Angelic Conflict part 261: The Lords Power Over Death – Luk 7:11-17; 8:49-56; Joh 11:41-46; Eph 2:4-10; Tit 3:5-7; Rom 12:1-2.

Title: Angelic Conflict part 261: The Lords Power Over Death - LUK 7:11-17; 8:49-56; JOH 11:41-46; EPH 2:4-10; TIT 3:5-7; ROM 12:1-2.

 

 

Christ raised three people from the dead during His ministry so that He could reveal His power over death. He raised each one of them with a word.

 

Resuscitation is not power over the second death (separation from God forever) and so it is not an application today, but the gospel, the word of life, is.

 

These three would all die again, but metaphorically each of them have significance to spiritual resurrection.

 

The widow's son, LUK 7:11-17.

 

LUK 7:11 And it came about soon afterwards, that He went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, accompanied by a large multitude.

 

LUK 7:12 Now as He approached the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her.

 

LUK 7:13 And when the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, "Do not weep." 

 

LUK 7:14 And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise!" 

 

LUK 7:15 And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother.

 

LUK 7:16 And fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and, "God has visited His people!"

 

LUK 7:17 And this report concerning Him went out all over Judea, and in all the surrounding district.

 

In the east, at this time in history, a widow with an only son completely depended on that son for her well being. His death would be tragic and devastating.

 

Compassion - the love of God. Do not weep - Christ will dry every painful tear.

 

God does not have a pious resignation concerning the suffering of man, even though it is our own fault for falling from God. He still, in love, has compassion upon His creatures which is expressed in the form of grace and mercy and has in that love gone to the extent that He has in order to save us.

 

Bearers came to a halt - no outside party can stop life. Gave him back to mom - Christ restores all that we've lost.

 

No one could stop Christ from getting to Cavalry. No man can stop the plan of God, nor the life that He has given us. Only we can put the brakes on through faithlessness.

 

Christ has graciously given brand new things over and above what we lost, therefore this life is not one of resuscitation but resurrection unto eternal glory with Him and the Father.

 

Jairus' daughter, LUK 8:49-56.

 

LUK 8:49 While He was still speaking, someone came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, "Your daughter has died; do not trouble the Teacher anymore."

 

She's dead, give it up - it's never too late as long as you're alive.

 

LUK 8:50 But when Jesus heard this, He answered him, "Do not be afraid any longer; only believe, and she shall be made well." 

 

Only believe - life comes by means of faith only.

 

LUK 8:51 And when He had come to the house, He did not allow anyone to enter with Him, except Peter and John and James, and the girl's father and mother.

 

No one entered except the three - Only those who are for Christ will gather with Him.

 

This was the first of three special occasions when Peter, John, and James would accompany Him; the others being the Mount of Transfiguration and the Garden of Gethsemane.

 

LUK 8:52 Now they were all weeping and lamenting for her; but He said, "Stop weeping, for she has not died, but is asleep." 

 

LUK 8:53 And they began laughing at Him, knowing that she had died.

 

The mocking and ridiculing of those without faith does not stop the work of God in giving life to those with faith.

 

They also mocked Christ during His trials and when He was on the cross, but that did not stop Him from accomplishing the work and giving the kingdom of God to mankind.

 

LUK 8:54 He, however, took her by the hand and called, saying, "Child, arise!" 

 

LUK 8:55 And her spirit returned, and she rose immediately; and He gave orders for something to be given her to eat.

 

LUK 8:56 And her parents were amazed; but He instructed them to tell no one what had happened.

 

It could be that He instructs this so that His popularity doesn't turn into a crisis before the message of the gospel can be clearly communicated.

 

Lazarus, JOH 11:41-46.

 

JOH 11:41 And so they removed the stone. And Jesus raised His eyes, and said, "Father, I thank Thee that Thou heardest Me.

 

JOH 11:42 "And I knew that Thou hearest Me always; but because of the people standing around I said it, that they may believe that Thou didst send Me." 

 

JOH 11:43 And when He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth." 

 

JOH 11:44 He who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings; and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."

 

Alive - power over satan/KOD; unbind him - power over OSN; let him go - power over world system.

 

All three were resuscitated with a word.

 

JOH 5:24

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

 

Spiritual resurrection is the life of the former captive that has not only been set free from satan/KOD, world system, and the flesh, but has also been made a king in Christ's kingdom.

 

We are: His body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all (EPH 1:23)

We receive: the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe (EPH 1:18-19)

 

EPH 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

 

EPH 2:5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

 

EPH 2:6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus,

 

We are not raised from the dead and left in the graveyard.

 

Because we are united to Christ, we have been exalted with Him and we are sharing His throne in the heavenlies.

 

Our physical position may be on earth, but our spiritual position is "in heavenly places in Christ Jesus."

 

EPH 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

 

It would follow that if I'm created in Christ Jesus for good works then I would need to understand what it means to be "in Christ Jesus" before I could understand how to walk in the good works.

 

The good works are the fruit born from our individual ministries. If salvation is not from us then neither are the good works. As verse ten states, God prepared them beforehand.