching a different Gospel — should be accursed! Paul is serious about this!

Really, it’s not ‘another’ gospel because it’s not a gospel at all. It’s just BAD news, not ‘Good News.’ It’s altogether different from the true Gospel that reveals God’s grace through His Son. A different gospel will always place an emphasis upon our works in some way.

Many Christians are not sure of just what IS this Good News. Paul tells us in the opening verses of 1 Corinthians 15. The true Gospel is the message that Jesus, the Son of God, died on the Cross – for us, and it is proven by His resurrection from the dead.

This true Gospel, this Good News, is totally offensive to the natural man in several ways:
First, it offends our pride, for it declares we need a savior; we cannot save ourselves.
Second, it offends our wisdom, for it appears foolishness to carnal man. I mean, God, becoming a man and dying a disgraceful death for us? 

Third, it offends our knowledge, for it goes against all scientific knowledge as well as personal experience: that a dead man arose from the dead in a glorious, new, eternal body?

My friend, there is a world out there in terrible shape. However offensive the Good News is to the natural man, they nevertheless need to hear it. We can plant seeds. We can water seeds planted by others. We may even have the joy of helping someone to be born again.

Mask or no mask, this world needs a savior, they need — to COME ALIVE!
Get out there!

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In Philippians 3 our dear friend Paul writes a word of caution. “Watch out,” he says, for those who boast in their background, pedigree, education, position — for they have a confidence in their flesh — and that’s a very false confidence.

The only thing that matters, that is of value, that is of surpassing value, is knowing Jesus Christ our Lord, and having a righteousness based upon faith in Him and Him alone. Philippians 3:8-10.

In verses :12 to :14 Paul speaks of his own personal efforts. He is focused upon reaching a goal, taking hold of it – because – he has been taken hold of by Christ Jesus for this very purpose – and so have we. Let us, like Paul, forget what lies behind, but reach forward to what is ahead. Our goal is the prize promised by God’s upward call in Christ Jesus.

What? That’s puzzling. What’s it mean? Allow me to explain. I’ve found out when Spain was THE world power, back in the 1400’s, that their coins were inscribed “Ne Plus Ultra” meaning there’s “Nothing Further” – in Spain you had attained to the ultimate. The goal. You had ‘arrived.’ Then, after the discovery of the New World, Spain realized she was not ‘the end of the world’ so to speak, and she changed her coins to read “Plus Ultra” meaning there’s “More Beyond.” 

Some Christians are like early Spain – they’ve gotten saved and that’s it, that’s enough. Just live. There’s nothing further. Others, hopefully you, can see that there is “more beyond” and hunger to know Jesus and His kingdom more and more and more.

Now the prize in verse 14 is the upward call of God. The prize is the call itself — of being able to run the race, working with God as a partner to do the work of His kingdom. It’s a high calling because it is worthy of God. And it can only be fulfilled IN Christ Jesus, by His grace, by His power at work within us, His abilities through us.

Paul says he was laid hold of by Christ. We can say the same. Laid hold of – to become new creations: transformed by His power. Laid hold of – to be conformed into His image, the very nature of God. Laid hold of – to be brought into His sufferings – not for our sins – Jesus has taken care of those – but to be able to see, and pray for and help others – with compassion, saying “forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.” And laid hold of – to attain to the resurrection of the dead, which is our heavenly hope.

So my friend wherever you are in Christ Jesus, understand, the New World is out there, the Plus Ultra, the ‘more beyond.’ Press on — and COME ALIVE!

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