Hank’s Place

Welcome to Hank’s Place – 

Here at Hank’s Place I’ve been encouraging you week after week to have faith in God. Believe He is the God of abounding grace, mercies and faithfulness. The promise keeping God of Truth. The altogether Good God!

Now the devil, defeated at Calvary, still roams about seeking to destroy – us – through lies, deception, evil schemes, slander. Paul in Ephesians 6 says stand firm in the victory Jesus has given us.

Here’s an example. As a major election draws near, lies abound. Is it ‘women’s rights’ or is it the wholesale murder of babies? Is it diversity, equality and inclusion or is it a devilish deception with leaders flinging their fists in the eyes of God who created us man and woman? Vote according to the truth of God’s word my friend!

Back to Ephesians 6. “Stand” Paul says, using the analogy of a soldier’s armor to describe vital spiritual truths. We wrestle against very powerful spirit beings, and need to stay in the truth.

There is the belt of truth. God’s word is truth. Jesus is THE Truth. Stand in the truth. Allow the Spirit of Truth to guide you into all truth. Reject lies and deceptions.

Let righteousness cover your heart. At Calvary we were made righteous before God. In fact, we have Christ’s righteousness. We are righteous, upstanding, people of integrity before God. Reject the lies of the devil that tempt or accuse you or being morally corrupt.

Stand firm upon the gospel of peace. Remember, God is for us and with us and in us. We have peace with God through Jesus, and the world needs to hear it. Share it, don’t be shut up by demonic intimidation.

And let faith be your wrap-around shield, to extinguish the blazing arrows of the evil one! Faith is resting in the confident assurance that God is good and He longs to be good to you. Faith is trusting in your Father’s unfailing love. Trusting He will fulfill all His word and promises toward you. No matter what may be going on around you.

Let your thought life be protected by the power of salvation’s full deliverance. When Jesus saved you, you were saved, by His grace, for eternity. Spiritual warfare takes place in the battlefield of our minds. Don’t believe the enemy’s lies that you are not good enough, you have failed God and that He is displeased with you.

Take that razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken word of God. Jesus refuted the devil in the wilderness by speaking the word of God. We resist the enemy’s lies and destroy his strongholds by speaking God’s word.

Lastly pray passionately in the Spirit, as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times. Don’t pray religiously, repeating the same prayer over and over as if quantity counts. Just pray from your heart.

All of us are already wrestling with the enemy — as you use these powerful weapons you will COME ALIVE victoriously!

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Welcome to Hank’s Place – 

Recently hurricane Helene has destroyed lives, cities, towns, infrastructure, at a level not seen in decades. Media has not covered the incredible magnitude of destruction, according to relatives there in North Carolina of our close friend. Please, ask the Lord what you can do to help in relief, recovery and restoration. Certainly pray. Give financially, materially, physically, as He directs. I would suggest Samaritan’s Purse and/or local churches for financial giving.

God did not send the hurricane. But the devil will accuse Him of judgment upon a wicked America. No. Not true. He is FOR America. At this time of shaking we could use a good word concerning victorious living — and we find it in the book of Ephesians.

The overall theme is our new life in Christ. Paul begins by revealing we are now already seated, by grace – in the heavenly places with Christ. Then he speaks of our walking – worthy, in love, in wisdom, as children of the Light. He concludes by telling us to stand firm – in spiritual warfare, resisting in the evil day. Seated. Walking. Standing.

Listen to chapter 6 verse 10. “FINALLY, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” “…be strong in the Lord” – our strength comes from the Lord, not ourselves. The verb “strong” literally means “empowered.” We are not spiritual athletes exercising spiritual disciplines like prayer, bible reading or study to make stronger spiritual muscles. It is NOT ABOUT US, our strength, but recognizing our reliance upon the Lord Jesus and HIS power, HIS strength, HIS might. Remember Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens – empowers – me.”

Then verse 11 reads, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”

“Schemes of the devil?” What are those? Those schemes are large scale plans intended to distract us from Jesus. Life is all about Jesus. The devil does not care what it is we do, as long as we are believing the devil’s lies and relying upon our flesh, our own understanding, our strength, rather than the Lord’s.

Now, what have I been sharing about God in Hank’s Place? About yourself? To believe who He says He is. To believe what He has done for us. To believe His word concerning us. To believe His promises toward us. Now Paul repeats some of these vital words of truth to us, describing them as God’s armor for spiritual warfare.

Although the devil was defeated and disarmed at Calvary, he and his demon forces are still roaming about seeking to ruin humanity through schemes, deception and lies designed to fill us with doubt and unbelief.

So TODAY, have faith in God, and COME ALIVE by STANDING FIRM in the victory Christ has won for you!

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Welcome to Hank’s Place – 

Because of God’s GREAT LOVE toward us even while we were yet sinners, He made us alive in Christ, and seated us with Christ in the heavenly places.

God in His great love is so incredibly generous towards us, holding nothing back, not even His own son. And Romans 8:32 adds, “how will He not also with Him graciously give us ALL THINGS?” Generous. God – is – generous.

Years ago I was saved in a Baptist church in Pennsylvania. A poor Baptist church. Looking back it’s silly, but many of the people believed they were poor because, well, God was stingy and kind of grumpy. It was a pervading spirit over that church.

They would read Philippians 4:19 “…my God will meet all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” And church people would tell me, a new Christian, “God said He would meet our NEEDS and not our ‘wants’ – so Hank, you had better be sure that what you are asking God for is really a need and not just a selfish want.” And then there was Luke 6:38, “Give and it will be given to you.” I was told, “Hank, don’t expect God to give you anything unless you start giving first. You have to be a sacrificial giver first.” I was a new Christian; I didn’t realize what they were saying was anchored in unbelief.

When I asked an elder in that church about John 14:13-14 and this stingy God he knew, he told me “God’s no sugar daddy! You can’t just ask Him for anything and expect to get it, Hank.”

The gospel truth is that our God is incredibly generous. He is super abundant in all things toward His children. He even blesses those who hate Him with good things! Oh, in John 14:13-14 Jesus says, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”

And 1 Timothy 6:17 says, God… richly provides us with everything to enjoy.”
And Matthew 7:7-11 says, “Ask, and it will be given to you… For everyone who asks receives.…”

My point today dear friends is this: do not allow a poverty spirit, or unworthy spirit, or self-righteous spirit (you know, “I can do it myself”), keep you from receiving all that your generous God desires to give you – blessings beyond what you could ask or think. Now why would God do this? Just as God is generous, He will enrich us to be generous, so that thanks will rise to Him. God is generous and He wants us to know the joy He has in blessing others.

Today, Ask. Believe. Receive. Experience the joy in blessing others. You’ll COME ALIVE!

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Welcome to Hank’s Place – 

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Welcome to Hank’s Place – 

“In Christ Jesus” is one of the apostle Paul’s favorite phrases. Remember, when we turned from our selfish, sinful, worldly ways and turned to God, calling upon the Lord to save us, He did just that! In fact, we were placed IN Christ Jesus and Jesus now dwells IN us, never to leave or forsake us. Hallelujah! Being IN Christ Jesus means there is grace upon grace directed towards us. Father God deeply loves us beyond all measure!

I thought I would list just a few of these graces, promises, facts, and favors of God. The scripture references are in the written description.

We are alive to God and have eternal life IN Christ Jesus.
The grace and kindness of God are found IN Christ Jesus.
His forgiveness is found IN Christ Jesus.
There is no condemnation for those who are IN Christ Jesus.
We are justified IN Christ.
Our salvation is IN Christ Jesus.
Nothing can separate us from the love of God that is IN Christ Jesus.
We have freedom and are sanctified IN Christ Jesus.
We are seated in heavenly places IN Christ Jesus.
The peace, faith and love of God are found IN Christ Jesus.
IN Christ we are brand new creatures.
We are complete IN Christ.
All the glory goes to God, for it is because of Him that we are IN Christ Jesus.

Dear friends, are not these truths incredibly powerful? To restate, being found IN Him, we are alive to God, possessing eternal life, forgiven, without condemnation, justified, saved, loved by God forever, free, sanctified, new creations, complete and seated with Him in the heavenliness.

Now, on this matter of being forgiven. It means God has removed our sins from us “as far as the east is from the west.” Psalms 103:12. This is a done deal by God. Not sure? Still confessing sins already confessed? Consider, on the night He rose from the dead, Jesus instructed His disciples to preach the remission of sins. That’s Luke 24:47. From then on, the apostles proclaimed the good news of unconditional forgiveness. Check out Acts 13:38-39 where it says we are freed from ALL things. Hebrews 9:12 states Christ’s sacrifice was perfect and has wrought an eternal redemption.

We are forgiven in accordance with the riches of God’s grace and not on account of our acts of forgiveness. In Him we are completely and eternally saved.

Today, consider the FREEDOM He purchased for us, and — COME ALIVE!

References:
Romans 6:11, 23
1 Corinthians 1:4, Ephesians 2:7
Ephesians 4:32
Romans 8:1
Galatians 2:17
2 Timothy 2:10
Romans 8:39
1 Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 2:4.
Ephesians 2:6
Philippians 4:7, 1 Timothy 1:14
2 Corinthians 5:17
Colossians 2:10
1 Corinthians 1:30

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Welcome to Hank’s Place –

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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Welcome to Hank’s Place –  

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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