|
Sermon Series
|
|
| Once 3 other sermon seekers subscribe, mentioning your name, you get a free sermon series download! |
Grace Notes Sermon Ministry:
NOTICE! Our sermons are free to download, copy and paste, edit and use as you see fit...but only our free subscribers get the newest messages, featured sermons, and some gifts we shower on them from time to time!
Part 1 Part 2
Lazarus is Dead, and I am Glad
John 11
Once upon a time a
family lived in Bethany of Judea.
They were not a typical family.
They were siblings, 3 of them, 2 sisters and a brother.
Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.
Likely, their parents had passed away, and this was the family
home they had inherited.
This family was very
close to Jesus, who spent a lot of time in their home, just 2 miles from
John recorded 7 of
Jesus' miracles. The first
was a wedding, and this is the last, a funeral.
The first was in the midst of gladness and the last, sadness.
vv. 14-15 is the
startling statement from which we get our title today.
Let's look now at this family's suffering, their sorrow, and
their Savior.
Suffering
1.
Dearness.
Lazarus is very sick,
and his sisters know that Jesus can help, but He's in a place some 20
miles away. They sent a
messenger to Jesus.
v. 3 'lovest' is the Greek word for affection.
v 5 'loved' is agape, the highest form of love.
It is 'God love'.
This family is very near
and dear to Jesus, and they are suffering.
Nearness and dearness
to Jesus doesn't make us immune to suffering.
I am near Him. You
are dear Him. And yet we are
still held by gravity to a cursed rock, covered in sin and consequences.
Being a believer doesn't exempt you from problems.
Becoming a Christian isn't the end of problems...if it is, it's
the FRONT end! But now you
have somebody to help you with your problems.
Some preach that if
you are right with God, you will never be sick.
That if you are sick, you simply don't have enough faith.
That's not only dead wrong, it's a despicable lack of compassion.
Could Jesus have
prevented Lazarus from becoming sick?
Of course. But it was
allowed for the glory of God [v. 4]
ill.--The Apostle Paul
had a couple of helpers in the ministry.
One was names Erastus, the other Trophimus.
2 Timothy 4:20
Erastus abode at
He had given his life to
serve God, but he got sick.
Paul's young protege,
Timothy, is another example.
Paul told him how to medicate his...
1 Timothy 5:23
... often infirmities.
Our souls have been
redeemed, but our bodies have not yet.
Believers can get sick for different reasons:
*Deterioration-sin
takes it's course, as does time.
It's the 2nd law of thermodynamics...things don't wind up but
rather wind down. Things
don't gain energy but lose it.
Things aren't getting better, but worse.
Each of us is closer to death today than ever before in our
lives!
We don't stop aging when we
get saved. If we did, I
would look 6, instead of 25!
*Dissipation-we
give away our health when we eat wrong and don't exercise.
The laws of nature impact us the same as lost people.
Our bodies are God's temple, and we ought to respect His temple!
*Development-maybe
God is trying to do something in your life.
He can use a sickness to get our attention, like He did with Paul
[2 Cor. 12]. He was out of
control, out of line, and was humbled for service in the hands of God by
his thorn in the flesh.
*Discipline-In
1 Cor. 11 God corrected some with sickness for not treating the Lord's
Supper with respect, and there are several other examples of such in
Scripture, OT and NT.
The first of those is the
most likely for you, so don't ever judge someone who is sick, only judge
yourself.
There are no gates so
high and imposing as to shield the believer from the problems of life.
The rain falls on the just and the unjust.
Job said that if you are born of woman, your days will have
trouble.
Dearness...
2. Delay.
The M&M sisters did
the right thing, they took their problem to Jesus.
They didn't try to fix it themselves, which is what we often do.
I don't like the phrase, "All we can do is pray."
I know what we mean by that...that we've exhausted all human
resources...but prayer is not our last resort, it ought to be our first
impulse.
"I must tell Jesus, I
cannot bear my burdens alone."
The sisters did what
we should do, take it to Jesus.
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and
strength, a very present help in trouble.
He may seem absent,
but He is present, very present!
ill.--in WWI, a
wounded soldier lay on the battlefield.
His best friend, Jim, was in the trench.
He asked his C/O if he could go fetch his friend.
The answer was no...too dangerous.
But Jim was very insistent, and persuaded the officer.
Under heavy fire he ran the rescue, and he himself was wounded.
His buddy died anyway.
"Was it worth it?" asked the C/O. "Yes, because when I got to him
he was still alive, and he said to me, 'Jim, I knew you'd come.'"
When we are in trouble, we
can look to the Lord, and we'd better know He will come for us!
Now, Jesus may not
answer the way we want Him to.
And notice that the sisters didn't tell Jesus what to do.
They just asked Him to come.
And He may not come WHEN you want, but it WILL be in His perfect
timing.
Jesus loves Lazarus,
so in our minds, we imagine Him dropping everything and chartering the
fastest burrow money can buy.
But that's not what happened.
There was a delay...
v.6 Then it's gonna take another travel day once He finally
leaves. Can you imagine how
perplexing this is to the ladies?
They ask the messenger, where is He?
"I don't know!" They
ask, "What did Jesus say?"
v. 4 One problem:
Lazarus DID die. Did Jesus
get it wrong? No.
Jesus didn't say he wouldn't die, but rather that death wouldn't
be the final word of the matter.
Praise God, we can say the same.
My death may be fatal, but it won't be final!
Just as Jesus conquered
death for Himself He did it for us as well.
He is the firstfruits of the resurrection...and WE are the fruit!
Jesus is the prototype for converting death into life, and then
He started up mass production for us!
Jesus has power over
demons and cast them out with a word.
Jesus has power over
disease and with just a word ailments vanished.
Jesus has power over
danger, like the storm on the sea...He walked on those waves and could
still them like a whipped pup!
It was the water His disciples feared the most, and so Jesus
showed them that He had power over that which they feared the most...it
was just a sidewalk upon which He could come to them in their hour of
need. And the storms of this
life which seem over our head are under His feet!
And Jesus has power
over death! Death may knock
us down, but it cannot knock us out!
Just as 'up from the grave He arose', up from the grave we shall
rise as well.
Oh death where is thy
victory, Oh grave where is thy sting?!
God taunts death, for He is life!
It's like death was mouthing off to Jesus and He popped it in the
mouth and said, what have you got to say now?
Not so tough are you?
Looks like your mouth likes to write checks your body can't cash!
Jesus has the last
word, and when He says in v. 4 that this sickness is not unto death, He
reminds us that death is not the end of the story!
v. 4 "...but for the glory of God."
Jesus could have healed Lazarus before He died.
He chose not to. Why?
It was an opportunity for God to receive more glory!
And this is why Jesus
could say Lazarus is dead and I am glad...not because he was dead and
there was much heartbreak, but glad to have the opportunity work the
miracle, to be glorified, and for others to believe and be saved! [v.
15]
Now, what kind of
heartache, suffering, and sacrifice are you willing to accept gladly, if
you know it will result in God getting more glory?
Most of us, myself
included, are more concerned with our personal comfort than God's glory.
We say we want God to be glorified, but not necessarily at our
expense.
When Paul was given
that thorn in the flesh for the glory of God, his next sentence was:
Most gladly therefore will I accept this.
Their suffering, their
Savior [conclusion next
week]
Recommend this sermon to others.
Lazarus is Dead, and I am Glad, pt. 2
John 11
What a startling statement
by Jesus!
Their Suffering
1.
Dearness.
Nearness and dearness to
Jesus doesn't make us immune to suffering.
Could Jesus have prevented Lazarus from becoming sick?
Of course. But it was
allowed for the glory of God [v. 4]
2.
Delay.
Are you patiently waiting
for God in some area? Remember,
His delays are not necessarily denials.
He is sometimes early, but never late!
And this is why Jesus
could say Lazarus is dead and I am glad...not because he was dead and there
was much heartbreak, but glad to have the opportunity work the miracle, to
be glorified, and for others to believe and be saved! [v. 15]
Now, what kind of
heartache, suffering, and sacrifice are you willing to accept gladly, if you
know it will result in God getting more glory?
Their sorrow.
Imagine how devastated
Mary and Martha are when Lazarus stops breathing and goes limp in their
arms. They had called for Jesus,
they had waited for Him to walk thru the door, and now it's over...too late!
They thought it was over.
They were expecting the Good Shepherd to waltz thru the door and tenderly
pick up His little lamb, and instead, the grim reaper walks in!
They bury him, more days
go by, and THEN Jesus walks in.
Oh, it's you! They know He cares
about their brother, but now they are grief stricken.
What must go thru their minds?
Would it make them feel a little better to give Him a guilt trip?
What they don't know yet
is that with God, the impossible becomes possible!
Even death bows to Him.
It's not too late...and death is not the end of the story!
ill.--remember when the
children of
"Got any rivers you think
are uncrossable?
Got any mountains you
can't tunnel through?
God does the things you
thought were impossible.
He does the things that
others can't do."
Remember now, how
different Martha and Mary are.
v. 20
Martha is impulsive, and Mary is contemplative.
Martha has a few things
she's been waiting to say to Jesus, now that she hears He is close by.
v. 21 I think we can all imagine
the tone with which Martha says this, with her hand on her hip.
"Look who finally decided to show up...if it isn't the Lord of the
world!" I think she had some
anger to let out.
Now, how many of you men
can tell from a distance when you ought to keep your distance?
I have a feeling that the disciples fell back a little and said,
Jesus, you go ahead, we'll wait here.
Ever been there guys? Can
I get a witness? Some of you
guys are sitting next to your wife and you're too cowardly to say Amen!
Notice the tug of war in
Martha's heart.
v. 22 The tone changes sharply.
She is moving between sorrow and hope.
Her anger is mingled with faith, and she wants to believe Jesus can
still do something.
Remember now, we're the
same way. We bounce back and
forth like pinballs between sorrow and hope, and anger and faith.
Emotions swirl. Deep down
we know the truth, but we can't help how we feel.
In the tug of war in your
heart, I pray that faith wins the victory!
Their Savior
vv. 38-44a
Jesus had them roll the stone.
Couldn't He have done that, while He was working miracles anyway?
Jesus again wants human involvement, like He did back in chapter 2
with His first miracle, the water into wine.
He had them first fill the water pots.
Remember, God rarely does what only He can do until we do first what
we can do. They could get water,
but they couldn't turn it into wine.
They could roll the stone, but they couldn't raise Lazarus.
The same happened with the feeding of the five thousand.
Jesus had them fetch a little food.
Now, if He can create enough for the multitude, couldn't He make the
first portion too?
We're not good for much,
but just a little mustard seed of faith is all that is required to move
mountains in God's economy! The
disciples can't make something out of nothing, but they can fetch a little
boys and his lunch.
Jesus breaks the bread and
it multiplies into huge piles.
Then Jesus has the disciples deliver it to each one.
I gotta tell you, it would have been all the more incredible of a
miracle if Jesus had gone 'poof' and made each person's plate suddenly
appear in their laps...but it's the principle of personal involvement!
Are you personally involved?
Are you doing that which is least w/ your finances, such as tithing,
and being a good steward of the other 90% of God's money?
God won't do for you what only HE can do until He sees if you are
willing to do what YOU can do.
The irony:
You flip on so called "Christian Television" and you see them talking
about financial miracles...and a lot of desperate people are on there
because they need a miracle.
There's some health and wealth, prosperity preacher offering to pray over
some guy a prayer of debt cancellation.
And yet he's the one who went out and bought more house than he knew
could afford, put his furniture on credit, and blown money on everything his
heart desires, and now he's wanting a preacher to lay hands on him, snap his
fingers, say a word, bop him in the head, blow in his face, and cancel his
debt.
Could it be there may be
some things God wants this individual to learn before He swoops in and saves
the day?
4 Financial Principles:
· Priority--putting God first.
Proverbs 3:9
Honour the LORD with thy
substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
God is waiting for us to
put Him first in our finances.
He wants for us to do what we can do before He does something that only He
can do.
Malachi 3:10
Bring ye all the tithes into the
storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith,
saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and
pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough
to receive it.
· Industry--working hard. [not hardly working]
Proverbs 20:4
The sluggard will not plow by
reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have
nothing.
Too many people are itching for things they aren't willing to scratch for.
· Generosity--giving above the tithe.
Luke 6:38
Give, 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.
We can handle our finances with an open hand or a clinched fist. God blesses the open hand of generosity!
· Responsibility--being a good steward.
Proverbs 27:23-24
23 Be thou diligent to know the state
of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
24 For riches are not for
ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?
You ought to know where you are at
financially. You need a budget,
and the top line should be God!
Another example:
We all want God to grow our church, amen?
And we all know it has to be HIM who does it right?
But could He be waiting for us to do what we can do?
Can we expect Him to just 'make it happen' if we aren't visiting,
inviting, praying, and working ... doing what we can do?
How exciting it would be if we would all take personal responsibility
and initiative with what is in our power to do, and then we are allowed to
sit back and enjoy watching God do what only He can do!
GROW - God rewards our
work!
Jesus said, you guys roll
away the stone...something they could do.
Then Jesus did what only He could do, and raised Lazarus from the
dead! And good thing Jesus
addresses him by name, and said 'LAZARUS, come forth', or every corpse in
that graveyard would have burst out of the ground!
And like Lazarus, if you
are saved, you too are Jesus' friend!
The resurrection applies to you as well.
One difference, Lazarus died again years later.
He came out of that initial tomb in his former body, not his
permanent, glorified body like we will one day...in the likeness of Christ,
to never die again.
Every human will be
resurrected, not just the Christians.
Question is, which resurrection will you be a part of?
Daniel 12:2
And many of them that sleep in the
dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame
and everlasting contempt.
Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy is he
that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no
power...
Revelation 20:14-15
14 And death and hell were cast into
the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found
written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
"Well, you're just a hell
fire, damnation preacher."
Guilty.
"You're just trying to
scare me." If you're not saved,
you ought to be scared. This
book is scary, but it also has the answers if we'll face it honestly.
I'd rather scare you into heaven than be guilty of lulling you into
hell.
Death is not the end.
You will be raised. Death
is not annihilation, but separation unto something else.
What will it be for you?
Recommend this sermon to others.
Grace Notes Sermon Ministry:
NOTICE! Our sermons are free to download, copy and paste, edit and use as you see fit...but only our free subscribers get the newest messages, featured sermons, and some free gifts we shower on them from time to time!
Help keep this service free by recommending it
using the links above the sermon
All Sermons and PowerPoint Slideshow Presentations ©Copyright Jerry Shirley and Grace Notes Ministries® unless otherwise credited. These resources are yours to use freely, but only in public worship services or private study groups and devotions. They may not be sold, republished or retransmitted in any form without written permission.
