Category: Hank’s Place

Welcome to Hank’s Place  – 

I have been sharing in these recent episodes on the importance of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. There is an inward action by which we are born again. There is an outward directed action by which we are equipped for service in the Body and empowerment to share the Gospel with the world. These Holy Spirit gifts are from the age to come. Hebrews 6:4-5.

They are listed or referred to in several places in Scripture. Romans 12, 2 places in 1 Corinthians 12, in Ephesians 4 and 1 Peter 4. Just what they are and how they work and their validity for today have numerous understandings. I believe all are valid until Jesus returns for us!

Some seem to be positions within the church, perhaps a church ‘office,’ like pastor or teacher as given in Ephesians 4. Others are much like a talent or ability such as giving or serving as listed in Romans 12. And then there are those that are clearly supernatural impartations, like the working of miracles. That’s 1 Corinthians 12:7-11.

Do these lists imply a church hierarchy with leaders ranked in various levels of authority? Some believe so. Things can get messy as people ask themselves the same question the early apostles did while walking with Jesus, “who is the greatest?” Do you remember His reply? 

I like the way 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 says, “There are diversities of gifts, but the SAME Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the SAME Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the SAME God who works all in all.” The gifts are diverse, the ministries and the activities are different, but ALL are under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

We are one body, joined together and in union with our head, Jesus Christ. We see gifted people as God’s gifts to the church, not its overseers but its servants.

Our focus here at Hank’s Place is on the powerful grace gifts of the Holy Spirit found in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11. Paul refers to them as manifestations of the Spirit given to His body. To individuals. Like you. Like me. They are supernatural. They are from heaven. 

My friend, can you believe the Holy Spirit desires to manifest Himself THROUGH YOU? To help others, even yourself? To destroy the works of the devil and build up the body of Christ? It’s true!

Upcoming we’ll share these 9 incredible manifestations of the Spirit. I want to see YOU equipped for treading upon serpents and scorpions, destroying enemy strongholds, armed with God’s weapons of righteousness.

Whatever your gifts, your anointing, whatever your place in the body of Christ, know it is by the grace of God. And He has done this that many, through YOU may — COME ALIVE! 

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place  – 

Is the baptism in the Holy Spirit for you? Of course! “So, how do I get this baptism?” you may ask. Well, listen to this– 

Luke 11:9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” What promises! From the one in whom ALL of God’s promise are YES and AMEN! Jesus goes on to give the example of earthly fathers giving good things to their children when asked and says in verse 13, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” So, have faith in your Heavenly Father, who does NOT disappoint. ASK HIM!

We find another approach in Acts 8. In Samaria people were believing in Jesus! The early church leaders knew the importance of the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and sent Peter and John to them! Verse 17 says they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Through the laying on of hands. Did you hear that? The laying on of hands.

We find this again in Acts 19. Paul is passing through Ephesus and upon finding believers who were unaware of the Holy Spirit, IMMEDIATELY laid hands upon them to receive the Spirit, and they did, with speaking in tongues and prophesying!

Heart felt worship could be another. I have a pastor friend who told me while he was in seminary that he loved to worship Jesus in the evenings at his bedside. He would be singing softly, worshiping from his heart, and many times songs of praise rose effortlessly from his lips – in other languages. He spoke and sang in tongues without realizing what was happening. When he related this to his professors and classmates he was soundly ridiculed. The rest of his time at the seminary became one of survival, a fight of faith against condemning unbelief.

Dear friend, take advantage of the PROMISE of the Father. Desire, as my pastor friend, desire more of God. Take some time to worship and receive all He has to give you. Or ask your Heavenly Father for the Holy Spirit. Or find a Spirit-filled person and ask them to lay their hands upon you that you can receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It will a day you’ll never forget!

Why bother? My friend! My friend! When the Holy Spirit is moving through you, you will speak and act with the boldness of the early disciples, the world will be turned upside-down, and multitudes will— COME ALIVE! 

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place  – 

I’ve been sharing how revolutionary the resurrection was to the early Jewish believers. They began worshiping on Sunday and not the Sabbath ordained by God under the Law! And I’ve been sharing how important being baptized in the Holy Spirit was to those Jewish believers. So much so they sent Peter and John to baptize those formerly despised Samaritans in the Holy Spirit after they had gotten born again under Philip’s preaching.

Still think the baptism of the Holy Spirit doesn’t much matter? Well, there’s more. In Acts 10 we find gentiles, the Centurion Cornelius and family, people not having any part of the Old Covenant. They feared God but did not know Him. And God shows Peter through a vision not to call anyone unclean, unworthy of hearing the Gospel. The Gospel is for EVERYONE, everywhere! Peter, was staying with Simon the tanner (which itself was an unclean profession). He goes with the messengers from Cornelius and preaches the gospel to Cornelius’ tribe. The Holy Spirit falls upon them like those in the upper room on the day of Pentecost! They were speaking in tongues and glorifying God.

The early church leaders in Jerusalem at first needed convincing this was a God thing. And they were. Jew and gentile – one body in Christ! Oh, and don’t forget Paul encountering a group of believers in Ephesus, Acts 19. It says he immediately asks them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” He laid hands upon them. The Holy Spirit came on them and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. God and man back then believed this is important! Still true today.

What kind of ‘service’ would the Holy Spirit equip you for? I suggest Acts 10:38, “You all know of Jesus of Nazareth, and how God anointed Him, with the Holy Spirit and with POWER. He went about performing good, healing all those bound by the devil because God was with Him.”

The baptism in the Holy Spirit gives you that same Spirit’s anointing – YOU, through the Holy Spirit are empowered to perform good, and heal those bound by the devil, that master slanderer and liar. Don’t let the clever lies of the devil cause you to stumble into unbelief!

It is so important people hear and receive the Good News and become believers. God gives us the Holy Spirit for this awesome task my friend. By the Holy Spirit you are equipped for performing good, setting captives free, and healing – for Jesus’ glory and humanity’s help.

Be filled today my friend, inward and outward – you’ll COME ALIVE!

And, you’ll turn the world upside down!

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place  –

Last message we found in Acts 2 that two different Greek words were used for “filled” by the Spirit. There was a filling INWARDLY fulfilling Ezekiel 36:26’s promise. And a filling OUTWARDLY fulfilling Joel 2:28’s promise. Inwardly. Outwardly. Those in the upper room experienced both. 

Two experiences. Here’s something more: consider the feasts of Passover and Pentecost. Jesus our Passover lamb by which we are born again! Then Pentecost and the infilling and empowerment for service. Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Outward manifestations. The tongues of the disciples becoming fiery tongues of life-saving words!

Passover, and Pentecost! Have you experienced your Pentecost? Being filled with the Holy Spirit within (personal salvation) and then outwardly (for service), I have no doubt that others will say of you that you—have indeed COME ALIVE!

You don’t think you need this baptism of the Holy Spirit? Yes, you do. God is offering you gifts from heaven. Gifts. Not earned. Not by being holy. Or getting things right. Gifts of the age to come to destroy the works of the devil hallelujah.

How important was being born again and baptized in the Holy Spirit to the early Jewish believers? Well, all the early believers were Jews. The Sabbath was their holy day of rest, ordained by God thru Moses. Sacred. Unthinkable to break. Until Jesus rose from the dead on the 3rd day! The sacred Sabbath was replaced by something greater than the Law. That’s how big the resurrection was in the lives of those believing Jews. 

What about this baptism of the Holy Spirit? In Acts 8:15-17, Peter and John we were sent by the church leaders to the new believers in Samaria, to pray for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. It says they laid their hands on them and the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit. Wait! Samaritans? 

Think of the woman of Samaria in John 4. Samaria was a mixed race of people, what was left of the overrun Northern Kingdom. Good Jews had no dealings with Samaritans and would even detour around Samaria.

But these ‘inferior people’ as far as the Judaean Jews were concerned, were hearing the Gospel and believing it! And the leadership in Jerusalem, upon hearing this, SENT Peter and John down to them to baptize them in the Holy Spirit! The Jewish church leaders sent apostles, overcoming all the centuries of antagonism, to be sure the Samaritans were filled with the Holy Spirit. That’s how big, how important, the baptism of the Holy Spirit was to the early church!

God does not care about your breeding or background: He wants you born again, part of His family, and filled with power from on high. Don’t delay – be filled today.

And — COME ALIVE!

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place  – 

Here at Hank’s Place we encourage a whole-hearted dependence upon the Holy Spirit. The Spirit in our lives is the fulfillment of the ‘Promise of the Father.’ This Old Testament promise signified God’s intention to establish a new covenant relationship with His people (adoption), and to indwell and empower them for Kingdom’s service.

Here’s the promise from Joel 2:28, “And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.” Notice – Father offers His Spirit to everyone. Notice too that the promise is both OUTWARD as this verse indicates, but also INWARD as the promise in Ezekiel 36:26 says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Outward and inward. Inward and outward.

In Luke 24:49 Jesus reminds the disciples of the promise, saying, “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 the mighty power of Heaven.”

40 days later, in Acts 1:4, Jesus again commands them “… not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.””

Did you know each Gospel states Jesus is the mighty baptizer in the Holy Spirit? Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16 and John 1:33. That’s 6 times in all – the number of man! This baptism with the Holy Spirit is for all of us – today!

This is very important, this grace gift from Heaven; so naturally there is considerable confusion. Most questions come down to, “Are the gifts of the Holy Spirit as given in 1 Corinthians 12 still for today? Is the baptism in the Holy Spirit with people speaking in tongues still a valid experience today?” Some say they got all the Holy Spirit there is to get when they were born again. Others firmly disagree.

Well, I’ve found in Acts 2 that two different Greek words are used for “filled.” In Acts 2:2 it is ‘pleroo,’ which means “filled INWARDLY” like Ezekiel 36:26. But in Acts 2:4 it is ‘pletho,’ which means “filled OUTWARDLY” like Joel 2:28. Inwardly. Outwardly. Those in the upper room that day experienced both. 

The indwelling Holy Spirit – the seal of the believer’s salvation. The filling outwardly – the source of spiritual gifts and empowerment for ministry.

Experience both, you’ll — COME ALIVE!

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place  – 

Hallelujah for Revelation 19! Jesus Christ returns. In this chapter He has 4 names. One only He knows, two others are ‘The Word Of God,’ and ‘King of Kings and Lord of Lords.’ But the first name, the first name revealed, which is so personal to us, is found in verse 11: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called ‘Faithful and True,’ and in righteousness He judges and wages war.”

Jesus’ nature —exudes faithfulness and truth. ‘Faithful and True’ perfectly describes Jesus Christ. To His Father, to His word, and especially – toward us!

‘Faithful’ is defined as an unwavering commitment to someone or something. Someone who is faithful shows unchanging affection or support for a person or cause, often in the face of difficulty or some temptation.

The word ‘true’ is somewhat archaic. To shape, position, or adjust something in order to make it exactly level, balanced, or square. To be made accurate or aligned.

Jesus, is forever, eternally, ‘Faithful and True.’ Jesus will return for us – He will come back just like He said, for He is FAITHFUL, and with the armies of heaven to make all things TRUE, that is to restore things to God’s perfect alignment!

Looking into Hebrews chapter 3, we see Jesus described as Faithful – unto God and Faithful – as a Son in charge of God’s house. The rest of the chapter then warns us of the dangers of unbelief.

For 40 years it says, the Israelites questioned God’s faithfulness toward them – in spite of witnessing miracle after miracle. And they dropped dead in the desert. The Passion Translation says in verse 19 that they couldn’t enter into God’s promised inheritance because they had wrapped their hearts in unbelief.

Dear friend, resist the temptation to doubt God’s faithfulness toward you! What? You say the struggle to resist is real because others proved unfaithful to you? In your marriage? In your family? The workplace? You were abandoned by a loved one who had declared undying love and faithfulness?

That is tremendous pain. But, consider Jesus – ever Faithful, ever True. Today, would you release the pain and hurt of that person’s unfaithfulness and instead embrace Jesus and His faithfulness? It is time you draw near to His throne of grace and receive mercy’s kiss, restoration, healing. Hebrews 4:16.

Jesus will not disappoint, and you will — COME ALIVE!

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place  – 

Hebrews 1:4 declares Jesus is infinitely greater than angels, for He inherited a rank and a NAME that is far greater than theirs. In the Aramaic NAME is Ha-Shem, the common title for God. This elevates the meaning of the passage much clearer than the Greek, for Jesus is now given the “Name,” that is, He has the title of God (Ha-Shem, the Name).

In the Old Testament God was hidden. His nature, His character, His attributes: seen dimly. His majesty revealed in creation if you had eyes to see. His words spoken through the intermediary of prophets – in many portions and in many ways. In fragments — Hebrews 1:1.

What was God really like, people wondered. He had well over a hundred names in the Old Testament, each revealing facets of His character. Some of the Hebrew names are: El Shaddai, El Elyon, Adonai, YHWH, YHWH Nissi, YHWH Raah, YHWH Rapha, YHWH Shammah, YHWH Tsidkenu, El Olam, Elohim, YHWH Jireh, YHWH Shalom, YHWH Sabaoth.

Then came Jesus.

Hebrews 1:2 “But to us living in these last days, God now speaks to us openly in the language of a Son, the appointed Heir of everything, for through Him God created the panorama of all things and all time.”

The Passion Translation renders this, “He has spoken through a Son.” We speak in English; God speaks in “Son,” for Jesus is the language of God. The Sonship of Jesus is the language He now uses to speak to us.

To know Jesus, see Jesus, hear Jesus, experience Jesus is to experience God. And thanks to what Jesus accomplished for us at Calvary we can speak to Him directly, worship Him directly, hear from Him — directly.

There’s more! Jesus gave us a new name for God, a name not found in the Old Testament: FATHER!

In John 20:17 as Mary clings to Jesus following the resurrection, He says, “Mary, don’t cling to me, for I haven’t yet ascended to God, my Father. And He’s not only my Father and God, but now He’s your Father and your God! Now go to my brothers (that’s new!) and tell them what I’ve told you, that I am ascending to my Father—and your Father, to my God—and your God!”
The New Testament writers refer to God the Father, OUR Father, over a hundred times. We have an incredible mystery revealed here. Thanks to Jesus, God, Almighty God, has become Father God to each believer.

In becoming born again we have been adopted by a loving Father who in no ways will cast us out or reject us — we — have COME ALIVE!

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place  – 

The death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is life changing for all who believe. Sins forgiven. Sin’s penalty paid. Relationship restored. Last Sunday I shared the mystery of God: Christ in us, all because of Jesus and Calvary. There is more! Believers have been co-crucified with Him. 

What? Here’s Galatians 2:20 from the Passion Translation: “My old identity has been co-crucified with Christ and no longer lives.” Co-crucified. Co-crucified with Jesus! Continuing, “And now the essence of this new life is no longer mine, for the Anointed One lives His life through me.” My friend, we live in union as one! Paul adds, “My new life is empowered by the faith of the Son of God” – did you hear that? “Our new creation lives are empowered by Jesus’ faith expressed towards us! Jesus, who gave Himself for us, is dispensing His life — into ours!”

His life is creative! His life is fulfilling! Paul told the Ephesians that because they were joined to Jesus, the Anointed One, they had become His poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny He had given each of them. 

Maturing, according to Paul in Romans 6, is growing into awareness of this union we have with GOD. Listen to these snippets from Romans 6: We have died to sin once and for all, as a dead man passes away from this life. No longer do we live under sin’s rule! We were immersed into union with Jesus, the Anointed One. Yes, we were immersed into union with His death. We were co-buried with Him, so that when the Father’s glory raised Christ from the dead, we were also raised with Him. We have been co-resurrected with Him and empowered to walk in the freshness of new life. 

Our former self-life identity, is now and forever deprived of its power. For we were co-crucified with Jesus to dismantle the stronghold of sin within us, so that we would not continue to live one moment longer submitted to sin’s power. 

We do not have to beg God for victory over sin — for we have already died to sin. Friend, let’s believe this good news rather than seek to “crucify ourselves.” A dead person is incapable of sinning. So let us reckon ourselves as dead and unresponsive to sin’s appeal while living daily for God’s pleasure in union with Jesus, the Anointed One.

We have been united with Christ in His death and resurrection, our former identity has forever been deprived of its power, and we are joined with Christ and alive to God.

Thanks to Jesus, we are new creations — we have COME ALIVE!

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place  – 

Rejoice and be glad for Jesus has risen from the dead, ascended to the right hand of God the Father and has opened wide heaven’s gates for all who have placed their trust in Him, hallelujah!

Because of what happened that first Resurrection morning, what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15 applies to us! It reads, “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.” Eternal LIFE is ours!

He says that the time is coming when “Death is swallowed up in victory.” The sting of death was sin but thanks be to God, who has given us the victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Powerful as this is, there’s even more Good News for us today — and that is – that the mystery of God has been revealed. A mystery in the bible is a plan or purpose of God – unknown to the natural mind but which may be revealed to us by His Spirit.

The mystery I’m referring to is found in Colossians 1:27. And that mystery is Christ in you, the hope, the promise of glory with Christ. This extraordinary grace gift, thundering down upon us like an endless waterfall, is humanity’s great hope and God’s answer to ALL our problems.

No man-made religion or worldly philosophy offers anything approaching the glorious treasure that is revealed in the gospel. “God is for us and with us and in us.”

Let me repeat, God is for us. God is with us. And, God is IN us! I’ll tell you, it is beyond my comprehension that God desires to be in spiritual union with us!

This mystery, our spiritual union with the Lord, is mentioned many times in scripture. For example, consider “Christ in you” – Colossians 1:27, “in Christ” – Colossians 1:28, and “with Christ” – Colossians 3:1. This union with the Lord is both intimate and unbreakable. And through this union we experience the abundant life that flows from the fullness of His love.

Today dear Christian, rejoice in Christ’s resurrection, experience that abundant life from your union with the Lord — and COME ALIVE!

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place  – 

Today is Palm Sunday. Some time ago Jesus entered Jerusalem to the adulations of the people. They were onboard to RECEIVE Him as king and promised Messiah. They shouted “Hosanna to the Son of David!” They were thinking of an earthly kingdom – God had something better in mind. They cut palm branches and placed them on His path to the Temple. I live in Florida where palm trees and their branches are everywhere. They are quite sturdy.

In a few days a catastrophe would occur. As though Darkness had become king. Jesus would be betrayed, beaten, crucified, killed and buried. Disaster for Jesus and His followers. But that’s not how it played out. My friend, just because things are one way now doesn’t mean they are going to stay that way. There is always opportunity for the “But God…” and His bushel of promises coming true in our lives!

Jesus was going to Jerusalem – to the Cross – to bring in a New Covenant. A covenant where the grace of God would abound. Though abounding, this Grace found in the New Covenant will do no one any good unless it is believed and received in the heart.

Under the old covenant, the emphasis was do, do, do, but in the new it is done, done, done. In the old, people were encouraged to make promises to God. In the new we proclaim God’s promises to us. The new covenant is not about what we will do or give to God. It’s about what God has done and given to us. And for that we RECEIVE.

In the old the focus was our doing, our keeping the laws, and our sacrifices. But in the new, our focus is on BELIEVING and RECEIVING. Beginning with RECEIVING Christ Jesus as Lord – Colossians 2:6.

Here are some examples, with a shout out to Dr Paul Ellis for compiling:
We receive the word of God Mark 4:16,
We receive the love of God 1 John 4:19,
We receive grace of God Romans 5:17,
We receive faith from God 2 Peter 1:1,
We receive salvation from God Romans 6:23,
We receive the Holy Spirit Acts 2:38,
We receive our righteousness from God Romans 5:17,
We receive peace from John 14:27,
We receive wisdom from God James 1:5,
We receive the crown of life James 1:12,
We receive the reward of our inheritance Colossians 3:24, and
We receive rest from God Matthew 11:28–29.

My dear friend, have you received from the abundance of God’s grace?

This Palm Sunday, believe in Christ Jesus, RECEIVE Him as Lord, and continue to receive all His precious promises — you’ll COME ALIVE!

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*