Awaking (Raising) the Dead
HEADLINE:
KJV Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
Our subject is raising the dead. This cannot be done physically the way God used Jesus to do it for the express purpose of establishing faith in Him and reducing man's great fear of death.
KJV Heb 2:14 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 is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
In cases where certain prophets and Jesus supposedly raised the dead, those persons were put into a kind of "sleep" so that they appeared dead. This afforded the prophet involved and Jesus an opportunity to "raise the dead" so that the name of God received fame and glory and faith in God was enhanced.
KJV John 11:11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
Just as it happened to Moses, the real Pharaoh of this world (Lucifer) has magician spirits who attempt to duplicate what God did with Jesus and certain prophets and apostles. The efforts of Haitian voodoo priests and African witchdoctors to create human "zombies" come to mind. Most Christian preachers and healers do not try this, because God is not inclined to truly take a man's spirit out of spiritual Egypt and then return him to bondage in the flesh. True death is a reaping process whereby God removes the children from earth to Heaven in the exact order in which our spirits were born in Heaven. He alone knows that order. Since death is really a "Passover", once the spirit is removed from spiritual Egypt (this earth), "Ye shall henceforth return no more that way", Deuteronomy 17:16, Ecclesiastes12:7, 4:2,3.
Jeremiah 42:19 The Lord hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day.
So you see, Jeremiah suffered much for trying to prevent the Jews from returning to Egypt against their ordered role! He was imprisoned and maligned.
Death is the resurrection of the spirit of man, Luke 20:37-38. Ancient Israel "muffed" the ACT "to avoid returning to Egypt". Not going back to Egypt represents true reality that once the spirit passes from earth to Heaven, it cannot return to the earth and to the flesh for bondage to devils and re-corruption. The parable of Lazarus and the rich man (possessing devils) expresses this LAW of death and resurrection, which is also the "daily sacrifice" of the priesthood of Levi:
Luke 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this,
between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.The text underlined in red expresses the law of resurrection. In the likeness of the "daily sacrifice", once killed the sacrifices could not become live lambs again! Unlike the "flaky" men of ancient Israel, who did not stick to their script and were punished for returning to Egypt, God will have none of that folly! Once a man really dies, he CANNOT RETURN to the flesh and to demons. There is a "great gulf fixed" prohibiting any return, and that "gulf" is the will and Word of God!
Since Jesus said his followers shall "raise the dead", and we are aware that cannot happen carnally, let us look for the spiritual application. After all, we know the Word Jesus spoke is "spirit and life".
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Most men in this world comprise the "living dead" because the ways and nature of the Father is not functioning in them. The will and works of the "Beast" is active in men, and the kingdom of devils is called the kingdom of death. Therefore, those enslaved by them are also "dead".
KJV Proverbs 21:16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
Psalm 49:20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
Acts 10:9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. 28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
Revelation 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty [and] two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth
Ecclesiastes 3:18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
Lack of understanding the real truth from God has given devils a huge edge in perverting man's nature and making men behave like them. Do not buy into all of what men call "human nature". "Human nature" is a mixed bag of our real nature and demonic behavior. This is what happens when you eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. There is some truth to that saying we all have heard, "You are what you eat"! If you eat "beastly words" (follow demonic instruction) you will become a beast. The mark of the beast in the mind is possessing and holding errors as well as entertaining sinful ideas in the mind. The number of the beast is the number of devils you listen to! Their names are immaterial. It is imperative to fight the dark thoughts that come to the mind!
II Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Since devils are the kingdom of death and the congregation of the dead, by obeying them you will also become spiritually "dead" even though you get up and go to work five days a week.
To "LIVE" Again
Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life". "I Am" is the name of the Father who spoke through Jesus. Jesus is "the Word" of God. To live again a man must expunge the words and instruction from devils that render him "dead" and take in the Words of Christ and abide by them.
John 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. 59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. 60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? 62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
I would suggest to you that even though Jesus is symbolized as an olive (O- LIVE) tree and a vine. He is a tree of life. It is far better to eat his fruit than to obey the demons crowning one's head. You can get into big trouble by "following my own thoughts".
KJV Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.
KJV Jeremiah 10:23 O Lord, I know that the way of man [is] not in himself: [it is] not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
What you call "your own" thoughts are from devils, if they result in errors and prove misleading later on. If they are obviously evil, you cannot be deceived about their origin. Paul gave us a good road map on how to determine which thoughts come from Heaven and which come from devils crowning our heads:
Mark 7:20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Those who follow Christ may live again even though they are dead. "Believest thou this"? Here is Paul's statement on the subject of death:
KJV Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Therefore to live again spiritually, the Spirit speaking through Paul agrees with Jesus' Word. To live to God, the living words of God must become a man's new nature. Those who are alive to God overcome and defeat the devils warring in their mind. They do this by "wearing the whole armor":
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.Conclusion
How many of you are really "dead to God", because you "do your own thing" and follow your own thoughts? Those of you who do not know your origin and what God designed this earth to be are extremely vulnerable to "human nature". Ignorance helps men live like beasts and to be overcome by the Beast. Those who live in sin are "dead to God" and they are victims of Pharaoh. Shall the dead live again? "The time is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the son of God and all who have ears to hear him shall live" even though devils have made them "dead to God". It is a matter of eating and abiding by the Word of Jesus. All those who follow Christ will "live to God" because God's Word and His nature will function in them as their new personality. To live to God is not to follow preachers and do what they say. Those who convert to "elder son" preacher' instructions tend to become just like them, haters of prodigals (sinners) who defy and refuse the Father's entreaties. These proselytes become two-fold more the child of hell than those converting them. Joining a church does not cut it with God!
KJV Matthew 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves
.In the GOOD NEWS we have called these preachers 20th century Pharisees. Reorienting yourself with natures and ways like their ways is not "rebirth". All that amounts to is moving from one position in the grave to another in a tomb. Believing the lies of the preachers and eating their doctrine does not give life. Hearing Christ and having his Word abide in you and become your new nature makes a man "live unto God". If you hate sinners and you bought into that "hellfire and brimstone judgment doctrine" for man taught by preachers and the churches and you believe it, you are just as dead to God as a drug addict in a comma on a city street! If you want to live again NOW, I suggest strongly that you digest the GOOD NEWS. When you do you will discover that you were dead!