Hank’s Place

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The apostle Paul opens the book of Ephesians with blessing – verse 3 reads, “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.”

It’s easy to run past these powerful words, amazing words, incredible words! When Paul says “Blessed be” he is using a word meaning praiseworthy. We bless God because He has favored us with every kind of spiritual blessing. He is worthy of all our praise.

“Who has blessed us.” Did you hear that? God has abundantly provided everything we need for life and godliness. That’s 2 Peter 1:3. And in Philippians 4:19 it says, “And my God WILL SUPPLY ALL your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

In the next several verses of Ephesians, Paul gives us some examples, stating God has blessed us – with forgiveness. Blessed us – with salvation. Blessed us – with the Holy Spirit. Healing. Deliverance. Given us an eternal inheritance. God has – adopted us. He has – empowered us. He has built us into His holy habitation. And He lives in us.

Dear friend, we don’t need to beg and storm the gates of heaven to convince God to bless us. Our part is to acknowledge every good thing that is already ours in Christ Jesus. Simply, we receive by faith that which God has already provided. 

Before I began grasping ahold of this, I would come across a need and ask my Father to sell off a few cattle on the thousand hills and deposit the proceeds into my account. Unwittingly I was thinking money was the answer to everything. Didn’t know what I was asking. The truth is things in the spiritual realm are no less real for being unseen. In fact they are MORE REAL. And they are better for they come from heaven and are not marred by this evil world.

God’s blessings are heavenly remedies for the world’s woes. They are not earned through service to the Lord or works or sacrifice, tears or by making donations. They are given FREELY — to us — by GRACE and received by FAITH.

TODAY — let’s determine to live by faith. Put away that “Well done good and faithful servant” mentality. We have been made heirs, sons of the Living God, not servants. Let’s believe it. Faith in our Father God who has blessed us with EVERY spiritual blessing. Our eyes may see lots of needs in our lives or those of others. All sorts of needs. Let’s see those needs being met, by faith. Let’s praise our God for meeting all those needs. Let faith arise to receive these multitudinous blessings for ourselves and others, that all may COME ALIVE!

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“My only aim is to complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” I’m quoting Paul in Acts 20:24, but it is certainly my aim here at Hank’s Place as well.

The word Gospel means Good News. There is no bad news in the good news! As Dr Paul Ellis notes, “The good news of God’s grace declares that God is not mad at you, He’s mad about you. The One who sits on a throne of grace blesses you, not because you are good, but because He is good and He longs to be good to you.” Dr Ellis adds, “Grace declares that God is for us and with us, and He freely gives us everything we need for life and godliness. Grace invites you to come in from the cold, rest from your labors, and feast at the table of His abundance. Grace is what makes the new covenant new and the good news good news.”

Because of God’s grace found in the New Covenant, there is no longer guilt or condemnation and none of the usual demands for blood, sweat, and tears as found in performance based religion. Our focus now is not on what WE have to do, but upon what Jesus Christ HAS DONE.

In the Epistle to the Ephesians, Paul states he is writing to all the devoted believers who have been made holy by being one with Jesus, the Anointed One. What? Wait? We believers have been made holy? Many preachers declare believers are merely “sinners saved by grace.” I’m sure you have heard it as well. But that’s not the truth! We HAVE BEEN MADE HOLY! Paul explains that when we believed, God brought us into UNION with Himself!

Our union, with the Lord is mentioned hundreds of times in Scripture. Like a branch on a vine, we believers are one with the Lord. John 15:5. And Jesus Himself said, “You are in me and I am in you.” John 14:20. Our union with the Lord is intimate, unbreakable, and the means by which we experience the abundant life that flows from the fullness of His love.

And His holiness. We have become holy because He is eternally holy and we are ONE with Him. And that’s just one blessing! I like the way the Good New Bible renders 1 Corinthians 1:5, “In union with Christ you have become rich in all things.” Think about that. That perfect connection between us and God Almighty. It is perfect and eternal for He created it!

TODAY, I urge you NOT to think of yourself as a weak, failure of a Christian — that’s how the devil wants you to think. Look at Jesus. See His perfection and think on the union you have with Him. Then RECEIVE grace, favor, blessings, all that you need because of that union — you’ll COME  ALIVE!

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The other day I went to church, hopeful of hearing good words. Good words? Yes, you know, something about Jesus. Or righteousness. Or new creations. Or freedom, hope, acceptance, abiding, justification — words pertaining to the Good News of Jesus, and what He has done for us.

I heard a message about the importance of relationships. Did I have good ones? How do I measure them?
I heard I had better parent with purpose! What’s that?
That I must commit to a growing faith. Hmmm? How do I do that?
That I must commit to a community in order to grow. What is an acceptable community? Who is evaluating my performance? My head was buzzing.

And commit to prayer, and tithing, and bible reading. I was told that is how to grow in faith. And that I must put my faith in practice and grow in it for this ‘journey of faith.’ And I must join a discipleship class in order to put muscles on my faith or I won’t have a faith that ‘sticks.’

OUCH! I felt so — inadequate. So many check boxes — and they were all about me and my performance! I am confident the pastor was well intentioned, but he didn’t know much about the grace (stuff God has done for us or wants to give us) that is found in the New Covenant in Christ’s blood.

We were saved by the grace of God. And we are KEPT by His grace as well. Jesus kept all the ‘to-do’s’ then gave us His righteousness. By His death and resurrection we have died to sin and come alive to God. We are free in Jesus. In Christianity rules for godly living have been replaced by something far better: walking in the Spirit.

Now there is something that pleases God. FAITH pleases God. Abraham, the Believer pleased God. Hank the Believer pleases God. YOU dear believing friend please God! And how does our faith come? Faith comes by hearing of the word concerning Christ. Romans 10:17. Faith COMES to us from HEARING the good news of Jesus Christ and what He has done.

Today, may you hear a good word concerning Jesus – you know what? Your faith will increase. You’ll be listening for and experiencing the Holy Spirit. Then like the early disciples you’ll soon be turning this world upside down, and many shall — COME ALIVE!

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In Genesis 14 Abram rescues his nephew Lot, who had been captured along with the king of Sodom and other kings. Abram refuses to take any reward from the rescued kings. He must have had some concerns about the future, such as what if the defeated kings regrouped and attacked him later?

What his concerns, GOD reassures him in the next chapter, saying, “Fear not Abram, for I AM your shield and your exceedingly great reward.” God then makes a covenant with him, with Jesus being Abram’s stand in. Abram needed ‘only’ to believe. Later he was referred to as “Abraham, the Believer.”

What did Abraham need to do? He needed to BELIEVE God would keep His promises. “Abraham, the Believer.” This covenant with Abraham, like the new covenant, was a grace-based covenant since Abraham was not required to “do” anything. Abraham was resting in the promises of God. The promises of God are made and fulfilled by God himself, without any regard for our performance.

Abraham had a moment of wavering – remember Ishmael? Most of us struggle at times as Abraham did, trying to do ‘our part’ in earning blessings of God. It doesn’t work that way. That way is the way of the flesh. No faith in that. We are blessed because of what Jesus Christ did for us. Let’s continue believing in our Father as faithful and loving — the promise keeping God.

To review, God said to Abram, “I AM your exceedingly great reward.” Think about that. God telling, Abram, I AM giving you Myself. All that I AM, is yours. That’s how biblical covenant works. Think of marriage. The man, and the woman, covenanting together, each declaring all that they are, all they have, they give to the other. Two become one.

In the New Covenant, God has placed us IN CHRIST. All that we are has been placed IN HM. And GOD Himself has come to live in us eternally. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I you understand that please explain it to me! I haven’t yet grasped the depth of what that means, it doesn’t stop me from asking Father to reveal the depths! And thanking Him! God Himself is our reward for believing in Him and His salvation through Jesus Christ, oh Hallelujah!

God has given believers — Himself. Whoa. Dear friend, let’s toss off that loneliness and defeat and condemnation. God is victorious, a Champion. He is in us. We are likewise champions in Him. More than conquerors. Able. Overcomers. Victorious. Cheerful. Hopeful. Successful. And more.

Today let us get ahold of this revelation – and COME ALIVE!

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One of my favorite verses, that speaks so powerfully of the grace of God, is Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me.”

Who we were before Christ, the person concerned with rules and self and sin, has died with Him. Romans 6:3. This is such good news! Many Christians are trying to crucify the flesh. But Scripture declares we HAVE died with Christ. Once we were in bondage to sin, but Jesus set us free! The old has gone and the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Thanks to Jesus, we are no longer slaves but sons – Galatians 4:7, for Christ, THE SON, lives in us hallelujah! That’s an amazing truth: Christianity is not just another religion of rules and rituals. Christianity is Christ LIVING IN US. Because Christ lives in us, we ARE holy and righteous. Christ is not only our Savior and Healer, He is our Life. Colossians 3:4.

The lives we live in our earthly bodies we live by faith in the Son of God. The King James and some other translations say we live by the faith “OF the Son of God.” If this was Paul’s meaning, we are empowered to live in Christ because He is, and will always remain, faithful. It is His love and faith that enable us to love and trust Him. In the new covenant, God takes the lead and we respond. We love because He first loved us, and we believe because Christ first believed in us. He is our supplier of faith, hope, and love.

Unlike manmade religion that portrays God as capricious, “Sometimes He loves you, sometimes He doesn’t,” the gospel of grace declares God’s love for us is constant and shadowless. Psalms 136. We do not have to earn His favor. God did not wait for us to repent or get cleaned up before He loved us. He loved us while we were sinners and nothing can separate us from His love.

God won’t love us any more if we succeed, and or love us any less if we fail. If we lead millions to Christ or none at all, He will love us just the same. There is nothing we can do to make Him love us more, and nothing we can do to make Him love us less.

His love endures forever. Receive that love today – you’ll COME ALIVE!

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When I turned to Jesus in 1976 it was honeymoon time! God the Father loved me! Jesus made His home in me thru the Holy Spirit! I was soaring, in love with God who loved me!

Then the law guys began their subtle work on me. “Gotta get things right, Hank.” “Right living is needed in order to please God and be blessed by Him.” Talk about pressure to perform! I became SELF-conscious. Was I doing it right, or done enough to please God? You see, I had grown up believing I was unable to please my father. At best he would grump. Or angry silence. Or “Why’d you do that? You should know better.”

I believed I could not please my earthly dad. Yikes! Now what about my Heavenly Dad? Impossible! Every preaching teaching leading opportunity brought with it pressure, tension, headaches – lots of headaches. Condemnation city.

I had become a law-man, a ‘gotta get things right’ man. Listening to the law teachers. Law teachers measure success, our religious progress, in avoiding sin, for sin is breaking of the law. “The law” these days refers to rules or regulations that define some standard of right living.

Churches and denominations are fond of packaging these rules as laws. Keeping the Ten Commandments, the teachings of Jesus, denominational or church traditions or practices. They might cover – church attendance, giving, moral conduct, dress codes, hair length, diet, spiritual disciplines, women in ministry, listening to music, communion, confession, etcetera.

At that time only thing I knew about ‘grace’ was how to spell it. Then – graciously – God delivered me from a childhood demon of unworthiness. And slowly I began to grow in the grace of God and find freedom from the Law.

Yes, for us Christians we can find LIFE, abundant life, the life found only in Christ Jesus. Regarding religious laws: “We died to the law.” Romans 7:4. “We have been released from the law.” Romans 7:6. “We are not under law” Romans 6:14 and Galatians 5:18. And “Christ is the end of the law for all who believe.” Romans 10:4.

Dear friend, are you, like I was, struggling to “get things right” in the sight of God? Then it it is time to reckon yourself to dead to any and all religious laws. The law has no jurisdiction over the believer who has died with Christ.

Then, grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus! Receive that free gift of righteousness to reign in life. Romans 5:17.

You know what? You’ll COME  ALIVE!

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In these times of political, national, world unrest it is easy to feel insecure and uncertain. But what about eternity, our eternal destination?

I’ve shared many times that the Cross has changed everything. At the Cross Jesus took the sins of humanity, and their punishment. In exchange, for those who would BELIEVE this GOOD NEWS, Jesus has imparted HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

As Romans 8:1 declares, “So now the case is closed. There remains no accusing voice of condemnation against those who are joined in life-union with Jesus, the Anointed One.” Eternally uncondemned.

Through Jesus we have been liberated from the “law” of sin and death. Our having to make ourselves acceptable to God. Every righteous requirement of the law has been fulfilled through the Anointed One living His life in us.

But if you think you can sin all you want and still get to heaven, well, I wonder if you are born again, for Paul throughout his epistles basically says, “You ARE NO LONGER an unbeliever, a sinner, so don’t act like one. Having nothing to do with the old life that you came out of, lest you fall back into the old ways.”

We have been joined to the Spirit of the Anointed One. Now Christ lives His life in us!
We have received the “Spirit of full acceptance,” enfolding us into the family of God. We should never feel orphaned. Listen! Can you hear the Holy Spirit whispering, “You are God’s beloved child!” Romans 8:16.

Dr Paul Ellis has compiled over 130 New Testament promises guaranteeing our eternal security. A link to these are found in my message description.

Here are just a few:
Hebrews 13:5 – He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you,”
John 6:37 – Everyone that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I certainly will not cast out.
John 14:16-17 – I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever…(and) you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you.
Hebrews 10:17 – And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no longer.

AND –
Revelation 3:5 – The one who overcomes (and that is those who believe in Jesus) will be clothed the same way, in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

God’s got us believers, dear friend. He is keeping us safe – and secure. Be confident.

And COME ALIVE!

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Psalm 68:20 says, “God is to us a God of deliverances; And to God the Lord belong escapes from death.” We saw that happen with Donald Trump 8 days ago. I like the way Detroit Pastor Lorenzo Sewell at the RNC defined God’s sovereignty as His being Almighty God who can do what He wants when He wants; and His providence, Divine Providence, is God’s doing what He wants, when He wants – for YOU! In this case, Donald Trump.

In my July 4th message I asked the question: “Could God be at work cleaning house, changing the spiritual atmosphere in America?” I thought so and asked that we PRAY for that change.

Since then we have seen God’s divine intervention for Donald Trump. A Republican National Convention where I heard speakers call upon God, call upon our Lord Jesus Christ, and declare America is One Nation – Under God. I could hardly believe my ears – politicians calling upon God for His help!

One morning this week as I was thinking of America, this thought came to me, “Truly I have heard the cries of My people. Behold, I am making all things new. You will see the enemies of My people wither, dry up and disappear before your eyes. Strongholds are falling.”

I was reminded of the promises of God found in Psalm 37. Here are 3 of them:

Verses 1 & 2: Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!
For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.

Verses 10 thru 13: In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him, but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.

And verses 35 & 36: I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree. But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found.

So, today, let’s continue to pray. For God’s divine intervention. Fulfillment of His promises. His rescue of America. And for you and me, the word is RECONCILE. While God does His work, let us RECONCILE people to Him. At one time we all were enemies of God. Yet He sent His son to reconcile us to Him. May we help others become reconciled to God through Jesus.

After all, it is everyone’s day – to COME ALIVE!

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Listen to 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 from the Passion translation.

“Now, it is God himself who has anointed us. And He is constantly strengthening both you and us in union with Christ. He knows we are His since He has also stamped His seal of love over our hearts and has given us the Holy Spirit like an engagement ring is given to a bride—a down payment of the blessings to come!”

Awesome words! And promises! He has stamped His seal of love over our hearts my friends! Also, I’ve read that God has sealed believers with a seven-fold seal: 

(1) a seal of security, sealed tightly and kept secure in God’s love, 

(2) a seal of authentication that marks us as God’s very own, 

(3) a seal to certify genuineness, 

(4) a seal of ownership, 

(5) a seal of approval, 

(6) a seal of righteousness,

(7) a seal denoting a promise to be fulfilled.

I’ve provided the Scripture references in my program description.

The mark given by the beast is upon the forehead and hand, indicating thoughts and actions of the natural man, but the seal of Christ is over our hearts. Jesus, our Bridegroom, invites us to place Him over our hearts like a fiery seal of love, the jealous flame of God that burns continually in our hearts. Song of Solomon 8:6. 

We are born of the Spirit, sealed with the Spirit, indwelt by the Spirit, baptized in the Spirit, filled with the Spirit, made one in the Spirit, that is, become unity with God, which is beyond comprehension, given gifts of the Spirit, and given ministries by the Spirit. 

The Holy Spirit is a promise, a seal, and a guarantee of receiving our full inheritance. Notice in these verses 21 and 22 that the Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are involved in bringing all this to pass.

Why am I saying all this? That you might realize God loves you and has laid hold of you. Firmly. Positively. Approvingly. Eternally. Marked you as belonging to Him. Forever. He is never letting you go! You are His! And He is helping you grow by the Spirit into your eternal destiny. You are not forsaken, not forlorn, not judged inadequate, not inferior, not a failure. 

So jump up out of the mire. Shout a holy hallelujah — and COME ALIVE!

Scripture references to believers being sealed (courtesy Passion translation)
(1) Deut. 32:34; Job 14:17; Matt. 27:66
(2) 1 Kings 21:8; Est. 8:10; John 6:27
(3) Est. 8:8, 10; John 3:33
(4) Neh. 10:1; Jer. 32:44; 2 Cor. 1:22
(5) Eph.1:13-14
(6) Rom. 4:11
(7) 2 Cor. 5:5; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30

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Did you celebrate America’s Independence Day this 4th of July? Here we thanked God for the freedoms we have in this wonderful country.

The Spaniards came centuries ago looking for gold and eternal life, as in the ‘fountain of youth.’ The English came looking for wealth from profitable trading down in Jamestown, Virginia.

But the group that left their enduring mark were the God-fearing Pilgrims who left England seeking religious freedom, to worship God other than as dictated by the Church of England. They landed at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts, and before debarking they crafted the Mayflower Compact, which was the first time in history that free and equal men voluntarily in writing covenanted with GOD and each other to create their own civil government.

The New World settlement grew and in 1776 declared independence from England. It was very difficult, but independence was achieved. The new country crafted amazing documents of government, such as the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence. Now 248 years later, we are in the most difficult battle for survival as a free and God fearing nation since the Civil War.

Only faith in God keeps me steady as I look around at the condition of America. Especially after watching the recent presidential debate with all the media and political freaking out, afterward!

I urge YOU dear friend, to have your faith anchored in our faithful GOD. Remember His mercy, lovingkindness. His grace. Do not be disturbed from your composure by mere men, media, or politicians. God rules.

Could GOD be at work cleaning house, changing the spiritual atmosphere in America? I think so; we could use the change! Let’s PRAY for the change! Remember, as believers in Jesus Christ we belong to His body. We are in union with Him thanks to His work at Calvary. He has promised to answer our prayers – see John 14 and 16. We can come boldly before God for His throne has become one of grace – Hebrews 4:16.

Under the New Covenant the only conditional aspect to having our prayers answered is that of having FAITH in Him. FAITH that His sacrifice was sufficient. FAITH that He hears our prayers. And will answer them, hallelujah.

Do not, as so many believers do, think they have to get back under the OLD COVENANT to get their prayers answered. They pull out 2 Chronicles 7:14, “IF My people will humble themselves, you know, turning from their wicked ways, etc, THEN will God answer.” NO NO NO. NO! All conditions were met by Jesus at Calvary! We are in Christ Jesus and are New Covenant masterpieces of RIGHTEOUSNESS because of the shed BLOOD. We pray, God hears, God answers.

Believe it. America’s best days, and yours, and mine, lie ahead. So PRAY — and COME ALIVE!

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