Should Christians pray for recently deceased people to be raised from the dead? Are such Christians being delusional? Or do they really know what they’re talking about? Honestly, if you ask me, I believe raising the dead should be normal Christianity.

Do Christians Still Raise the Dead?

The Bible contains plenty of examples of prophets, Jesus, and various New Testament believers raising the dead. I have no reason to disbelieve these testimonies. Such activity happened often enough in Scripture to tell us that it shouldn’t surprise or spook us. But what I want to focus on here is more about present-day testimonies of raising the dead — and there are many.

Respected theologian Craig Keener, in his scholarly 2-volume set Miracles (2011) shares 29 pages of modern-day, documented dead-raisings on multiple continents (including extensive footnotes). He also provides strong argumentation for believing most, if not all, of these accounts.

In his book MegaShift (2005), the late author Jim Rutz documented hundreds of dead-raisings across 52 different nations, and that was just in the previous 25 years.

In my travels around the world, I’ve come to know several people who have raised the dead in Jesus’ name. A few of them have witnessed hundreds of dead raisings. Three of the people I know were current or former medical professionals who know how to identify death. They knew what should have worked medically (but didn’t) and what certainly should not have worked (but did in Jesus’ name).

And most exciting to me are the handful of people I’ve met who have themselves been raised from the dead. Their testimonies are powerful and compelling.

There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus still raises the dead.

Why Does God Raise the Dead?

Ecclesiastes says there is a time to live and a time to die (3:2). It also warns against being foolish and asks, “Why die before your time?” (7:17). So while there is indeed a time to die, it is also possible to die prematurely.

If people only ever died when it was their time to die, then why did Jesus raise the dead? If those people were supposed to be dead, then Jesus would have been going against the Father’s will to raise them. Rather, Jesus said He only did what He saw His Father doing and added, “Just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom He is pleased to give it.” (John 5:19-21)

According to 1 Corinthians 15:26, death is an enemy of God. I believe it ought to be treated as such. If God was a fan of death, then He wouldn’t have sent Jesus to give us eternal life. Ezekiel 18:23 and 33:11 both tell us that God does not delight in the death of the wicked. Similarly, the death of the righteous is costly and of great consequence in His sight (this is the meaning of the word “precious” in Psalm 116:15).

Therefore, if God doesn’t like when the wicked die or when the righteous die, I have to conclude that He doesn’t like when anyone dies. Again, death is an enemy of God.

For this reason, as far as we know from Scripture, Jesus upset every funeral He ever attended during His ministry, including His own.

Should this be “Normal Christianity?”

The entire Christian faith is built on the idea that a crucified man was raised from the dead. Raising the dead ought to be one of the easiest things for us to comprehend as believers. It’s the foundation of our faith!

The same Jesus who always treated death like an enemy also sent out His disciples with a command to “raise the dead” (Matthew 10:8). Notice: Not some of the dead or certain dead but the dead, without exception. 

Sure, this was a command to His twelve disciples, but do you know what else He commanded those same disciples? He commanded them to make new disciples and teach them to obey “everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). In other words, if it was a command to the disciples, it is a command to us. The same Jesus who commanded us to love our enemies also commanded us to raise the dead.

Until the time that our “final enemy” (death) is fully overthrown, it’s a reality we’ll have to deal with here on this earth (1 Corinthians 15:26; Hebrews 9:27). And there is no doubt that God–in Scripture–has allowed this enemy to roam free as an unwitting pawn from time to time to accomplish greater purposes (for example, Exodus 12:23). But that doesn’t mean we should always assume God is the one who “took someone home” or that He approved of the death.

Some of us are quicker to “accept what happened” than we are to accept what is available. It’s not easy to live with extreme hope and to risk being let down, but it’s right.

Personally, I lay hands on the deceased at every open-casket funeral I attend, and I command them to wake up in Jesus’ name. So far it hasn’t happened, but I guarantee it’s more likely to happen for me than for someone who never tries. Some of us need to rethink our priorities and start treating death like the enemy it is.

How Do You Raise the Dead?

The simple answer is: You don’t! Jesus does. But Jesus lives in us, and we are invited to minister in His name with all His love, compassion, authority, and power.

Every person I know who has raised the dead says it’s no more difficult than healing ministry. The same way we minister healing through no personal striving or merit, so the dead are raised. It’s the power and authority of Jesus that does all the work. We don’t have to be mature enough, good enough, educated enough, or qualified enough in any way. We simply need to believe the One who gave us the command, letting His Spirit do His work as we make opportunities.

In Matthew 10:8, Jesus commanded, “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” In other words, it all works the same: freely giving what we have freely received. Remember what Jesus said in John 5:21–“For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.” As sons and daughters of God, we too are invited to “give life” in His name. Remember, Jesus said, “…As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21). Our mission is a continuation of His mission.

Jesus promised that those who believe in Him would do the same works He was doing, plus greater (John 14:12). Everyone wants to debate what Jesus meant by “greater works,” but I say let’s start with the “same works” He promised. And one of those works is raising the dead.

All of us have lost people dear to us, and all of us have believed for certain miracles that we didn’t see happen. None of those things should change our minds about the character of God. He is relentlessly good–full of compassion and abounding in love.

And He still raises the dead.

Sharing the Gospel can be a daunting enterprise. If you are like most people you’ve probably thought to yourself, “I would love to lead someone to Jesus, but I’m not even sure what to say.” Sharing the Gospel is a point of confusion for a lot of Christians. Many Christians have a very vague grasp on what exactly the Gospel is, which makes actually articulating it to someone else almost impossible. As if that weren’t enough of an obstacle, the fear of social judgment or a lack of confidence in answering tough questions from unbelievers put the act of evangelizing the lost outside of the realm of possibilities for quite a few Christians. Crippling terror will seize many believers at the mere thought of sharing Christ with someone else.

Not to fear! Today we’re going to explore what the Gospel is and how we can share it with people in a way that isn’t unnecessarily awkward or complicated. This may just give you the confidence boost you need to step up to the plate when God opens the door for you to share the Gospel. Let’s get to it.

So What’s the Gospel?

The word “gospel” means “good news.” It refers to the message about Jesus’ incarnation, death, resurrection, and all of the implications for the world. The Gospel is a solution to the world’s biggest problem, and as such, it doesn’t make sense to discuss the solution without understanding that there is a problem.

The Problem

God created mankind to be the objects of His love. The Lord designed us in His image. He created us to live in relationship with Him and to be the stewards of His creation. (See Genesis 1:26, 2 Corinthians 5:18.) We blew it on both accounts. In failing to fulfill our design, we have committed what the Bible calls “sin”. In the Bible, sin is the idea that humanity “missed the mark” of our original design. The biblical concept of sin also includes being bent or crooked, (the Bible uses the word iniquity to describe this state of being) as well as breaking a contract or covenant (transgression).

The Bible says that every single person on the planet has sinned (See Romans 3:23.) and that the result of our sin is death. (See Romans 6:23.) Sin has separated us from the God who created us to be His family. But God, in His perfect love and justice has intervened in history’s greatest act of kindness and mercy.

God’s Solution

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. – Galatians 4:4-7

God sent His Son out of His great love. Because of God’s enormous mercy and kindness, Jesus was punished in our place. Our sin was upon Him. In fact, the scriptures tell us that Christ became our sin so that we could become His righteousness. (See 2 Corinthians 5:21.) Our sin was punished in Christ’s crucifixion, and we stand guiltless before God. (See Colossians 1:22.) But it gets even better than that.

Not only has God removed our guilt because of Christ’s death, but Jesus defeated death—the very consequence of sin—through His resurrection. Christ has overcome sin and death and has torn the veil which separated humanity from His presence. He has reconciled us to Himself. This includes you and me, we used to be God’s enemies because of our evil thoughts and behavior. God has brought us near to Himself in Christ. (See Colossians 1:19-22.) Now nothing can separate us from the love of God. (See Romans 8:39.) You are united with Christ and you sit with Him at the right hand of God. (See Ephesians 2:6.) Now God has made His home inside of you, and you have become the temple of the Holy Spirit of God. (See John 14:23, 1 Corinthians 6:19.) You have been utterly transformed from sinner to saint, and more than that, you are the living representation of Christ on the earth. (See 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.) God has given all of these precious blessings as a free gift; not because we have earned it, but because we have simply chosen to believe God’s promise and act upon it. (See Ephesians 2:8-9.)

This is unbelievable! You can understand why we call it “good news”. It’s great news! But how do we share it with others?

How to Share the Gospel

Let’s be real, you won’t remember all of those scriptures when you’re on the spot sharing the Gospel with an unbeliever. Moreover, the person you’re sharing the Gospel with doesn’t want you to give them all of those scripture verses. So how do you communicate these truths? Here are a couple of ways you can share the Gospel with someone without being too awkward, and I recommend using them in tandem.

Your Testimony

One of the most user-friendly tools you have in your evangelistic tool belt is your testimony. Your testimony is a case study for the Gospel. When you share your testimony with someone, you are showing them what God can do for them, because He did it for you.

When you are sharing your testimony, start by briefly explaining what your life was like before you met Christ. Be honest about who you used to be. Were you trapped in your sin? Did you feel hopeless, lost or guilty? Were you searching for meaning in your life, but found only emptiness? Were you depressed, anxious, sick, or lonely? Perhaps you grew up in the Church, but encountered the real Jesus for yourself later in life? Whatever was happening in your life, be real about it, but don’t get too bogged down with the negatives.

Next, share what happened when you encountered Christ. Share what truths caused you to put your faith in Him. Did Jesus set you free through a power encounter? Did He heal you? Maybe you discovered a crucial piece of evidence that changed your mind about the whole Jesus thing? If so, share the details of what God did for you.

Now, what were the results were of putting your faith in Christ? Talk about the hope, peace, and joy you have found in Christ. Talk about God’s transforming power. How is your life different now because of Jesus? Next, ask if the person you are sharing with would like to know the Jesus that changed everything for you.

The 4 Spiritual Laws

The “4 Spiritual Laws” approach is a fantastic and easy way to articulate the Gospel to someone who doesn’t quite understand it. This method of sharing the Gospel was first pioneered by Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru). For decades, this approach has helped people understand and accept the life-changing Gospel of Jesus.

Here are the 4 Spiritual Laws in order:

1. God loves you and created you to live in relationship with Him.
2. Mankind has sinned, and our sin has separated us from a relationship with God.
3. Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for sin. Through Him alone can we know God personally and experience His love.
4. We must personally receive Jesus Christ as Lord. Then we can know God, and live in fellowship with Him.

I use the 4 Spiritual Laws as a roadmap for conversation when I am sharing the Gospel. If  I am in a conversation with someone, I will usually start with my testimony, then ask “Has anyone ever shared the Gospel with you?” Often my interlocutor will say “no”. I will share the 4 spiritual laws, then ask if hey would like to receive God’s free gift of salvation.

I have personally led many people into a true relationship with Jesus using this method. Here is a video that describes the 4 Spiritual Laws in detail.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUaJCh-EPVA&w=560&h=315]

The 5th Spiritual Law: A New Creation

I like to talk about this point because we often forget it; it is important that we understand what happens within us when we put out faith in Christ.

Several years ago, I was kicking a soccer ball around outside my house. A group of young kids—about 6 or 7—came and wanted to play with me. I started playing with them and began to talk to them about Jesus. I shared the Gospel with them; that Jesus had died for their sins, that he rose again, and because Jesus has forgiven their sins, God wants to adopt them and become their Father. They accepted Jesus right there. About 5 or 6 kids entered a brand new life with Christ that day.

One of the young boys looked up at me with eyes super wide and said, “I feel like I’m in Heaven.”

I was stunned by the profundity of this young boy’s statement. It was true. When He accepted Jesus, the Kingdom of God entered him and he became a citizen of Heaven. Heaven’s King adopted him into His family and he became a son of God. He was exactly right. This little boy understood better than most what the Gospel had done in him.

More Than Just “Saved”

I don’t think the Apostle Paul would have used “saved” as the primary metaphor for what happens when we put our faith in Christ. Of course, salvation from hell, salvation from sin, and salvation from the power of the devil is a major part of what Christ has done for us. Jesus Himself used the term as part of His own job description. (See Luke 19:10, John 3:17.) But, when the Apostle Paul talks about the Gospel he seems to focus on reconciliation with God, a fundamental transformation of our identity, adoption into the family of God, and union with Christ.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. – 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Here, Paul uses reconciliation as the paradigm through which we are to understand the Gospel. First, God has made us into a new type of creature. (See 2 Corinthians 5:17.) Our old identity is dead. It has been crucified with Christ (See Galatians 2:20.) and buried in baptism. (See Romans 6:4.)  The Lord has made us one spirit with Christ (1 Corinthians 6:17.) and made one flesh with Him! (See Ephesians 5:31-32.) Then, the Father has raised us up with Christ in resurrection life, and seated us with Him in heavenly realms! (See Ephesians 2:6-7.) Jesus has brought us into right relationship with the Father through His atoning work on the cross. The Father has adopted us into His family (See Romans 8:15.) and we stand in His presence, holy and blameless without a single fault. (See Colossians 1:22.)

This is better than simply receiving our “fire insurance” from Jesus. We aren’t just saved; we are united with Christ! If we skip this bit, we are missing the best part! We must understand that the forgiveness of our sins was the means to the end of being reconciled to God as brand new creatures, united with Christ, and heirs of God. Not only do we not have to go to hell, but we also get to become one with Christ.

Starting a Gospel Conversation

There are so many ways to share the Gospel of God’s amazing grace with those around us. This just happens to be my favorite. So now all you need to know is how to start the conversation. Here are a few tips:

1. Be nice.
2. Introduce yourself.
3. Have a real conversation. (Ask them appropriate questions about themselves and engage in real conversation.)
4. Ask if they need prayer. (Miracles are a great spiritual icebreaker.)
5. Ask if they have ever heard the Gospel before.
6. Share your testimony and the 4 Spiritual Laws.
7. Ask if they would like to receive these promises of God, lay down their old lives, and accept the new life which God has for them.

More on starting a Gospel conversation here.

There are people in your life that no one else can reach. I pray that the Holy Spirit will equip you to share the Gospel with those around you. May God fill you with courage and strength by the power of the Holy Spirit to speak His word with boldness. And may He confirm His Word by stretching out His hand to heal and perform signs and wonders, that the name of Jesus would be glorified.

Your servant,

JonMark

Sharing the Gospel can be difficult. I often hear people say that they want to be able to share the Gospel and pray for people, but they just can’t get over the awkwardness of approaching a stranger. I’ve felt this very fear myself, and I want to give you some practical tips to help you overcome the awkwardness, and begin to share the Gospel in the power of God.

The Love of Christ Compels Us to Share the Gospel.

Paul told us that his motivating force for evangelism was the love of Christ. (See 2 Corinthians 5:14-15.) This means that the love of Christ for Paul became the love of Christ through Paul. Human love for God is a responsive love. Our love is a reflection of God’s love for us. We can only love God and each other to the extent that we allow ourselves to be loved by God. (See 1 John 4:19-21.) This has major implications for how we approach a conversation where we share the Gospel.

If we are not chiefly aware of God’s love for us, we will never be able to love someone else with the of Christ. Our love will be distorted in some way. We will require the approval of the person we are attempting to evangelize. Because we are in need of their approval, we will be intimidated and our fear will choke out any courage we had. The key to courage is God’s love. When we have the love of God residing in our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can joyfully die to yourself because the love of God is all we need. Courage is born when we are so fully aware of God, that we no longer require the approval of others.

When we no longer need the approval of the world, we can be free to love them in truth. We won’t shy from speaking unpleasant realities, and we won’t be afraid of their insults, intimidation, or persecution. In fact, we will be able to truly love our enemies in spite of our own maltreatment because God’s love is alive within us. Only the Holy Spirit can take the knowledge of God’s love, and make it into an experiential understanding. That is why we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to fulfill the Great Commission. (See Acts 1:8.)

Sharing the Gospel is the Love of Christ Manifested Through Us.

When we are filled with the love of God, it shows in the way we behave in public. When we were baptized into Christ, we clothed ourselves with Christ. (See Galatians 3:27.) The scriptures also tell us that we are to do and say everything in our lives as representatives of Christ. (See Colossians 3:17.) This means that every time I check out at the grocery store, I am interacting with the cashier as a representative of Christ. Every time I pump gas, I am doing so as a proxy for Christ. Every time I speak to my wife and children, I am doing so in the name of the Lord Jesus. It is amazing that God has committed His divine mission into the hands of the Church, and that we have been entrusted to represent Him to the world!

Now while you’re repenting for the way you might have treated someone in the name of Jesus, I want to tell you how that affects our Gospel conversations. I’ve had several moments in my life where people have told me that when I walked into the room, the atmosphere changed. Once, I approached someone in the grocery store with a few words of knowledge. I can’t remember what exactly they were, but I remember her response. She was stunned that a stranger would know all of these private details about her life. I prayed for her, and I believe she was healed of some pain in her body. She told me afterward, that she was terrified that I knew all of that stuff about her, and the only reason she didn’t run the other way was that she felt this “presence” as I approached her. Why? Because I am clothed with Christ, and He has filled me with His Spirit, and as I put off my old nature, as I am renewed in the attitude of my mind, and as I put on the new nature, He makes His presence known through me, because I am His ambassador. (See Ephesians 4:22-24.)

How Do I Start a Gospel Conversation?

I know what you’re thinking: “Okay, JonMark, I get it, but what do I say to someone I don’t know when I feel led by God to talk to them?” Well here’s what I typically say to people whenever I approach someone with the Gospel.

“Hey, do you have a second? I’m a Christian, and I really love to pray for people. As I walked past you, I felt like I was supposed to stop and ask to pray for you. Would that be okay?”

I almost always get a yes, with few exceptions. I have noticed though that in certain areas this doesn’t work as well. If you are in a place that is hostile to Christianity generally, maybe they think Christians are judgemental bigots or have had a bad experience with the Church, you may want to use the term “follower of Jesus” or something like that. Just do your best to avoid a word that for them would be loaded with meaning that actually works against what you’re trying to do; which is to love them.

Now if they say yes, sometimes I will share any words of knowledge I have received. I’ll ask if they have any pain in their right knee for instance. (By the way, if you have pain in your right knee, be healed in Jesus’ Name.) If you’re right, awesome! If not, that is ok. If you don’t have any words of knowledge, ask if they have any pain in their body, or anything going on in their lives that you could pray about. Then ask if you can pray for them right there. Most people will expect you’re going home and saying prayers for them before bed. You want to clarify that you’re going to pray right there.

Listen

One of the most loving things you could do for anyone is to listen to them. Some people truly have no one they can talk to. If all you’re wanting to do is do your spiritual thing, share the Gospel, and leave, and you don’t care about what that person is going through, you are not showing the love of Christ. Jesus listens to us, let’s listen to others if they have something on their mind.

While you’re listening, it is important to keep your mind on Christ. Ask yourself constantly, “What does Jesus want to do about this situation?” In doing this you aren’t just listening to the person, but you’re also listening to the Holy Spirit. As a representative of Heaven, you are authorized to do business on behalf of the Kingdom of God. That means, you aren’t just a listening ear, you are also Heaven’s answer to their situation. It can be easy to get bogged down by the severity of some people’s problems. If you allow yourself to be impressed by the enemy, you won’t be able to have faith for the impossible things God wants to do through you.

Pray

As you pray for people, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Don’t ask God to heal. Command the body to be healed with the authority of Jesus’ name.
• Ask the person to test out their healing.
• Pray as many times as you are allowed.
• Never touch someone without permission.
• Don’t be pushy.

Don’t ask God to Do What He has Delegated to You

If you’re praying for healing, remember that Jesus didn’t tell us to ask Him to heal the sick, He said: “heal the sick”. (See Matthew 10:7-8.) Whenever the apostles prayed for someone to be healed, they commanded something to happen in the name of  Jesus. (See Acts 3:6.) Sometimes breakthrough in healing is simply on the other side of that revelation. You are commanding sickness, pain, or whatever infirmity to leave through the authority you have as a representative of Christ. God often won’t do things He has commanded the Church to do.

Ask the Person to Check Out Their Healing

Next, it is important to have the person check their healing. People could be getting healed, and you would have no clue if they didn’t check it out. Sometimes there will be a little change, sometimes there will be no change. At this point, I will ask to pray again, and I will share a testimony of a healing which required more than one prayer. This will build faith for me and the person for whom I am praying. Then I pray for the person again, if I’m allowed. If they say no, I won’t be pushy, but I will pray for them after they leave. I’ve also seen people healed who told me no when I prayed for them after I left. God answers those prayers too.

Pray as Many Times as You’re Allowed

Often, when I pray for people for healing, they aren’t healed after the first prayer. That isn’t a big deal, even Jesus prayed a second time once. (See Mark 8:23-25.) If I don’t see a miracle the first time, I ask if I can pray again. Usually, before I ask for a second prayer I share a story about someone being healed after I prayed multiple times. I will then ask if I could pray for them once more. I will do this until they get healed or get annoyed at which point I thank them for letting me pray for them and I tell them they are deeply loved by God.

Don’t Lay Hands Without Permission

It is also important not to lay hands on anyone without their permission. I typically like to take the had of the person I am praying for because it is non-threatening and conveys a sense of warmth. It is important to recognize that you represent Jesus not just in what you say, but also in what you do. Your gestures, tone, and general presence ought to be saturated with the gentle love and humility of Jesus, as well as the boldness and confidence which comes from the Holy Spirit. You can’t fake this. It has to come from the overflow of your relationship with God. As I shared above, as you allow God to love you, He can love through you effectively.

Don’t Be Pushy

Don’t pressure people. If you’re pushy with people, it is a huge turnoff. It will leave a bad taste in the mouths of the people you’re trying to share the Gospel with. Jesus is not pushy or manipulative. If we are using bad sales techniques in His name, we are not representing Him well. If they say no, it means no, and you can just pray for them when they leave, and leave them with a “God bless you. He loves you, and you’re amazing.” Let them know that God’s love for them doesn’t change when He is rejected, and neither does yours.

Preach the Gospel!

When I was a kid in elementary school we had “show and tell”. Show and tell was when we brought something that was important to us to class. We showed it to everyone and told them why it was important, special, or fun. When we preach the Gospel it ought to be “show and tell”. Here’s a hard truth; sometimes we have substituted preaching the Gospel for praying for healing. In the Bible, those two are always together. (See Matthew 10:7-8.) The reason people are healed is that it is a demonstration of the power of the Gospel to set us free from sin and death. Healing points to the greater miracle! We should never leave people healed and free to walk into hell without their back pain. Preach the Gospel!

I will usually just ask if the person I am praying for has ever heard the Gospel. It may surprise you how many people say no. I’ll then share the four spiritual laws;

• God loves you!
• Everyone has sinned, and our sin separates us from God’s presence; that includes Heaven.
• Christ died for our sins and bore our punishment so that we can be united with God again and have hope of eternal life.
• We must repent of our sins and receive God’s amazing gift so that we can be united with God in Heaven and so that God can fill us with His Spirit and effectively put Heaven into us!

That’s it! This is the magical secret to evangelism! It’s not that difficult. It’s not impossible. Just allow God to love you in the secret place, and love Him by loving the lost for whom He died. It’s my mission to make it very difficult for the people in my life to go to hell. Even if you don’t consider yourself an evangelist, the reality is no one is exempt from the Great Commission. You are called to lead people to Christ, and in Christ, there is a provision for every good work through the power of His Spirit.

If you want to find out more on how to be led by the Spirit in evangelism check out this article: How to Be Led by God.

I pray that God will fill you with His Spirit to accomplish the impossible, and I pray that through His power, you will be representatives of Christ in everything you do. May God bless you with abundant grace to accomplish the mission to which He has called you.

Your servant in Christ,

JonMark

In John 3:5, Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” Naturally, this begs the question: What does it mean to be born of water and the Spirit?

For that matter, perhaps you’re wondering, Why does it even matter?!

Entering the Kingdom of God has profound ramifications for your daily life. This is not something that happens after you die. As you’ll see by the end of this article, those who are “born of water and the Spirit” can expect peace, joy, love, freedom, miracles, and so much more as they enjoy their citizenship in the Kingdom of God.

Jesus prayed, “Now this is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” (John 17:3.) In other words, eternal life starts now, and it will change everything about how you live and what is possible.

Trust me: You DEFINITELY want to be born of water and the Spirit!

What Does It Mean to be “Born of Water and the Spirit”?

A gentleman recently wrote me and asked what this term meant. I replied with a question of my own: “Are you asking because you’re not sure what that verse means and want to learn? Or are you asking because you want to see if my opinion is the same as yours?”

There are a lot of folks out there with very strong opinions about this term, and they often like to cause divisions over questionable interpretations—something Scripture warns us to avoid at all costs. My goal here is not to cause division but to help us think objectively about the text and consider why we believe what we believe.

As far as I know, there are three major views on how best to interpret this term. Below we’ll look at the Scripture passage in question, then consider the merits of all three views, and finish with a practical application for your life.

First: Jesus’ Words…

John 3:1-10, 14-15 — Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him.”

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? . . . Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in Him.” (NIV, emphasis added)

Option 1: Water Baptism and Spiritual Regeneration

In both of our first two options, being “born of the Spirit” is understood to be about spiritual regeneration — becoming new creations in Christ. Where these two options differ is in how they interpret being “born of water.”

Some suggest that Jesus is talking here about being baptized in water. By all means, I agree with people being baptized! So I’m not arguing against baptism at all. I’ve baptized many people in bathtubs, lakes, pools, and even the bed of a pickup truck. You won’t find me diminishing the value of baptism.

I would, however, be hesitant to say that John 3:5 is supposed to be a reference to baptism. The main issue is that “Christian baptism” wouldn’t have had much meaning to Nicodemus (especially since that particular rite, along with its symbolism of death and rebirth, didn’t yet exist), which would make it strange for Jesus to make an obscure reference like that.

If not Christian baptism, then what about John the Baptist’s “baptism of repentance,” since that was known at the time? This is a reasonable next consideration, but Scripture seems to indicate that John’s baptism was inadequate for the Christian experience. (See Acts 19:3-5.) So if John’s baptism is insufficient for receiving the eternal life about which Jesus was speaking, then that couldn’t be what it means to be “born of water.”

Admittedly, some of the early Christians (like Tertullian, Ambrose, and possibly Chrysostom) said this term was about water baptism, which gives this view a bit of historical weight. That said, some of these same early Christians (especially Tertullian) were known to take nearly every reference to water in the Bible and somehow make it about baptism, so it’s not exactly a scholarly position. It’s a possible interpretation with historical credence, but hard to prove definitively.

Option 2: Human Birth and Spiritual Regeneration

Others—perhaps in an effort to discredit the beliefs of some who say you’re “not saved unless you’re baptized in water”—have suggested that being “born of water” was a reference to natural childbirth and the amniotic fluid that is expelled from the woman just before a baby is born.

But this too is hard to prove since there aren’t really any other historical references to a natural birth being called “of water” in Jewish or early Christian culture. Besides that, Jewish midwives delivered babies and witnessed births, not men, so the “water” imagery wouldn’t even be that openly discussed between two men as a helpful analogy.

The major thing in favor of this view is how in the very next verse—verse 6—Jesus does contrast between natural birth and spiritual birth, saying, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” So it is reasonable to say that this is about humans being not only born of water (as all humans are) but also of the Spirit.

Nevertheless, there are other possible reasons for contrasting flesh and spirit in verse 6, so this isn’t definitive proof either. Like option 1, this too is a plausible and possible interpretation, but it’s hard to say for sure.

Option 3: Heavenly Birth

Still another view is that the entire phrase “born of water and the Spirit” is one complete term referencing only one thing, not two.

In verse 8, Jesus connects the idea of “spirit” to “wind” (note that both are the same Greek word: pneuma). So it’s entirely possible that being “born of water and the Spirit” could have been understood by Nicodemus as though Jesus had said “born of water and wind.” In this view, the term would be referring to “the heavens.”

In Genesis 1:6-8, God “separated the waters” and called the expanse “sky.” The ancient Jewish perspective of “the heavens” is that there is water here on earth but also a canopy of water somewhere at the outer boundary of the sky. Thus the idea of being “born of water and wind” would carry with it a meaning of being “born from the heavens” or “born from above.”

In fact, in John 3:3, where Jesus said you must be “born again,” the Greek word for “again” is anothen, which is a weird word that doesn’t really have an English equivalent. It can be rightly translated or understood as “again” (which would explain why Nicodemus balked in verse 4 at the idea of returning to his mother’s womb), but it also accurately means “from above” or “from a source above” (which might explain Jesus’ clarification in verses 5 and 6—that He was not talking about a second earthly birth but a new birth “from the heavens”).

For clarity sake, note that this same Greek word shows up again in verse 31 of this same chapter: “The one who comes from above [anothen] is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.”

Thus we see that Jesus came from heaven, and He says that we too must be born from heaven in order to enter the Kingdom. The same way we entered the earth by being born from the earth (remember, Adam was made of dust from the ground), we likewise enter heaven by being born from the heavens.

My Personal Opinion, for What It’s Worth:

While all three interpretations are possible, and while all three are reasonable, and while none of the three can be definitively proven, I personally lean toward the third option: that Jesus is using the phrase “born of water and the spirit [wind]” to mean “born from above” or “born from the heavens.” This fits the context established in verse 3 and echoed in verse 31, and it seems to be the most likely meaning Nicodemus might have taken from the conversation.

Not only that, but this particular interpretation makes more sense of John’s later epistle, where he wrote:

1 John 5:6-8 — This is the One who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. (NIV)

If John’s reference to water here is about natural human birth or baptism, then his emphasis on “not water only but water and blood” doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

John’s letter confronts the heretical teaching that Jesus had not come in the flesh but was only spiritual. (See 1 John 4:1-3.) If coming “by water” is about coming from heaven, then this passage makes sense as John is saying, “He did not come from heaven only but was also made of flesh and blood.” The Holy Spirit testifies about who He is (in our hearts and through miracles), the heavens testify about who He is (through the star at His birth and the darkness at his death), and the blood He shed at the cross testifies about Him (that he was indeed human).

If you hold to one of the first two interpretations, there is still unity to be had. I don’t think it makes sense to part ways over unprovable interpretations. My view is only an opinion based on my study. But I felt it was best to share my perspective here because it helps give context and clarity to the thrilling “Good News” message I’m about to share…

What Does It Mean to be Born Again?

With all that said, what does it specifically mean to be “born again” or “born from above”? First Peter 1:3 tells us that God “has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” In other words, our new birth is directly connected to Jesus’ resurrection.

To explain how this works in other words, Paul says that “the same Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you.” (See Romans 8:11.) When we give our lives to Jesus, we receive a deposit of resurrection life within us, guaranteeing our future resurrection from the dead. (See 2 Corinthians 1:22 and 5:5.) And by this, we become “new creations” here and now. (See 2 Corinthians 5:17.)

When Jesus died, we died. (See Galatians 2:20 and 2 Corinthians 5:14.) But Jesus didn’t stay dead, and neither do we. Ephesians 2:1-9 teaches that when we put our faith in Jesus, we are raised from the dead with Him and also simultaneously seated with Him in the heavenly realms (verse 6).

This new birth from the Holy Spirit is a birth into heaven, and we truly become new creations who live in union with Jesus. (See 1 Corinthians 6:17.)

We become like Him as He is right now in heaven. (See 1 John 4:17.)

None of this comes from our own effort. It is a free gift from God that happens as we believe the message of salvation—that Jesus’ work is enough. Peter says we are born again “through the living and enduring word of God.” (See 1 Peter 1:23.) It’s all “by grace . . . through faith.” (See Ephesians 2:8.)

In short:

• When we come to believe that Jesus has truly conquered sin on our behalf…
• When we believe that our old, sinful, independent life died with Him on the cross…
• When in response to our faith the same Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead comes to live inside of us and make us new creations…

…the miracle of new birth happens in us, and we are born from above. We are born into heaven. We enter union with Jesus and become partners with Him in accomplishing His mission in the earth.

Whether or not this is definitely what it means to be “born of water and the spirit” is less relevant — this is definitely what it means to be born again. And this is the reality to which Jesus was pointing in His conversation with Nicodemus. Let’s unite on the part that is most important: the Gospel of Salvation.

Be blessed!
—Art

P.S. – I’d like to recommend to you a brand new book by my friend, Jonathan Ammon. In it Jonathan weaves together testimony, Scripture, and quality teaching that will help apply this Gospel of Salvation to your own life. You can order Prophetic Transformation right here on this web site, and some of the profit will help fund missions work around the world.

Prophetic Transformation by Jonathan Ammon $15.99Add to cart

It’s a thrill to be led by God. For the longest time, I could never tell when God was leading me to share the Gospel or pray with someone. I heard testimonies of people saying God “highlighted” someone to them, and I could never quite figure out what they were talking about.

Determined to see God heal, save, and speak through me, I walked through a long process of trial and error until I finally discovered what people were talking about when they said “God led me.” Now I want to share with you what it feels like to be led by God, what it doesn’t feel like, and how you can begin to have God lead you in your daily life.

Here I Am! Send Me.

The prophet Isaiah stood before the glorious throne of God, as he heard the thunderous voice of God say, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Isaiah responded with what I imagine to be a mixture of fear and determination, “Here I am! Send me.” (See Isaiah 6:8.)

This was my heart every time I heard a testimony of “power evangelism.” Whenever I heard about someone who was healed on the street or a prophetic word given, my heart would burn within me as I cried out, Lord, send me! But, who do I go to? How do I know when and to whom I’m supposed to speak?

Very quickly, fear would creep into my heart as I thought about the mysterious “how.”

Don’t Wait.

One of the mistakes people often make when trying to discern if God is leading them to share or pray with someone is waiting for some flashing, neon sign from heaven to appear over someone’s head saying, “This guy. Talk to him.” The reality is, the Lord has already led you to go to specifically everybody. (See Matthew 28:18-20.) The Apostle Paul didn’t appear to wait for a smoke signal from heaven:

Acts 16:6-10 — Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. (NIV)

Paul determined to go to Asia to preach the Gospel without waiting for a specific direction from God to do so. This gives us a hint that it was actually Paul’s M.O. to just go. In Paul’s mind, no one was safe from hearing the Gospel. He was going to plant the seed of the Gospel in every patch of soil he could find. As Paul determined to simply go, the Spirit of Christ directed him to the right place.

A friend of mine once said “It’s much easier for God to steer a moving car.” This is true in every aspect of spiritual life. God rarely begins to lead and direct until you step out in faith. If you are waiting for God to lead you before you step out and share the Gospel, you are in disobedience. Don’t wait. Move. And you will begin to sense the Spirit leading you because God speaks more clearly to those who listen and obey.

What Does it Feel Like to be Led by God?

I remember driving along the main street in Coldwater, Michigan, where my parents used to live. It was midnight, and I was coming back from a trip to see my girlfriend (now my wife). I suddenly felt an urgency in my spirit. Butterflies were doing The Cupid Shuffle in my gut, and a picture came to mind of a popular drug house, which was located on my way home. I felt strongly impressed to go and talk to someone at this house.

Because it was summer and this house had no air conditioning, the people who lived there often hung out outside the house all day and all night. You need to understand: this is a drug house, and it is midnight. This isn’t the kind of place I want to be. I fought against the feeling as I drove past the house with the crowd of people sitting in lawn chairs.

I drove right past it and made it all the way home, arguing with God about whether or not it was in fact Him who was speaking to me. We often argue ourselves out of hearing God’s voice. A good rule of thumb is, if you don’t want to do it, it probably isn’t just you. The fact that we often hear God tell us things that we don’t like is evidence that we might actually be hearing God, and not just our own thoughts.

I finally yielded to the Holy Spirit and went to the house. I parked around the corner, and as I approached the house the thought came to my mind that a young woman was sitting outside who had chronic back issues, anxiety, fear, depression, and intrusive thoughts to do terrible and evil things that she didn’t want to do. She lived in torment by evil spirits, and God was going to use me to set her free.

I approached the house, but I chickened out last minute. As I pretended that I was simply going to walk past, the voice of a little boy called out and said “Who are you here for?”

I was taken aback. Then I realized he had seen me pray for someone before and correctly assumed I was there to pray for someone again. I played dumb.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Don’t you pray for people?” He said. “Who are you here to pray for?”

“Well, I am not here to pray for anyone in particular,” I lied, “but, I’m always willing to pray for someone. Is there someone here dealing with chronic back issues?”

The whole group of people stared at me in stoney silence.

Then I saw a girl poke the girl next to her. She was caught. I looked at her and said “Do you deal with back issues?”

She nodded reluctantly, and I asked if I could pray for her. She agreed. And while praying, I shared the other words of knowledge I had received while walking to the house. They were all true, and she and her friend stared at each other in disbelief. The young woman began to cry as I prayed, and God healed her back.

I was able to share the love of God with her. She didn’t accept Christ, but He certainly had her attention after that. This all happened because I recognized and yielded to the leading of God, albeit under protest.

What it Doesn’t Feel Like to be Led by God:

I tend toward anxiety and being motivated by compulsion. I do things because I must. “If I don’t do it, who will?” This mentality has provided some benefits in my life, but has also born some pretty severe consequences.

When I was first beginning to feel the leading of the Lord in my life, I was deathly afraid I would lose it — that I would disobey once, and God would become angry with me and quit speaking to me. This led me to become quite anxious and hyperaware. Every person I saw with a limp, cane, crutch, or brace in the store would stand out to me. I would feel the compulsion to go pray for them, but my motivation was fear. I was afraid of “losing the anointing.” I was afraid of displeasing God. I thought that one failure could end this whole journey I was on. Allowing the voice of fear to guide me brought me to the brink of burnout.

Every time I was motivated by fear, I missed it. People refused prayer, or the word of knowledge I thought I had was wrong, or the person wasn’t healed. Thank God! If God rewarded me for being motivated by fear, I would think the fear was His voice! God’s voice does not motivate us by fear, compulsion, or threats. God’s voice brings peace, hope, faith, and courage.

I became a slave to fear even though I thought I was serving the Lord, but the Holy Spirit is not the Spirit of slavery.

Romans 8:15 — So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him, “Abba, Father.” (NLT)

If you are being led by fear, you are not being led by God; and it is time to stop, rest in God’s goodness, and take time to get to know His voice again in the quiet place of intimacy with Him.

How to be Led by God:

There are three things I advise people who want to be led by God to do:

1. Look for opportunities.
2. Watch for the highlight.
3. If you fail, keep trying.

1) Look For Opportunities.

As previously stated, you can’t wait for the leading of God. You need to just do it. Look for an opportunity to pray with someone. Listen to people when they complain about their lives to you, and ask yourself what God could do for them. Offer to pray for them, or share your testimony. Maybe you see someone who needs healing. Just go and offer to pray for them. If you will begin to do what you can with the amount of revelation you have, you will be given more. (See Luke 16:10.)

2) Watch for the Highlight.

Often I will be in the grocery store, the local college campus, or the gas station, and I’ll notice someone. I will find that I can’t stop staring at them, or there will be a stirring in my heart or a feeling of compassion that fills me when I look at them. When this happens, I know that it is the Holy Spirit leading me to pray for or minister to them. Sometimes I will see in my imagination a dark cloud over them or dark spots on certain places in their body, or I will feel butterflies in my stomach. I always take this as the leading of the Lord, and I find that as I step out — when I feel that urging or nudge from God — there is almost always an adventure waiting for me.

3) If You Fail, Keep Trying.

You will miss it. Walking with Jesus is a journey, and we are learning. You need to know that the Father is just as pleased with you if you fail as when you succeed. Why? Because in both cases you took a risk to bring glory to Him. He will always reward every action made in faith. You are pleasing to God, and if you will consistently step out, God will reward you.

May God bless you as you learn to hear His voice.

Your servant,
JonMark

Jesus gave His followers authority to forgive sins in John 20:23, but does this mean what it seems to mean?

Last week I published an article by my friend Jonathan Ammon titled “God Wants to Forgive through You.” Jonathan gave great practical examples of what this can look like in the everyday life of the believer: proclaiming the Gospel, declaring forgiveness to other believers who confess sin to you, and participating in restorative church discipline.

A couple nights ago, a man named Sean commented to me on Facebook in reference to the article. He wrote:

I love ya Art, but this is too much. Only Jesus can forgive sins. There is not one verse where an apostle or disciple forgave someone’s sins. If we had that authority, we would have seen it practiced in the bible by others. The Greek word hamartia can also mean faults/failures, and I think that is much more applicable.

Protestant vs. Catholic Views on Jesus’ Commission to Forgive Sins

Sean’s view is a common one — especially among my fellow Protestant Christians. The main reason this is a popular view is that many Protestants try too hard to discredit Roman Catholicism. And since Catholic priests exercise the authority to forgive sins, some Protestant readers who have balked against such activities have tried to find ways to explain away John 20:23, where Jesus said, “If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

A more appropriate “Protestant position,” in my estimation, would be that this authority has been given to all believers, not just an elite priesthood.

The commission to the Twelve was a commission to all, as demonstrated in Matthew 28:19-20, when Jesus not only sent His disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations” but added, “…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” If it was a command to the Twelve, it was a command to us all. Ephesians 2:6 tells us that all who are in Christ are presently seated with Him in the heavenly realms, which means we’ve been made partners in His authority. We all have a role to play in representing Him in the earth, and this proclamation of forgiveness is part of that picture. It’s part of the commission.

Theologian Craig Keener (one of my favorites, by the way) writes in his two-volume set on John (which I highly recommend for anyone who likes a scholarly approach to Scripture):

Immediately after breathing on them and announcing the Spirit, Jesus grants them the authority of representative forgiveness. It is anachronistic to read into this passage the later Catholic doctrine of penance or others’ views about admission to baptism; it is likewise anachronistic to read into it Protestant polemic against the Catholic interpretation of the passage. Read on its own terms, the passage makes good sense as it stands. (See The Gospel of John: A Commentary, page 1206.)

In other words, the verse reasonably means what it means at face value. Jesus gave His followers authority to forgive in His name. This doesn’t mean the Catholic view (of limiting this authority to an elite priesthood) is correct, but this also doesn’t automatically mean that Protestant arguments to the contrary should be read into the text. All these arguments belong to a different era. The verse says what it says.

“Only God Can Forgive Sins”

Neither Jonathan nor I would suggest that believers have an innate ability to forgive sins on our own, of our own accord. To do something “in Jesus’ name” means to do it on His behalf, with His authorization. It is to continue His ministry in the earth, which can only happen through partnership with Him (John 15:5).

In another (less complex) commentary, Keener states about John 20:23, “Acting as God’s agents (20:21) the disciples could pronounce the divine prerogative on His authority (i.e., pronouncing it when He would do so).” (See The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, page 311.) In other words, this ministry was not a matter of disciples choosing when to forgive or not of their own accord; it was a matter of the disciples ministering as agents of God, on behalf of Jesus — only as He authorizes.

When Jesus demonstrated how to minister God’s forgiveness of sins in Matthew 9:1-8, He stated, “…I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (verse 6). The term “son of man” here has two uses in Scripture. One is a name for the Messiah (as in Mark 14:61-62). The other is a general term for a human being (as happens throughout the book of Ezekiel). Which definition Jesus is using in His interaction with the paralyzed man is questionable. But note Matthew’s commentary on the situation.

Matthew, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, concludes the passage by saying, “When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man” (verse 8, emphasis mine). In other words, when Jesus used the term “son of man” in verse 6, this wasn’t necessarily in the Messianic sense but rather perhaps in the “humanity” sense. Regardless, however, the onlookers’ takeaway was not, “Wow! That guy is the Messiah!” Rather it was, “Wow! I had no idea God had given such authority to mere humans!”

My Reply to Sean’s Comment

Here is the answer I wrote to Sean on Facebook (with some minor edits for readability):

Thanks for the feedback, Sean. 🙂 You might be surprised to hear that I sort of agree with you. Here’s what I mean:

Only Jesus can heal. Not me. And yet He commands me to “heal the sick” (Matthew 10:8).

Only Jesus can raise the dead. Not me. And yet He commands me to “raise the dead” (also Matthew 10:8).

In John 15:5, Jesus said, “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.” Similarly, Jesus said that He could do nothing by Himself (John 5:19 and 5:30). The life Jesus lived as He walked this earth was as a complete human being (Hebrews 2:17). And during that life, Jesus surrendered His equality with the Father, taking the very nature of a servant (Philippians 2:5-8). The miracles and “good works” He did we’re not performed as God but as a human being in right relationship with God (Acts 10:38). 

When the paralyzed man was lowered through the roof, Jesus forgave his sins first. Then, when everyone claimed it was impossible, Jesus proved His authority to forgive sins by healing the man. 

In other words, the authority to heal and the authority to forgive sins are the same. If they were not, then the healing would not have proven anything. By using His authority to heal as proof of His authority to forgive, Jesus demonstrated that these are one and the same in principle: applications of the Kingdom through an earthly representative of the Father. 

Remember, in John 14:12, Jesus promised that everyone who believes in Him would do “the same things I have been doing” (plus greater). [So if Jesus can forgive sins, we can forgive sins.] At the end of John’s Gospel, as Jesus came to initiate the fulfillment of His promise, He preceded His command to forgive sins with a powerful statement: “As the Father sent Me, so I send you” (John 20:21).  

We are partners with Christ in the fulfillment of His mission. We can’t heal the sick, but He sends us to heal in His name. We can’t raise the dead, but He sends us to do so in His name. Likewise, we can’t forgive sins, but Jesus sends us to do so in His name. Whenever any of these work, it’s not because of our innate ability but because Jesus has done it through us.

As another thought, you suggested that “if we had that authority, we would have seen it practiced in the Bible by others.” In Matthew 10:8, Jesus gave us the authority to “heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the leper, and drive out demons.” We can find biblical examples of believers healing, delivering, and raising the dead; but we cannot find any examples of believers cleansing lepers. If we apply your argument here, then Jesus did not give His disciples authority to cleanse lepers because we never see an example of it. But that would require ignoring the plain reading of the text. The evidence of the authority they had is found in the command, not in whether or not there are anecdotal examples in Scripture. 

In John 20:23, the command was, “If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” The Greek word used for “sins” here is “ἁμαρτία” (hamartia).

• This is the same Greek word used in Matthew 9:2-6, Mark 2:5-11, and Luke 5:20-24 as Jesus forgave “sins” and then healed the paralyzed man.
• It is the same word used in Matthew 1:21 when it is proclaimed that Jesus will “save people from their sins.”
• It is the same word used in Matthew 26:28 when Jesus said His blood was “poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
• It’s the same word used by John the Baptist when he declared in John 1:29 that Jesus would take away “the sins of the world.”
• It is the same word used in John 8:24 when Jesus said people would die in their “sins” if they don’t believe in Him. 

This same Greek word appears 174 times in 150 verses of the New Testament. I have checked every single verse, and without exception, every single use of the word means “sin” as we understand it. At no point is it intended to only mean “faults/failures.” So respectfully, it *seems* (forgive me if I’m oversimplifying your research into this) like you’re cherry-picking a definition from a dictionary that supports your view rather than looking at the overwhelming weight of evidence and scholarly commentary to the contrary. Reading John 20:23 in the context of forgiving actual sin is the most reasonable rendering of the verse. 

Again, I agree with you that only Jesus can do it, but we are one with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17). We are participants in the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). We no longer live, but Christ lives in us (Galatians 2:20). And we do everything He did as He walked this earth, plus greater (John 14:12; 1 John 2:6, and 4:17). 

The declaration of God’s forgiveness is the mission of the believer. In Acts 13:38, we read, “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.” It’s “through Jesus”—not of our own accord. We could never proclaim such forgiveness without His authority or without union with Him. Naturally, a person has a decision as to whether or not they want to receive that forgiveness and be reconciled to God, but God is the initiator. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

I stand by Jonathan’s article and believe every Christian would benefit from joining Jesus in this ministry. 

*It should be noted: There is a difference between forgiveness and salvation. When the paralyzed man was forgiven, the Holy Spirit did not come to live inside of him and make him a new creation. Forgiveness in this sense was invitational—granting a person freedom of conscience to approach God for salvation. We cannot save anybody through a proclamation of forgiveness. We can only remove relational barriers for the sake of giving them easier access in seeking God for their own salvation. 

Thanks for taking the time to read my lengthy reply. Hopefully my intended respectful tone was conveyed throughout. 

(If it wasn’t, please forgive me 😉)

There’s a Difference between Forgiveness and Reconciliation

As mentioned in my note at the end, there’s a difference between forgiveness and salvation. Along those same lines, there is a difference between forgiveness and reconciliation. Forgiveness is one-sided; reconciliation is two-sided.

If a person sins against me, I can forgive them in my heart, but this does not mean our relationship has been restored. I can even declare my forgiveness to them, and my forgiveness is very much real, regardless of whether or not they want to accept it. But until that person trusts my freely-offered forgiveness and is restored to me, the relationship will remain broken.

For this reason, Paul writes:

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 – All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (NIV)

We can proclaim the Good news that God is “not counting people’s sins against them.” Even in the Old Testament, there was a recognition that “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love,” and, “he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:8,10). This reality of God’s proactive forgiveness — a forgiveness that is extended before we repent — is not what saves us or justifies us before our heavenly Judge. It merely means that:

1. We’re allowed to continue living at the moment, even though we deserve death, so that we can perhaps hear the Gospel and repent, and
2. Our Lord is waiting with open arms to receive us if we will heed His invitation to be reconciled.

Whenever we declare this forgiveness to people in Jesus’ name, they are alerted to the goodness of the God who beckons them. They are encouraged to surrender their independence and enter a life of communion and partnership with the Righteous One.

In short: If you’re already a believer, it is still meaningful to have someone reaffirm the forgiveness of God to you when you confess sin (as Jonathan discussed in his article). You also have the authority in Christ to declare that forgiveness to others on His behalf.

But if you need salvation, you don’t need a Christian to absolve you of sin. You might need a Christian to proclaim God’s forgiveness in the form of a Gospel presentation (and perhaps that’s what this article is), but there is nowhere to turn but to the God who already chose to forgive you 2,000 years ago.

In Jesus’ name, you are forgiven. Now, be reconciled to Him.

He’s waiting with open arms.

Be blessed,
–Art

Words of knowledge are a fantastic gift from God for the purpose of encouraging people’s faith, exhorting people to live righteously, and confirming the truth of the Gospel in evangelism. Every Christian can receive words of knowledge. Today I want to share some encouraging stories that illustrate how words of knowledge work and share with you how you can better discern and share them.

Is That You, God?

The first word of knowledge I remember sharing came as I was praying for a friend. I was 17, and my youth group went to a conference in Toronto.

A guy I met while at the conference wanted prayer, and I agreed to pray for him. As I began to pray, thoughts came to my mind to pray for his anxiety and for his relationship with his father. I didn’t know anything about this young man, but because the thoughts came to my mind, I just blurted out a prayer.

“You were spot on!” my friend said. “I am on medication for anxiety, and I have never truly felt close to my father, and it has affected my relationship with God.”

I was so geeked! I actually heard God! It didn’t feel like I imagined it would. I expected to see visions, or angels, or hear a booming voice in my head. It didn’t feel like anything, really. It was simply a thought that came to my mind while I was praying. As I continued to practice hearing God’s voice, I became better at hearing God more clearly.

You Have Heard God’s Voice

The reality is, if you are a Christian, you have heard God’s voice. Jesus said “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws them… Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to Me.” (See John 6:44-45.) The process of regeneration by the Holy Spirit requires that your spirit hears the voice of the Father and responds by submitting to the lordship of Jesus.

What did it sound like when you got saved? Maybe you were too young to remember, but chances are, it didn’t sound like anything. It didn’t feel like much, but there was an impression in your heart and mind, that the claims of the Gospel were true; that Jesus rose from the dead, that God loved you, that your sins were forgiven. This revelation from the Holy Spirit comes to our hearts, and we respond by putting our faith in this voice. Words of knowledge come in very much the same way.

Growing in the Gift

The key to hearing God’s voice is faith. Scripture tells us that we are to prophesy according to our faith. (See Romans 12:6.) As John Wimber used to say, “Faith is spelled R-I-S-K.” There is no real shortcut to growing in the gift of words of knowledge. It requires consistently taking risks and learning (1) what it feels like when He is speaking and (2) what it feels like when He isn’t. In short, you learn through trial and error. This requires enough humility to admit when you’re wrong.

As I began to grow in hearing God’s voice, I began to take bigger risks. I began to lower the threshold of how strong an impression had to be before I would step out and take a risk. I began to realize that as I leaned into the gift this way, I began to hear more accurate and detailed information. At times a name would come to my mind, and it turned out to be the name of someone I was walking past. How did I know that? Because I took a risk and asked. Sometimes I would see dark spots over different parts of people’s bodies in my imagination. I would ask if they dealt with pain or a health problem in that area, and sure enough, they did.

One time while praying for a woman, I saw the word “autism” spelled out in my imagination. I had a sense that her son had autism. I didn’t know this woman, and so I asked first if she had a son. She said yes, so I asked if he had health issues. She nodded, and then I asked if it was autism. Her mouth gaped open in shock that I knew that. I would have no idea if I was actually hearing God on any of that if I hadn’t taken the risk to ask. I was only maybe 40% sure I was hearing God, but it turns out, I actually was!

Step by Step

Time and again, I’ve found that God speaks like a GPS — that is, one step at a time. Often I will get one word of knowledge, and if I am obedient and take a risk in sharing it, I will get another.

Once while on the college campus where I minister, I felt impressed to pray for a girl who was playing foosball in the student union. I approached her, mentioned that I was a pastor, and asked if she would be alright with me praying for her.

She said “yes.”

I asked if she dealt with headaches due to an issue in her neck. I asked this because, in my imagination, I saw her neck damaged and it causing pain in her head. She said that indeed, she did. My faith was encouraged, so I took another risk.

“Do you deal with anxiety?” I asked.

“Yes, I do.”

“Do you also, have an issue in your lower back and right hip?” I asked, a bit more confident.

“Umm… Yes. How do you know that?” She said.

I asked all of these things because either a thought came to my head or I saw it in my imagination.

Then, in my imagination, I saw a red Dodge truck. I had an inner feeling that she was in an accident 7 years ago with this truck, and that is what caused a lot of the issues in her neck and back. I was only maybe 30% sure this might have been God, but I decided to risk it.

“Were you in an accident 7 years ago with a red Dodge truck?” I asked.

Her jaw dropped, and her eyes went wide. “Yes, I was!”

I prayed for her, and she was completely healed on the spot.

I was so incredibly stoked! I wasn’t feeling particularly spiritual that day, but one obedient risk produced faith for another. The more I stepped out, the more confident I became. God didn’t reveal the whole thing to me before I stepped out. All I knew from the beginning was that I was supposed to pray for her. The hardest part for me was the first risk.

Expectation

I’ve found that words of knowledge come more frequently when I am looking for them. Sometimes I will go to the store or the gas station looking for the people that God is “highlighting” to me. I’ll know God is highlighting someone to me when, for some reason, I can’t stop staring at this person — or maybe I feel in my “gut” that I just need to pray for them. Sometimes in my imagination I will see a dark cloud around them, or I will feel unusual compassion for them. I take that as the Holy Spirit’s direction.

These thoughts and feelings will sometimes come out of the blue — when I am not expecting them. But I have found that God is always wanting to speak to people through me; and if I am actively paying attention, I will more readily hear God’s voice. A friend of mine described it as “leaving your spiritual cell phone on.” If you keep your “spiritual cell phone” on through active expectation that God will speak to you, you will hear His voice. He is always talking, and He wants to talk to people through you!

3 Ways You Can Start Hearing Words of Knowledge:

1: Intimacy

We become acquainted with the voice of the Holy Spirit through relationship with Him. The more time we spend in prayer, worship, and meditation on the Scriptures, the more sensitive we will be when He speaks. It is important, though, that we don’t seek Him simply for the purpose of gifting. Being with Jesus is its own reward.

2: Turning Your “Cell Phone” On

Actively expect God to speak to you. Look for the people God is highlighting to you when you go grocery shopping, to the bank, to church, or anywhere in public. You have a much better shot at hearing God speak to you if you are actually listening.

3: Taking Risks

There is no teacher like experience. You can read all the books and blogs you want, but eventually you have to just take a leap of faith.

It can be helpful to start small. Pray for someone in church or for a friend. Pay attention to any random thoughts that come to your mind while you are praying. Look with your imagination into the spiritual realm, and see if God shows you anything. If you see something, share it with your friend. Ask if it means something.

I lead the students in my campus ministry in an exercise where they sit around a table and pray for a few moments for the person to their left. I then tell them to share whatever came to their mind as they prayed. Every time, students are amazed that they actually heard God speak. Practice sharing words of knowledge where it is safe to fail. It’s ok if you miss it. Keep trying until you hear God. He is speaking, and He wants to speak through you.

May you be empowered by the precious Holy Spirit to do the impossible, and may the name of Jesus be glorified through His Church.

Your servant,
JonMark

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Meditating on Scripture is a lost art in today’s culture. With worlds of entertainment only a click away, very few moments of silent meditation on anything exist in our daily lives. Yet, I believe the key to a vibrant devotional life lies in the spiritual discipline of meditation on the Word of God.

God’s Words Give Life.

Matthew 4:4 — But He answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” (ESV)

In this verse we find two profound insights:

1. There is something about us humans that transcends the material world.
2. God’s Word gives life to us in a way the material world cannot.

When God created the universe, He spoke it into being. (See Genesis 1:3.) God’s voice carries creative power. What then must it do to our souls when we feed them through meditation on God’s holy Word?

His Word brings life to our very souls and creates new things within us — new dreams, new vision for the future, new ideas, and new strength for the tasks at hand. We have the privilege of feeding our souls with this life-giving Word, but it must be more than just a little snack here and there.

Our hearts ought to be where the living Word of God dwells.

Colossians 3:16 — Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (ESV)

The word “dwell” gives us a picture of someone who is at home. It’s one thing to be somewhere; it is another matter entirely to dwell in a certain location. I don’t dwell in the grocery store, the coffee shop, or the gas station. Those are places I visit. I dwell in my apartment. It is my home; it is the place where I live. Too often we allow the Word of God to visit our hearts, but the act of meditation causes God’s Word to dwell there.

God’s Words Make Us Fruitful.

In one of His final addresses to His disciples before going to the cross, Jesus gave us the secret to fruitful living.

John 15:5,7 — I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing… If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (ESV)

The secret to a fruitful life, according to Jesus, was not only to abide in Him, but to allow His words to abide in you. Earlier in that chapter Jesus went as far as to say that apart from Him we are completely incapable of accomplishing anything of value. (See John 15:4.) There is something in the Word of God that not only gives life to our souls but also empowers us to bear impossible fruit. This is because of the connection between God’s Word and faith.

In the Scriptures we read that if we have faith, the impossible becomes possible. (See Mark 9:23.) We also read that faith grows in our hearts through the Word of God. (See Romans 10:17.) The impossible fruit God expects of us can only come as we allow His living and active Word to dwell in our hearts through meditation.

Ways to Meditate on Scripture

The Hebrew word for “meditate” used in Psalm 1:2 is “hagaw,” which means to moan, mumble, utter, or ponder. This gives us the idea that meditation means a constant recitation of scriptures — perhaps in our minds or under our breath. It’s kind of like when you get a song stuck in your head, which brings us to the first practical tip:

Sing the Scriptures.

The Apostle Paul commands us to allow God’s Word to dwell in our hearts as we sing “psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs.” (See Colossians 3:16.) Paul also told us to sing and make melody in our hearts to God. (See Ephesians 5:19.) We know that he put this into practice too because we find him and Silas singing hymns and praise to God while they were locked up in prison for casting a demon out of a fortune teller. (See Acts 16:25.) I personally have had such powerful times in God’s presence throughout the day — whether at work, at home, or driving down the road — as I simply would sing scriptures softly to myself.

Memorize the Scriptures.

Memorizing Scripture is probably the most straightforward way to meditate upon the Word of God. I often recite specific scripture passages that I have memorized as I go throughout my day. This allows the Word to go deep into my heart, and the Holy Spirit begins to bring revelation about the meaning and implications of those passages, which builds my faith and transforms my thinking.

“Marinate” in the Scriptures.

Sometimes when we read the Word of God, we read far too quickly. Of course there is a time to read quickly through a book of the Bible in order to understand the full context of what is being said. But then there is a time to read slowly through the scriptures while pausing to reflect upon passages that stand out to us. This type of meditative scripture reading is nourishing to our souls. It allows us to hear what the Holy Spirit is speaking to us through the pages of the Bible and transforms what can sometimes be a dry and tedious ritual into a life-giving and powerful encounter with God.

May God bless you as you encounter Him in His Word.

Your servant,
JonMark

God wants to speak to you through prophetic dreams, but how do you know if the dreams you’re having are from Him? And even then, how do you interpret the meaning of your prophetic dream so that you can act on what God is saying?

Prophetic dreams are important. If you remove prophetic dreams from the Bible:

• the city of Bethel is never founded,
• Joseph never goes to Egypt or rises to power to spare his family in a time of famine,
• Daniel never gains influence in Babylon, and
• the Apostle Paul never preaches in Macedonia — of course, that last one doesn’t really matter because
• Jesus would have died as an infant when His family didn’t flee to Egypt.

(And those are the results of just some of the most popular prophetic dreams in the Bible.)

Prophetic dreams are one of the ways God regularly communicates with me, but you’ll rarely hear me talk about it. I often journal my dreams and wait until I have clear insight about them before I act on anything I see.

• Sometimes my dreams turn out to be nothing.
• Sometimes God shows me the interpretation up to six months after I write down the details.
• Sometimes I know within an hour of waking up.
• And sometimes I wake up knowing exactly what God is saying and what I’m supposed to do.

God speaks through dreams. But not all dreams are prophetic. Since dreams come from a number of sources, how do we know when a dream is truly from God?

Sources of Dreams

While much of dreaming is largely a mystery, my experience is that dreams tend to come from a few places:

First, of course, God can give us prophetic dreams.

We’ll talk more about that in a moment, but note that prophetic dreams are scattered throughout Scripture as a normal occurrence.

Second, dreams can come from our spiritual enemy.

These are typically experienced as nightmares, but God has been known in Scripture to give troubling dreams as well. (See Judges 7:13-14 and Matthew 27:19.) Just because a dream is scary or fear-inducing doesn’t mean it came from an evil spirit, but the enemy probably isn’t going to give you dreams about rainbows and daisies. The good news is that when we choose not to open spiritual doors to the enemy’s influence in our lives and instead trust God to protect us in our sleep, we don’t have to worry about such dreams ever happening. (See Psalm 4:8.)

Third, dreams can come from thinking about something a lot.

In fact, scientists have found that things we’re studying and practicing can make their way into our dreams to enhance learning. Studies have even found that our sleeping brain tends to rehearse the last thing we concentrated on prior to falling asleep, improving certain skills literally overnight. (This is great for skill acquisition, but how much more valuable is it for our spiritual lives if used well! This is why it’s a good practice to read Scripture and pray before bed.)

Not only does science support that we dream what we think intently about, but Scripture taught this thousands of years ago. Notice what Solomon said:

Ecclesiastes 5:3a — A dream comes when there are many cares… (NIV)

The more emotionally-charged the subject matter of our thoughts, the more likely we are to dream about it. This is why sometimes inner fears and insecurities can show up in our dreams — usually depicting us in relational settings like work, school, or home. I know people who think their frequent dreams about certain fears are being sent by the enemy, but I also know that when awake these people have a lot of regular anxiety about the topics in those dreams. It’s probably not a spiritual attack as much as it is a manifestation of their brains processing their frequent worries and emotions from the day.

I know a fellow minister who went from regularly teaching great stuff online to regularly sharing his latest dream he had about politics. His commentary on his dreams indicate that he thinks a lot about these topics, and that causes me to be a little suspicious of his “prophetic” dreams. While it’s entirely possible that he’s hearing from God as he supposes, I would suggest a more likely explanation is that the thing occupying his thoughts throughout the day has worked its way into his dreams.

Television, movies, video games, books, and many other such things have a way of popping into our dreams. If I have a weird dream that I think might be prophetic, one of the things I analyze is whether or not details of that dream can be traced to a recent entertainment choice. If they can, I’m much more inclined to dismiss the dream. So for my friend in ministry, I’d suggest that if you’re always having dreams about our president or our country, first try backing off your news consumption, spend more time sharing the Gospel and making disciples (which is every believer’s responsibility), and see if your dreams change.

One common element among prophetic dreams in the Bible is a certain sense of surprise. The dreams come unprompted and usually lead the dreamer to become aware of things not previously considered. When people who love conspiracies tell me they dreamed about a conspiracy, I’m less inclined to think it’s prophetic. When those who love doom-and-gloom messages about God’s future wrath tell me they had a dream about an earthquake or famine, I’m not impressed. Anytime our dreams are extensions of what we already believe to be true, I question them. More often than not, they are products of our own minds.

Scripture offers a stern warning for such people:

Jeremiah 23:32 — “Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” declares the Lord. “They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least,” declares the Lord.

If that’s not a reason to analyze the source of your dream before you speak it out, I don’t know what is.

Colossians 3 tells us to fix our minds on things above, not on earthly things. I know people who say they can’t pray at night because they always fall asleep, to which I say, “What better way is there to fall asleep!?” Again, what if we read the Bible before bed and pray ourselves to sleep? What will our mind be rehearsing as we rest?

Perhaps this is how it’s possible to follow the Biblical directive to meditate on Scripture “day and night.” (See Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1:2.)

Lastly, we have what many ministers like to call “pizza dreams.”

These are the sort of wacky, unexplainable dreams you might have if you ate some bad pizza the night before.

The more I mature in communing with the Lord, the more I have discovered that my “pizza dreams” are usually connected to one of the other three sources above and aren’t as unexplainable as I once thought. But every once in a while, I dream something that really leaves me scratching my head.

How to Discern and Interpret Prophetic Dreams

If something about a dream sticks in my mind when I wake up, the first thing I do is ask God, “Are You trying to speak something to me through this dream?” Typically, I’ll have an immediate sense of a yes or no from the Holy Spirit. If it feels like a yes or if I feel like I’m not sure, I immediately write down all the details of the dream that I can remember.

If I sense a “no,” I like to talk to God about where the dream came from. This is one of the ways Jesus disciples me, and He can do the same for you. Simply ask Him what prompted your dream. He may bring to your mind a recent entertainment choice, a relational situation, or a fear or insecurity in your heart. Whatever He shows you, ask if there’s anything He wants you to do about that (like stop watching a certain show, reconcile a relationship, repent of fear, etc.).

When I do feel a dream is from God and have written it down, I ask the Lord, “What do You want to say to me through this?”

If nothing comes to me, I get more specific with my questions:

• “Is this message for me or for someone else?” If someone else, “Who?”
• “Are the details literal or figurative?”
• “Are all the details relevant or only some?” If only some, “Which ones?”

Sometimes it’s easier when starting out to discern binary answers from the Lord — yes or no, this one or that one, etc. — as shown in the examples above. But with time and practice, you can become more fluent in how God speaks to you, and the conversation can go far deeper.

When I’m done, if my role isn’t clear already, I ask, “What do You want me to do with what You’ve shown me?”

I write down everything I feel God says to me throughout this process, including my questions that prompted the answers. That way my mind can’t play tricks on me later, and the enemy doesn’t have room to play his old trick of, “Did God really say…?”

As long as my dream doesn’t demand immediate obedience, I’ll often wait a day or two, come back to it, and see if the conclusions I wrote down still feel right in my spirit. If not, I start asking new questions until there’s a lasting peace about it all.

If you will ask God for prophetic dreams, He will give them to you. And if you steward them well as I described above, He’ll entrust more to you.

May God bless your sleep and speak to you in prophetic dreams! And may you experience the joy of communing with the Holy Spirit as Jesus teaches you to discern and interpret with precision.

Be blessed,
–Art

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If you want to know how to minister healing, this simple training session from Art Thomas is a great introductory course. Hear Art’s story of how he got started in healing ministry and the simplicity of how every Christian can minister healing in partnership with Jesus.

After this session was finished, many miracles took place as the newly-trained believers ministered to each other in Jesus’ name. Even more miracles were reported later in the week, totaling around 30-40.

Watch “How to Minister Healing” with Art Thomas

ART THOMAS TRAINING 6.19.18 from influencechurch.org on Vimeo.

If you would like to learn more about how to minister healing, check out our physical healing page, which is full of free resources and other products that can help you discover more of what Jesus wants to do in partnership with you.

This media was filmed and produced by Influence Church in Anaheim Hills, CA.