In January 1910, a raging plague was sweeping through parts of the nation of Africa, leaving behind hundreds of thousands of bodies. In less than a month, one quarter of the entire population had died. The plague was so contagious that the government was offering $1000, the equivalent of $27,170 today, to any nurse who would be willing to care for the sick.
John G. Lake, a well-known healer, and his ministry team had just returned to Africa after a year in America. When he heard about the deaths, Lake and his team went to help free of charge. He and one of his assistants would go into the houses, bring out the dead, and bury them. But no symptom of the plague ever touched them.
At the height of the horrible plague, a doctor sent for Lake and asked him: “What have you been doing to protect yourself? You must have a secret!” To this Lake responded:
“Brother, it is the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. I believe that as long as I keep my soul in contact with the living God so that His Spirit is flowing into my soul and body, that no germ will ever attach itself to me, for the Spirit of God will kill it.”
Lake then invited the doctor to experiment with him. The doctor took foam from the lungs of a dead plague victim and put it under a microscope and found masses of living germs. Lake told the doctor to spread the deadly foam on his hands and the germs would die.
The doctor did so and found that the germs died instantly upon touching Lake’s hand. Those who witnessed the experiment were shocked as Lake continued to give the glory to God.
Let me share one more John G. Lake story with you.
Lake was interviewed by a group of scientists at a hospital. They were looking for a logical explanation for his healing gift. At the conclusion of the interview Lake said:
“Gentlemen, I want you to see one more thing. Go down in your hospital and bring back a man who has inflammation in the bone. Take your instrument and attach it to his leg. Leave enough space to get my hand on the leg. You can attach it to both sides.
“When the instrument was ready, I put my hand on the man’s shin and prayed like Mother Etter prays: no strange prayer, but the cry of my heart to God. I said, ‘God, kill the devilish disease by Your power. Let the Spirit move in him: let it live in him.’
“Then I asked, ‘Gentlemen, what is taking place?’ They replied, ‘Every cell is responding.’”
Lake said the one thing that enabled God’s healing power to flow through him was his connection to God through “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.” Let’s look at where this is found. Turn with me to Romans 8 and we’re going to read verses one and two.
(1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit.
(2) For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Lake had tapped into something that most of the Church today doesn’t understand. Why was an understanding of this law so important to Lake’s healing ministry? The real question for us today is this: why should a clear and thorough understanding of this law be important to us? Oh, I am so-o-o glad you asked!
It’s interesting to me that the Bible calls “the spirit of life” a law. And, it’s a law that can only be enforced when a person is “in Christ Jesus.” So, how does a person get “in Christ Jesus?” What does it mean to be “in Christ Jesus?”
But before we answer these questions, let’s define the word “law.”
A law, according to Merriam-Webster, is “a binding custom or practice of a community: a rule of conduct or action prescribed or formally recognized as binding or enforced by a controlling authority.”
Now, let’s look at this in light of Romans 8:2 – “For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”
The first part of the definition says “a binding custom or practice of a community.”
In John 3, Nicodemus asked Jesus how he could do the miracles that Jesus did. Jesus said he had to be born again to see the kingdom of heaven (John 3:2-3). In other words, he had to have the same spiritual life in him that lived in Jesus. Jesus said, “Nicodemus, you must be part of the kingdom to do these things.” This law – the law of the spirit of life – is a binding practice for those who live in the kingdom of heaven.
The second part of the definition says “a rule of conduct or action prescribed or formally recognized as binding or enforced by a controlling authority.”
What is the controlling authority that’s formally recognized in “the law of the spirit of life?” Being IN CHRIST JESUT is the “controlling authority” that gives those who enforce it power over the “law of sin and death.”
When the CONDITIONS of a law are met it will be enforced – without exception. The law of gravity for example, simply put, says two objects will pull at each other until they meet. If I hold an object in the air and let go of it, it will fall until it “meets” the ground. It happens every single time.
Being IN CHRIST JESUS gives those who are born again access to the “law of the spirit of life.”
Now, what does it mean to be “in Christ Jesus?” The word in is en in the Greek and it is powerful!
“Of those with whom someone is in near connection, intimate union, oneness in heart, mind, purpose, especially of Christians, in union with Christ by faith and who are become as branches in the tree vine.”
I want you to see three things in this definition. Near connection. Intimate union. Oneness in hearts, mind and purpose. What we’re seeing here is crucial and non-negotiable: If we are to be IN Christ Jesus, then what we believe and what we say must agree – in every way – with Jesus. I don’t have to tell you that this is rarely seen in the Body of Christ today.
In John 15, Jesus paints as image for us of what it means to be IN Him.
(5) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in (en) me, and I in (en) him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me (without being in the vine) ye can do nothing.
(7) If ye abide in (en) me, and my words abide in (en) you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
We share Jesus’s life.
Capture the imagery here ladies and gentlemen. The life that’s in a tree flows freely from the tree to the branches. Jesus says when we had an intimate relationship with Him – when we are one in heart, mind and purpose with Him – His life will flow freely through us! When we read the four gospels, we see “Jesus’s life flowing freely to others.” We see the One with whom we share the same free flowing life! And that life is “the law of the spirit of life.”
Now turn with me to John 6. We’re going to read verse 63.
“It is the spirit that quickeneth (gives life); the flesh profiteth nothing (In other words, if our human spirits have not been received the gift of eternal life, there is nothing we can do by natural means to earn it.): the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
Jesus said that the words He speaks are “spirit and life” (present tense). So, when we speak what Jesus spoke, are we not speaking spirit and life? The answer is Yes. When Jesus’s words abide in us – dwell in us, live in us, remain in us – we will receive what the life contained in those words!
These verses paint a vivid image of what it means to be “in Christ Jesus.” When we are “in Christ Jesus” – when we “abide in Him” and when “His words abide in us” – then we are able to – now listen to me – we are able to bring forth the same fruit that He brought forth in the four gospels.
Now, let’s answer the question: How does a person get “in Christ Jesus?” But before we do we need to answer this question: The person who is not “in Christ Jesus” – where is she?
Remember, Romans 8:2 says “For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”
The person who is not “in Christ Jesus” is in bondage to the “law of sin and death.” Simply put: she is not going to spend an eternity in Heaven. Everyone is born into this world “without Christ Jesus” and born with a sin nature governed by the “law of sin and death.” And we see this in Romans 5.
(12) Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men (How was this death passed to all men? We received this death when we were born.), for that all have sinned.
(14) Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is a figure of him that is to come (Jesus).
When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior – when confess with our mouths that He is Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9) – we receive eternal life. Ladies and gentlemen, just like we were born into the law of sin and death, we are reborn into the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus!
But having the law of sin and death is more than just missing Heaven.
It has the capacity to affect those who are “in Christ Jesus.” What do I mean? When we are born again, our spirits receive God’s life. This means we must renew our minds to agree with who we have become. Unfortunately, our bodies still suffer from the effects of the law of sin and death.
? When a person is battling the flu, you are seeing the law of sin and death in operation.
? When you see a person who is blind, you are seeing the law of sin and death in operation.
? When a person receives kidney dialysis, the law of sin and death in operation.
? When you see a person battling diabetes, you are seeing the law of sin and death in operation.
? When a person battles high blood pressure, you are seeing the law of sin and death in operation.
? COVID-19 is the law of sin and death in operation.
But the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus is more powerful than the law of sin and death.
Although our bodies still suffer from the law of sin and death, the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus is more powerful and can reverse its effects. Again, we see this in the gospels in the life of Jesus.
? When Jesus healed the blind, the maimed and the diseased, He reversed the effects of the law of sin and death.
? When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He reversed the effects of the law of sin and death.
? When Peter healed the man at the gate in Acts 3, he reversed the effects the law of sin and death.
? When Paul healed the man impotent in his feet, he reversed the effects the law of sin and death.
? When Oral Roberts healed the crippled child, he reversed the effects the law of sin and death.
The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus is the power, the law, that now works through us! Praise God!
Now, here’s the crux of this message: How do we enforce the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus? Let’s begin in Proverbs 4 with verses 20 through 23.
(20) My son, attend to my words, incline thine ear unto my sayings.
(21) Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
(22) For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
(23) Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Do you see the word “issue” in verse 23? It’s primary meaning is “borders, fence, or enclosure.” It gives the image of constructing barriers in our lives.
We protect the spirit of life with God’s Word. That’s why we take God’s Word and begin to declare it – over and over again. We enforce this law as we declare and confess what the Word of God says. There is no other way.
And the more we don’t enforce the law of the spirit of life, the more we are allowing the devil to enforce the law of sin and death in our lives.
Let’s end the message by looking at examples of enforcing the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus over the law of sin and death.
The law of sin and death produces destruction with or without the influence of Satan. You see, Satan takes advantage of the fact that we’re in bondage to this law.
The law of the spirit of life produces life in every aspect of our lives and can reverse the effects of he law of sin and death.
The law of sin and death says a person battling a sickness, in the natural, only has doctors and medicines as options for getting better.
But the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus says “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear to my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes: keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all these flesh. (Proverbs 4:20-22)
The law of sin and death says for a person is battling financial difficulties, in the natural, the most common solutions are getting a 2nd job, maxing out the credit cards, or borrowing money from family and friends.
But the law of the spirit of life says God is your source and your answer. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
The law of sin and death says, in the natural, the only options for a person is battling emotional issues are generally therapy, counseling and medicine.
But the law of the spirit of life says “Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
The law of sin and death says that what a person is wronged by someone or someone steals from him, in the natural, the option is to take the offender to court.
But the law of the spirit of life says release it so God can work restoration in the the person’s life.
“But love your enemies, and do good and lend, hoping for nothing again: and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. Give (mercy and forgiveness), and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” (Luke 6:35-38)
The law of sin and death says, in the natural, the person battling fear and anxiety must take some sort of anti-anxiety medicine.
But the law of the spirit of life says we have inside of us something much greater and powerful than fear – God’s love.
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love caste Th out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18)
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy f1:7)
The law of sin and death says a Christian who believes he will be cursed if he doesn’t tithe, will tithe whether or not he wants to and whether or not he can afford to.
But the law of the spirit of life says we are not cursed!
“God is not a man, that he should lie, neither the son of man that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. (Numbers 23:19-20)
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. (Galatians 3:13)
Ladies and gentlemen, if we are going to enforce the law of the spirit of life in our lives then:
? We must know what the law says.
? We must believe what the law says.
? We have to act like we believe what the law says (faith).
? We have to speak what we believe.
If we will do these things, the law of sin and death will not be the determining factor in how we live and how we serve Jesus. The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus will determine them! Praise God!
