Reform Church Audio Articles

Length: 15 Minutes

If Jesus is the resurrection (as we have established in this handbook), then what are we to think about funerals? Should we attend funerals? Should we support the idea? Well, it’s not what you believe about funerals. It’s what you believe about death. If it’s permanent, then a memorial service makes sense. If they can be back in the next few minutes, that changes things quite a bit.

If one of your loved ones took a nap on a certain afternoon, would you hold a memorial service for them? Of course not. Why? After all, they are unconscious. After all, you do respect them, don’t you? You do honor them, don’t you? Yet you would not hold a memorial service for them, discussing all your fond memories about them, because you know they’re going to wake up shortly. We treat naps this way because we know they’ll get up. We treat death with memorial services, because usually no one believes they’re getting up again. That’s the truth.

The existence of a “memorial service” after someone dies, is solely because people do not believe that person is getting up again. Mind you, there’s no problem memorializing good or noble acts that people have done in their life, but you can do that while they’re living! Why do we specifically do it after the person has died? Because we’re sending them off, and we believe the only thing we have left of them is a memory. There is no other reason for it.

And so, is a funeral a good thing? Well, not the way that people hold them. If you wanted to get together with like-minded believers to celebrate Jesus being the resurrection, or pray for someone who has died, to raise them back up, more power to you! That’s wonderful! In fact, that’s what a church service should already be. But that is not what typical funerals are about. They are a way of sending someone off without any anticipation that they’re ever coming back. 

This concept, of the permanence of death, contradicts the whole of scripture and the reason for which Jesus came and physically died for us. There’s not a whole lot of use for the “same power that raised Jesus from the dead” to live in us, if we’re just going to expect that no one ever gets back up after death. It’s quite a waste of resurrection power, if you ask me (Ephesians 1:19-20).

In this entire handbook we’ve been establishing that death is not only easily reversible, but it is the will of God for people to be raised from the dead. It’s His will every time! Death is not God taking people home. People’s “time” to die was 2,000 years ago, when Jesus breathed His last. Death is not God’s will. 

Now is that what you’re going to hear at a typical funeral? Is that a sentiment that will be communicated by the people, or even by the clergy holding the funeral? I think not. So, it’s not really about whether to attend a funeral. It’s about whether you want to subject yourself to things said at the funeral.

The Bible tells us to not sit where the gospel is being scorned (Psalms 1:1). The Bible says to guard our heart with all diligence (Proverbs 4:23). Guarding your heart means not subjecting yourself to things that are contrary to the truth. Literally, the only law that God has to all of mankind right now is called the “obedience of faith.” That is the only thing God has asked us to do — to believe correctly about His Son. And as for me, I refuse to subject my mind, willfully, to something that I know contradicts the faith that God has commanded of me. I’ve got one job, and I’m not going to mess that up.

This is not about whether to attend a funeral. This is about whether to subject yourself to what’s being said there. 

Of course, if you agree with the things that are said at a typical funeral, you would have no reason not to go. But if you believe the things that we’ve spoken of in this handbook, you’ll find that your typical funeral is communicating quite the opposite.

It’s not about the funeral. It’s about what’s being said. The same way I would not willfully attend the church of another religion in order to guard my heart, I would not attend a funeral if it contradicts the truth as well. 

To some, the mere notion of not attending a funeral sounds crazy. But I guarantee, the only people to whom this sounds crazy, are people that are not confident of the resurrection of the dead, which Jesus provided and commanded (Matthew 10:8). Once you understand that, this all makes sense.

There’s a particular time that the Bible recorded Jesus going to a funeral. The funny thing is though, He was only going in order to raise a little girl from the dead (not the typical reason why people go to funerals these days, though it should be). He saw a bunch of people wailing about this girl, whom they felt was never coming back. Jesus looked at them and ask them what all the commotion was about, and then put them all out of the house (Mark 5:38-43). 

Jesus knew that people received by faith, and if this girl was to be raised from the dead, that funeral atmosphere was not conducive to her parents receiving this miracle from the Lord. So He put them all out of the house, before proceeding to raise the girl up.

So, Jesus did go to a funeral, but He made the funeral leave Him. Jesus didn’t want to be a part of that, because with thinking like that, people stay dead, and Jesus wants people to live. Jesus would not be party with that kind of thinking, in the typical funeral crowd.

One more point about that funeral that Jesus attended. When He walked in to raise the girl, then asked them what all the commotion was about, believing in the resurrection power He had, it says “they ridiculed him.” And just as it was then, so it will be now. If you stand for the resurrection of the dead, while people want to memorialize them, you will be ridiculed also. But just like Jesus, you’re the one that will actually see the dead raised, not them. And not so many will be joking then.

Some have a valid concern about not attending funerals because they know there are a lot of grieving people that need to be comforted. I would totally agree that the people at a funeral (or anywhere else) need to be comforted. The thing I would ask you is, do you have any impression that the people there would be receptive to hearing about the resurrection of the dead?

There are a lot of grieving, hurting people in this world today and God is not able to minister to all of them. If someone is not willing to hear the gospel, the Lord says to shake the dust off our feet and move on to the next town (Matthew 10:14, 23). But what about all the hurting people in the previous town? Well, in order to comfort them, they need to be willing to hear the gospel. That’s how we comfort people. 

Unfortunately, funerals are usually the last place where people are willing to hear about the resurrection of the dead. Most people just want to grieve and for you to confirm that their hopelessness is valid.  

But even if someone at a funeral were receptive to the gospel (because that is possible), I personally would still not attend for my own mindset (as mentioned before). If I thought someone was receptive, I would wait outside the door of the funeral home if I had to. I would go out of my way to visit with someone, talk to them, and comfort them with the truth of the gospel, but I will not voluntarily subject myself to untruth. I simply will not. 

We receive by the renewal of our mind (Romans 12:2). So, I will continue in the truth, even if it means not attending a funeral, that I might lay hold on the resurrection that Jesus provided (Philippians 3:11). In other words, you might not see me at the funeral today, but I’ll be raising them tomorrow. 

There are a lot of settings in which we can talk to people, love on them, and share the truth of the resurrection with them. As far as settings in which people are receptive, funeral homes are probably somewhere toward the bottom of the list. I wish that weren’t true, but that’s almost always the case. 

Ultimately, speak to anyone that will hear you. You just don’t need to subject yourself to a service that you disagree with, in order to do that.

Just remember, we are not against comforting people. All the contrary. We just comfort people differently than this world does. The world will rub someone on the back and give them no solution. We comfort people by telling them that Jesus fixed the problem altogether! And if someone is not willing to receive that truth, it doesn’t matter how much they’re hurting, there is nothing that God, or yourself, can do for them to comfort them (Matthew 23:37). And I will not lie to someone, or leave the truth out, for false comfort’s sake. 

There were many Jews that went to “comfort” Mary and Martha, when Lazarus died (John 11:19). Interestingly enough, Jesus didn’t go to the funeral immediately. And even when He went, He stayed outside the town and had Mary and Martha come to him, to talk for a while. And yet, despite the fact that Jesus didn’t go to the funeral when the Jews did, He went afterwards, spoke the truth, and raised the man up. 

I wonder which one was more comforting to Mary and Martha? The mourners that ran to grieve with them, or Jesus who gave them their brother back?

What about simply going to a funeral out of respect for the person? This answer will be rather short.

For those that are respectable, I always respect them, whether they are alive or dead. And if they do die, I think it’s more respectful to raise them from the dead, then to leave them dead and act like it’s not fixed. 

Then what about Romans 12:15 that says that we should weep with those who weep? This is very simple. 

Let me ask you, if someone was weeping and said, “God is not real! Jesus never came! There is no salvation! I’m going to hell and I’m so afraid.” Would you join them in their weeping? No? But the Bible says to weep with those who weep! How could you not weep with them? Isn’t that contradicting the Bible? No, not at all! Why? Because none of us would join someone in weeping if it’s based on a verifiable lie. 

Why would you weep about something that isn’t true? Why would you weep over something that’s not real? Instead, you would tell them, “That’s not true. Be encouraged! Jesus really came to save us.” The same exact thing applies to people who are weeping over someone who died, as if they can’t come back.

Yes, a person may have died. That’s real. God hates that. But the fact that a person needs to stay dead for another minute, simply is not real. We don’t live in a world in which the dead need to stay that way. It doesn’t exist. And when someone is weeping over something that isn’t true, I will not join them in their weeping. I would be confirming their lie. 

Listen, by itself, death would be a very sad thing. That’s true. And if it weren’t for the fact that Jesus already fixed death, I’d be crying too. It’s only because Jesus became our resurrection and life, that I can wipe my tears away now and have such an overwhelming joy! He’s given us power to raise the dead. That is a profound thing! It’s our answer! And for that reason, I will not join in on weeping over something that Jesus already fixed. That wouldn’t make any sense, because I’ve found out that it’s finished!

The only people who advocate weeping with those who weep over the dead, as if they’re never coming back, are those who believe themselves, that the dead are never coming back.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not insensitive to someone that is hurting. All the contrary. I’ve spent my life seeking out the answer for that hurt. Death is a bad thing, and anyone whose friends or family has died has my compassion. But my response to their plight is to show them the answer, not to weep with them as if there isn’t one.

The only two times that Jesus wept in the Bible are due to people’s unbelief (John 11:33-35, Luke 19:41-42). He was weeping for their sakes because they had cut themselves off from the inheritance, due to their wrong thinking. 

In fact, while many people would not agree with this, one of those times was when Jesus saw mourners at Lazarus’s funeral. They thought He was weeping because of Lazarus. That was not accurate; neither were their other comments. Jesus was actually troubled and wept, because He saw them mourning over something He came to fix. Jesus cried over their unbelief, because that’s the one thing that makes His atonement ineffectual. 

If you want to cry about someone’s unbelief, while not neglecting such a great salvation, that’s one thing. But if I see someone crying about something Jesus fixed, I will love them, I will encourage them in the truth, but I won’t join them in thinking that there’s no solution. 

No Christian believes in weeping with someone when their weeping is based on a lie. No Christian does. It’s just that most Christians don’t believe that the permanence of death is a lie. That’s why they’ll join in on the weeping.

Look at what Jesus said when a man named Jairus was told that his daughter was dead.

Luke 8:49-52 (NKJV) While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.”  But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.”

Let’s pause for one moment. Jesus told the man to not be afraid when He received the news that his daughter was dead. Would you tell someone that? Or would you weep with them? Jesus didn’t think there was any reason for fear. Most of us believe that fear would be a perfectly logical response to news like this. Jesus didn’t think so. Let’s continue. 

Jesus proceeds to go with Jairus to see his daughter who had died.

Verse 51
When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl. Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, “Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping.”

And in Mark’s account he quotes Jesus as saying:

“Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.” (Mark 5:39)

So Jesus saw a man who was given news that his daughter was dead. What did He do? Weep with him? No, He told the man to not be afraid. And then He told the mourners at the funeral to not weep, even asking, “Why make this commotion?” 

If “weep with those who weep,” means to weep with those who grieve over the permanence of death, then Jesus broke His own principle… repeatedly.

For those who think this article is insensitive, I wonder how they would have reacted if they were standing in that room when Jesus asked a group of mourners what all the commotion was about, and then told them not to weep. They may not think so, but in truth, they would have replied to Jesus the same way they will to this article. It’s the same truth, just a different millennium. 

Lastly, if someone dies and you believe in the Resurrection, but you find yourself weeping, that’s entirely different. You know you don’t have to weep. You know you don’t have to sorrow. You know that Jesus fixed everything, but you also know that you’re growing. If you weep, you get your mind focused on Jesus, and you begin rejoicing again. It’s not about the weeping. It’s not the weeping that’s wrong. It’s the unbelief that’s wrong. So, for those who believe these things, continue in that faith and keep your eyes on Jesus! You’re doing great!

Read the whole handbook here

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Length: 6 Minutes

As you grow in your knowledge of Jesus, your time spent growing is not in vain. The word of God is a seed that always produces fruit (Luke 8:15), but you need to continue in that word before you see the fullness of the fruit.

Receiving doesn’t take time because God is holding out for some divine purpose. He already paid for it 2,000 years ago. If it takes time, it’s because it takes time for us to grow in the realization of what He’s already done. So continue strong!

When Lazarus died, Jesus told Martha that, for all who believe, He was the Resurrection to raise those who had died, and He was the Life to sustain forever those who are living. But when Jesus got to the tomb, Martha told Jesus not to roll the stone from the door of the tomb because Lazarus had been dead for four days. She was concerned of the stink. But Jesus looked at her and said, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?”

Jesus spoke to Martha at first, but between that word and their walk to the tomb, Martha was still uncertain and discouraged, but Jesus didn’t have different advice for her. He simply wanted her to continue in what He first told her. That’s why he says “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 

Those words are a reminder of what He already told her. Those words are a request for continuance in what He already said. Hence, He says “Did I not say to you?” which refers to what He had already spoken. And then a reiteration of that promise, “If you believe, you will see the glory of God.” 

Wow! “Did I not say to you?” Those are powerful words. With those words Jesus is unwilling to change His advice. He’s unwilling to change what He told her. Despite her concerns and uncertainty, He was showing that His word had not changed or expired. She said that Lazarus had been dead for four days, but the current circumstance and the time past made no difference to Him. His word stood. 

He showed His apathy for how much time had passed. He showed that it wasn’t relevant. He stood His ground on what He had already told her previously. “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” His word stood. He was only asking her for continuance in what He already said. And His words stand with you as well. 

Anytime you receive the truth, but you start feeling uncertain in the time between His word and the fruit, Jesus will stand His ground with you as well and say, “Did I not say to you?” It’s the loving correction that brings you back to the good news spoken beforehand, so that you stand firm in it. 

We think because time passes that the word of God expires, but the only thing that’s happened is that we have started to forget the intensity of the words that we first heard. 

He said that if we would believe, we would see His resurrection and life manifested in our bodies, and in the bodies of people around us. He’s not going to change that advice. So if you start getting discouraged or uncertain, He will not bend to that discouragement. He will simply reply “Did I not say to you?” And that’s your cue to remember, and continue in what He already said.

Many, if not most people, when they hear the word of God, continue only for a while and then stop pursuing it (Luke 8). They don’t continue in what He first told them. Don’t be that kind of person. Don’t be the kind of person that grows weary in well doing, the kind of person who grows weary in hearing the gospel. You SHALL see resurrection manifest in your life if you continue in the truth of Jesus.

Many people hear the gospel, get excited, and then when they don’t see results, they quickly get discouraged, perhaps thinking they’re doing something wrong or that ‘this gospel thing doesn’t work.’ They don’t even realize that the very word that they believed had the power to produce what they needed, if they had just continued in it. 

This is exactly described in Luke chapter 8:

Luke 8:13 (KJV) …when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

These people genuinely believed the word. And many people today hear the good news, and genuinely believe it at first. What they don’t realize is, you don’t get fruit by believing the word of God. You get fruit by CONTINUING in that belief! Your understanding of the gospel needs time to mature and grow. But if that seed in your mind is given time to grow, if you will meditate on it and keep it in your head, that seed always bears fruit. Always!

So many people get discouraged halfway through, so they let go of the word, thinking that it’s not working. All the while, the word of God always bears fruit, when it’s kept in our thinking (that is, as long as it truly is the Gospel). But we need time to grow. 

The only way to stop the gospel from bearing fruit in your life is to stop giving attention to it halfway through! That’s the only way! If you just keep it in there, it will produce the results you are seeking. And that goes for raising people from the dead too! You have need of continuance!

Hebrews 10:35-36 (MKJV) Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great recompense of reward. For you have need of patience [continuance], so that after you have done the will of God [believed] you might receive the promise.

Your faith is not in vain. It has great reward! But you have need to continue in what He’s already told you.

Just get your eyes on the truth of Jesus. Don’t worry about the time! Stop counting the days that have passed with the current circumstance. Start counting how much Jesus paid to get us out of it! It’s real and it really works, but it takes time for us to know it.

So, whether someone died 10 years ago or 10 minutes ago, until Jesus comes back, it’s never too late to raise someone from the dead. It’s never too late to receive from God. Jesus finished work is as relevant today as the day He died. You’re not on a time crunch. 

Take the time needed to grow in the good news! You have an iron clad guarantee from God (who cannot lie) that you will see the glory of God in your life, if you continue in the gospel that He already spoke to you. 

Did He not say to you…?

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Length: 7 Minutes

In our last part, we started speaking about prayer and the purpose of it. All prayer is for our mind, all the time. God is not benefited when we pray, we are. But let’s focus on how we make requests to God for manifestation.

As with other things, there’s still much to learn about prayer, so I will stick to the things that I know. But the way that many people pray does not take into account the access that we’ve been given through Jesus.

As believers, we already have everything we need living inside of us. So what need would there be to ever make a request of God? Well, we only make requests for manifestation. 

Here’s the thing: making requests as born-again believers is a lot different than you may have been told. Elijah told Ahab that it wasn’t going to rain (1 Kings 17:1, James 5:17 ). Jesus spoke to a fig tree and told it that it would not bear fruit anymore. Some might not think it, but these are actually examples of what the Bible calls prayer, even requests of God.

We are used to supplication and requesting sounding like, “God, please, if it be your will, heal so-and-so.” Jesus advises us that when we ask the Father for something in prayer, to speak to the thing that needs to change and simply state what we want it to do.

Matthew 21:19-22 (NKJV) And seeing a fig tree… and said to it [notice, Jesus said this to the tree itself], “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away… Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt… if you say to this mountain [notice, you say it to the mountain], ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Notice how Jesus speaks directly to a fig tree? Then He refers to speaking directly to “this mountain.” And He actually calls these things “asking in prayer.” He refers to this kind of speaking as making a request of God.

Jesus advises us to speak to the thing itself and simply state what we want. Now, of course, if you speak to a fig tree, it’s not that the fig tree can hear you (God confirms that in Deuteronomy 4:28). You are still speaking in the hearing of God. You are still making a request of God, but the Lord advises us to speak to the thing or issue itself.

But why would Jesus ask us to make requests like this — just speaking to the thing and stating what we want to see? This kind of request makes a lot more sense once you understand that we have authority over everything in this universe, and furthermore, God has already given us the right to access His grace, through Jesus.

Think about it this way: if you came over my house and I told you, “I’m going out for a moment. Please help yourself to anything in the fridge while I’m gone.” If you called me on my phone and asked me for permission, that would be strange because I had already given you access. The right thing to do would be to go straight to the fridge itself and take what you wanted. 

Likewise, requests to God no longer need to sound like we’re asking God for permission, or as if we were uncertain of His will. God has already provided a lump sum of an inheritance through Jesus. Through Him, we have access into this grace already (Romans 5:2). Therefore, when we want to draw on that power and request the Holy Spirit to manifest something through us, we can simply speak to the issue and state what we want it to do. That is the prayer of someone who already has access and doesn’t need to ask for permission. You state what you want and that is your way of requesting it from the Holy Spirit.

It’s not as if we don’t need permission from God. It’s that we already have it through Jesus. It’s not that we’re being presumptuous. It’s that He’s already given it. You already have the yes and amen to all the promises of God, through Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20). 

If you read through the gospels and the book of Acts, you will see that the way Jesus and His apostles prayed is far different than the way much of the church prays today. Many Christians sound like they’re asking God for permission or are unsure of whether He wants to bring it to pass.

Although, for many people reading this article, you already know that Jesus provided access. You already know it’s the will of God. But even we,

can get caught up in only ever thanking God for what Jesus did, rather than looking at the situation and stating what we want it to do. It’s great to pray “Thank you Jesus for healing us at the cross,” but it’s a different thing to then look at the person and say, “Get up and walk!” 

Thanking God is a wonderful thing because it acknowledges what Jesus has already done. But when you want to make a request on the power of God, and you speak to the situation, you’re acknowledging your definitive access and authority over this world. It’s another level of acknowledgment with that prayer. It’s wonderful to thank God, but  if you want to make a request, state the situation and say what you want it to do. You don’t need to ask questions. You don’t need to ask permission. You’ve got the cross behind you saying “Yes!”

So practically, if you want to request for resurrection for instance, you can acknowledge what Jesus has done by thanking him, but you can also acknowledge your access and authority by simply telling the person to get up and live.

I plead with you, not to make this into a formula, but one might say, “Thank you Father for sending Jesus to die for us. And if Jesus died for us, there’s no need for anyone to stay dead anymore. In Jesus name, so and so, get up from where you are and live.” 

Are those words important because it’s a magic spell that you can chant? No sir. Those words are merely an acknowledgment of what Jesus has done, and also the authority we have to use it. It’s the acknowledgment that counts, not the words.

As stated in our last article, you don’t receive by the prayer itself. It’s not about the words you say. it’s about the knowledge of Jesus alone. Prayer is just a way of acknowledging various things we have in Jesus. 

Is it wrong to pray? On the contrary, it can help our knowledge. Does a prayer have to be present to receive from God? Absolutely not! It’s about the knowledge of Jesus, and the knowledge of Jesus alone (2 Peter 1:2). Prayer is not a second step. Only one thing is needful! Prayer is just something we can use to help our knowledge. 

So does it matter the way that we pray? It only matters because prayer is an acknowledgment. When you’re saying things wrong in prayer, you’re acknowledging wrong things in your heart. It’s not about the prayer. It’s the knowledge that it’s stirring up. 

The reason why we’ve taken the time to speak about how to make requests to God, is because we want to be acknowledging the right thing. And it’s the acknowledgment of Jesus that matters. 

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Length: 8 Minutes

It’s funny, we will pray for the sick sometimes, as believers, but the second someone dies we usually throw up our hands and think, “Well, we tried.” But there’s no difference between raising the dead and healing the sick. One is not harder than the other. They’re both things Jesus provided for, both situations that need life, and both things that we can pray for just the same.

In our last part, we spoke about how we receive through the knowledge of Jesus only. That is a hard truth that should never be compromised. We receive through this knowledge alone. But there is a purpose for prayer. We can pray for the sick and we can pray for the bodies of people that have died too.

(As a side note: I’m not referring to praying for the dead as some religions teach. I simply mean that we can pray for people to be raised, as there is precedent throughout the Bible).

So, if we receive through the knowledge of Jesus alone (1 Peter 1:2, Romans 5:2), what place is there for prayer? Here is the simple answer: We don’t receive by prayer. Prayer simply helps our faith, but it’s by that faith that we receive.

Anyone who has read the Bible is no stranger to all the examples of people praying and then receiving. Because of this, people have just assumed that prayer is how we receive. People even make up certain kinds of prayer for certain kinds of receiving. But all of this contradicts the fact that one thing is needful, and that is to listen and learn Jesus!

Jesus told Martha that only one thing was needful, and that was for her to simply learn from Him (Luke 10:38-42). Furthermore, the one easy and light yoke that Jesus asked us to perform is to “learn from Him” (Matthew 11:38-40). That confirms everything we’re saying. It’s only through the knowledge of Jesus (a.k.a. faith) that we receive from God. 

Jesus was telling Martha that merely listening to Him, to learn from Him, was all that was needful. But if we also need to verbalize a prayer to God before we’re going to receive, that is not one thing, but multiple things. Not to mention the fact that, if we had to pray every time, before we could receive, we would never stop praying, and still would not cover all of the things we need in a day. 

God forbid, you forgot to pray for protection on your ride home. God forbid, you forgot to ask God to help pay a bill. Nothing would get done except the things you had had time to pray for. And that’s not an exaggeration. If prayer is how we receive, there would be no receiving without prayer. But it turns out, it’s only the knowledge of Jesus that’s necessary to receive. And there’s no receiving apart from that knowledge.

It’s knowing the truth, not prayer, that sets people free.

It’s through knowledge that grace is multiplied to us.

It’s your faith, not prayer, that makes you well.

It’s by faith that we have access into this grace.

It’s by faith that all men of God in history have received.

And even when you pray, if there’s no faith present, let not that man think he shall receive anything of the Lord. Why? Because it’s the faith, not the prayer, causing the receiving.

(John 8:32, 2 Peter 1:2, Mark 5:34, Matthew 9:29, Matthew 17:20, Hebrews 11, James 1:6-7)

We gave some examples of this in our last article, but there have been innumerable times when people have received by faith, without a prayer uttered. But there has never been a prayer uttered, without faith, that has caused someone to receive.

One thing is needful! Let that ring in your head. One thing is needful. And that is to learn from Jesus. That’s what faith is, and that’s how you receive.

Yet, we see many men of God praying, giving thanks, and then receiving from God. So why is that? Why does receiving follow prayer so many times? Because prayer helps our faith, and that faith is what causes the receiving. 

When you read scriptures that show, not just people praying, but what is happening behind the scenes when they’re praying, you always find that prayer is helping their mind. Prayer is helping their faith. That’s why it can be beneficial in receiving.

This deserves a much longer teaching, so listen to our material on prayer for more, but here is a small sampler of what happens when we pray.

Take the giving of thanks for instance:

When we give thanks to God, that’s actually for our mind’s sake. It’s not for God sake, as though He needed anything (Acts 17:25). Thanksgiving helps us remember what Jesus has done, so we don’t forget.

Psalms 103 says that we bless the Lord (or speak well of Him) so that we don’t forget any of His benefits.

On the other hand, Romans 1:21, 28 says that when people did not glorify or thank God, they did not retain the knowledge of Him, but became foolish in their understanding.

You see, When we bless the Lord, we don’t forget His benefits. But when we don’t thank the Lord, we don’t retain His knowledge. Thanking God is a benefit to us, not the Lord. Thanking God changes our mind.

Think about it. The very essence of giving thanks to someone is acknowledging that they did something for you. When we give thanks to God, we are acknowledging what He did for us, so we don’t forget. It’s for our mind’s sake. Our faith is benefited, and hence our receiving, when we give thanks. 

Therefore, people like Jehoshaphat and the apostles received while they were giving thanks — not because of the prayer itself,(remember, one thing is needful), but because of what the prayer was producing in their minds — namely an acknowledgment of what Jesus had done!

So that’s the giving of thanks, but what about asking God for something?

What if someone passes and we want to make request of God for them to be raised? Well, it’s no surprise that asking (or supplication, as it’s called) is also for our mind!

Jesus did everything, but we can certainly request for God to manifest something through us. Pay close attention to this next verse. What happens when we supplicate? What changes?

Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication [which is asking], with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard YOUR hearts and minds [not God’s mind, but yours] through Christ Jesus.

Notice whose mind was changed when we make supplication to God… it’s our minds! Our minds end up being guarded and at peace when we make requests from God.

Think about it: The essence of making a request is asking someone (besides yourself) to do something. God does not want us to take the burden of the fruit in our lives, so He tells us to supplicate to Him for it, so that our minds don’t take the burden and responsibility of the fruit. When we ask God to manifest something, it’s a way of casting our cares, and recognizing his ability to manifest it, instead of us.

The important thing to recognize with all of this, is that, when the Bible speaks about the benefits of prayer, and what is happening when we pray, it speaks about our minds being changed. 

Thanksgiving is a recognition of what Jesus has already done. Supplication is a casting of the manifestation over on the Lord. Regardless of how you’re praying, it’s for the sake of helping your mind. But it’s what’s between your ears that’s causing the receiving, not the prayer.

So whether you find yourself praying at a particular point or not, you always receive from God based on what you know about Jesus. It is correct believing about what Jesus has done that produces the results, not the prayer.

If somebody passes, do what Philippians 4 said. Give thanks to God to remind yourself of all that He has done through His Son! Thanksgiving is an all the time thing (Ephesians 1:6)! But also, as you feel led, you can make request of God for the manifestation of this resurrection! This focuses your faith on the Lord to manifest it, rather than leaning on yourself.

Thanksgiving acknowledges what He’s done. Supplication casts the care of the manifestation on the Lord. But you don’t receive by the prayer itself.

Stop worrying about how you’re wording something or whether you have said enough. Remember, one thing is needful! Whether prayer is present or not, you receive through simply knowing Jesus.  Hold fast to that principle. Only believe (Mark 5:36). And if you believe, you will surely see the glory of God manifested in your life!

John 11:40 (NKJV) Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”

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We need to normalize things like resurrection in our minds. That’s what the Bible would call “the renewal of your mind.” And as simple as that is, that’s how people get raised.

Everything that we receive from God, we receive through the knowledge of Jesus, and what He has done on the cross. It’s the same way that you got saved. 

2 Peter 1:2 (NKJV) Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord…

This sounds too simple for most people, but when you need to raise someone, the only thing that is necessary on your end, to get the juices flowing, is the knowledge of Jesus. That’s it. The Holy Spirit will take it from there. It is true that God desires us to raise the dead, cast out demons, heal the sick, etc. but on your end the only thing necessary is the knowledge of Jesus.

The church will talk about knowing Jesus, but they also add other steps to the process of receiving. Whether it’s your tithe, your obedience to some call of action, your confession itself, or God’s sovereign will, many steps are added, which just complicates and hinders our receiving from God. The knowledge of Jesus is seldom taught has the sole means to receive. 

So it’s not about merely believing that you receive by knowledge. It’s equally important that you never add to it. If you add more steps beyond just knowing Jesus, faith is made useless and Christ becomes of no effect to you (Romans 4:14 and Galatians 5:2).

You may be thinking, “So just by understanding better what Jesus has done for me, people are going to start being raised from the dead?” Yep, that’s it. That almost sounds comical to many Christians. if many Christian saw someone raised from the dead, they would assume there’s a “special anointing” working there or “those people are seeing a real revival.” But that’s not the case. The dead being raised happens when people just know Jesus. Yes, it’s simple. And yes, it works.

Even prayer, if perceived the wrong way, can become a burden and a hindrance. There is certainly benefit for our knowledge, to pray for those who are sick or who have died (which we will get into in the future), but ultimately it is only the knowledge of Jesus that causes us to receive.

Peter understood the life-giving spirit that he had inside of him and his shadow passing over people healed them. Not a prayer uttered (Acts 5:15). Even the bones of Elisha, the prophet, buried in his grave, raised a person from the dead when they were thrown in the grave with him. Certainly no prayer uttered there (2 Kings 13:21). Paul would send cloths that he had touched to those who were sick, or demon possessed, and they would be healed and freed (Acts 19:12). 

These things are not formulas or methods to try to replicate. The point here is that miracles start happening when we start understanding what Jesus has done. Even in instances where there was no prayer present, people still got healed and were raised. It comes down to the knowledge of Jesus. Not necessarily the Jesus that you’ve heard before, but the true Jesus.

Think about this for a second. Every Christian has actually already received resurrection for every single person that has died. Yes, you have already received it! It’s inside of you now. It can be released and applied to peoples bodies and minds, but you’ve already received the resurrection itself. Ephesians 1:18–19 and Romans 8:11 explain that we have the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. When you got saved, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead came to live inside of you.

Now, let me ask you… How hard was it to receive that? How many hours did you spend confessing to bring this to pass? How many calls to action did you have to perform to get it? On the contrary, you were probably sitting down on your tush, hearing a sermon or talking with a friend when it happened. You probably weren’t trying to bring it to pass. You were too busy believing the message that you were hearing. At that moment, you were saved, and all resurrection, for everyone who has died, was received by you, all at once. 

Pretty simple, right? And if it was that simple to receive all resurrection for all people, to live inside of you, why should it be any harder to receive that resurrection on the outside? The knowledge of Jesus alone, without any of your hard work caused you to receive it on the inside, and I submit to you that it’s the same knowledge of Jesus that causes you to receive it on the outside.

Paul dealt with this exact same scenario with the people in Galatia. They had received the Lord through simply hearing the message and believing it. Then, they started thinking that there were very many hoops to jump through to see the spirit perform miracles on the outside. Paul points out that the same way you received the Spirit on the inside, is the same way you receive His manifestation on the outside.

Galatians 3:2 (NKJV) This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 

Verse 5) Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Paul is telling them that if they received the Spirit on the inside, by the hearing of faith, why would they change methodologies to receive Him on the outside? That’s all that raising the dead is. It’s just receiving on the outside what you’ve already received on the inside. And receiving resurrection for anyone who has died is just as easy as when you got saved. According to Colossians 2:6, it’s the same method.

Even as believers, we are too used to only getting big results through our much work. It sounds strange that people are just going to start being raised from the dead, simply by knowing Jesus. That sounds too easy to us! But if it sounds too easy, it’s only because you don’t realize that Jesus did all the hard work. Nowadays, the Father only wants people to see what His Son did for them. And if they will do that, miracles start happening.

Because this is so easy, many people pass it up or add to it. But it’s only easy because of all the hard work Jesus put in. Now, we get to receive overwhelmingly powerful and miraculous results, through nothing more than our confidence in what Jesus did. We get to rest from everything else, grow in our confidence of Jesus’ work, and yet get powerful results. The Bible says as much.

Isaiah 30:15 (NKJV) For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” 

That means that through mere confidence in Jesus, and rest from everything else, you will receive power and strength. Because Jesus did the hard part, we get to do an easy task, and yet receive big results! The most powerful thing you can do for yourself, and anyone else in this world, is to grow in your confidence of what Jesus has finished. Quietness and confidence is your strength!

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If someone does pass, what should our reaction be? What is the proper way to react to something like this? Well, you don’t need to ask what the right reaction should be. Just concern yourself with what the truth of the situation is. If you know the truth of the situation, then your reaction will fall in line effortlessly. 

We know that Jesus already died in everyone’s stead, so no one is held there anymore. It is finished. Death is old news. Nowadays, we live in the year of the Lord’s favor (Isaiah 61:2). We have nothing but resurrection and life inside of us. In fact, what’s in us is so alive that whatever it touches, lives (Ezekiel 47:9). There’s nothing but beauty and good things inside of us, and we get to share that with all who will receive it, even the sleeping.

Did what I just describe sound sorrowful? Did it sound like you have something to fear? Well, that’s the truth of the gospel that I just summed up, according to all the things that we have talked about until this point. If those are the things that you’re seeing, if those are the things that you’re meditating on, no one will have to tell you how to react. We know how to react to good circumstances.

Your reaction to a circumstance is nothing more than a manifestation of what you’re seeing. If you see your circumstance as dire, you will react that way. If you see your circumstance with levity, because of everything Jesus did, you will react accordingly. The reactions are not the problem. It’s what people are seeing that can be problematic.

Most people see death as permanent. That is not true. Most people see death as a loss of someone. That is also not true. But if you see death as permanent, unsolved, and a form of loss, then no wonder you’re discouraged. I would be too! But Jesus fixed all those things and brought in a new time, of life and immortality. What wonderfully good news! What salvation! What generous help from the Father! It’s everything we ever needed, and more than what most people can even dream up! That’s the truth of our circumstance. 

2 Timothy 1:10 (KJV) But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

So just meditate on these things. You’ll automatically start reacting like someone who has received salvation from all the degradation of the world. The more you see these things, the more you will not be bothered by what most people see as dire, because you will recognize that Jesus made it all better!

The problem is not that people get discouraged if someone passes. The problem is the falsehood they’re seeing about their circumstance, which causes that discouraged reaction. Don’t deal with the reaction. Deal with what you’re seeing in the circumstance.

The state of a believer is always an incredibly happy thing (Psalms 144:15). God is not asking you to react happily to a sorrowful situation. He’s not asking you to put on a smile because, “God is good despite the circumstance,” or “Just sing in the rain,” or “Praise God in the storm,”or any other phrase that describes a happy reaction to a sorrowful situation. No, that’s just crazy! One should react sorrowfully to sorrowful situations and happily to happy ones. That’s just being sober minded (Romans 12:3). 

God wants you to react truthfully, honestly, and naturally for someone in your state. But the truth about all your circumstances, even if someone passes, is that you have the solution to literally everything, residing inside of you right now, ready to be applied wherever it is needed. So go get ‘em! There’s life to spread around!

Sorrow is for sorrowful circumstances and happiness is for happy circumstances. Thanks to Jesus, the present state of every believer is always a happy one. Always. Most believers just don’t know enough about what Jesus did, to recognize that yet.

Jesus fixed everything. That’s why Jesus seemed so nonchalant and peaceful when a little girl died. Everyone else was wailing, but Jesus walked into a funeral and said, “Why all the commotion?”

Mark 5:38-40 (NKJV) Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him.

God is not asking you to be insensitive to people, only intolerant of their unbelief. But did you hear what Jesus said? Jesus walked into a funeral and asked, “Why all the commotion?” Do you see that? Do you really see what Jesus just said? He saw the weeping and wailing and asked, “Why?”

Why would Jesus have to ask “why?” regarding all the weeping? Why would He even question it, as if it were very strange? Didn’t He see that a little girl had died? Of course, He did. He saw that the little girl had died… and He also saw something else. And whatever it was that He saw in the situation, it caused Him to look at their weeping as a strange thing.

Most people would not think it strange to see weeping and wailing at a funeral, because to them, that is a perfectly compatible reaction. But Jesus saw something they weren’t seeing. He knew that Resurrection and Life just walked into the room. He knew the girl was getting up because He had come to the earth to die in her stead. The death that was owed to her, He came to take away. That’s what He saw. And therefore, He knew there was no problem here anymore.

Only someone with this perspective on the situation would find it strange to see weeping at a funeral. But I submit to you that Jesus’ perspective was the correct one. And I also submit to you that this is something that we’re not seeing in the church today, because we don’t know what we have.

Those mourners reacted the way they did because of what they believed about their circumstance. To them it was permanent, unfixable, and the Messiah’s salvation was not applicable. Perhaps one day they would see that little girl in heaven, but that’s the best that God had done for them. And if that were the truth, their reaction was perfectly suitable.

But that’s not the way that Jesus reacted. He reacted differently. And why? Because He saw something that they did not. When He thought of death, He thought of how it was to be abolished at the cross. When He thought of that little girl, He saw someone sleeping, ready to get up, because life was hers for the taking. He knew this. And that’s why He reacted the way He did. 

He wasn’t trying to be strong. He wasn’t putting His game face on. His reaction was nothing extraordinary. He just didn’t see a problem, and that’s why His demeanor followed suit.

The mourners and Jesus both reacted in accordance with what they saw in the situation. They both reacted naturally and suitably for what they were seeing. The huge difference was, One was seeing the truth and one was not.

God’s not mad at you if you shed tears. He only wants you to know that tears are something that Jesus’ sacrifice wipes away. If we cry, we do so because we’re still growing. But it’s that growth in knowledge that God wants, not your lack of tears. Just continue in the truth, believer! That is your only obedience!

God doesn’t want to change your reaction. He wants to change what you’re seeing. People will always speak, act, and react according to what they see. God just wants you to see something more than the physical things that everyone else is seeing. He wants to lift your eyes to realize this has been solved. He’s offered you a feast of good things, and there’s enough life to go around for everybody. 

As you grow in this, one day you’re going to lift your head, see people around you that are despairing, and think, “Why all the commotion?” But hold on tight. When you leave the pack, and start believing things like this, you’re gonna get someone raised from the dead.

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It’s always God’s will to give life to people. Thanks to Jesus, raising the dead is as simple as waking someone from sleep. That’s excellent news, but we should also know: Even while a believer’s body is still sleeping, their spirit has never been better! They have only changed locations.

If a believer’s body dies (or sleeps), their spirit that was inside their body, goes to be with the Lord in Heaven (Acts 7:3, 2 Corinthians 5:8). So, despite God’s will to raise their body up, you need to know that their spirit is doing great. They are still alive and well in their spirit. They are fully aware of everything going on in Heaven and on earth. They are rejoicing in everything Jesus has done. They are as perfect as ever! Their spirit is simply in better surroundings now. 

How do I know all of this? Because even when a believer’s spirit is still in their body, all of these things are true of their spirit (see Hebrews 12:23, Romans 8:16, and 1 Corinthians 2:16, to just name a few). 

The moment you get saved, the Holy Spirit comes into you and becomes one with your spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17)! In that moment, your spirit (the unseen you, inside your body) is made perfect, just like Jesus is perfect. Our spirits think like Jesus, talk like Jesus, and have all the power of Jesus. 

If a believer’s body sleeps temporarily (and oh, don’t you love that we can use that word “temporarily”), their spirit leaves and goes to be with the Lord, but their spirit is not more healed, whole, or at peace, while in Heaven with Jesus, then it was in their body before. Remember, our spirits are already perfect! If a believer’s body dies, their spirit has only changed locations. Their body is inactive for a short while, but their spirit is with the Lord. They are as aware as ever and rejoicing as always. 

The church has this notion that if a believer is sick and then they die, they say, “Well, now they are healed, whole, and with Jesus.” And as much as their spirit may be with Jesus, they are not any more healed and whole than they were before. 

Think about it: Their body is not any more healed and whole right now. And their spirit is not any more healed and whole either, because their spirit was already perfect, even while still residing in their body! The only thing that has happened is that their perfect spirit has changed locations. Their perfect spirit was in their body before, and if their body sleeps temporarily, their perfect spirit goes to be in Heaven with Jesus. No more healing, wholeness, or perfection was gained there, only a change of locations. Their perfect spirit was in their body before, and now their perfect spirit is in Heaven. Their spirit is just as perfect as yours is right now, if you’re a believer. No more. No less.

Of course, one needs to have believed in Jesus’ payment for these things to apply. But I will say that we don’t always know whether someone decided to believe in Jesus before they died, or not. But even if they did not, and they are not with the Lord right now, they can still be raised.

But as for a believer, even if their body sleeps temporarily, they are still completely aware of everything that your spirit is. We all have the mind of Christ! They are rejoicing the same way that your spirit is. Their spirit is totally and completely fine. Their spirit went on vacation to the resort that we are all citizens of. And I don’t say that for coping purposes. I say that because it’s the truth.

Wow, if that is true, then why is there even a call for raising up the body of a sleeping believer? Because God does not want their body corruptible, any more than He wants your body corruptible. Jesus loves life and so do all of those who know him. 

Proverbs 8:35-36 (NKJV) For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the LORD; But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death.”

Jesus paid an extraordinarily high price, so that everyone’s body might be healed and alive. The reason it is important to talk about how good a believer’s spirit is doing, even if their body sleeps, is so that you are not discouraged because of misinformation.

The same inheritance that we celebrate and possess right now, is the same inheritance that every believer has, even if their body sleeps. If a Christian’s body dies, you cannot perceive them in a poor or pitiable light, any more than you can perceive yourself that way. Does God want to give life to their body? Sure, but God wants to give life to your body as well. 

The same way that you should not judge yourself according to your flesh, but according to all the perfection you have in your spirit, so you need to do for any believer, even if their body sleeps right now (2 Corinthians 5:16). That believer still has all of the wisdom, power, and life of Jesus, the same as you. And whether you believe it or not, they are still enjoying it, the same way that your spirit is right now. 

God definitely wants to wake up their body, but their spirit is alive, fully cognizant, and thriving, just like yours. Better said, just like Jesus!

In closing, notice this important truth. In Exodus 3:6 and Genesis 26:24, God speaks to Moses and Isaac respectively, and says that He was currently the God of Abraham. That might not seem profound, except that Abraham’s body had already died. Yet, God says that He was presently the God of Abraham. Why is this? Because Abraham was not gone or lost. He hadn’t ceased. Abraham had simply changed locations, and God was still His God as always. Jesus pointed this out to the Sadducees.

Matthew 22:31-32 (NKJV) …have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

You see, God acknowledged Abraham as very much living, even after his body had fallen asleep. Abraham’s spirit was alive and God was still his God, just like any believer at the time. And today, after the cross, Abraham has a perfect spirit, just like us. He is doing just fine with the Lord. 

All of that is true. We have taken the time to go over this, because it’s a wonderful truth that God would not have us ignorant of. But here’s the thing: Jesus didn’t just pay for Abraham’s spirit to be perfect. God wants that perfection to come to Abraham’s physical body and mind as well. God wants that life to come to his flesh as well. God wants to see him thriving in his flesh as well. And we have the access to make that happen.

If you know a believer that has passed, I want to tell you that they’re still doing excellent in their spirit, just like you, rejoicing all the time. God is their God. Jesus is their Lord. Everything is just perfect in their spirit. But Jesus paid for more than our spirit. He paid for our entire spirit, soul, and body. In fact, He broke His flesh to restore ours.

If only He had someone on earth that would believe this. That’s all He’s looking for. He’s not looking for us to do miracles. He’s just looking for someone to believe Him. That’s all He wants. He’s done wonderful works for us. He will manifest it all through us. He only wants someone to believe Him. And perhaps, if you choose it, that person is you.

2 Chronicles 16:9 (KJV) For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro, throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them, whose heart is perfect toward him. 

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As long as there is someone on this earth believing, as long as there’s someone in the situation full of the life of God, that person that “died,” is in fact not dead, but merely sleeping. 

Jesus said something quite wonderful and very interesting about a little girl that had “died”. Pay close attention to this.

Mark 5:38-39 (NKJV) Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.”

Jesus also said something very similar about Lazarus.

John 11:11 (NKJV) …and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.”

Jesus said about both of these people, that they were not dead but sleeping. In particular, regarding that little girl we just read about in Mark 5, Jesus very clearly says, “The child is not dead.”

Now, we know that it is impossible for Jesus to lie. We know that He’s always truthful and yet He just said about this child that she was not dead, even though she was lying there at a funeral. How can this be truthful? Hadn’t the little girl died? And yet, Jesus says she’s not dead, just sleeping.

I believe this interpretation to be sound.

For starters, what does death mean to most people? If you ask most people to describe it, what would they say? Well, most people would say that it’s the end of someone’s life. They would say that it’s a permanent state. If you’re religious, you might believe that it’s the permanent passing from one life to another, but you will see them again in Heaven one day.  They would say it’s the thing that there’s no cure for. 

I don’t believe that anything I just described is an exaggeration in any way. Even some of your most fanatic Christians believe some form of that. Even our dictionaries describe death in similar fashion. Yet none of that is accurate. And if that’s what death is, if that’s what death means to people, then that little girl lying at that funeral was not dead by any means. Neither was Lazarus. Neither are your friends or loved ones. They are not dead. They’re only sleeping.

You see, if people define death the way that I described (and they do), then your friends and loved ones have not actually died according to that definition. That is, as long as there is someone believing the Lord to raise them up. 

If death is defined as the end of someone’s life, then that person has not died because it’s not the end of their life. They can come right back. 

If death is the permanent passing from one life to another, then that person has not died because they have not permanently gone anywhere. Death is as easily fixable as the sniffles. 

If death is the loss of someone you loved, then they’re not dead at all because you haven’t lost anyone. They can be raised right now. Yes, right now, in this moment,  there is power from the finished work of Jesus to raise that person right back up. 

Why did Jesus say that the little girl was not dead? Because she actually wasn’t, that is, if you define death the way those mourners, and most everyone else, defines it. That little girl had not permanently passed to another life. That was not the end of that little girl’s life. And if that’s what death meant to those mourners, then that little girl wasn’t dead. Jesus was fully accurate. 

If you define death the way that the world, and most believers, define it, then the word sleep is actually far more relatable to what just happened. If death is a permanent passing and sleep is just a temporary unconsciousness, then “sleep” is far, far more accurate than the word death is. I believe that is why Jesus used the word sleep, instead of death. 

The people He was speaking to (who were mourners at a funeral) fully believed that death was a permanent passing and loss of life. And according to that definition, the child was not dead. Therefore, Jesus told them so.

When Jesus said, “The child is not dead,” this was not some spiritual or figurative reality. He was talking about that little girl’s physical body. Her physical body was not dead, by the mourners’ definition. Her physical body had not undergone a permanent loss of life. In just the next few moments, she was right back on her feet having a meal with her parents. That’s a real thing. If death is defined as permanent, that girl was certainly not dead, in any sense of the word.

You see, a word is only worth as much as it means to the person you’re speaking to. If I’m in America and want some cookies, I could ask someone to pick up some cookies for me. If I’m in Great Britain, they say “biscuits.” So if I want some cookies, I would have to ask someone to pick up some “biscuits” for me. Why? Because biscuits means cookies in Great Britain. So if I want to be accurate, I wouldn’t say “cookies.” 

And guess what? Death means something permanent to almost everyone, but sleep is temporary. So, if I want to be accurate by their definition, I would say “sleep” instead of “death.”  Because death is not a permanent state, as long as there’s someone on this green earth to believe the Lord and raise somebody up. 

In the confines of typical definitions, “sleep” is actually a more accurate definition of what had just happened to that little girl, then death was. Jesus was not going to use the word “death,” if clearly that word meant a permanent loss of life to the people He was speaking to.

Understand, I’m not saying that using the word death is wrong. Someone very well may have died. In fact, when Jesus told His disciples that Lazarus was sleeping and they misunderstood Him, thinking that Lazarus was just taking a usual nap, Jesus clarified and said that Lazarus was dead (John 11:14). So, it’s not wrong at all to use the word death. In fact, the Bible most commonly uses the word death. But when the Bible says “death” it does not define it as a permanent passing from one life to another. The Bible defines the word death, more akin to how the world (and most believers) would define the word sleep. 

Even most people reading this article right now probably do not realize just how temporary and fleeting death is when someone believes. Think about this: Jesus said that the state of that little girl was more accurately defined by what the world calls “sleep,” then by what the world calls “death.” This should give you some insight into how fleeting and reversible He perceived the situation.

Those mourners saw a permanent loss of life in that little girl lying there, but that was entirely, scientifically inaccurate. That girl had not permanently lost her life — clearly evidenced by the fact that the girl was up and about, just moments later. 

Jesus looked at that same little girl and knew that her unconsciousness was only temporary, and she could be easily woken up. That was a hard scientific fact about that little girl. Saying that she was sleeping wasn’t a coping mechanism by Jesus. It was the truth. And that girl got right back up, much like waking up from a nap, just as Jesus perceived she could.

This perfectly explains the huge discrepancy between Jesus’ reaction to the little girl and the mourners at that funeral. They wailed so deeply because they perceived the end of a child’s life. What a sad thing that would be… if it were true.

On the other hand, Jesus perceived the temporary unconsciousness of someone He could easily wake up. And therefore, He couldn’t understand what all the commotion was about. I’m not telling you to be insensitive to people, but when is the last time you heard someone at a funeral say, “What’s all the commotion about? They’re just sleeping.”

As stated before, perceiving death this way is not a coping mechanism. It’s just the truth. None of this is wishful thinking or unreasonable hopes. This is just the everyday gospel for those who believe. It’s nothing extraordinary amongst believers. It’s what we have on any given day. It’s the love wherewith Jesus has loved us at the cross. None of this is too good to be true. Actually, it’s your previous perception of death that isn’t true. 

Concerning anyone in your life that has “died,” their body is truthfully not dead, by the world’s definition. They are only sleeping. And fortunate for us, we have the kiss of the Prince to wake them back up.

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Length: 8 Minutes

We’ve already been over many scriptural proofs, but for anyone who believes scripture, this is the simplest and most profound proof that physical resurrection is a part of our inheritance. 

If we want to understand whether physical resurrection of the dead (or anything else) is included in our inheritance, we first need to ask ourselves, “How do we, as Christians, define our inheritance?” How do we know what Jesus provided or didn’t provide? Is there a list somewhere of all the things that Jesus paid for? Well, sort of. But the Bible defines a Christians inheritance easily with one term. Ready? Here it is: “The glorified Jesus.”

The Bible sums up every Christians inheritance by simply saying that we have everything that Jesus has in His glory. If Jesus, has it then you have it. If He doesn’t have it, then you don’t have it either. The Bible calls it being a joint heir with Christ. That means that you have received everything that Christ received from God.

Romans 8:17 (NKJV) and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him [persecution] that we may also be glorified together.

I wish that more Christians understood this simple truth. It would settle so many arguments about what we have or don’t have. A joint heir means that we have inherited the same things jointly with Jesus (including the hatred that He continues to receive from the ungodly). And so, if there was any question about our inheritance, the only question we would have to ask is, “Does the glorified Jesus have it?” If He does, then it’s ours as well. If not, then it doesn’t belong to us either. It is so straightforward and simple. 

1 John 4:17 (NKJV) …because as He is, so are we in this world.

We have inherited the same things that Jesus has. In fact, our inheritance is so much like Jesus’s, that the Bible actually advocates for us to look at Him to define what we have. The Bible even calls Jesus our mirror, because we need to look at Him to see who we are.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV) But we all… beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory…

Why does 2 Corinthians tell us to look at the glory of Jesus “as in a mirror?” Well, the Bible defines a mirror as something you look at to see yourself (James 1:23–24). Knowing this, when 2 Corinthians tells us to look at Jesus as our mirror, it’s telling us to look at the glorified Jesus to find out who we are.

Doesn’t that just make sense? Doesn’t all of that just fit together seamlessly? If we are inheritors together with Jesus, then wouldn’t it make sense to look at what Jesus has to see what you have? If He has it in His resurrection, then you have it as well. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that 2 Corinthians tells us to look at Jesus to define ourselves.

And take note: what version of Jesus are we to relate to as our mirror? The crucified Jesus or the glorified Jesus? Noticed that it says that we behold “the glory of the Lord as in a mirror.” That means that we specifically need to look at Jesus in His glory and resurrection to define what we have today, as believers.

This may be the most profound thing you hear all day, so listen closely to this: What you see at the cross is everything Jesus was setting you free from (Romans 6:6). What you see in His resurrection is what you have today.  That is not a metaphor or an analogy. That is literal. What you see in Jesus is what you have living inside of you right now.

There is so much more we can say on this topic, but assuming you really understand what I just said, that is the most definitive scriptural proof that our inheritance includes physical resurrection for the dead. There it is.

Some people may still be wondering how that is definitive proof. If you truly knew that we define our inheritance by what we see in the glorified Jesus, it’s simple. Whatever He has is what we have. That being true, let’s look at the state of the glorified Jesus, our joint heir, to define what we have, shall we?

Romans 6:9 (NKJV) knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.

Let’s not talk about our life, our neighbors experience, or our feelings right now. Let’s just talk about the glorified Jesus. Romans 6 names some characteristics of him:

1) He has been raised from the dead (physically, of course, with nail scars to prove it).
2) He will never die again.
3) Death no longer has dominion over Him.

These are all qualities of the glorified Jesus, which you can find written all through scripture. No Christian is going to disagree with you on that. But you would have to deny that you are a joint heir with Christ to not apply those qualities to yourself as well. If you are a joint heir, then if He has it, you have it. 

If Jesus has received power to be physically raised from the dead, then our inheritance includes power to physically raise the dead. If Jesus lives and dies no more, physical death no longer having dominion over Him, then it has no more dominion over us either. 

We have the same power that worked in Him when His own physical body was raised from the dead. 

Ephesians 1:19-20 (NKJV) and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead…

We have power in accordance with what? With His crucifixion? No, but with His resurrection. We don’t look at the crucified Jesus to relate with what we see there. We look at the resurrected Jesus and relate to what we see in Him.

If anyone disagrees with this right now, your disagreement is not with resurrection. Your disagreement is with being a joint heir with Jesus. Because once you truly believe you are a joint heir with Him, it is impossible not to apply all of His qualities to yourself as well. 

These things are inside of you right now. It may be more than you ever imagined before. It may be far bigger than you thought (which is to be expected — 1 Corinthians 2:9), but once you truly believe that you are a joint heir, it’s indisputable that we have the power to physically raise the dead, and the power to not die to begin with. Otherwise, you are not a joint heir with Christ. You are something else.

All of this may sound strange to some Christians, but on the contrary, it would rather be strange if we didn’t have the same things as Jesus, while still calling ourselves joint heirs with Him. What exactly is a joint heir if you haven’t inherited things jointly with the resurrected Jesus? 

You see, if we are just comparing ourselves amongst ourselves, looking at what Peter or Paul experienced, or looking at what our friends have experienced to define our inheritance, we are going to be very confused. And truthfully, much of the church is still very confused as to what they have in Christ. But once you stop looking at everyone else, and start looking at the glorified Jesus to define yourself, it takes all of the guess work out of it. If He, has it, you have it. If He doesn’t, then you don’t either.

The fact that our glorified Jesus has been physically raised from the dead is our definitive proof that we have that power as well. That may be simple. That may not be the theological argument you were expecting to hear, but for all its simplicity, it is the gospel truth. Nothing up our sleeve. No tricks being played. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that He has this power, therefore we have it too.

Our glorified Jesus has been physically raised from the dead, He dies no more, and death no longer has dominion over Him. My advice? Likewise reckon yourselves!

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Length: 6 Minutes

Because of what Jesus provided, raising the dead back to life is nothing extraordinary or unusual. You don’t need a “special anointing” to see it in your life. You just need to have a clear idea of what you have in Christ.

We have been so conditioned to the way the world works, many are simply not accustomed how the kingdom of God works. Unfortunately, many heed friends, watch movies, and listen to music that tell them how common death is. You need people around telling you how normal resurrection is!

Through simple knowledge of Jesus (and nothing else), the Holy Spirit will begin manifesting His life through you. And that life raises the dead! It can also heal the sick, give youth to oldness, and keep people alive to begin with, so that you don’t have to raise them! God prefers people to never die, so that resurrection isn’t even necessary. Resurrection is just plan B (John 11:25-26). But this is the Resurrection Handbook, so let’s focus on resurrection. 

This is simply not an extraordinary thing for us! Raising people from the dead is as ordinary for a believer as death is for this world! Raising the dead is not “miraculous” in the way that word is typically used. The word miracle in our New Testament just means a work of power. We use the word “miracle” like it means extraordinary and uncommon! We assume that you need to be a special person of God or need a special anointing moving before the dead can be raised. But there’s no such thing. There’s just the good, old fashion life of God here, available to you at all times!

Because some Christians have not frequently seen the dead raised, they assume this must be reserved for special moves of God or whenever God wills it, according to His very “mysterious plan.” None of this is accurate though. God already made His move when He paid for these things through Jesus. Therefore, it is relevant and available to us at all times. 

Jesus paid one price for all time (Hebrews 10:10–14), and therefore His provision is applicable to you at all times. The time you’re living in, the very moment you’re reading this, is a time that Jesus paid for. Therefore, the resurrection He provided is available to you at every moment in your day, not just for special occasions. Ephesians calls it, His resurrection power being “toward you” (Ephesians 1:19–20). It is ready and available, even at this very moment, because Jesus paid for this very moment.

Just because you haven’t seen something before doesn’t mean it’s not normal and every day for you, as a citizen of Heaven. Whether you realize it or not, you’re carrying it right on the inside of you. Just because you’ve never used something that Jesus gave you, doesn’t mean you don’t have it. Raising the dead is in fact normal and average for every believer. It’s not extraordinary. It’s not unusual. It’s not unpredictable. And as much as it is a wonderful blessing from God, it is completely normal. It simply has not been normalized in most of our minds. 

It is vitally necessary that we normalize these things in our mind, because we receive everything from God through knowledge, the same way that you got saved (2 Peter 1:2). These things are already normal for us, as a part of the kingdom of God! Now it just needs to seem normal. And that can easily be resolved.

The way that you normalize these concepts in your mind is by using them. I don’t mean using them in your life. I just mean using the truth of it in your thoughts, all the time. The Bible says that we can train our senses by using the things that God has spoken to us.

Hebrews 5:14 (NKJV) But solid food [the deeper things of the Gospel] belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

This verse is saying that your mind will be able to discern between what is right and wrong, truth and lie, only when your mind starts using the truth. The more you use it, the more accurate your mind will think. The more you use the truth, the more normal your inheritance will seem to you. 

You have a lot of wonderful things through Jesus, including life and resurrection, but most Christians think of these things as extraordinary. They would be shocked if they saw someone raised from the dead. The only reason for this, is because they don’t use these truths frequently (or at all) in their mind. They don’t have their senses exercised in the truth of our Resurrection and Life. Most people don’t hear about these things much at church, and if they do, they don’t practice these truths in their mind by meditating on them.

You’ve been changed. You have new privileges and rights. You are not a victim of your circumstances. You are a lord over this whole universe with Jesus, and you can reign over it in the life of God. That’s a fact. (Galatians 4:1, Romans 5:17). If it sounds weird to you it’s because your senses have not been exercised to recognize the truth of who you are. What’s normal for you has simply not been “normalized.”

Raising the dead should not seem unusual or something you just hear stories about. Raising the dead is something that a believer experiences on an average afternoon, walking down the street. You see an incident, you go to the deceased and say, “In Jesus name, get up!” They get up, you tell them about Jesus, you invite them to Reform Church, and you’re on your way.

If these things seem daunting or not in your personality, you just don’t know yourself very well. The Lord is not asking you to manifest these things yourself. He will, as you believe. But these things are not only possible for you, they are ingrained in the very nature of your spirit now. Yes, you’re that kind of person if you’re in Christ. As He is, so are you in this world (1 John 4:17).

To this world, raising the dead is a fantasy. To us, people stuck in death is a fantasy, and raising them is just another Tuesday. 

Thank God for His life that we have forever available to us! And thank God for His truth that is able to normalize it in our mind.

Read the whole handbook here

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