More Like Him
What do we look like? Whenever anyone looks at you, what do they see? Is it something that will stick in their mind or are you simply another person? When you go to the shopping Centre and someone walks by you, does their stare linger on you, or do they regard you as just another shopper?
These are thoughts that sometimes linger in my mind, not often, but sometimes. And what I'm led to think about after asking the LORD for this latest Teaching Letter is, when they see me, do they see the one that I am to REPRESENT.
The greatest gift ever to be given to Mankind was, and is, JESUS, HE came to pay the price for the disobedience of Mankind. HE came to lead each and every one of us back to the one who Created us, back to our Heavenly FATHER, back to our GOD. No-one else could have paid that horrendous price, no-one else could have suffered as HE did and still not sin. No-one else could have been so full of LOVE as to want to go through what HE went through.
JESUS came to this Earth for a particular reason, to defeat the enemy that had come against the Children who our FATHER GOD had created. Sin is what the devil brought into this world, and as a result death (SEPARATION) also came in, the third thing that resulted from the devil being the ruler over this world was hell (Hades).
In the Book of Revelation chapter six, we see a spiritual picture being painted for us, it's of the world and the spirits behind the troubles of the world. It shows us how and what's behind every trouble, right through from the fall of Mankind up until the battle of Armageddon. But what I want you to see is the fourth seal. (Revelation 6:7 KJV) And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. (Revelation 6:8 KJV) And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the four parts of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
Here we see Death and hell being introduced to us, power was given to them to kill right throughout the four parts of the Earth. The translators placed the word "FOURTH" into that verse, but it literally means the four quarters of the earth. That means they were given power over all of the Earth. So when did this happen? When Adam and Eve handed over their Power and Authority over this Earth, way back in the Garden of Eden. That is why we read in John 10:10 about the thief who comes to STEAL, KILL and DESTROY.
GOD COULD NOT, and WOULD NOT tolerate this, so right from the start HE set a plan in motion to gain that stolen control over this world back from the devil. And in the process, teach HIS Children how to be the Overcomers we see HIM talking about in Revelation chapters two and three.
Mankind sinned, therefore only a Man could pay the price for that sin. So GOD sent HIS Only Begotten SON, to become a Man and therefore able to be the one who would ultimately pay the price, as a Man, for ALL of Mankind.
(Revelation 1:18 KJV) I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
In this verse we have the good news, through HIS gift of HIMSELF on the Cross of Calvary JESUS defeated the devil. Through HIS resurrection JESUS defeated Death, then after HE spent 3 days in hell, HE lead a multitude (at least 500 souls) out of hell, in this JESUS also defeated hell. Our LORD JESUS took the power of Death and of hell, so from that time onwards both death and hell were under the control of JESUS, not under the control of the devil. This is confirmed in this following verse.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
In this verse we see both death and hell doing the will of JESUS at the final judgement. They were, and now are, under the control of JESUS. Ultimately they will end up in the Lake of Fire, in fact we see that in the very next verse after the one above. Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
You may now be asking, what does this have to do with us being more like JESUS? The answer to that is simple, now that you realise that death and hell no longer answer to the devil, but to JESUS, whenever someone drops dead in front of you, you have the Authority of the one who now controls death, to tell death to depart from that person. This Teaching is to show you that you are empowered to raise the dead. Why? Because you represent the one who holds the keys to death and hell. (See Rev 1:18 above).
(Matthew 16:19 KJV) And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
In this verse JESUS gives us the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, then HE goes on to tell us that these keys have a duality, they affect both Heaven and Earth. These keys have power both on Earth as well as in the Spiritual Realm.
Now let us associate the word "keys" in both this verse and Rev 1:18 that we saw earlier. What are the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven? These are things that will either lock or unlock the Kingdom of Heaven so that the Great Commission may be fulfilled through us. We are the "BODY" of CHRIST JESUS, HE is our HEAD, the Power and the Authority that belongs to the HEAD, also belongs to the BODY.
Does your blood only circulate in your head or does it also go throughout your whole body? So too does the Blood of JESUS flow through us just as much as it flows through HIM. And that Blood carries with it all of the Power and Authority of JESUS, right into us.
JESUS holds the keys to death and hell, JESUS gave us the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, therefore all of that power over death and hell also reigns in us. That is why HE said in John 14:13 and 14 that whatsoever we ask in HIS Name, that shall HE do, that is also why HE says in John 14:12 "…… The works that I do YOU SHALL DO ALSO ……..".
In earlier Teaching Letters we have seen that the word "Image" as seen in Gen 1:26 means "to Represent" or "Resemblance". By us taking hold of John 14:12, especially the last part of that verse, we will want to say what JESUS said, do what HE did, and Love as HE loves.
At the start of this writing I asked the question regarding you walking through a shopping Centre, now I would ask you to please bear with me on that theme for just a bit longer. Now that you know you have the Authority and the Power to raise the dead, what would you do if someone dropped dead right in front of you next time you venture out of your home?
The people of this world who have not had the blessing of knowing JESUS, think that what they see and do every day is what life is all about, but we know differently. This time on this planet is limited, yet we will live Eternally.
This life here on planet Earth is just a training ground for what lies ahead. When Mankind failed in the Garden of Eden so long ago, it was no surprise to GOD. HE knew all about it before HE even created this planet, but HE put us here for a purpose, that we would learn from the struggles we face how to be more like HIM.
When the devil tried to make himself like GOD, our GOD dealt with it quickly and decisively. HE created another place for that rebellious lot, then HE put them there. Unfortunately for us it was the same place HE also put us. But we were put here, not because of any rebellion on our part, but that we would rule over the spirit being GOD had already sent to Earth.
Today this world is in a really bad way, and GOD is not going to withhold HIS Hand forever, so time is short. GOD has kept the best until last, just like the wine in the parable of the wedding JESUS was invited to. You are the ones HE has kept for such a time as this, HE sees you as being the best ones for this time.
Therefore go out into all of the world, wherever you may wander at any time, and let the world see JESUS in you, because HE lives and breathes through you always.
GOD has put you here for such a time as this. HE is an overcomer and HE lives in you, HE empowers you, HE walks, not only with you, but IN YOU. So what is stopping you or I from being just like JESUS. Lay hands on the sick, raise the dead and give life to those who are going to hell.
Don Phillips