DEAD FOLK COME ALIVE IN JESUS
John 11:38-44
DEATH BY CHOICE
This
is the ending of the story of the raising of Lazarus, the brother of Mary and
Martha.
The text tells us that when word came to Jesus that Lazarus was sick,
He
waited four days before He responded to the request of Mary and Martha to
come
to heal him. By the time Jesus got to the
home of Mary and Martha, Lazarus
had
been dead four days.
Mary,
Martha and Lazarus loved Jesus. Jesus loved them. Jesus was entertained at
their
home
from time to time. They had a close relationship with Jesus. Yet Jesus, didn't
show
up
until Lazarus was dead. Jesus didn't show up until there was sorrow, crying,
grief and
unbelief.
Jesus didn't show up until the man he loved was in the grave.
When
Jesus heard that Lazarus was on his death bed, He said, this sickness is not
unto
death. It was like Jesus was saying, death is no big deal. WOW! John 11:4
Sometimes,
God uses our grief to draw us to Him.
GRIEVED BY OUR UNBELIEF
V:38. " Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the
tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. "
A. Jesus was deeply moved not by death, but by unbelief.
1. Jesus was
deeply moved because we put so much emphasis on this life in the flesh
and little on
our heavenly home.
2. Jesus was deeply
moved because our focus is on this world
and not on heaven.
3. Jesus was
deeply moved because our focus is on this short life not the eternal life
that only He
can provide.
4. Jesus was
deeply moved because we are focus on what is temporary rather than
what is permanent.
5. The text says
Jesus groaned because we know about Him but have not taken the
time to get
to know Him.
6. We weep, cry
and are sorrowful for that which is unimportant, but we don't
groan in our
spirit for our heavenly home.
B. Lazarus was dead
in his grave, locked in a tomb.
1. We start our
lives dead, locked in a tomb of sin.
2. We were born in
sin and shaped in iniquity.
3. We were born
dead. There was no life in us.
4. We were born in
darkness, blocked from the eternal light.
Isa 42:7
5. This scene at
the tomb is us at our physical birth.
FOLLOW GOD'S COMMANDS
V:39 "Take away the stone," he said. "But,
Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there
is a bad odor, for he has been there four days."
A. The Good News about the tomb is that it is not a permanent position.
1. The Good News
about the tomb is that it is not the final resting place.
2. The Good News
about the tomb is that it is man made.
3. The Good News
about the tomb is that it belongs to God.
4. The Good News
about the tomb is that it is a place of transition.
5. The Good News
about the tomb is that it is under the control of God.
6. The Good News
about the tomb is Jesus has overcome the tomb.
7. The Good News
about the tomb is that Jesus is on the outside.
B. The only one who can open our tombs is Jesus.
1. The only one who
can bring light into our lives is Jesus.
2. At the command
of Jesus, light is made available to us.
3. You need a
relationship with Jesus to get out of the tomb.
4. Jesus said,
"I am the resurrection and the Life". John 11:25
ETERNAL LIFE IS THE GLORY OF GOD
V:40. " Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that
if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"
A. The truth is, we are waiting for God to do some great
miracle as a sign of His presence
in our lives.
1. But, Jesus is
doing miracles every moment of our lives.
2. All we have to
do is open our eyes and we will continue to see His miracles.
a. When you
woke up this morning it was a miracle.
b. Go into any
hospital room and you will see those who are sick because they have
something in their bodies that has quit
functioning and the doctor don't
know what
to do.
c. It only
Jesus that maintains good health.
B. We have to believe
what we see in creation are miracles of God.
1. When you
consider that all that you see here on earth was called into
creation by the
Jesus that you serve, you will understand that you live
in the Glory
of God.
2. Look at the sun
in the morning and see the glory of God.
3. Look at the moon
and the stars and see the Glory of God.
4. Look in the
mirror now and see the Glory of God.
C. The bad news about tomb is it stinks.
1. The stink in the
tomb is the sins of mankind.
2. The stink in the
tomb is man's unbelief.
3. The stink in the
tomb is man's disobedience.
4. The stink in the
tomb is all the bodies destined for hell.
GRATEFULNESS IN PRAYER
V:41. " So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked
up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me."
A. There is nothing you can think or say that Jesus does not
know about.
1. When we begin
our prayers, we ought to begin with thanks.
2. We ought to
thank Jesus for hearing us.
3. The Lord always
hears us.
B. Notice, our blessing begins with our obedience.
1. Some miracles
are daily and available to everyone.
2. Some miracles
are specific to the prayers of believers.
3. Some miracles
are specific to the prayers of believers who are obedient
to God's
commands.
4. I think some miracles are specific to the
prayers of believers who love
the Lord.
GOD RESPONDS TO OUR PRAYERS
V:42. " I knew that you always hear me, but I said this
for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you
sent me."
A. We have to speak confidence into our prayers.
1. We should let
others know that we are confident that God will answer our
prayers.
2. There is
someone weak in their faith that will be encouraged by your trust in God.
B. Notice, the text says our faith in Jesus not only benefits
us, but the faith of others
standing by.
1. Our testimony
about Jesus ought to be shared with others.
2. Someone may be
going through what you went through and just need some
conformation
that God does answer prayers.
GOD'S ELECT ARE CALLED OUT OF THE WORLD
V:43. " When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud
voice, "Lazarus, come out!"
A. It is on the command of Jesus, that we are called out of
our sins. Eph 4:4
1. Jesus elected
the time to call Lazarus from the dead.
2. Jesus elected the time to call each of us
out of darkness into His marvelous light .
B. Lazarus sisters had him on their mind and took the
time to call on Jesus.
1. I believe we all
know some one who needs our prayers.
2. Lazarus knew
Jesus, but he needed the prayers of his sisters.
3. Sometime others
can see out need for prayer in a specific
area before
we see it.
a. Something
unexpected can happen when others pray for us..
LOSED AT THE COMMAND OF JESUS
V:44. " The dead man came out, his hands and feet
wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them,
"Take off the grave clothes and let him go."
A. Anyone that does not know Christ as their personal Savior
is bounded by the sins
that entangles
them. Heb 12:1
1. Sin blinds us
from the light of Jesus.
2. Sin keeps us in
the darkness of the world.
B. Only Jesus has the power to lose us from our sins.
1. Faith in His
death on the cross is our way to salvation.
2. His blood shed
on the cross atones for our sins.
3. His Word washes
us clean of our sins. John 15:3
4. The blood of
Jesus can never lose it's power.
C. It is faith in Jesus that provides eternal life. John 11:26
1. The job before
us is tell those around us the Good News about Jesus.
2. The job before
us is to tell others about our love for Jesus.
3. The job before us is to tell someone what
Jesus has done in our lives.
4. The Job before us is point others to Jesus
5. The job before
us is to tell others that the consequence for unbelief is
eternal
separation from God.
6. The job before
us is to tell others that the way to heaven is through faith in
Jesus.
7. Jesus said,
"I am the way, the truth and the life". John 14:6
BE A TESTIMONY FOR JESUS
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia
Baptist Church
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