Gleans from Monday Bible Study with Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
DLBC Gbagada HQ
5th August 2019
Study 22 – CHRIST’S UNFAILING POWER TO RAISE THE DEAD
Text – Mark 5:21-24,35-43
“And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, fell at his feet, And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.” (Mark 5:22-23). His daughter was very sick, near death. But your daughter/son will live, and the power of the Lord will raise everyone up in Jesus Name. On His way to Jairus’ house, a woman with an issue of blood came to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment and she was healed as we studied last week. It was a great privilege for Jairus to know that Jesus was around and how to find Him. Christ is the Answer to every problem and challenge. He still has the solution, whatever might be the challenge of your life, no matter how great, small or desperate – attacked by demons, afflicted by disease, anguished by death of a loved one, Christ is the timely solution. Come to Christ and be relieved. He will solve your problems, answer your questions, raise the dead, heal the sick and deliver the oppressed. Jairus, a ruler of the Synagogue, had to come out of his religious circle, traditions of the elders, to seek Jesus because his daughter needed Christ’s touch. His fellow rulers in the synagogue did not appreciate Jesus, said derogatory things about him and neither honoured nor believed in Him. To receive from Jesus, he had to pay a price. When you need help from Christ, salvation, healing, deliverance, you need to come out of that criticizing crowd. Sometimes, a religious circle with their traditions can tie you down, pay the price, come out and come to Christ. Even though there is no support or encouragement from anybody, when you take that step of faith, a miracle will come into your life. You need the touch of Jesus, and He will remove every disgraceful and shameful problems out of your life in Jesus’ name. Whatever negative things you may have heard which are probably not true, lay them aside and come to Jesus. As they drew near to the house of Jairus some brought the sad news of the death of the daughter. When you come to Christ, there is no problem in your life that is not solvable. No matter what people say, just rest assured that solution has come to your problem (Mark 5:35,36).
3 points:
Point 1. CHRIST’S PREVAILING POWER OVER PREMATURE DEATH
This was a premature death. Death is an appointment for all men. Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon and even John the Baptist died, but Jesus did not go to raise John the Baptist up, but for premature death, a daughter of twelve years of age, Christ manifested prevailing power. Your daughter/son and you will not die prematurely in Jesus’ name. Four lessons to consider here:
(i) The Announcement of the Daughter’s Death – Mark 5:35; John 11:14,21,32,39. “While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?” (Mark 5:35). Whatever negative announcement you have heard, or dream you have had, Christ will turn it around. For the case of Lazarus, it was premature death, not his appointed time. “Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died” (John 11:32). Jesus is here now, and that premature death will be reversed. Lazarus had been dead four days, but nothing is impossible with Christ.
(ii) The Assurance of Divine Dominion – Mark 5:36; 9:23; John 11:40. “As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe” (Mark 5:36). Jesus gave assurance. In that dying situation in your life, be not afraid only believe and that irreversible will be reversed. Christ has power, authority and dominion over every challenge and problem. He has total control over all; that problem of your life will not end your life. Be not afraid, only believe and it will be done. “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” (Mark 9:23). To see the glory of God, all it takes is to believe. You are not believing in yourself, man, or human authority but in the Lord and you will see the glory of God.
(iii) Their Attitude to His Daring Declaration – Mark 5:37-40. Seeing the professional mourners, Jesus said, “…… Why make ye this ado, an weep? The damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn” (Mark 5:39,40b). But tonight, something will arise in your heart and life. That thing in your life that is dead will surely rise once again. See that attitude of the people, Christ made a declaration, and the people who couldn’t believe laughed Him to scorn. Don’t allow their laughter or scorn to get you or hinder your miracle. What Christ had said will come to pass. Whatever you are claiming, it will come to pass, so don’t allow the laughter of the people to cause unbelief in your heart.
(iv) His Authority over the Damsel’s Death – Mark 5:41-43; John 11:39-44; Hebrews 2:14. “And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment” (Mark 5:41-42). This will happen to you tonight. When Jesus said, “the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth” (Mark 5:39), He was saying that as it is easy for you to wake up your sleeping daughter/son so it is easy for Him to raise Jairus’ daughter from the dead, and as easy for Him to raise everything that is dead in your life. In the case of Lazarus, he was dead and buried, but no hindrance with Jesus Christ. He said, “Take ye away the stone.” “Lazarus, come forth.” “Loose him, and let him go.” There is no impossibility with Christ our Saviour and Redeeming Deliverer. He has all power to deliver, heal, set free and silence the devil. Are you looking to Him for anything? That power will work in your life. At Calvary, Jesus destroyed Satan that has the power of death (Hebrews 2:14). Our deliverance has come. He will deliver us from all the power of the enemy in Jesus Name.
Point 2. CHRISTIANS’ PROPER PERCEPTION OF PREVENTABLE DEATH
Genesis 20:3,7; 2 Samuel 3:33,7-9; 4:10; 1 Chronicles 10:13-14; 2 Chronicles 35:20-24; Proverbs 10:27; Psalms 55:23; Ecclesiastes 7:17; Acts 5:1-5,7-10; 12:20
As we look at the Study, do we now go into every house of mourning and raise up the dead? Jesus did not do that during His earthly ministry. He raised up Jairus’ daughter, the only son of that widow, and Lazarus, all because of premature death. Jesus raised up the people that had death in them when they shouldn’t have died. Same for Elijah and Elisha as well in the Old Testament. But you will understand that prevention is better than cure. Jesus Christ taught people ways to live so that they will not die avoidable or premature death. Learning and living to prevent untimely death is wiser than praying after the person has died. Learning and living to prevent untimely death is easier than to raise the dead. Our Lord Jesus raised a few people from the dead, but He spent much of His time teaching people to live righteously in order to prevent unnecessary death. The Apostles in the Early Church did the same thing, they preached and taught people to prevent untimely death rather than praying and fasting for a ministry of raising the dead. Righteousness protects believers from early and untimely death. People that do not know the Word die unnecessary death. “But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife” (Genesis 20:3). God came with judgement of death unto Abimelech for taking Sarah, Abraham’s wife. This is preventable death. Abner died as a fool for taking a costly step in his anger because of false accusation raised against him (2 Samuel 3:33,7-9). There are people who are falsely accused, and because of that will go to take a step that will eventually cost them their spiritual and physical lives. Preventable and avoidable death don’t need prayer and fasting, but patience, humility and righteousness; you will not die before your time. A man came to flatter David, to give him information about how he killed Saul the anointed of the Lord, David would reward him handsomely. But he told lies against himself, and he died prematurely (2 Samuel 4:10). Saul died prematurely. “So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; And enquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse” (1 Chronicles 10:13-14). Disobedience, going after those with familiar spirits to get information killed the man Saul; he died prematurely. You will not die prematurely, but don’t get involve in things that do not concern you, telling stories, talebearing. King Josiah shouldn’t have died at the time he died. But he was so eager to show power, courage and to fight that he went to a battle that was not meant for him, in spite of being warned (2 Chronicles 35:20-24). You see people fighting with charms and dangerous weapons, don’t go there and support the fight. Allow them to finish their business of fighting, and then you can preach the gospel to that friend that is involved in the fight. You must not die unnecessarily. “The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened” (Proverbs 10:27). Wickedness and sins shorten life, and bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days (Psalm 55:23b). You will live your days to the full. Ananias and Sapphira shouldn’t have died if they were truthful in his giving, but they lied to the Holy Ghost (Acts 5:1-5,7-10). It is not time for you to die so don’t meddle with things that are wicked, evil and deceptive. Also don’t allow people to lead and push you into untimely and unnecessary deathlike in the case of king Herod when he gave a great oration (Acts 12:20-22). People that love flattery and unmerited favour will die prematurely. Remain righteous and your life will be preserved in Jesus Name.