Hank’s Place

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Be Who You Already Are! – 442

https://youtu.be/52IYyXJqirA

Welcome to Hank’s Place

By the Grace of God – His favor, blessings, mercies, lovingkindness — are ours — and to all who believe in Jesus and His mighty work at Calvary!

Colossians 1:22 tells us He has now reconciled us in His body of flesh through death, in order to present us before Him, holy, blameless and beyond reproach. That means we ALREADY ARE who we have been wanting to be, struggling to be! And someone who the devil whispers we will NEVER be!!!

The next verse may appear to add a condition to this truth, for it says, “if indeed we continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel.” Don’t freak out, dear friend! Paul is simply telling us to persevere in the truth of what Jesus Christ has already done for us, and not give heed to words, or thoughts from the accuser of the brethren, the devil.

Some devilish thoughts come from pulpits declaring WE must try harder, work harder, that we must, in our own strength, put off and put on. And until we succeed in all the areas of weakness we are ‘not there yet.’ This is NOT TRUE.

It is the Blood of Jesus that has already cleansed us from ALL unrighteousness. We already ARE that spotless Christian for we’ve been placed IN Christ and Christ is IN us. We rely now on His power to put off anything of darkness, be it habits, practices, addictions, fleshy desires, whatever. We RESIST the devil in God’s strength.

The third chapter of Colossians is amazing. It says if we have been born again, to keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is. To set our minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. For we HAVE died (to this world), and our life is hidden with Christ in God.

The result? We are to treat the parts of our earthly bodies as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which this is idolatry. Yes, at one time we walked in those evil deeds, and many others. But NOW, Paul says, let us rid ourselves of all of them — for we HAVE put on the new self, which is being renewed, to a true knowledge, according to the image of the One who created it.

Can you grasp this truth? We ARE NEW creations. We HAVE received Christ even as He has received us. We are learning by the Spirit more and more of who we really are, and no longer DOING those deeds of darkness we once did.

Paul closes the chapter saying, “Whatever we do in word or deed, let us do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

Today, let us live in the freedom Jesus purchased for us. Live according to the treasures of the Kingdom of God of which we are members.

Live life loving lavishly – COME ALIVE!

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Commissioned by GOD – 441

https://youtu.be/GXqmO8VKs3U

 

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In Matthew 28:18 Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations.” ALL authority Jesus said, has been given Him, in heaven and on earth. ALL means ALL. And with that authority Jesus commissioned ALL His followers, ordinary people including you and me, anyone and everyone who believes in Him, to proclaim the Gospel, as we go – everywhere.

Pay attention: The One having SUPREME Authority has spoken. To YOU. To ME. The One with ALL Authority has commissioned YOU, and ME. To share this Good News of Jesus Christ, God’s Savior, with the world.

Do you believe that? I doubt it. Do you see yourself as qualified to share it? I doubt it. Why? Because it is so rarely taught in churches. In many churches the Great Commission has been rephrased: GO – SIT in our pew. Contribute sacrificially to the local vision. You are not yet qualified for anything else. You’ll never be qualified. You do not have the credentials, the knowledge, the faith, whatever, to truly GO and share the Gospel. You are – inadequate. Keep sitting until you are old and gray and cannot GO, but keep on giving your time, your talent, and your treasure to our local vision of glory.

You say that cannot be? Ha! If your idea of proclaiming the Good News is to say, “come to my church,” then I suggest it is so for you. But that’s not the truth! Remember Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 “…but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit…”

We all are adequate to share the Gospel. Jesus has commissioned us; the Holy Spirit of the Living God, empowers us!

The Gospel is summarized by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 “…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” We were born again when we believed on this Jesus Christ and confessed Him with our mouths.

No one is more qualified to share your testimony of Jesus alive from the dead, of Jesus, God’s sacrificial lamb, of Jesus washing YOUR sins away, of Jesus by God’s grace giving you eternal life. Far from being unqualified dear friend, NO ONE IS MORE QUALIFIED than YOU to testify to this mighty Good News that is true for anyone who will believe.

You may not think you have the words, the Scriptures memorized – whatever. DON’T WORRY. Ask God to give you the words. Ask God to confirm your gospel testimony in the hearts of the hearers. He will. He will. HE WILL!!!

People will be set free, born again. They will – COME ALIVE!

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He Is Defeated – 440

https://youtu.be/KZLOSinAsxU

 

Welcome to Hank’s Place

Episode 433 of Hank’s Place was entitled, “Resist the Devil.” The devil comes, either in person or via his underling demons, to everyone. To lead us astray, be consumed by various lusts and every evil thing. Blind us from the truth. However, believers are empowered – by God – with the ability to resist him. To reject those evil thoughts. To reject those desires. 1 Peter says if we will resist, the devil WILL flee from us!

And I pointed to the Great Commission, spoken by Jesus to ALL of His followers, including you and me, beginning in Mark 16:15, to GO and share with all creation the Good News. And get this; verse 17 undeniably states God’s AUTHORITY and POWER will accompany OUR proclaiming – assuming we actually believe it; for it says, “These signs WILL accompany those who have believed. And the first one given is: “IN MY NAME they will cast out demons….”

Demons to not have authority over or in the lives of believers. Believers have authority over demons to cast them out. Command them to GO as Jesus did and they must go! In fact, they WILL flee in terror from believers, even demons of fear!

But you must believe you have been redeemed from your past life of sin, believe Jesus’ blood has cleansed you, believe you have been given authority to preach Good News – just as the Bible declares! Start believing today if you haven’t already. Receive grace from heaven. Share the Gospel concerning Jesus Christ. Set the captive free, even those demonized to the point of possession. Demon possession, demons controlling people, occurs when a person has yielded their free will to the desires of demons for so long that they no longer have the strength to resist the devil.

I know this may be new ground to you, dear friend, so I urge you to read those gospel accounts of Jesus’ ministry, the accounts of people set free in the book of Acts. See yourself, Christian, little anointed one, ministering in like fashion. It is our inheritance, this godly authority. It’s by God’s grace that we can demonstrate the devil’s defeat, something Jesus did at Calvary, and something the devil tries very hard to conceal from the world. Some very common areas of demonic activity these days are fears, infirmities, sicknesses, and sexual sins.

Honor Jesus Christ. Keep seeking to know Him more, be like Him in your walking and talking. Summon the courage to ask Him to use you in demonstrating satan’s defeat. He will!

People will be set free – they will COME ALIVE!

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Holy Holy God, and You? – 439

https://youtu.be/F_NPnCPWq0Y

 

Welcome to Hank’s Place

Here at Hank’s Place I enjoy sharing with you the benefits of living in the NEW COVENANT, free from the Law.

Under the old we had to take steps to get holy. Becoming holy was up to us; it was all on our shoulders to be holy, which God commanded. For God said in Leviticus 19:2, “Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.” Peter in 1 Peter 1:15–16 stresses the importance of cultivating personal holiness by referring to this passage, telling us to no longer be conformed to the former lusts which were ours in ignorance.

But is it still all up to us? Please understand: in the new covenant there’s only one step, and it’s JESUS. JESUS is our holiness from God. That’s 1 Corinthians 1:30 which tells us Jesus became to us our sanctification. We ARE the holy temple of the Holy Spirit. It is all God’s doing, and it is DONE. 1 Corinthians 6:19.

Holiness is no longer something we should strive to attain; no, it is something we ‘work out.’ Philippians 2:12. We already are holy through Jesus; Scripture exhorts us to “be holy,” meaning we BE the holy saints we already are.

Today dear friend, live out of your TRUE IDENTITY in Christ instead of living in a false, half-holy and struggling to get holy notion perpetrated by theologians stuck in the old covenant, filled with unbelief that God could be so GOOD to those who believe in Christ Jesus! The Gospel is GOOD NEWS, remember?

An example? Say you are a shovel, shoveling manure in the pigpen. And struggling to be that perfect, spotless silver spoon in the manor house that God said one day you’ll be, and already are, positionally. Or, say you already are that silver spoon, but spooning manure in the pigpen. And now letting go of the former manner of behavior, and entering into the manor house to function as the spoon you already are, period.

Think about it. “…prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control…live as God’s obedient children.” 1 Peter 1:13-14, for that is who you already are.

You’ll  COME ALIVE!

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POWER of God – 438

https://youtu.be/YWiWwpWHkvA

 

Welcome to Hank’s Place

Last Sunday we celebrated Resurrection Day – He is risen, He is risen indeed, hallelujah!

Today I invite you to do your own study on the word “POWER” as found in the New Testament. The Kingdom of God is full of God’s POWER. When Jesus walked the earth, He ministered the word of God in the POWER of God. Signs, wonders, miracles, healings — they were common in His ministry. In Matthew 13:54 the people of His hometown said, “Where did this man acquire this wisdom and these miraculous POWERS?” The word of God accompanied by the POWER of God.

In Mark 9:1 Jesus indicated the Kingdom of God was coming (to earth) with POWER, within the lifetime of those disciples. And in Luke 24:49, after His resurrection, He said, “And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with POWER from on high.” The promise of the Father was the Holy Spirit. He was absolutely needed to accomplish the mission of proclaiming the Good News to all creation – and the Spirit’s manifestation Jesus described as POWER from on high.

Luke again records Jesus speaking of this POWER in Acts 1:8, “but you will receive POWER when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”

This POWER in our own lives enables us to witness effectively. I am amazed at how theologians often are quick to deny this POWER as having value or even existence in the world today. Hey, “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one,” 1 John 5:19. Doesn’t it make sense that God would bestow the greater POWERS of heaven upon believers who believe it in order to make ruin of the devil and his works? It does to me!

The Apostles had it – Acts 4:33 says, “And with great POWER the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.” That deacon Stephen had it, for Acts 6:8 says, “And Stephen, full of grace and POWER, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.”

Paul had it. In 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 Paul says, “and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of POWER so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of mankind, but on the POWER of God.” And Paul also said genuine preachers of the Gospel had it too. That’s 1 Corinthians 4:19-20, “But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the words of those who are arrogant, but their POWER, for the kingdom of God is not in words, but in POWER.

Dear friend, I know you want to share the Good News with others. So ask Jesus for this same POWER to enhance your testimony — because the world – out there, needs to – COME ALIVE!

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He Is Risen – Easter 2023 – 437

https://youtu.be/95wSY-YMdvU

 

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Good News! The tomb – is empty. He is not there, He has risen just as He said. Our God keeps His promises!

He has carried our sin and shame away. He has given us new lives as His children. We are heirs of the Living, Almighty God! He has translated us out of the domain of darkness and into His marvelous light, the Kingdom where Jesus Christ is Lord! That is worth shouting about! Yes, our Savior has given us NEW LIVES totally worth living.

But many Christians, their new life is still on first base. They are treading water, rather than growing in Christ Jesus. They still think of themselves as sinners saved by grace, not righteous new creations. They are hoping prayers are being answered but not very sure, fearful they might not be in God’s will. The issue is they are still trying to serve God in oldness, not newness, of life.

My friend, it does not have to be that way; it is not supposed to be that way!

Romans 6 says we were baptized into the death of Jesus Christ, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Newness of life doesn’t mean obeying the 10 Commandments by the help of the Holy Spirit. Newness of life means walking in the Spirit, by the power of the Spirit, with the gifts of the Spirit. Wow! In Romans 7:6, we find, “…now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

The Law, was good but could only bring death, for the Law points out all our failures. One of the ‘old things’ that passed away with Jesus’ resurrection was adherence to the Law in our own strength. Now we walk in newness of life. By walking in the Spirit.

Friend, it is time for you to live thrillingly – by the Spirit! Read your bible, especially the New Testament. Let the Spirit speak to you, personally, through the words you read. Listen to the promptings of the Spirit and follow through on them. To pray for someone. Or call someone. Whatever it may be; be it a prompting or perhaps a clear prophetic word. It’s God’s new way of living. Living by faith in Him who does not disappoint. Who is always GOOD.

Jesus died and rose again to give us this new life, and give it abundantly! John 10:10. So live it this Resurrection Day – and COME ALIVE!

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It Ain’t Complicated – 436

https://youtu.be/Tf5t0Kyo12w
Welcome to Hank’s Place

This video blog began in June of 2017. It was born out of a burning desire to share – the Good News. There is no bad news in the Good News. God is good, and the news about His Son Jesus Christ is ALL Good News. And it’s not complicated.

Yep, here at Hank’s Place we believe in the SIMPLICITY of the gospel. If it’s complicated it’s probably NOT the Gospel. For example, as I look in the Scriptures, I find Philip talking to the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts chapter 8. Do you know what he says to the eunuch when the eunuch asked him a question about what he was reading in Isaiah the prophet? It says Philip preached Jesus to him. He told the eunuch about the Savior, our Lord – JESUS.

That’s what the gospel is all about, Jesus, the son of God, who died for us and arose from the dead having accomplished salvation – FOR US. It’s simple!

Consider Paul and Silas and their situation in Philippi. It’s found in Acts 16. They were beaten with rods at the hands of the magistrates and tossed into the deepest dungeon. They begin singing praises to God. Suddenly a great earthquake occurs and all the prison cells spring open. The jailer comes in, and assuming the prisoners have escaped, pulls a sword to kill himself. “NO!” exclaims Paul, “We are all here!” In shock, the jailer cries out, “What must I do to be saved?”

Paul responds, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” It’s as simple as that!

Here’s another one. Romans, chapter 10:9-10. Paul speaks about believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth Jesus Christ as Lord and goes on to say that “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

This is VERY Good News. It doesn’t have any “ifs” or “buts” or conditions! No 15 steps to a successful salvation. No getting your life right before God will accept you. We surrender our own lordship of our lives and turn our lives over to Jesus – He does the rest! That’s plainly indicated in John 1:12-13, “But as many as received Him (that’s Jesus), to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, BUT OF GOD.”

Just as astonishing – and Good News – is the MYSTERY of the Gospel; that Jesus has come to live inside us! Colossians 1:27. Not only has Jesus saved us, regenerated us, but He now LIVES IN US to lead us in the way everlasting. What adventure lies ahead dear friend, for those who believe and receive the Good News!

BELIEVE – and COME ALIVE!

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Walking in the Spirit – 435

https://youtu.be/XDH5SkcUArE
Welcome to Hank’s Place

Last week I urged you to be endued with ‘power from on high’ as Jesus said in Luke 24:48. How? Ask Jesus to baptize you with the Holy Spirit so you can begin crushing the devil and destroying his works while helping and healing and delivering those who have suffered under him – including yourself!

This week I remind you that we are spiritual creations. We were created to walk in the spirit. Due to Adam error we couldn’t, but after we were born again, we could! Yet many born again people still walk after the flesh, making judgments based on what they see and hear, and understand, rather than listening to what their spirit is sensing.

I urge you – LISTEN to the Spirit. Act like the son of God that you are, for all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans 8:14. This is especially true in decision making, but also anytime, like sensing danger while walking or driving and stopping, reversing, or taking an alternate route although outwardly all seems well.

Dr Paul Ellis of Escape to Reality has made mention of 3 biblical examples of someone sensing the Holy Spirit. The first is Jesus. In John 13:21 it says, “When Jesus had said this, he became TROUBLED in spirit, and testified and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray me.” Jesus felt the sting of betrayal BEFORE He was betrayed. His spirit was troubled because He knew what was coming.

To be troubled or agitated in your spirit is to know something is wrong even when everything appears normal. Something doesn’t sit right inside you.

The second is Paul at Athens, in Acts 17:16. It reads, “Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being PROVOKED within him as he was observing the city full of idols. Every city at that time had idols and temples. But when he came to Athens, his spirit reacted – with anger. His heart was burning; he HAD to speak up, for people were being seriously led astray.

The third is again the apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 2:13, when Paul said “I had no rest for my spirit.” In context, he had traveled to Troas for the gospel and things looked good for preaching, but Titus was not there and he had no peace within. Paul even said the Lord opened the door for ministry there, but he also felt the need for Titus to be with him, perhaps for more fruitful ministry. So rather than stay he traveled on to Macedonia. For the spirit-filled believer, a loss of peace is a sure sign to consider the situation.

So, let us listen to the spirit, my friend, and act accordingly. Walking in life being led of the spirit means you have — COME ALIVE!

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Be Victorious! – 434

https://youtu.be/KCU0HVyTlJo
Welcome to Hank’s Place
Last week I urged you to RESIST THE DEVIL. 1 Peter 5:9. Submitting to God, Peter instructs us, is necessary. To be born again, to have our sins forgiven, to be translated into Jesus’ Kingdom and out of darkness, we submit to HIS Lordship, declaring Jesus our Savior and Lord. Having reckoned ourself dead to sin, we became alive to God by His resurrection power. Awesome!
But then Peter added something more! He said the devil is like a roaring lion in this life, and we Christians must resist Him. Aches, pains, sicknesses — mental issues, emotional issues, work issues, family issues, ALL ISSUES, can have the devil at their root!
Remember, the devil even came at Jesus, God’s Son, on this earth! The devil through his demons comes at every every one of us, and would love to destroy our Christian witness!
If you pray about your problems in life, and they don’t resolve, no results, then RESIST THE DEVIL! In fact, for my wife and I, we put resisting the devil as the FIRST THING we do — I suggest you do the same! It can spare you a whole lot of arguing with the devil through your family members, co-workers, and so forth if you first bind him and destroy those strongholds in people’s lives.
Did you know that each Gospel account reveals Jesus as the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit? Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, and John 1:33. Paul was baptized in the Holy Spirit, Acts 9:17, as were those in the upper room, Acts 2:4; and the Ephesians in Acts 19:6 and elsewhere. They were experiencing the gifts, charisma, of the Holy Spirit as described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12.
Maybe that’s not been your denomination’s belief. Maybe you have been told all that passed away once the Bible was completed. Those who told you that, however well meaning they may have been, should check with God about this.
Jesus is forever the baptizer; the Holy Spirit is still distributing His gifts. Hunger after spiritual gifts as Paul urges us in 1 Corinthians 14:1. With God’s gifts operating in your life dear friend, you can most effectively, successfully, resist the devil! Both in your life and for those you pray for, for God delights in undoing the devil’s works through YOU.
And you and those you pray for — COME ALIVE!
So get going, be baptized today — in the Holy Spirit!

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Resist devils now! – 433

https://youtu.be/lRqUJ9Vic6g
Welcome to Hank’s Place
Last week I asked that you ask Jesus for revelation of WHO you are – as an heir of God you are His SON. Of WHERE you are – as an heir of God you are in Jesus’ Kingdom. Of how EQUIPPED you are – as an heir, to go and proclaim the Good News, to heal the sick, and to deliver the demonized from their demons!
Equipped? Yes! Consider the last verses of Mark chapter 16. They are for all His followers. Jesus told His disciples to GO and preach the gospel EVERYWHERE to EVERYONE, adding, “These SIGNS will accompany those who have believed: IN MY NAME (that’s important) they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues (spiritual gifts); they will pick up serpents (protection from demons), and if they drink any deadly poison (evil plans of satan), it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover (healing powers thru Jesus).”
Sure sounds like something one might expect from a New Creation Heir of God! Don’t say, “Hank those last verses are not in the earliest manuscripts” — they are in your bible today — don’t ignore them! The Holy Spirit doesn’t ignore them – so neither should we!
Don’t say, “Hank, what about that casting out of demons. I thought demons were just some superstitious thing of the time and are not real; nobody believes in demons today, do they?” — Wow, if that’s how you think then the devil had succeeded in placing a 5th column into your life, your family, loved ones — sheeeeez! He is undermining your life and your loved ones — sabotaging, spreading disinformation, inflicting sickness, pains and fears and all the while has got you thinking he doesn’t even exist! Oh, and he is likely whispering that it’s all your fault, too.
Have you got aches and pains, sickness that doesn’t respond to meds? Mental issues? Emotional issues? Stuff where doctors can only prescribe drugs that knock you for a loop? Hey – have you thought to RESIST THE DEVIL?
Yes, RESIST THE DEVIL! I’m assuming you are submitting to GOD and want His will in your life. Then take the next step: RESIST THE DEVIL! 1 Peter 5:9. Best way to resist is to use the name of Jesus and command the devil with his woes out of your life! Resist those waves of fear, of doubt, of uncertainty. How? By declaring you are God’s son, living in God’s kingdom, and that the things that happen to others in this world do not have to happen to you. Minister healing and deliverance in all areas in Jesus’ name.
God IS our deliverer. God IS our strength. Our mighty fortress. Jesus IS our healer. He IS our restorer. So stand firm my friend, IN Christ Jesus. RESIST the enemy. He WILL flee. Do it. It’s time we live as More Than Conquerors. It’s time — to COME ALIVE!

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