Have you ever thought about raising the dead? Imagine how life would be if we all had the faith to raise the dead. The parents who cry for their children would be non-existent. The young children who cry for their parents would never be an issue. I'm not referring to an imaginary world filled with fairies and genies, but a world in which everyone lived according to the commission of Jesus.
Matthew 10:8, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give."
This was the commission that Jesus gave to his disciples, and we are living in an age where many people are beginning to have the desire and faith to walk according to this commission. If you are reading this material then you are probably one of them as well.
Raising the dead isn't your everyday topic of choice, but if we want to perform the miracles that Jesus commissioned us to do, then now is the time to understand the power behind the works.
John 14:12, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."
We are living in an age where our younger generations are not going to sit back and watch others have church. Those days are quickly coming to an end. With each generation, we get into a "show me" generation. Show me why I should believe you? Show me how to do this? Teach me how to do what you do? The world is vastly changing; although the Father is the same, today and yesterday, it is imperative for us to get back to the ways of our heavenly Father in order to perform the works that Jesus did and even greater works.
We have been exploring the book The Power to Raise the Dead by Von Cook but today I want to focus on the power behind raising the dead.
II Timothy 1:7, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
One important aspect that many Christians do not understand is, power. I believe it is because Christianity has been so watered down over the years. And most would just prefer to sit back and let God handle it, let him take the wheel while they wait on the rapture of the church. Talk about your Laodicean church! That's where many are today, even though they would never admit to it. Even though they may go to to church every Sunday or Saturday, very few can heal the sick, and cast out demons.
Today, I want to focus on the word power. The word power means, the ability or capacity to act or perform effectively. It means to have control or authority. The right and power to command, decide, rule or judge. Jesus has given us this power and has commissioned us to use it. How do we know this?
In Genesis on the sixth day, we were given dominion over all the earth. This includes dominion over the fish of the sea, the cattle, the fowl of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth. God has given both male and female dominion over the earth. (Genesis 1:26-27) This dominion was given to everyone who walks the earth. It wasn't simply given to Christians and it wasn't given to the Jews only, it was given to everyone.
The power and the right to command and control was given to everyone. The only problem is, this command and control is ruled by mostly darkness because many Christians are not exercising their authority according to the commission that was given to us. God has given us power over every living thing upon the earth, as we read in the Genesis, then Jesus came and gave us power over the dead and over all the enemy as well.
The power has been given to us, and now all we have to do is use it.
Let's look at the word dominion. It means to control or the exercise of control. The territory or sphere of influence or control; realm. It also means the right to command, rule, judge or decide. Based on those definitions from the Strong's Concordance #7287 and Roget's II The New Thesaurus, God has given us dominion or control over every living thing in our realm of influence, in addition to power to raise the dead.
It's important that we understand what we are walking with. The Holy Spirit has given us power to raise the dead.
When you think about power, think about the power you have over your children (school age). You decide what they wear to school, what they will eat, where they will go for the weekend, what they can buy from the store, what they can watch on television, etc. If you are a supervisor you have control and influence over those under you.You decide when they can take a vacation, take a lunch break, what projects will be due, if they receive a raise or not, if they will be terminated or not, etc.
If you are not a parent or supervisor, think of the influence your parents or grandparents, aunts, etc., have over you. If you work for someone, think of what you can do and what you can't do without permission.
As you ponder those examples, think about the power that God has given you in your realm of influence with regards to raising the dead. Many times we believe that we are not worthy, or that is for someone else and not us. That is so far from the truth. God has given YOU power.
Luke 10:19, "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy..."
One of the powers of the enemy is death. "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that, the devil." Hebrews 2:14
When you really begin to look at the scriptures and what the enemies role is in our life we can really appreciate and step into or authority. Yes, death is the devil's domain. The devil has power over death. It is his realm. It is written in scripture and the more you study, the more you will discover that it is not in God's will for anyone to perish, but for all to come to repentance. (II Peter 3:9)
I am very excited about this season that we are in and very happy to start this course for the many who are experiencing a call to perform the works of Jesus Christ and even greater works than these.
Until next time, stay safe.
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