A Tale of Two Sisters (Part 7)

(John 11:12-15 NIV)  His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.”  Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.  So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

This morning we continue our new series entitled, “Faith and Patience VOL III – Never Give Up!” by continuing with the story of Mary and Martha.  Yesterday we saw how Jesus plainly told His disciples that Lazarus was dead.  The fact that Jesus allowed the situation to get to the point where Lazarus died led to many questions.  While the Bible does not say it, I am the family was left wondering why Jesus had not shown up.  The disciples were wondering why Jesus had decided to stand pat for two more days.  But Jesus said, “For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe.”  Did they not believe already?  I believe they (the disciples) did, but only to a certain level.  Jesus was saying that their capacity to believe God would be expanded/stretched by this situation.  Back in 2006 I taught a series entitled “Expanding Your Capacity to Believe God.”  It was the longest series I ever shared.  I taught on this topic all year.  In the series I taught how our belief system is the foundation for our faith.  If we don’t believe something, then we will never come to God in-faith for it.  But our experiences with God enable us to expand our capacity to believe God in ways that we were not able to before.  The more we walk with God, the more we experience, and the more we expand our capacity to believe, the more we take our artificial limits off of our limitless God.

Jesus was not glad that Lazarus was dead; He loved Lazarus and the family.  There is no way Jesus wanted to cause Mary and Martha unnecessary pain.  But He was glad that the situation was so grave, so bad, so impossible, and so hopeless, that God would get the glory and all those involved would expand their capacity to believe God.  Jesus had already said that the situation would not end in death.  He knew that when news of this miracle got out it was going to shake the kingdom of darkness and bring glorify to the Kingdom of God.

I like the way the God’s Word translation translated verse 15.  It says, “But I’m glad that I wasn’t there so that you can grow in faith.”  I already said that our belief system is the foundation for our faith.  When we expand our capacity to believe God we can “Grow in faith.”  Jesus once said, “As far as possibilities go, everything is possible for the person who believes” (Mark 9:23).  Don’t just pass over those words.  Read them again.  Remember, this was Jesus speaking and He literally said that there are no impossibilities for person who believes.  None!  Not one. Jesus’ point was that we are only limited by our capacity to believe.  If we can believe God can do it, and we build up the confidence to ask God for it (in-faith), then we are no longer the stumbling block.  Once we get to that point and once our faith switch is in the “ON” position, then God is free to do it.  Now, I am not saying that God is our puppet and that we get to manipulate Him.  I would never teach that.  What I am saying is that we hinder Him when we fail to believe and operate in faith.  Once we do our part (to expand our capacity to believe and to stand in faith), then we free Him to do His (to manifest His glory).  When we fail to believe God can or will do it – when we believe the situation is dead or over, then we lose our faith and we will not see God’s best – and it won’t be God’s fault.  Jesus believed and He wanted so badly for His disciples to believe.  I am convinced that He wants us to believe as well.  If we can believe, we position ourselves to receive.

So what does this mean to you today?  Three quick things:

1.  There are no impossibilities in God.  There is literally NOTHING God can’t do.

2.  You limit God’s ability to move in your life by your capacity to believe Him.

3.  If you can believe God can and you have faith that He will, you release Him to do it in your life.

Closing Confession:  Father, I know, I trust, I believe, and I am convinced that there are no impossibilities for You.  I take my limits off of You.  You are a limitless God and I no longer limit You with weak faith, fear, doubt, or unbelief.  My experiences with You help me to expand my capacity to believe You.  I declare by faith that I am a believer and not a doubter.  I walk in faith and not fear.  I walk in blessing and not cursing.  No matter what it looks like, I believe You can and I have faith that You will.  While I wait for the manifestation of it, I keep my faith switch in the “ON” position, and no matter how bad things get along the way I refuse to quit!  While I wait I maintain a smile on my face; fully expecting that it shall come to pass!  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper!