The Secret to Bringing Death Back to Life

Romans 8:11

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

The power of the Holy Spirit is not emphasized enough. In the Book of Romans, you will see several works the Holy Spirit does in the life of the believer. One of those works is that he quickens us. In other words, we were dead in sins, and through the Holy Spirit’s power a person gets saved. He works to bring them to the Gospel, and once the lost person hears the Gospel, the power of the Gospel and the Holy Spirit working together brings eternal life to that person.

The power of the Holy Spirit to bring eternal life to the lost person is the same power that can bring life to a dead ministry. I am afraid we often surrender that a dying church will just die instead of getting God’s power to bring that church back to life. Church participation is at its lowest point in America’s history, but it does not have to stay that way. We can surrender and let death come to our churches and ministries, or we can see the power of the Holy Spirit bring life to any ministry. Several things must happen if the Holy Spirit is to bring life to a dying ministry.

First, you must not accept that your ministry has to die. I hear preachers often preach that we are in the Laodicean age and that we must hold on until the Lord returns. My friend, that is a bunch of hogwash. First of all, we are not in the Laodicean age, for no such thing is mentioned in the Scriptures. The Scriptures teach we live in the day of grace. Secondly, to limit that the Holy Spirit cannot bring something to life today is to say that He has lost His power. You must refuse to let death happen to your ministry if the Holy Spirit is to bring life to it. The Holy Spirit bringing life to your ministry starts with you choosing not to let it die.

Second, you must do the works of the Holy Spirit to bring life to your ministry. There is no way for the Holy Spirit to bring life to a dead ministry if that ministry does not work. The Holy Spirit works through soul winning, preaching, and reaching the lost. If your ministry is dying, you would be wise to ramp up the soul winning of your church. You can wait for others to go soul winning with you, or you can go soul winning yourself and see Him work through you to see the lost saved. When you do the works that require the power of the Holy Spirit, it is then that He can bring life to a dying ministry.

Third, you must do works of faith for the Holy Spirit to bring life to your ministry. If you don't attempt something for God beyond your abilities, there is no purpose for the Holy Spirit to work through you. Attempting something big by faith is to attempt something beyond yourself. You will not see the Holy Spirit bring life to a dead ministry if that ministry never attempts something big by faith. Faith attempts need the power of the Holy Spirit to become a reality; therefore, if you attempt something big by faith, you can see the Holy Spirit bring life to a dying ministry.

Fourth, you must be empowered by the Holy Spirit to bring life to a dying ministry. You will never have the Holy Spirit’s power on your life or ministry until you spend seasons in fasting and prayer, begging for His power. When you are serious enough to see your dying ministry have life again, you will fast and pray for the Holy Spirit to empower you.