Hank’s Place

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In chapter 1 of John’s gospel, John records the first followers of Jesus. It seems they were disciples of John the Baptist. They were with the Baptist, when Jesus was passing by. When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he prophesied, “Look! There’s God’s sacrificial Lamb!” Two of his disciples heard him. One is identified as Andrew, and the other was likely the John who wrote this gospel. Andrew and John immediately left the Baptist and began to follow a short distance behind Jesus.

Now this gets interesting. Jesus saw they were following him and asked, “What do you want?” They responded, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” That seems such an odd response, doesn’t it? Jesus’ question makes sense; likely you have asked the same question at times. One commentator suggests Jesus asked the question to find out whether they were motivated by idle curiosity or by a real desire to know him.

Verse 39: “Jesus answered, “Come and discover for yourselves.” So they went with Him and saw where He was staying, and since it was late in the afternoon, they spent the rest of the day with Jesus.”

This is the first recorded saying of Jesus in the Gospels. Jesus invited John and Andrew to be a part of His life. It is a good question for all of us followers of Jesus to ask ourselves: “What do I want in following Jesus?”

Do we want something only for ourselves? Do we want a ministry? A miracle? Money? Answers to prayer?

Or do we simply want to be with him? Their answer, “Where are you staying?” shows that they were seeking only Him. The word used for ‘staying’ is the same word that’s translated ‘abide’ in John 15, where Jesus describes Himself as the vine and we are the branches. It refers to life-union. To be joined to Jesus, the living vine, is to truly be ALIVE!

Jesus wants everyone to come and discover where He “abides.” He abides in life-union with his Father. He told the nasty Pharisees to believe in Him or believe in the miracles He did so that they quote, “may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.” John 10:38.

What a marvelous expression of one facet of the grace of God! Jesus, from the beginning, inviting those who would follow Him to become intimately joined with Him in life-union, and joined in life-union with the Father!

Look! There’s Jesus now! Let’s follow Him, abide in Him — and COME ALIVE!

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Welcome to Hank’s Place — 

John chapter 5 begins with a remarkable healing at the pool of Bethesda. In Aramaic the pool is called ‘The House of Loving Kindness.’ It was surrounded by 5 covered porches where the sick, lame and blind lay, hoping to be first into the pool after an Angel of the Lord stirred the waters. The covered porches are symbolic of the covering of the Law.

Under this religious covering, those afflicted couldn’t be healed unless they first did the work of stepping into the pool. Quickly. Before anyone else. Pretty hopeless situation.

Then Jesus comes by, putting none of the law’s requirements upon those there, or us, for healing, but only to believe in the one who is greater than angels. Hebrews 1:4.

He found the lame man who had been sick for thirty-eight years, coincidently the length of time Israel had wandered in the wilderness. Deuteronomy 2:14.

Jesus said to him, “Do you truly long to be well?” At least most translations say something like that. But, it could also be translated, “Are you convinced that you are already made whole?”

My bible footnote says the Greek phrase ‘genesthai’ – pardon my Greek – is actually not a future tense, but an aorist middle infinitive that indicates something already accomplished. YIKES! WHAT was Jesus asking the man?

Jesus was asking the crippled man if he was ready to abandon how he saw himself and now receive the faith for his healing. The man makes an excuse, but Jesus must have seen something within the man for He says, “Stand up! Pick up your sleeping mat and you will walk!” He did, and he did! Oh, and it seems Jesus worked this miracle on the Sabbath. 

The Jewish leaders complained that Jesus was breaking the Sabbath, but He was actually setting the Sabbath free from man’s traditions and religious bondages, hallelujah!

A short time later, Jesus found the no longer lame man at the temple and said to him, “Look at you now! You’re healed! Walk away from your sin so that nothing worse will happen to you.” Whoa — doesn’t that indicate that Jesus offered healing to someone who had been sinning? FAITH in Jesus brings results even when circumstances would appear to dictate otherwise.

How about you dear friend, are you ailing? Sick? Have a serious disease? And demons are accusing you of sinning? 

I invite you to hear today Jesus’ words, “Are you convinced that you are already made whole?” Well, hear them now, for healing came to us at Calvary. Indeed, 1 Peter 2:24 declares we have been healed by His wounds.

Believe these bible truths today — and COME ALIVE – and receive your healing now!

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Welcome to Hank’s Place — 

Today is Easter Sunday, marking Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead. He is risen indeed, hallelujah! Let all the world rejoice!

This is so vitally important, because as Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:14 says, “if Christ has not been raised, our faith is futile and we are still in our sins.” And those who have died in Christ have simply — perished.

In His death and resurrection our sins have been washed away, and His righteousness imparted to us. But there is more…!

WE have died with Him. WE have been born again (“risen to life”) by that same resurrection power of God! Paul spends Romans chapter 6 explaining this spiritual fact, instructing us to reckon ourselves dead to sin, the sin that once enslaved us and crushed life out of us — and count ourselves as alive to God forever!!! From this time forward we are finally and eternally able NOT to sin. When sin comes knocking at the door, we can say “Go away!”

We have been made spiritually alive. Ephesians 2:5. Paul now writes that because we died with Christ in that way, we will also live with Him. We continue to live in the flesh, of course, but our lives are now directed by our faith in Christ.

Too few of us are aware of this liberation. We are free from sin’s bondage and free from the social dogmas of today regarding self-image, personal ambitions, and financial security. We are free!

Paul mentions Jesus’ motive for giving Himself for us: LOVE. Christ died for us because He loves us. Unlike the unyielding system of the law, Christ is a person motivated by His love and concern for us. And because of this there is more…!

As Paul declares in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Notice Paul reveals Christ lives IN him. In all believers. In Colossians 1, beginning with verse 25, he explains there is a divine mystery, “that is, the mystery which had been hidden from the past ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the mystery that is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Yes, more than being set free from guilt and our sins removed, salvation has come that we would share in and possess the glory of Christ Jesus. Christ IN us; and we IN Christ.

Living IN the Holy One, who is making and keeping us holy, and eternally alive! Being IN Christ is not some theoretical, hypothetical, conjectural, intangible, philosophical, abstract supposition. It is our reality!

Friend, dwell on this reality this Resurrection Day — and COME  ALIVE!

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Welcome to Hank’s Place —

Today is Palm Sunday, marking Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem 2,000 years ago. It would be His final Passover for He was about to become our Passover Lamb, our willing sacrifice that would make us believers spotless sons and daughters of Almighty God.

Fulfilling prophecy every step of the way, Matthew 21 records Jesus riding a colt amidst a large procession approaching Jerusalem. The crowds were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!”

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people went wild with excitement. Some asked, “Who is this man?” And the crowds shouted back, “This is Jesus! He’s the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee!” Jesus was atop the popularity charts!

But then Jesus went directly into the temple area, drove away all the merchants who were buying and selling their goods. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the stands of those selling sacred doves. Upsetting the status quo, He declared, “My dwelling place will be known as a house of prayer, but you have made it into a hangout for thieves!”

Then He healed the blind and the crippled, and all who came to Him. Children surrounded Him and shouted, “Blessings and praises to the Son of David!”

What an awesome time! I hope we can all see reruns of this when we get to heaven! Jesus was challenged incessantly by the chief priests and religious leaders. They despised His praises. They questioned His authority. They fumed over His parables pointing out their wickedness and prophesying the stone which the builders rejected would become the chief cornerstone. He warned those men, saying in Matthew 23, that “Great sorrow awaits you religious scholars and you Pharisees—such frauds and pretenders!” That’s God-courage and boldness! Only Jesus knew what was soon coming in a few days.

Jesus also foretold the end of the age, following “the good news of heaven’s kingdom being proclaimed all over the world, providing every nation with a demonstration of the reality of God.” Passion Translation. And after assuring us of His return, He admonishes us to live life as if His appearing could be the next moment. In other words, live godly each day.

Can we live life godly? YES, for thankfully 2 Peter 1:3 assures us that “By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.” You and I have what it takes!

And what do we do when living godly? That’s summed up quite well in 1 Peter 4:7-11, namely, be given to prayer, be devoted to our fellow believers, be compassionate to the stranger and foreigner, use spiritual gifts to serve one another, and give God glory in all things!

So live godly today — and COME ALIVE!

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Welcome to Hank’s Place —  

Jesus had words for the Laodiceans. They are found in Revelation 3. Lukewarm they were. Jesus said, “Be Hot — or Cold.” Hot representing the New Covenant, cold — the Old. Living in Him, by the Spirit, or keeping the rules, at least trying to. That would be good because the Law was given as our tutor to lead us to Christ. It reveals our need for a Savior for it exposes to us our sinful condition apart from Christ. Romans 3:20, and 7:7.

God did not give us grace so that we might fulfill the law. To think grace enables us to keep the 10 Commandments is mixed-up thinking. Like the Laodiceans. Don’t be a Laodicean. Law and grace do not mix. The Law deals in death: “You are a sinner!” it screams. Grace deals in life: “You are saved by grace through faith!”

We can only be declared righteous “by FAITH apart from works of the law.” Romans 3:28. That faith must rest in God’s Savior, Jesus Christ: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

The Old Covenant was only a shadow of the good things to come. And Hebrews 9:10 and 11 tells us the Old had a built-in expiration date – when Christ arose in victory.

However, many preachers preach a mixture of old and new. I did as a young preacher. I couldn’t believe the Good News was that Good! Pray for them to receive revelation as to Christ’s total sufficiency! But don’t receive the mixture. Mixture waters down the power of the Law, and weakens faith in Christ Jesus. Mixture presents the gospel as what Jesus Christ did, PLUS some effort on our part.

What sort of effort? Anything, even very good things in themselves, but that are described as necessary for Christian growth, delivered in such a way that leaves you puzzled, thinking “Have I done enough?” “Should I do more?” “Can I do better?” “Am I pleasing God?” “I feel I’m a miserable and inferior Christian.” “Is Jesus disappointed in me?” “Am I on the shelf?” “Am I being disobedient?” You get the picture.

Let me share something: Paul’s words in Colossians 1:26-29 —

“There is a divine mystery—a secret surprise that has been concealed from the world for generations, but now it’s being revealed, unfolded and manifested for every holy believer to experience. Living within you is the Christ who floods you with the expectation of glory! This mystery, of Christ embedded within us, becomes a heavenly treasure chest of hope filled with the riches of glory for his people, and God wants everyone to know it! Christ is our message!

Dear friend, may your ‘mix’ be 100% Grace, Faith, Holy Spirit, leaning upon JESUS CHRIST WITHIN YOU, and not self-effort. It’s the way to fully COME ALIVE!

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Welcome to Hank’s Place —  

The true gospel sets a person free. The true gospel imparts righteousness, peace and joy from the Holy Spirit. But what if the gospel you’ve heard is a mixture of old and new news? Such a gospel may look like the real gospel but because it includes the old — it doesn’t actually work. Many Christians have been sold this gospel mixture. Maybe you?

This gospel of New + Old, or grace + rules, will soon burden a person with doubts, debts, duties, and depression, no matter how sweet it sounded at the start.

A mixture gospel comes with a price tag. A price WE have to pay for something God has chosen to freely give. It subtly says God won’t accept you, or bless you, heal you, prosper you or whatever unless YOU FIRST do something for Him.

We have a perfect example of how this works. It’s found in the Epistle to the Galatians. They had been walking in the grace of God. Dancing in newness of life and freedom from condemnation. Then folks from Jerusalem came and sought to add the requirements of the Old Testament Law to the Galatian’s gospel. Paul in Galatians 3:1-3 wrote: “What has happened to you foolish Galatians? Who has put you under an evil spell? Did God not open your eyes to see the meaning of Jesus’ crucifixion? Was He not revealed to you as the crucified one? So answer me this: Did the Holy Spirit come to you as a reward for keeping Jewish laws? No, you received him as a GIFT because you believed in the Messiah. Your new life began when the Holy Spirit gave you a new birth. Why then would you so foolishly turn from living in the Spirit by trying to finish by your own works?”

And verse 5, “What does the lavish supply of the Holy Spirit in your life and the miracles of God’s tremendous power have to do with you keeping religious laws? The Holy Spirit is poured out upon us through the revelation and power of faith!”

Wow! How about you? Today it might not be Old Covenant rules but rules for holy righteous living by your church, church leaders or denomination. Are you working hard to stay saved or gain approval from God? Have others diverted your attention to things like responsibility, good works, missions, self control, sowing, investing, creating a legacy? These things are not inherently wrong, but it is a lie that says God’s favor depends on your doing any of them. Living this way is not living at all; it is suffering under a dark cloud of not measuring up.

My friend, Jesus met ALL of God’s demands. For us. We measure up in Him. Flee from rule-based preaching and dead works. Embrace the true gospel message from Calvary.

You’ll COME ALIVE!

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Welcome to Hank’s Place —

In the past two episodes I have been sharing with you that believers have been forgiven by God. At the Cross. But what about unbelievers? In the grace of God, Jesus bore the sins of the entire world to the Cross. All sin was judged at the Cross. Does that mean unbelievers have a ticket to heaven? Not at all.

God has dealt with all sins whether we believe it or not. But if a person doesn’t believe it then His forgiveness will be of no benefit. The grace of God has to be RECEIVED to be effective. Jesus died and rose to become the Savior of the entire world. But a person must BELIEVE and RECEIVE Him in order to be saved, right?

This is why we need to RECEIVE the gift of forgiveness although we are already forgiven. When we RECEIVE the grace of God it will change us. Remember the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32? The prodigal was forgiven long before he came to his senses in that far off land. His father it says, was watching for him daily, then ran to him when he saw him at a distance. A pretty clear indication of forgiveness on the father’s part.

As for the prodigal: first we see him living his dead life — then awakening to reality and determining he would return home and say to his father, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” He considered himself unworthy and unforgiven of his sins. But the father had the servants dress him in the best robe, give him a ring of authority, and sandals placed upon his feet. The father said, “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.”

WE once were dead in our sins, unworthy of the kingdom. But Jesus changed all that and forgiveness is ours. But let me ask you, have you RECEIVED His forgiveness? Are you still living under a dark cloud? Maybe you have been hoping that when you get to heaven you will hear those words, “well done, good and faithful servant.” Like the prodigal who did not believe he could be forgiven. I know pastors who are living in hope of this verse. How much better to RECEIVE His forgiveness — and expect to hear, “Welcome home son — welcome home daughter.”

The moment we put our trust in Christ and his finished work, his forgiveness, which was there all the time, becomes real to us. In him we have the forgiveness of sins. Ephesians 1:7. We cannot be in Christ and be unforgiven. Believe it today my friend.

Receive it today son, daughter, of the Living God, and COME ALIVE!

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Welcome to Hank’s Place —

Last message I stated that believers’ sins were forgiven at the Cross. All our sins, for all time. This was God’s choice, His doing, for His glory, and it is done. And unlike under the Old Covenant, there are no conditions for us to fulfill.

Not sure? Consider what Jesus said in Luke 24:46-47; “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance AND forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

Before the cross, repentance FOR forgiveness was required. Repentance for forgiveness was what John the Baptist preached. Forgiveness conditional on our turning from sin. AFTER the Cross, all glory to Jesus, God has chosen to forgive. If you need further supporting verses, check out Jesus’ words at the Last Supper in Matthew 26:28, and Hebrews 9:26b which both speak of Jesus doing away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself. At Calvary forgiveness became a free gift, paid for by the blood of the Lamb.

There’s more in Acts chapter 5. There the high priest calls the Sanhedrin together. In jealousy they toss the apostles into prison. An angel sets them free and off they go, preaching Jesus. They are brought back before the Sanhedrin who forbid the apostles from teaching in Jesus’ name. Peter states they must obey God rather than man, then says in verse 31: “God exalted him [Jesus] to His own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance AND forgiveness of sins to Israel.”

Dr Paul Ellis in his book “The Gospel in Ten Words,” available on Amazon, notes: (quote) “When they heard these words, the old men of the Sanhedrin were furious. Unconditional forgiveness and risen Saviors had no place in their theology. Their religion was based on doing things FOR God, not on God DOING THINGS FOR them. To the religious mind, grace sounds like blasphemy. The old men had the apostles flogged and ordered them not to preach Jesus.

Of course the apostles ignored this and years later, when Paul joined their ranks, he too began to preach the new message of unconditional forgiveness: “I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.” Acts 13:38. No hooks, no “turn from sin you brood of vipers.” Just good news, delivered pure and straight.” (unquote)

So, how’s your religion dear friend? Is it based on doing things for God — or humbly receiving from God what He died to give you?

Try receiving from God — you’ll COME ALIVE!

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Welcome to Hank’s Place —  

Listen to this verse — 1 John 2:12, “I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.” Believe in Jesus? Then your sins have been forgiven — and the reason we are forgiven — is found in God.

Surely there must be qualifiers if we read that verse in context, right? Like “…if we confess our sins…” or something? Read the entire chapter; you’ll not find a condition we have to fulfill. The chapter begins saying if we should sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus, whose blood covers and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

As Psalm 103:12 prophetically states, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” — speaking of what would happen at the Cross.

So, do not let the devil torment you with questions like, “Am I really forgiven? What if I sin and don’t repent? What if I backslide?” God has forgiven us completely and for all time. That just sounds too good to be true, right? There must be a price to pay. Yes – and Jesus paid it.

Forgiveness is now a gift. It is something we receive, not something we earn by doing certain things.

But didn’t Jesus say in Matthew 6:15, “If you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Yes. He was speaking BEFORE the Cross, when the Old Covenant was still in effect, when God’s forgiveness was linked to our own.

Jesus went to the Cross under the Law, taking all our sins to that Cross. And what did He say upon that Cross? “Father FORGIVE them for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34. Jesus said he came to fulfill the law and on the cross he did exactly that. He forgave those who had sinned against him. The very condition for forgiveness that Jesus preached in the Sermon on the Mount, he himself satisfied on the cross. In fulfilling the Law Christ has become the end of the law for all who trust in Him. Romans 10:4.

It is NO LONGER TRUE that God won’t forgive you if you are harboring unforgiveness in your heart because God’s forgiveness is no longer conditional upon our performance. God has already forgiven you, thanks to Jesus and Calvary.

If you ARE harboring unforgiveness, I suggest you walk by the Spirit; let the fruit of the Spirit grow within you. It’s a much better way to live.

OK. Before the cross we find conditional forgiveness. AFTER the cross we find we have been forgiven. I’ve put a few scripture references in the written description of this episode for you.

Read them and rejoice for it time to toss off that condemnation and COME ALIVE!

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Welcome to Hank’s Place — 

Many Christians camp out on 1 John 1:9. You know, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Why are they camping there? Likely they have been listening to words of condemnation – such as, ‘you haven’t done enough,’ ‘you should have said blah blah,’ ‘you gave a poor Christian witness,’ and so on. So they keep on confessing and confessing. And confessing. Maybe that’s you?

Listen! God does not forgive us because we are good, and got things ‘right,’ but because HE is good. HE is the faithful and righteous One who loved us WHILE we were sinners and sent His Son to save us. Forgiveness is not something we earn through confession — but a gift to receive — and in Christ we have that forgiveness.

In Him, we are completely and eternally forgiven according to the riches of His grace. The popular theological concept of ‘being positionally forgiven but needing relational forgiveness’ for we broke fellowship with God thru sin is to me simply man’s graceless thinking that is missing the incredible love of God.

Listen! God does not withdraw fellowship, relationship, from us if we sin. Believers are in Christ Jesus eternally. Just look at the very first sin for insight. When Adam and Eve sinned, what happened? God went walking in the cool of the evening, calling to Adam, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:8-9. Far from separating from Adam and Eve, God went looking for them! Think about it.

And what of Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep in Matthew 18:12–13. The good shepherd WENT LOOKING for the wandering sheep! Think about it.

Then examine the context in which 1 John 1:9 is found. John opens his letter speaking of the wonderful relationship, fellowship, with the Father and Risen Christ. He says he is writing, quote, “so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.” Sounds like the opening is to unbelievers.

John is writing to a church, and like all churches, believers, unbelievers, pretend believers, believer wanna be’s and so on are present.

So John explains, God is light, so if we claim to experience a shared life with Him (being born again) but walk in darkness, we are liars. If such people claim they are free from sin, or have never sinned, they are fooling themselves. They need to confess, to agree with God, that they have sinned, and receive God’s forgiveness!

If a believer should sin, the Holy Spirit will let them know. If it’s us, we can humbly thank God that we have His forgiveness through Jesus’ blood and not receive the devil’s condemnation.

Yes, dear friend it’s time to silence those demonic accusations. Stop listening to those ‘measuring up’ voices — and COME ALIVE!

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