Sandy Warner ~ ~ swauthor@usa.net ~ ~ www.thequickenedword.com


WHEN IT IS APPROPRIATE TO raise someone from the dead?  3/15/11

 

Matt 10:7-9  NKJV

 And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 

 

SAVED FROM HELL

The best reason there is to bring someone back from the dead is to save them from an eternity in hell.  It is their second chance to accept the Lord after experiencing the afterlife and having a shaking wake up call.

 

Matt 10:28-29  NKJV

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

 

Rev 1:17-19 NKJV

And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.  18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

 

PROMOTION TO HEAVEN

If a person is a Christian, I believe heaven is the greatest promotion and graduation.  I watched all the series from 700 club last week on people who died and came back. Once people see heaven, they dont want to come back.  So in a day of power, I would have a hard time raising a Christian back to life, just because that is what is expected. 

 

Ps 116:15 NKJV

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

 

Eccl 7:1 NKJV

A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

 

2 Cor 5:6-10

So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. 7 For we live by believing and not by seeing. 8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. 10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

 

LIVING SACRIFICE

There are other things to consider though. While we are down here, it is our time to plant seeds of His kingdom into the earth, through prayer, faith, Words, etc. The harvest of our seeds planted continues WAY after we die. So our time on earth is a very important window of opportunity. Even prayers for others in our last day alive on earth can make a difference to generations.  Some choose to live and choose to stay at great cost, knowing the opportunity of even one more day to plant seeds into the earth.  Does the person want to stay or go?

 

Phil 1:21-26  NLT

For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don't know which is better. 23 I'm torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. 25 Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith.

 

FREE WILL

God honors free will and I believe a person's time to go involves the lives of those they are connected with, as well as involves a person's free will on whether they want to go.  If God honors free will, so should we. 

 

Scripture has a few things to say about this.  Sometimes people die early to be protected from the evil to come.

 

Isa 57:1-2  NLT

Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come. 2 For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die.

 

2 Kings 22:20 NKJV

Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place."'" So they brought back word to the king.

 

Some people's lives are extended due to a request.

 

2 Kings 20:1-6 NKJV

In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, "Thus says the Lord: 'Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.'"  2 Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying, 3 "Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

 

4 And it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 5 "Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, 'Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord. 6 And I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake, and for the sake of My servant David."'"

 

RHEMA  11/09/04  WICKED AND RIGHTEOUS MEN ARE ETERNAL SOULS

 

REVELATION:  Today I was listening to a CD where a person went to hell.  I stopped the CD and said, "Lord I just do not understand why there is hell!"  All at once I had a download that in the days of Noah, men lived a long time.  They had become utterly depraved and corrupt without God.  It grieved God that He had made men.  I suddenly realized that all men’s souls are eternal, they were created to live and not die.  When they refuse God, the longer they live, the longer they become more and more corrupt.  Without God they would all be destined for hell, because it is only a matter of time as to their utter depravity and perversion of all that is good.   You can only belong to God or the devil, you can not be in between.

 

WORD TO PONDER  WHY DO THEY GO TO HELL? 11/09/04

How often I have heard your questions about hell, because you know that I AM a loving God.  Beloved, it is time to understand the boundaries of My kingdom. When I created man, I created him a living soul.  A man’s soul is alive, even without a body. Man cannot dwell in the state of in-between.  When given enough time, they will ultimately belong to Me or the devil.  There is nothing else available. 

 

In the days of Noah, it grieved me greatly when I witnessed the depravity and perversion of mankind.  It was true that the longer man lived, the more they opened themselves to the devil’s wicked influence and perverted all that was good. I regretted making man upon the earth.  I know the end from the beginning and know the ultimate downfall and wicked consumption of all men. Just as there are different rewards for the righteous, there are degrees of punishment for the unrighteous. There are greater and lesser sins and each receive recompense for their wicked deeds.  Sometimes I save man from the evil to come by cutting their life short. Yes, dear one, even in death, I grant mercy.

 

Isa 57:1 NKJV

The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.

 

Matt 6:24 NKJV

"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 

 

Mark 9:40-41 NKJV

For he who is not against us is on our side.

 

Gen 6:5-7 NKJV

And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

 

John 19:11 NKJV

Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin ."

 

Luke 10:13-16

"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.  14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.  15 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades.  16 He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me." 

 

Luke 12:47-48 NKJV

And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.  48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. 

 



 

BACK FROM THE DEAD  7/04/09

I had the most interesting series of events happen yesterday.  I know the Lord was highlighting His topic about premature death, the numbering our days and raising the dead. 

 

Ps 139:16 NLT

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

 

Wayne and I had been talking about the fact we have living wills and do not want doctors or loved ones to keep us alive artificially, but want to give God the numbering of our days.  The discussion occurred because a friend’s church had suffered the tragedy of losing 2 young adult siblings in a car wreck and they were holding prayer meetings to raise them from the dead. 

 

Matt 10:7-9 NKJV

And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

 

When someone dies prematurely, I am always reminded of the following verse.  To me it represents the mercy of God over a life:

 

Isa 57:1-2 NLT

The righteous pass away; the godly often die before their time. And no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come. For the godly who die will rest in peace.

 

God alone sees the future, and He can see the sufferings of a person if they were to live.  It might be they are making wrong decisions and would end up in hell, if allowed to continue that course.  It might be that the person is not prepared for coming persecutions.  It might be that what that person were to face would be the opposite of God’s plan and they can accomplish much more in heaven than on earth.  There are so many things we do not know about the process of eternal rewards and the cloud of witnesses.

 

In the case of the 2 young adults, one was living a godly life and the other was a believer, but was not.  Who knows if the godly one prayed some kind of a desperate, rescue prayer over her brother.  In such a case, her death might have been a heroic sacrifice to save him from hell.  She died at the scene.  But the brother lingered in the helicopter ride to the hospital.  He had a chance to get his life right with God.  The godly one was a housekeeper and she served those who were in ministry.  She will reap the eternal rewards of the people she served for having invested her life and time into them, allowing them to minister. 

 

Mark 9:41 NKJV

For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. 

 

CONFIRMATION TO OUR CONVERSATIONS

Hours after our discussion when it was not in my mind, the Holy Spirit brought into memory how mad Smith Wigglesworth's wife was when he called her back from death.  She rebuked him and told him it was her time to go.  They spoke awhile and then she died again. 

 

As I was thinking about how mad she was, I went into to say goodnight to Wayne.  He was on his last 40 seconds of watching a cartoon movie called “Ice Age.”  Scrat, the squirrel who had been some kind of a hero, had died.  He walks through these huge pearly gates and there are all these nuts everywhere.  His hair is all smooth, and he looks so happy and no longer bedraggled.  He is SO happy and starts gathering all these nuts all over the place.  And then he sees this huge, huge nut dangling in mid air, it is glorious.  He races up to touch it, and just before he makes contact, he is stopped and he is pulled back down to earth.  He wakes up to see Sloth’s slobbery mouth that has just given him resuscitation.  Scrat is furious and chases after Sloth, who brought him back.  And that is the end of the movie!  


Both Wayne and I thought it was rather amazing connection to the topic of the day.  Then a few days later someone emailed me the following testimony:

 

CONFIRMATION email 7/07/09

“Today I leave for St. Louis to the (second) “Last End Time Handmaiden’s Convention” in St. Louis (Gwen Shaw is 85 now). I just have to tell you she had what she called her “Last convention” about 2006 and I attended for that reason. The next year her husband died. The next year she almost died.

 

Gwen was standing at the gate of heaven where the Lord said, “Gwen, wait. I have to get your husband.” Colonel Jim Shaw came to the gate. The Lord opened the veil over the balcony, revealing those crying out all over the world for Gwen to live. He asked Jim what he wanted to do about Gwen, have her come be with him or stay for the people. Jim hesitates then answered, “Oh, let her go back, the people need her. I can wait a little longer.” 

 

That’s why her 2009 brochure heading shouts, ‘ONE MORE End Time Handmaidens and Servants World Convention.’

 

{Name}

 

FREE WILL

I do believe that God works with men and their free will, in regards to leaving their earthy bodies.   Remember Hezekiah who prayed and wept bitterly.  God heard him and granted him another 15 years. 

 

Isa 38:6  NKJV

And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, "Thus says the LORD:’ Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.'"  Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD, and said,” Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what is good in Your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.  And the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying, "Go and tell Hezekiah, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years.

 

The will to survive, the passion to serve when needed, it is strong in some people and weak in others.  This is often the case when married couples who have lived long marriages, often die rapidly after one has left. 

 

I remember the testimony of Bob Jones.  When he died, the Lord asked him if he would go back.  Bob said it hurt down there and he didn’t want to go back.  Then the Lord showed him the line of people going to hell and Bob said he would go back if it meant only saving one person from going there. 

 

According to the following scripture, choosing to live on earth for others is a precious sacrifice.

 

Phil 1:20-24 NLT

For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better. Yet if I live, that means fruitful service for Christ. I really don't know which is better. I'm torn between two desires: Sometimes I want to live, and sometimes I long to go and be with Christ. That would be far better for me, but it is better for you that I live.

 

I also remember a testimony of Heidi Baker who is a missionary in Africa.  They have had so many people they have raised from the dead.  In her Bible classes, they have a joke and say, “Who in here has NOT been raised from the dead?”

 

I personally believe that there is a valid time to raise from the dead, and a valid time to let go.  If a person is unsaved, it might be God’s mercy to raise them from the dead and give them a second chance!  On the other hand, if a person has lived a long, godly life full of affliction and persecution, then it may be their graduation time for heavenly rewards.  In the case of those who die prematurely and all cases, it is important to seek God’s will and not just assume our rights. 

 

When the Lord gives us the power to do miracles, we need to always remember to submit those gifts to God’s authority and will.  He specifically tells us that many will use unauthorized authority in His Name. 

 

Matt 7:22-23  NLT

On judgment day many will tell me, 'Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.'  But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized.'

 

He has a plan and purpose for everything on earth and heaven. Even in God’s will, He partners with us in our own wills.  The whole topic is a wonderful mystery between heaven and earth and how both places are intimately connected.

 

Eccl 3:1-13 NKJV

Everything Has Its Time To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: 2 A time to be born, And a time to die ; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; 3 A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; 7 A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; 8 A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace. 9 The God-Given Task What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? 10 I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. 12 I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, 13 and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor — it is the gift of God.

 

 


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Words from the The Quickened Word are excerpts from the journals of Sandy Warner.  To better understand how God speaks, read Sandy’s book, “101+ Ways God Speaks, And How to Hear Him.”  Website:
www.thequickenedword.com    Email:  swauthor@usa.net  
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