A few years ago during my prayer time, the Lord dealt with me about resurrection. It means “rising from the dead or coming back to life; coming back into notice, practice, use, a restoration or revival; the state of having risen from the dead.”

There is coming a resurrection of our physical bodies—at the time of the catching away of the Church. But the greatest resurrection we’ll ever know, we’ve already experienced. It occurred the moment we passed from spiritual death into spiritual life—when we were born again. That was the only death you—the real you, the spirit—will ever experience. Glory to God!

Our spirit man was raised up in eternal life. The primary part of us is not the physical body. We are a spirit being. It is the spirit that gives life to the body (James 2:26). The body is just the earthly house in which we live. When we (our spirits) leave our bodies, these bodies will die and decay, but we will be present with the Lord. One moment we are in our bodies, the next moment we are in the glory! “Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory” (Psalm 73:24).

Now we are to put on this new man. Read carefully how we are to live this new life.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:1-17, New International Version).

Kenneth Copeland Ministries