In this week’s teaching entitled: Reigning and Resurrection, as Todd features verses 1 and 2 in the Book of Hebrews, Chapter 6, you’ll gain the right perspective concerning the subject of resurrection. Then you’ll be ready to receive two great keys for defeating whatever death brings as Todd teaches about the connection between sin and death and how death no longer has dominion. As well, since strong, vibrant faith is essential for reigning and resurrection power, Todd focuses on faith and how to protect what you believe. At the close of this teaching Todd takes a look at the miraculous virtue of Jesus Christ. Be blessed as you grow in the spiritual stature that God has for you!
REIGNING and RESURRECTION
by Revivalist Todd Bentley - [as edited by Kathy Thorne]PART 2 of 2 - ( PART 1 )
In God’s kingdom there is just so much to look forward to! In fact, God will take us as far as we want to go. I’m talking about depth, the deep things of God. And yet, as I’ve been thinking about how the whole concept of resurrection is perceived by many in the church, it’s like a lot of believers only see its relevance in light of an Easter Sunday sermon. Or others think that resurrection is all about our heavenly bodies, the rapture, or the second coming—it tends to be something in the future.
RESURRECTION IS ACTUALLY AN ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLE
On top of that, some Christians consider the whole idea about resurrection, or the opportunity to actually raise the dead, to be pretty radical. But according to scripture, resurrection from the dead is part of the foundation of Christian belief. It’s actually an elementary principle! The Book of Hebrews, Chapter 6, verses 1 and 2, says:
“THEREFORE LET us go on and get past the elementary stage in the teachings and doctrine of Christ (the Messiah), advancing steadily toward the completeness and perfection that belong to spiritual maturity. Let us not again be laying the foundation of repentance and abandonment of dead works (dead formalism) and of the faith [by which you turned] to God, with teachings about purifying, the laying on of hands, the resurrection from the dead, and eternal judgment and punishment. [These are all matters of which you should have been fully aware long, long ago.]” (vv. 1, 2, The Amplified Bible, emphasis mine).
Still, even though resurrection from the dead is a foundational principle, in order to actually receive and walk in all the benefits involved in what resurrection promises, we need to have our minds renewed.
DEATH NO LONGER HAS DOMINION
In this regard, in Part One, I shared about how I was developing a “resurrection mindset” and how I realized that the same glory (or resurrection power) that raised Jesus up after his crucifixion had not only touched me; it was working inside of me. Let me explain another aspect concerning this revelation; my point being—today, I’ve come to understand that “death no longer has dominion.” Romans Chapter 6, verse 9 says:
“knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him” (Rom. 6:9).
Now, because I am a born again believer and I believe that death no longer has dominion, and since sickness and disease cause death, then I have the right to refuse the diseases of the world, the viruses, the sicknesses, the bacteria—or whatever exists in the world that brings death. I refuse it!
Now, I don’t deny the circumstances; I mean if you have cancer, or a tumor, it’s real. But there is something about when your body begins to understand that your spirit is raised from the dead—“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Rm. 8:11) Cancer! You can’t live here!
The same goes for poverty. Poverty is death. Look. Any kind of oppression in your life, any kind of torment, any kind of depression—it’s the work of the devil—and it is defeated because death no longer has dominion! In fact, death has to bow! It bowed to Jesus wherever He went. Can you imagine how tense darkness became every time Jesus showed up on the scene? The Lord would show up and devils would start screaming. And the dead were raised!—(See Mk. 5:7 and Jn. 11:38–44.)
Likewise, when believers know who they are in Christ, sickness and death must bow! For example, when I’m ministering in a crusade, I think like this: The death around me in this crusade isn’t allowed to be at work here! Since death no longer has dominion, I take my God-given authority and make a decree; then whatever is of the “realm of death” has to bow to resurrection! There are times when I walk into a room and the diseases in people’s bodies can only hold on until I cast out a (demonic) spirit with a word. “I see you, devil. Get out!”
DEATH IS ALWAYS ROOTED IN SIN
Now let’s go on to Romans 6, verses 10 and 11: “For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. So, count yourselves to be dead to sin in the same way—in that Jesus counted Himself dead and resurrected—count yourselves dead and resurrected. That means death no longer has dominion over you! Equally, don’t let sin reign—
“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts” (v. 12).
Friends, there is a place where because we love Jesus, we obey His commands; and because there is a love, we don’t want to wound His heart. After all, we’re in a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ and we don’t want to hurt the One we love. There is a choice—if you let sin reign, then death reigns because the power of death is always rooted in sin—especially willful, habitual sin, offense, bitterness, and unforgiveness.
In fact, it wasn’t until one man sinned by disobeying God that sickness, poverty, bondage and death came into the world and spread to all mankind (Rom. 5:12). Initially, the one, Adam (and Eve) brought the curse, and it became the curse of the law. Then every conceivable sin that you could imagine, every conceivable sickness or disease, came into the curse. But we were (and are) rescued from the curse because ultimately, the One, Jesus Christ conquered death. Through His death and resurrection, our sin and death are defeated and now both freedom from sin and resurrection can spread to all mankind!
“For just as [because of their union of nature] in Adam all people die, so also [by virtue of their union of nature] shall all in Christ be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22, The Amplified Bible).
“The first man Adam became a living being (an individual personality); the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving Spirit [restoring the dead to life]” (v. 45).
The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death (Rom. 8:2).
Look. There is a law! That law of sin and death is a spiritual law and all of hell is ready to back-up that law. But the law of the Spirit of life, the law of resurrection in Christ Jesus, has made me free from the law of sin and death and all of heaven is ready to enforce that law! Therefore, the truth is, it’s a law that I’m not sick (sickness can be defeated)! It’s a law that I’m the blessed one. It’s a spiritual law: “Devil you can’t hold me down!” There is a law of the spirit realm, the law of the spirit world, the law of resurrection!
But, in order to ensure your freedom from the curse of the law, don’t miss these three vital principles: First, remember, the law of sin and death can only be broken by Jesus Christ and if you’re born again. Second, God can only enforce the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus as you do your part by confessing your sins and asking Him to forgive you and cleanse you (according to 1 John 1:9). Third, you must also take responsibility for wielding your authority against the enemy’s attacks, but you can only do a thorough job if you know who you are in Christ.
Then the ruler of this world (the devil) has nothing to hang on to, no claim on you. After all, Satan couldn’t do a thing to stop anything Jesus did! Why? It was because Jesus was without sin—“. . . the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me." (Jn. 14:30). That’s what I’m aiming for! How about you?
As I said last week, only the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of holiness can help us conquer what the flesh wants. True overcoming only happens as we abide in Christ, not having our own righteousness “which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.” And overcoming happens by knowing Him: “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,” (Phil. 3: 9, 10, emphasis mine).
You can’t even get to the power of His resurrection until you can say, “I know Him!” There will be no power of Christ’s resurrection working in your life unless you know Him intimately. It’s about intimacy, but not just an intimacy wherein you spend time with the Lord. I’m talking about being “one in the spirit.” (Study John 17:20–23). Then God’s glory is sure to shine through you and the people around you will notice this—“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). Friends, when you’ve “been with Jesus” like Peter and John you’ll know what real faith is.
REAL FAITH BRINGS REIGNING AND RESURRECTION POWER
Look at what Paul the apostle said about faith: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20, emphasis mine). It bears repeating: “the life that I now live, I live by faith. . .” You see, you’re not going to have resurrection without faith. We must understand what faith, real faith is and how faith works! As a matter of fact, get every book, get every series that you can on faith! Equally, always remember that faith and intimacy go hand in hand. Just as I said in Part One, if intimacy with God is lacking there will be no reigning and resurrection power, so too, anointing will not manifest without you being full of faith.
TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT YOUR FAITH & PRESS IN ALL THE WAY
So we need to remove the unbelief. Actually, Jesus “removed unbelief” by having the people who were in fear and/or unbelief leave the location where He was about to perform a miracle (Lk. 8:51–55). Because there is something about being sure that those that are with you are just as “in faith” as you are. Unbelief hinders miracles. Jesus, Himself, was hindered from doing miracles in his hometown because of the people’s unbelief (Matt. 13:58). For instance, I’ve had meetings where I was full of faith, but other people there brought their unbelief into the meeting and their lack of faith hindered the flow. I’ve had to say on a few occasions, “If you don’t believe and you’re a skeptic, I want you to leave the meeting right now.” Until they left, I could not move in the realm of miracles fully. So protect your faith.
Put boundaries in place to protect what you believe. Here is an example of what I mean by “boundaries.” Sometimes there are certain influences—it might be from the people around you who want to challenge your beliefs—yet not in a positive way. But when you have worked through your Christian beliefs with good, sound, mature, men and women and, for instance, you believe that healing and prosperity are inherent in salvation; protect that belief. There are things that I won’t even entertain because I don’t want to mess up my groove. I won’t even debate it. I don’t want to be sidetracked or waste my time by allowing such things to get into my grid!
Faith is something you go after and you keep. “God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). Contend and be aggressive about pressing in. The Bible says: “And from the time John the Baptist began preaching and baptizing until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing . . .” (Matt. 11:12 NIV, emphasis mine). So keep warring, don’t let up; be persistent like the widow (Luke 18:1–8). She just kept coming to the judge, asking for justice and in the end the Lord said,
“Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (vv. 6–8).
Press in, contend and be aggressive like the Prophet Elijah, after he discerned that rain was coming. He went into intercession seven times on Mount Carmel, each time sending his servant to check and see if rain was on the way (1 Kings 18: 43–45). So don’t stop praying and believing mid-way. Pray through till you’re convinced, based on what God already said and begin to walk in an attitude of thanksgiving even if your circumstances aren’t changing. Remember, you’re pressing in for what you know God wants you to have. Receive what He said, by faith; yes, acknowledge the circumstances, but at the same time, what you have received from God by faith is more real.
THROUGH FAITH IN THE WORKING OF GOD
Resurrection happens through faith in the working of God. Let’s take a look at Colossians Chapter 2, verse 12: “buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead” (Col. 2:12). There is a connection between understanding the effective working of His power, the power that works within you and me, and the outward power that manifests.
An example would be when someone is healed in their body when the manifest power of God is evident in a meeting, but it works according to the connection between the manifest power, outward manifest kingdom power, and the power that works within you.
Also, instead of being so focused on getting more power, we need to focus more on having faith “through the working of God.” We need to understand how the power that’s on the inside works and begin to focus on strengthening the inner man, and learning how to tap into the anointing that we already have on the inside. So we need to build ourselves up and recharge the “dunamis power” of the “battery” that we already have on the inside. And one way to build ourselves up in our most holy faith is to pray in tongues. We’ll activate the “dunamis generator!” As we do, through faith and working with God, resurrection life and power will manifest!
CLOSING
I don’t want to close this series, without mentioning how the dunamis generator is directly connected to the virtue of Christ that’s inside you and me—“Christ in you” (Col. 1:27). It’s a river that works on the inside, 24 hours a day. It’s like a generator, seven days a week. Due to time and space limitations I cannot share more about this, except to say that I have put together a whole series on how to release the miraculous healing virtue of Jesus Christ in the Real Power DVD teaching series. You’ll learn how you can release the virtue of Jesus—the anointing that is on the inside of you!Also, we have an amazing resource called, The Kingdom School, which covers 14 cutting edge sessions, from Kingdom Mindset and Divine Inheritance, to The Kingly Anointing and The Breaker Anointing, and more. Just go to our web store at www.freshfire.ca
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Laying Down Your Life
"BETTER TO LIVE ONE DAY AS A LION, THAN A THOUSAND AS A COWARD."
Quote from the Memorial for Women Czech Resistance Fighters
I found this in a journal of mine from last year, entry July 20th, 2007:
I am going to risk being wrong. If I die, at least I died trying and not lived as a coward.
Quote from the Memorial for Women Czech Resistance Fighters
I found this in a journal of mine from last year, entry July 20th, 2007:
I am going to risk being wrong. If I die, at least I died trying and not lived as a coward.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Reigning & Resurrection - Part 1 of 2
By Todd Bentley (Fresh Fire Ministries)
Reigning and Resurrection - Part 1 of 2 close Print
In this is a two-part teaching entitled: Reigning and Resurrection Power, Todd establishes the connection between reigning and resurrection with a very convincing description of the power and authority that are ours when we enter the kingdom of Jesus by being born of the Spirit. Taking his water baptism as an example, Todd shares how that prophetic act marked him for life; and you’ll be quickened with excitement as you discover how the same glory that raised Christ from the dead is available to work in you too. You’ll also learn what it takes to receive your full inheritance, and about how resurrection goes hand in hand with reigning and advancing God’s kingdom NOW. Next week Todd gives more keys for reigning and resurrection that connect to the importance of walking by faith.
REIGNING AND RESURRECTION
by Revivalist Todd Bentley [as edited by Kathy Thorne]Part 1
It’s true! We don’t need resurrection power in heaven; no one is going to be raised from the dead in heaven! But we certainly need the anointing to flow out of our lives here on earth. I mean the anointing that gives life—it’s essential if we’re going to partner with God to overthrow the powers of darkness—because both death and destruction stalk the earth continually. That anointing will empower us to walk full-out in our authority—reigning—being determined believers who advance God’s kingdom in the earth, just like it is in heaven. The stakes are high, but resurrection power will make the difference!Now, you might be wondering how “resurrection power” and “reigning” work together and how both can be activated in your life. To answer to that, we’ll examine several essential elements in this teaching series, real keys for reigning and walking in resurrection power. So here we go!
THE NEW BIRTH OPENS GOD’S KINGDOM!
First of all, let’s acknowledge together that God is a God of order. Just try and imagine what the world would be like if He wasn’t! He is orderly, and it’s by His design that our first nature is spirit. Yes we have a body but the spirit comes first. He created us that way.Now, think for a few moments about your first nature, spirit, in the context of your born again experience. Your new birth was momentous! Because everything about you today, in Christ, hinges on that experience! That’s when your spirit came to life—alive in Christ (1 Pet. 3:18). You are no longer a natural being that has a spirit; you’re a spiritual being that has a body! You’re a brand new creation in Christ who lives, for a time, on the earth; one who is learning to live in your true nature, in Christ Jesus, which is spirit (2 Cor. 5:17). The fact is, (for all true believers), the moment we’re born again an earth-shaking shift takes place. We are transported from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son! As well, we come into the right position for receiving God’s great benefits, which include the necessary keys for activating our spiritual senses. So, you can see that the new birth opens up God’s kingdom. However, if you don’t have the new birth, then you certainly won’t be seeing or entering His kingdom!—(John 3:3, 5).Yes, we have a body but we’re spiritual beings first, and though we’re here on earth, our citizenship is actually in heaven (Phil. 3:20). I’m a citizen of heaven first, and I’m a Canadian citizen. Keeping that revelation in mind, did you know that you and I don’t have to wait to die and go to heaven for heaven to be a reality in our lives? I say that because God’s word says that “the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15)—it’s a “now” word—and “the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). It’s “Christ in you, the hope of glory,” NOW (Col. 1:27).
LIVE IN CHRIST, DIE TO SELF & EXPERIENCE YOUR RESURRECTION!
Ironically, soon after the new birth, a death experience comes along—death to self, death to our carnal nature—that “old man!” But we can thank God for the resurrection that follows! One way to illustrate this whole paradox is by sharing about my water baptism. I was told, “Todd, something is going to happen when you go down in that water; you’re going to come up a new man!” It was true. At the convergence of two acts something happened. Here’s how:First, when I went under the water, I purposefully identified with Christ when He died and was placed into a tomb; symbolically I was dying to self. In other words, when you’re baptized—you identify with the truth, and that truth is that you have died—your old nature; its sins and passions—you’ve died. Believe it!—“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? (Rom 6:3, emphasis mine). It’s done! Second, when I came up out of the water, just as Christ was resurrected, so was I! Resurrection into newness of life!—“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (v. 4, emphasis mine).” Done! A spiritual impartation happened; it was activated by the power of what was taking place in the spirit by that prophetic act. Although we tend to put resurrection in the future, it isn’t just a future event! And when that revelation hit me I started developing a resurrection mindset, thinking: My spirit has been raised from the dead. I know what it’s like, that same “glory” that raised Christ from the dead. That same glory is what’s touched my spirit and made me alive! I’ve already experienced the very same resurrection power that raised Jesus up from the tomb; it not only has touched me, it’s working inside of me! It’s the anointing, the Holy Spirit that dwells in me! That revelation was like being gloriously born again, again!
SO WHAT DOES RESURRECTION LOOK LIKE?
I’m talking about the likeness of His resurrection and the idea that as we walk in “newness of life” we walk in victory. You can’t tell me that there is resurrection power and ruling operating in your life if you’re being defeated in your own spirit. That resurrection power is yours if you’ll use it! At your disposal is the Spirit of God. He is the Spirit of holiness (Rom. 1:4), which is the Spirit of resurrection, and only He can make death die; only the Holy Spirit can help us to overcome what the flesh wants. He responds when we seek holiness and demonstrate reverential fear of the Lord.Actually, the Spirit of holiness is seven things. The Holy Spirit: corrects, counsels, strengthens, helps, intercedes, is our defense attorney and the comforter called alongside. It’s the Holy Spirit residing within us, and the effective working of His power working within us, that makes us holy, that sanctifies us, and makes us righteous. Two keys are: His grace and our obedience. We can’t say that we’re holy without obedience. In fact, we can only manifest God’s kingdom to the extent we’re willing to sacrifice, surrender and be obedient. The greater the obedience and total surrender, the greater the manifestation of power, and the model is Jesus. With resurrection power, our old self becomes so dead that we become dead to the things that the flesh wants. It’s newness of life, which means: overcoming sickness, disease and poverty; reigning in resurrection; raising the dead. What a rich inheritance! And it’s ours today! Not just when we get to heaven.
FIRST INTIMACY, THEN INHERITANCE ON EARTH & IN HEAVEN
Just look at what the Apostle Paul said in his prayer to the Ephesian church about our inheritance: “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:11). He goes on to describe three aspects in our inheritance: that we may know one, what is the hope of His calling; two, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints; and three, 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 and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places (vv. 1:17–20, emphasis mine). So, I’m not just focused on who I am in Christ, I’m focused on discovering who Christ is in me. In that discovery, I’m being drawn into a deep friendship with God in the secret place. That’s where I’m finding out more and more about the scope of my inheritance—for instance, reigning and resurrection power, and more. Conversely, if I was continually ignoring the Holy Spirit, even though I am born again and God’s word says I can enter the kingdom of God, I would not be in the right position to receive all of my inheritance. Think about this. We can enter the kingdom of God, yes, but not everyone that enters the kingdom of God inherits the kingdom of God! The key to inheritance is intimacy and revelation and through this I know that, spiritually, I’ve been made a “king”. This is my spiritual status, to reign on this earth—and so I’m beginning to reign today! But, of course, without intimacy with God, I won’t have the reigning and resurrection power! What’s more, what we gain as we advance and grow here, we take with us into eternity. Don’t miss this. The degree to which we faithfully act on the revelation God gives us, is the degree of responsibility that we will have in eternity. There are degrees; and this will affect our “brightness” in heaven. Every “star” differs in glory. We’re mistaken if we think that if we all ended up in heaven right now, we’d be equals; that somehow once we enter the pearly gates everything that I see, you see; and everything that becomes my experience, becomes your experience. Or that whatever we’ve done here doesn’t count.
I, for one, want to get to know God; I want to rule and reign in the universe and hang out with the angels. “God, can you create another planet with souls on it that need to be saved and send me there?” I want to talk about different things with Michael (archangel) and Gabriel (angel). “Come on Abraham! We’ve got to have a conversation about . . .” Heaven would be pretty boring if we just kind of showed up and said, “Here I am! Done!”
CLOSING
Reigning and resurrection certainly goes hand in hand with understanding the scope of our inheritance in Christ in the light of both the here and now, and eternity. Not only do we reign in eternity, we are meant to reign here on earth now. Resurrection is about reigning in life, having dominion, taking authority, advancing the kingdom, and destroying the works of the devil NOW!
Reigning and Resurrection - Part 1 of 2 close Print
In this is a two-part teaching entitled: Reigning and Resurrection Power, Todd establishes the connection between reigning and resurrection with a very convincing description of the power and authority that are ours when we enter the kingdom of Jesus by being born of the Spirit. Taking his water baptism as an example, Todd shares how that prophetic act marked him for life; and you’ll be quickened with excitement as you discover how the same glory that raised Christ from the dead is available to work in you too. You’ll also learn what it takes to receive your full inheritance, and about how resurrection goes hand in hand with reigning and advancing God’s kingdom NOW. Next week Todd gives more keys for reigning and resurrection that connect to the importance of walking by faith.
REIGNING AND RESURRECTION
by Revivalist Todd Bentley [as edited by Kathy Thorne]Part 1
It’s true! We don’t need resurrection power in heaven; no one is going to be raised from the dead in heaven! But we certainly need the anointing to flow out of our lives here on earth. I mean the anointing that gives life—it’s essential if we’re going to partner with God to overthrow the powers of darkness—because both death and destruction stalk the earth continually. That anointing will empower us to walk full-out in our authority—reigning—being determined believers who advance God’s kingdom in the earth, just like it is in heaven. The stakes are high, but resurrection power will make the difference!Now, you might be wondering how “resurrection power” and “reigning” work together and how both can be activated in your life. To answer to that, we’ll examine several essential elements in this teaching series, real keys for reigning and walking in resurrection power. So here we go!
THE NEW BIRTH OPENS GOD’S KINGDOM!
First of all, let’s acknowledge together that God is a God of order. Just try and imagine what the world would be like if He wasn’t! He is orderly, and it’s by His design that our first nature is spirit. Yes we have a body but the spirit comes first. He created us that way.Now, think for a few moments about your first nature, spirit, in the context of your born again experience. Your new birth was momentous! Because everything about you today, in Christ, hinges on that experience! That’s when your spirit came to life—alive in Christ (1 Pet. 3:18). You are no longer a natural being that has a spirit; you’re a spiritual being that has a body! You’re a brand new creation in Christ who lives, for a time, on the earth; one who is learning to live in your true nature, in Christ Jesus, which is spirit (2 Cor. 5:17). The fact is, (for all true believers), the moment we’re born again an earth-shaking shift takes place. We are transported from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son! As well, we come into the right position for receiving God’s great benefits, which include the necessary keys for activating our spiritual senses. So, you can see that the new birth opens up God’s kingdom. However, if you don’t have the new birth, then you certainly won’t be seeing or entering His kingdom!—(John 3:3, 5).Yes, we have a body but we’re spiritual beings first, and though we’re here on earth, our citizenship is actually in heaven (Phil. 3:20). I’m a citizen of heaven first, and I’m a Canadian citizen. Keeping that revelation in mind, did you know that you and I don’t have to wait to die and go to heaven for heaven to be a reality in our lives? I say that because God’s word says that “the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15)—it’s a “now” word—and “the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). It’s “Christ in you, the hope of glory,” NOW (Col. 1:27).
LIVE IN CHRIST, DIE TO SELF & EXPERIENCE YOUR RESURRECTION!
Ironically, soon after the new birth, a death experience comes along—death to self, death to our carnal nature—that “old man!” But we can thank God for the resurrection that follows! One way to illustrate this whole paradox is by sharing about my water baptism. I was told, “Todd, something is going to happen when you go down in that water; you’re going to come up a new man!” It was true. At the convergence of two acts something happened. Here’s how:First, when I went under the water, I purposefully identified with Christ when He died and was placed into a tomb; symbolically I was dying to self. In other words, when you’re baptized—you identify with the truth, and that truth is that you have died—your old nature; its sins and passions—you’ve died. Believe it!—“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? (Rom 6:3, emphasis mine). It’s done! Second, when I came up out of the water, just as Christ was resurrected, so was I! Resurrection into newness of life!—“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (v. 4, emphasis mine).” Done! A spiritual impartation happened; it was activated by the power of what was taking place in the spirit by that prophetic act. Although we tend to put resurrection in the future, it isn’t just a future event! And when that revelation hit me I started developing a resurrection mindset, thinking: My spirit has been raised from the dead. I know what it’s like, that same “glory” that raised Christ from the dead. That same glory is what’s touched my spirit and made me alive! I’ve already experienced the very same resurrection power that raised Jesus up from the tomb; it not only has touched me, it’s working inside of me! It’s the anointing, the Holy Spirit that dwells in me! That revelation was like being gloriously born again, again!
SO WHAT DOES RESURRECTION LOOK LIKE?
I’m talking about the likeness of His resurrection and the idea that as we walk in “newness of life” we walk in victory. You can’t tell me that there is resurrection power and ruling operating in your life if you’re being defeated in your own spirit. That resurrection power is yours if you’ll use it! At your disposal is the Spirit of God. He is the Spirit of holiness (Rom. 1:4), which is the Spirit of resurrection, and only He can make death die; only the Holy Spirit can help us to overcome what the flesh wants. He responds when we seek holiness and demonstrate reverential fear of the Lord.Actually, the Spirit of holiness is seven things. The Holy Spirit: corrects, counsels, strengthens, helps, intercedes, is our defense attorney and the comforter called alongside. It’s the Holy Spirit residing within us, and the effective working of His power working within us, that makes us holy, that sanctifies us, and makes us righteous. Two keys are: His grace and our obedience. We can’t say that we’re holy without obedience. In fact, we can only manifest God’s kingdom to the extent we’re willing to sacrifice, surrender and be obedient. The greater the obedience and total surrender, the greater the manifestation of power, and the model is Jesus. With resurrection power, our old self becomes so dead that we become dead to the things that the flesh wants. It’s newness of life, which means: overcoming sickness, disease and poverty; reigning in resurrection; raising the dead. What a rich inheritance! And it’s ours today! Not just when we get to heaven.
FIRST INTIMACY, THEN INHERITANCE ON EARTH & IN HEAVEN
Just look at what the Apostle Paul said in his prayer to the Ephesian church about our inheritance: “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:11). He goes on to describe three aspects in our inheritance: that we may know one, what is the hope of His calling; two, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints; and three, 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 and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places (vv. 1:17–20, emphasis mine). So, I’m not just focused on who I am in Christ, I’m focused on discovering who Christ is in me. In that discovery, I’m being drawn into a deep friendship with God in the secret place. That’s where I’m finding out more and more about the scope of my inheritance—for instance, reigning and resurrection power, and more. Conversely, if I was continually ignoring the Holy Spirit, even though I am born again and God’s word says I can enter the kingdom of God, I would not be in the right position to receive all of my inheritance. Think about this. We can enter the kingdom of God, yes, but not everyone that enters the kingdom of God inherits the kingdom of God! The key to inheritance is intimacy and revelation and through this I know that, spiritually, I’ve been made a “king”. This is my spiritual status, to reign on this earth—and so I’m beginning to reign today! But, of course, without intimacy with God, I won’t have the reigning and resurrection power! What’s more, what we gain as we advance and grow here, we take with us into eternity. Don’t miss this. The degree to which we faithfully act on the revelation God gives us, is the degree of responsibility that we will have in eternity. There are degrees; and this will affect our “brightness” in heaven. Every “star” differs in glory. We’re mistaken if we think that if we all ended up in heaven right now, we’d be equals; that somehow once we enter the pearly gates everything that I see, you see; and everything that becomes my experience, becomes your experience. Or that whatever we’ve done here doesn’t count.
I, for one, want to get to know God; I want to rule and reign in the universe and hang out with the angels. “God, can you create another planet with souls on it that need to be saved and send me there?” I want to talk about different things with Michael (archangel) and Gabriel (angel). “Come on Abraham! We’ve got to have a conversation about . . .” Heaven would be pretty boring if we just kind of showed up and said, “Here I am! Done!”
CLOSING
Reigning and resurrection certainly goes hand in hand with understanding the scope of our inheritance in Christ in the light of both the here and now, and eternity. Not only do we reign in eternity, we are meant to reign here on earth now. Resurrection is about reigning in life, having dominion, taking authority, advancing the kingdom, and destroying the works of the devil NOW!
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