Go Ahead and Rejoice
CAMPMEETING SPEAKER HIGHLIGHT
//MARK HANKINS
Psalm 118:24 says, "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." The Good News Translation says, "This is the day of the Lord's victory; let us be happy,
let us celebrate!" I want to ask you, "Are you ready to celebrate?"
See, your celebration—your rejoicing—is first of all a demonstration of your revelation. If you have revelation knowledge of what Jesus has done for you in His death, resurrection, and triumph, it's easy to get happy. Jesus took your sin and
shed His blood to redeem you, and victory is yours!
Secondly, your celebration is a demonstration of your expectation. In other words, you have faith, but you need to add some joy to it. Your faith is in the middle of your
rejoicing.
I love the story Dad Hagin told about when he was facing some symptoms in his body. The devil
came against his mind and said, "This is one time you're not going to get healed."
As he lay in bed, Dad Hagin took the covers, pulled them over his head, and began to laugh. He said, "I just lay there and went ha, ha, ha. I forced myself to laugh." (There is a laugh in the Holy Ghost. But there is also a laugh of faith.)
I forced myself to laugh." (There is a laugh in the Holy Ghost. But there is also a laugh of faith.)
While he was lying there laughing, the devil came against his mind again and said, "What are you laughing at? This is one time you're not going to get healed." Dad Hagin just kept laughing.
This happened three times. On the final time, Dad Hagin responded, "I don't have to get healing. Jesus already got it for me. And because He got it, I have it!" After that, every symptom left!
I thought about what the devil had said: "This is one time you're not going to get healed." Understand that Dad Hagin was healed of seven incurable diseases. Now he was having another physical challenge. And the devil said, "This time, you're not going to get it."
Isn't that interesting? The devil will never challenge you on last time. He doesn't even want to bring that up, because you know what the Lord did for you in the past. But he'll tell you, "This time, you're not going to get it." However, if God healed you once, He'll heal you again! If He blessed you once, He'll bless you again!
I dare you to laugh right now and say, "The Lord delivered me last time, and He's delivering me again! This time is going to be just like last time and the time before!
Ha, ha, ha!"
When you break forth into joy, something breaks loose in your life—something that is exceedingly abundantly above all you could ask or think, according to the power of God that's working in you. While you're laughing, something's
happening in your house, in your body, and in your bank account. Something is happening in your
future!
If you knew what the Lord was working on for you right now, I couldn't make you sit still! You'd say, "I have to praise! I have to shout! I may even have to dance and run! Ha, ha, ha! God is working!"
Go ahead . . . laugh at the devil.
He's under your feet. Sickness is under your feet. Depression is under your feet. Lack is under your feet. Jesus is Lord! You've been raised up together and seated with Him. Get that concerned, worried look off your face. God is on your side. And if God is for you, who can be against you (Rom. 8:31)? If He gave you Jesus, He'll freely give you everything! His victory is yours! Ha, ha, ha!
[Editor's Note: This article was adapted from Mark Hankins' Wednesday afternoon message at Campmeeting 2014.]