Coming Alive to God through Jesus Christ at the Gates of the City

Luke 7:11-17

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.

• Jesus, death, and the crowds encounter one another at the gate of the city.
• Jesus has compassion and is willing to raise to life those who are dead to God.
• We speak about Jesus Christ after coming alive to God.
• The world has heard about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Jesus, death, and the crowds encounter one another at the gate of the city. Jesus makes it clear to us that following the broad way of the crowds is not His way, but His followers are among the narrow way of the faithful few. Today, the broad way of mainstream society is following the mark of the beast, “All who dwell on the earth will worship it, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb” Revelation 13:8 The distinction is made between the crowds, Jesus, and His disciples, “Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd.” Luke 7:11 Near the gate of the city a dead man will be encountered. The gate of the city is within our soul, and it is the gate that leads into the presence of the Holy Spirit. Near that gate will be found those who are dead to Jesus Christ and not able to devote their body as the home of the Holy Spirit. “And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her.” Luke 7:12 I can envision Jesus, His disciples, and the crowds following Him and walking towards the dead man, his mother, and the crowds with her. Nowadays, it would only bring a clash between the two crowds, especially if Jesus is with the one group and death is with the other.

Jesus has compassion and is willing to raise to life those who are dead to God. Jesus Christ has compassion on those who mourn for the death of those who have been prevented from living within the gates of the city and in the presence of God by the Holy Spirit, “When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Luke 7:13 Mourning and death is caused by those who govern by the mark of the beast because they are hostile to anyone who desires to devote their body as the home of the Holy Spirit. They claim the body as the seat of government for the mark of the beast and habitually causes people to die to Jesus Christ. This world’s government operates by the thing that has power over physiology and is able to form thoughts, emotions, feelings and behaviors, but Jesus is the resurrection and life. If we are willing to live life on the narrow road, to reject the broad way of mainstream society, to forego money, possessions, and physical comforts, and to live by the Word of God, then He is willing to raise us from the dead. “Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” Luke 7:14

We speak about Jesus Christ after coming alive to God. The first thing that happens when we come alive to God, through Jesus Christ, is that we start talking, “So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.” Luke 7:15 Living to God through Jesus causes our tongue to glorify His name and to share the Gospel. For us today, that talking includes blogging, making social media posts etc. I receive so many telemarketer calls that it has become an evangelical mission for me. Every time they call, I witness for Jesus, for example, yesterday one called about the “American Rescue Plan”, and I said that Jesus Christ is returning and bringing a rescue plan with Him. Before that, one was selling a car warranty, so I replied that I ride with Jesus Christ. They always hang up, always! In today’s world, the masses have seen the miracles done by the thing that has power over physiology, and they follow it. It has power over life and death, “And I saw one of its heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and its deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.” Revelation 13:3 What it doesn’t do is resurrect the Spirit of Christ to make us a witness for Jesus and to turn our body into the home of the Holy Spirit.

The world has heard about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God has revealed His power over death through Jesus Christ, and a day comes when God will resurrect us from the grave and bring us through the gates of the eternal city. On that very exact same day when Jesus returns, when the dead in Christ rises and those remaining on earth will rise into Heaven together, there will be fear. There will be fear among those without Christ when they see themselves perishing in the destruction of the world. Their day of judgment is coming after their death when every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. “Then fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.” Luke 7:16 Even today, the populations of people around the world have heard of His death and resurrection, “And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.” Luke 7:17 The promise is made that God loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

---

“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11