Hank’s Place

Welcome to Hank’s Place – Easter 2020

Christ our Lord is RISEN TODAY – Hallelujah! Although fear mongers may be parading with loud voices throughout the earth, We know the TRUTH. We rejoice for the Lamb of God HAS triumphed. The Lamb of God IS alive forevermore. The Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, HAS conquered death – and hell – and sin. Hallelujah!

Jesus, the sacrifice lamb, has taken the punishment for our sins, and died, for the wages of sin is death. Our sins have been nailed to Calvary’s cross in Christ Jesus.

His blood was shed for us, and the blood has never lost its power!

Check out these excerpts from Ephesians 1 – Message Bible.

How blessed is God! And what a blessing He is! He…takes us to the high places of blessing in Him. Long before He laid down earth’s foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love. Long, long ago He decided to adopt us into His family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure He took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of His lavish gift-giving by the hand of His beloved Son.

Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, His blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. …Abundantly free! He thought of everything, (and) provided for everything we could possibly need.…

It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, He had His eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living.…

It’s in Christ that …(we have) found ourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what’s coming, a reminder that we’ll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life….

It all comes from Christ: God raised Him from death and set Him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from His rule… forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center … Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church.

 Share the good news with others this Easter, dear friends and see them –– COME ALIVE!

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Welcome to Hank’s Place –

There’s a 7:14 prayer movement going on now, and I understand over 2,000 churches are participating. Based on 2 Chron 7:14, they are asking their members to pray at 7:14am and pm daily concerning the pandemic.

It’s always great to pray! But let me ask you, which side of Calvary is 2 Chron 7:14? That’s right, the Old Covenant side. Her 8:13 says, “When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. OBSOLETE, dear friends. Why use as a basis for your prayers, a passage of scripture (although perfect in its time) that gains its strength from a now obsolete covenant?

Remember – a new and living way has been opened, declares Heb 10:20-22. Now we have a Great High Priest over us. Now let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith – (for) our hearts (are) sprinkled clean from an evil conscience.… 

We have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to the confession. Hebrews 4:14-16. And what might that confession be? That Jesus has taken away our sin. That Jesus has made us righteous new creations. How else would vs 16 make any sense? That reads, “Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with BOLDNESS, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.”

Make BOLD prayers, my friend, in FULL ASSURANCE OF FAITH.

And one more thing. Look at the context of 2 Chron 7:14. It was not written to people; it was a word from the Lord to King Solomon after 7 days of dedications and 7 days of feasting, to be mindful of the ways in which he walked and how he guided God’s people. If they wandered from God and bad things began happening, Solomon was given instruction how to get back on track, beginning with himself.

Isn’t it wonderful thing President Trump declared early on a day of prayer for the nation? And we prayed! So now, boldly approach the throne of grace, thanking God that He HAS heard our prayers and thanking Him for His mercy and grace already pouring down from heaven.

Yes, thank God today – and COME ALIVE!

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1 John 3 starts out so – amazingly (1 Jn 3:1-10). From the Message Bible: “What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to.

But friends, that’s exactly who we are: children of God. And that’s only the beginning. Who knows how we’ll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we’ll see him—and in seeing him, become like him. All of us who look forward to His Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus’ life as a model for our own.

All who indulge in a sinful life are dangerously lawless, for sin is a major disruption of God’s order. Surely you know that Christ showed up in order to get rid of sin. There is no sin in him, and sin is not part of his program. No one who lives deeply in Christ makes a practice of sin. None of those who do practice sin have taken a good look at Christ. They’ve got him all backward.

So, my dear children, don’t let anyone divert you from the truth. It’s the person who acts right who is right, just as we see it lived out in our righteous Messiah. Those who make a practice of sin are straight from the Devil, the pioneer in the practice of sin. The Son of God entered the scene to abolish the Devil’s ways.

People conceived and brought into life by God don’t make a practice of sin. How could they? God’s seed is deep within them, making them who they are. It’s not in the nature of the God-begotten to practice and parade sin. Here’s how you tell the difference between God’s children and the Devil’s children: The one who won’t practice righteous ways isn’t from God, nor is the one who won’t love brother or sister. A simple test.”

Have you become one of God’s children by believing upon Jesus? Great! Take notice of the 2 reasons given for Jesus appearance on earth: vs 5: He appeared in order to take away sins, and vs 8: The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

Be encouraged for Jesus has taken away your sin. Now by the power of the Holy Spirit you can set captives free, binding the enemy, loosing the prisoner. You have nothing to lose; they have everything to gain. 

Help others today, to — COME ALIVE!

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Last episode I pointed out that 43 times in the Gospels we find instances of demons being cast OUT by Jesus, by the apostles, the disciples, and regular believers – like you and me.

The regular believers are found in Luke 10 – picking up with vs 17, “The 70 returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.”

If something is mentioned 43 times in the Gospels alone, might it be – important? And when the disciples reported on their use of the authority imparted them by Jesus—that Jesus said He saw Satan falling from heaven like lightning and then He twirled about in a kind of happy dance (that’s Lu 10:21 in the Greek) – well – don’t you think setting people free from devils might yet be of some value in our daily living? I do.

Could the answer to many a person’s afflictions be hiding in plain sight in the Gospels? Sure, there are diseases, afflictions, and all sorts of things in this world due to sin. But there are also afflictions whose sources – are demons. Whatever the afflictions, Acts 10:38 states Jesus went about healing all those bound by the devil.

If crazy thoughts are running through your head right now, like “Hank is crazy” or fearful thoughts “Turn this off!” Or your pulse is pounding — then I suggest you likely are experiencing a demon trying to keep the truth away from you!

God has given us authority over evil spirits. The takeaway for today is this: why not use your God given authority – to cast them out of your life or that of a loved one, or the needy and hurting around you? Most people don’t use their authority. If you have not, don’t ask why, don’t condemn yourself, but thank God for that authority – and ask His help in applying it! 

You are about to embark on an exciting adventure in the Holy Spirit. Make the devil sick today  – with a good case of rejection! Do it — COME ALIVE!

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Have you been guarding that fine mind of yours – by putting on that helmet – the hope of Salvation? Great.

Now, do you remember Ro 14:17, the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost? If you are living under clouds of heaviness, weariness, discouragement, failure, frustration, and fears – you get the picture – well, that’s not kingdom of God living, is it?

Assuming you are a believer, Jesus has given you His totally awesome righteousness. You stand approved in God’s eyes, no matter how you may feel: hold onto this truth. Maybe look in the mirror and tell that person there that they are righteous. Get this marvelous truth down into your believing heart! Paul calls it the breastplate of righteousness. Eph 6:14.

Now, how about that sword of the Spirit in Eph 6:17, which is the Word of God.
Most preachers will refer us to Luke 4 or Matt 4 where Jesus, in the wilderness being tempted by the devil, chose to STAND and quote Scripture to that foul being. And the devil left Him.

Paul in the following verse says it’s good advice for us: “with all perseverance and with all prayer and petition to pray at all times in the Spirit.” Yes, let’s all use that sword of the Spirit!

And there is more! The Gospels record Jesus casting spirits OUT from multitudes of people – always the word OUT is used. Maybe you thought they were superstitious back then? That there is no such thing as an evil spirit?

My dear friend: today’s enlightened society is blind to the truth! I did a little counting and in the 4 Gospels I found 43 times – 43 – sound like it might be important? Where Jesus is recorded as casting OUT a demon, demons, a spirit or several spirits – like 2,000 in the demoniac! And I found 5 references to Jesus giving authority to cast out evil spirits to His apostles, then His disciples, then to every believer! To you and me! Count them up for yourself and be ENCOURAGED.

Why be encouraged? Because maybe, just maybe, there may be a demon or two (or more) troubling you, wrestling with you or a loved one. Paul says they do. And that’s good news. Really! Because YOU can cast them out with a word, and — COME ALIVE!

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Attacks upon our minds – they happen all the time! For some, their minds get sick – mental illness. Paul in Eph 6:17 tells us to guard these minds of ours – by putting on that helmet, called the hope of Salvation. 

Earlier in chapter 6 Paul reveals that these attacks have a demonic origin. Devils are wrestling with us. That implies they are seeking footholds, applying stress, pressure, squeezing, pulling, twisting – looking for a point of weakness – to get us off balance and fall to the mat where they leap on us. And they show no mercy. Paul says they have a hierarchy – it means it is an organized attack against each one of us. Ouch!

Don’t worry! Christ has gotten us the victory! 1 Cor 15:57. I like what Paul says in 2 Cor 10:4, “for the weapons of our warfare are SPIRITUAL, divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.” We have been weaponized, dear friends to pull down every fortress of Eph 6. He adds, instruction in 2 Cor 10:5, “We are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” Putting them under His lordship. 

So, devils shoot those thoughts into your mind: you’re no good, you have messed up, it’s hopeless, give up, God has forsaken you, end it all. But you, having found encouragement in Scriptures, having prayed for hope to the God of all hope, can take those thoughts captive. 

You need a firm foundation in Christ for this. In knowing you have been made RIGHTEOUS. You STAND – a new creation – without sin before God. Because JESUS has borne your sins to Calvary. So, abounding in HOPE, firm in Christ’s RIGHTEOUSNESS, when the devil accuses you, instead of cowering in fear and defeat, you blast him good. The truth is — the devils fear YOU. Think about it. 

Here is something else: not only do devils speak thoughts to your mind; they may reside on or in you – not your spirit, but your body and mind. The Gospels record Jesus casting spirits OUT from multitudes of people – always the word OUT is used. It’s true, for the word of God does not lie. In particular, notice that Is 61:3 speaks of a spirit of heaviness. That’s depression. So yes, depression CAN be rooted in a spirit. And spirits can be cast out – and that’s a good thing! More on that another time.

Today, see yourself weaponized for victory – resist the devil, and COME ALIVE!

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I was searching the Gospels and found that Jesus referred to faith – or having faith or admonished or exhorted or questioned His disciples concerning faith – many times.

28 times! Faith – without it we cannot please God – Hebrews 11:6.

Hey – Luke 8 provides excellent instruction for today: Jesus and the disciples are crossing over the lake. Jesus is – sleeping. Beginning in vs 23 a fierce windstorm swoops down on the lake; of seismic proportions writes Matthew. Their boat is being swamped. They are in danger. The disciples awaken Jesus, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to die!” Sounds like the news media these days. Jesus got up – rebuked the wind – the surging waves, and they stopped – it became calm. And Jesus said to them, “WHERE is – YOUR faith?” Matthew records it as “Why are you fearful, you of LITTLE FAITH?”

Somehow the mighty apostles had misplaced their faith. Or left it in their robes doing laundry and the dryer was on high temp and shrank it. (Shrug) He was in their midst – yet they had lost their faith. Shows you how easily it can happen.

Or how about Matthew 14 – Peter walking on the water? He was doing it, “But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, WHY DID YOU DOUBT?” Again, Jesus was right there, but in both instances the Apostles’ eyes – were elsewhere.

Today, the storms of life are HUGE. Pandemics. As believers, let’s take a clue from these passages. EYES ON JESUS. Again, EYES ON JESUS.

If you have misplaced your faith, look for it! Only a little faith like Peter? Why not build it up reading in the Gospels, or Hebrews 11?

Let’s choose faith over fear. Let’s CHOOSE – to FEAR NOT.
God’s got us. Eyes on Jesus and COME ALIVE!

Then get out there and tell others Who to look to – to COME ALIVE too!

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Welcome to Hank’s Place – Anti-Virus Edition

Are viral fears still going viral? Well, hey, I know who holds the future, I know who holds the nations in the palm of His hand, I know who beholds us as the apple of His eye – and I trust in Him and I trust that you do, too!

There are many occurrences of the word “fear” and “do not fear” found in the Gospels. Let’s check out two today!

In Luke 5 we find the boats of Simon Peter, James and John literally sinking from a huge catch of fish. Simon is terrified at this demonstration of God in their midst and Jesus assures him, saying, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” 

There’s a kind of holy fear that can engulf a person when God shows up on the scene. But Jesus says don’t be afraid to Simon – and gives him something incredibly awesome to grab ahold of. It’s a fresh vision for his life!

This sort of fear is also recorded with the people of the Gerasenes upon hearing the testimony of those who witnessed the great deliverance of the demoniac at the hand of Jesus. They were afraid when they learned of the demoniac being healed, and even more afraid when they found out how – God at work! Read it in Luke 8.

This happened with all the disciples too, on their way across the lake a bit earlier.

They had encountered a great storm. Terrifying, even for life-long fishermen!

They awaken Jesus who speaks to the storm and it ceases. Then as found in Mk 4:40 Jesus says to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”” Jesus gave us the solution to banishing fear: FAITH IN GOD. Worldly fear? No worries, but have FAITH IN GOD.

But now catch the next verse: “They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?””

There are things that happen in life that cause us to fear. The remedy: have faith in God! But when God shows up, that causes our mortal bodies to fear EVEN MORE than anything on this planet – and for that I say to you: DO NOT FEAR, you who believe in Jesus, for you belong to Him, and He has accepted you already in the Beloved! You are approved and greatly loved my friend.

So worship Him, rejoice in His presence, cease being afraid— and — COME ALIVE!

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Corona Virus. Great Fear. Fear of the Unknown leading to panic. We’ve not stockpiled here at Hank’s Place — we have taken stock in Jesus Christ, who LIVES within us. We have reminded ourselves that not only do we dwell in the shelter of the Most High and within the shadow of His wings (Ps 91), but per Col 1:13 we have been translated out of the domain of darkness where fear runs amok – and into the kingdom of Jesus Christ – where there is no sickness. 

Fearing the virus? Hey, the virus fears Jesus! Consider:

Mt 4:23 – Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.

Next verse: The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them.

Lepers were believed cursed of God – but in Mt 8:2. a leper asks, “Lord if you are willing, you can heal me.” And Jesus said yes and touched him and healed him. 

Romans were hated by the Jews, but in Mt 8:13 – a Centurion’s servant was healed after a word from Jesus.

In Mt 8:14 – Jesus touched the hand of Peter’s sick mother-in-law and the fever left her. Jesus is willing to heal: EVERYONE!

Two verses later when evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill.

Mt 9:35 – Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.

Mt 12:13 – Jesus healed a man with a withered hand – in a synagogue full of hateful scribes and Pharisees. Immediately afterward, in 

Mt 12:15 – Jesus, aware they were conspiring to kill Him, withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and He healed them all.

Mt 12:22 -Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw.

Mt 14:14 – When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.

Mt 15:30 – And large crowds came to Him, bringing with them those who were lame, crippled, blind, mute, and many others, and they laid them down at His feet; and He healed them.

Mt 19:2 – and in the region of Judea beyond the Jordan large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there.

Mt 21:14 – And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.

Sickness, virus, whatever – doesn’t stand a chance with Jesus. You come to Jesus and He heals you, whatever the circumstances. No wait! Jesus has ALREADY COME TO YOU – He resides in YOU. So be confident — fearless!

There is a single requirement my friend. And the Gospels tell us!

Of the Canaanite woman of Mt 15 with the cruelly demon-possessed daughter – The woman persisted in reaching out to Jesus, and Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once. 

Faith is the key. Jesus applauded the Centurion’s faith. It’s readily seen in Mark with the 4 friends of the paralytic, Mk 2:5; the woman with the issue of blood Mk 5:34; the blind man in Mk 10:52.

Today, have faith in God – resist the devils of doubts and fears, and COME ALIVE!

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Welcome to Hank’s Place – 263

Mental illness, from stress and anxiety to the inability to function is rampant world-wide, even in the Church. And God’s got answers!

Paul speaks directly to this in Eph 6:17 – guard your mind – by putting on that helmet, called the hope of Salvation. 1 Th 5:8.

How – you may ask. Paul helps us in Ro 15:04 – “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have HOPE.”

The Bible gives us encouragement. God at work and loving, from Genesis to Revelation. And in the New we see Jesus giving His life so we could be seated with Him in the heavenly places, so that in the ages to come God might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us. Eph 2:6-7. Talk about hopeful words!

We all have those days, those times, that are discouraging, don’t we? We may feel condemned, rejected, all alone, forgotten, forgotten even by God. My friend, at those times, we can read the Scriptures and see the faithfulness and integrity of God who never gives up on His people! And gain HOPE.

There’s more! We can pray, despite our feelings. How? Pray like Paul in Ro 15:13, “may the God of hope fill you with all JOY and PEACE in believing,” and why? “So that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” That’s right! At those bad times and sad times, STOP – take a deep breath – and pray to the God of all HOPE, to be filled with Joy and Peace – and gain HOPE. 

Yes, ask — and you will receive! Then “Hold fast the confession of your hope without wavering, for He who promised is FAITHFUL.” Heb 10:23

Faithful? Yes – remember the words of Thomas Chisholm! Who? He wrote Great Is Thy Faithfulness in 1923. Maybe that was a bit before your time. Pulling from vs 3 and 1; “Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow” and “morning by morning new mercies I see.” It’s TRUE friend!

Read the Bible and be encouraged, gain HOPE. Pray and ask the God of Hope to fill you. You will have strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow. Yes, you will –  COME ALIVE!

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