Raising the Dead: One Man's Experience

By David Ryser

The worst defeat is never having tried to win.  (Dale Brown)

Recently a friend of mine attempted to raise a person from the dead.  I say “attempted” because the person is still dead.  My friend is the pastor of a small church in the community where the death occurred.  Two young teen boys were killed in a boating accident.  This pastor was asked to officiate at the funeral.  In the days preceding the funeral, he felt led by God to raise one of the boys from the dead.  Others in the church confirmed his impression.  Some members of the boy’s immediate family added their endorsement of his plan.  On the day of the funeral, my friend prayed and commanded the boy to be raised from the dead.

Later in the day, both boys were buried next to one another.

So what went wrong?

Raising the dead is part of Christ’s commission to the church.  Jesus raised the dead…at least 3 times.  He sent His disciples out to preach the Kingdom of God with signs accompanying them, including raising the dead (Matthew 10:7, 8).  In the book of Acts, both Peter (Acts 9:36-41) and Paul (Acts 20:9-12) raised people from the dead.

Raising the dead is a part of our commission as well (John 14:12).

You see, raising the dead is not just for the people in biblical times.  Dave Hogan ministers powerfully among the Aztec people in Mexico.  He has raised people from the dead.  Pastors and ordinary Christians, from the churches he has planted, have raised people from the dead.  There are stories from all around the world of people being raised from the dead.

So why doesn’t it seem to work for us?

Dave Hogan himself once shed some light on this while recounting stories of people being raised from the dead in Mexico.  In the course of sharing these testimonies, he added, “You do understand, don’t you that most of the people we pray for to be raised from the dead are still dead?”

What?!

I am reminded of something John Wimber said when speaking about the explosion of physical healing that changed the course of his life and ministry.  He told of the time when God began to deal with him to preach about physical healing and to pray for the sick.  For months he preached on the scriptures pertaining to divine healing and prayed for the sick.

No one was healed.

He took this situation to the Lord.  God’s response was to command him to continue preaching on healing and continue to pray for the sick.

He obeyed God.  No one was healed.

People began to leave the church, thinking their pastor had gone loony-toons.  Over time, Wimber lost half of his congregation.  He continued to preach and pray in obedience to God’s command.

Then, one day, people began to be healed.

Suddenly it seemed that everyone Wimber prayed for was healed.  The results were phenomenal!  A major healing revival broke out and swept the country.  Wimber became the recognized authority on healing prayer.  Asked one day what kept him humble while performing healing miracles, Wimber’s response was instructive…and powerful.

“Failure.”

I don’t know why some people remain dead when believers pray to raise them.  And I don’t know why some people remain sick when believers pray for their healing.  All I know is that we Christians have a commission from the Lord Jesus Christ to proclaim the Kingdom of God with accompanying signs and wonders.

And these include healing the sick and raising the dead.

And I’m reasonably sure that my pastor friend will raise someone from the dead before I do.  Because, to date, he has prayed for one more dead person than I have.  And he will continue to do so every time God leads him.

I don’t know how many people will be raised from the dead as a result of believing prayer.  But I do know how many will be raised from the dead by no prayer.

None.

Responses to this article are welcomed.  You may contact the author at drdave1545@yahoo.com