Read John 11:1-16
This morning we continue our series entitled, “The Year of Supernatural Manifestation”, with our mini-series on “The Miracles of Jesus.” John 11 opens announcing that a man named Lazarus is sick. This man was from Bethany. He was the brother of Mary and Martha; the same Mary who poured perfume on Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair. Jesus had a close relationship with this family. He stayed at their home whenever He visited Jerusalem. He ate their food, slept on their beds, and surely had several great conversations with them. Their relationship with Jesus afforded them a luxury very few enjoyed. They were able to send a personal message to Jesus if they ever needed something. In this case the message was, “Lord, the one who you love is sick.” Most of us would assume that Jesus had a close relationship with Mary, because of her act of worship and sacrifice, but this statement lets us know that Jesus was also very close to Lazarus, her brother.
As close as Mary and Martha may have been to Jesus, the sisters called Lazarus the “one” Jesus loved. When Jesus received the message He immediately perceived what the outcome would be. He saw, in the spirit, the end from the beginning and He spoke what He saw. Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, this sickness is for the glory of God. This has happened to bring glory to the Son of God.”
I will stop here for today.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Appreciate your personal relationship with God.
a) Your personal relationship with Father, through Christ Jesus, His Son, affords you a luxury unbelievers do not have. Mary and Martha were able to send a direct message to Jesus, because they had a relationship with Him. Others, who did not know Him, could not do so. Guess what? The same rings true today. If you are Born-Again, you can reach the Father every second of every day. You call out to Him, in the name of His son, Your savior, Jesus the Christ, and He hears you when you call! Your God is never more than a call away!
b) Whenever situations arise that exceed your power, ability and strength, take advantage of your relationship with the Father and invoke His involvement through prayer.
c) God is acquainted with you intimately. He knows everything about you. As you develop your relationship with Him, the better you get to know Him, the more comfortable you will be with getting Him involved with every area/aspect of your life.
2. Rest in the fact that God knows the end from the beginning.
a) When you pray, remember that you are not sending breaking news to God. He already knows.
b) The prophet Isaiah told us that God knows the end from the beginning (Is 46:10). This means He already knows what happened AND what the outcome will be.
c) God knows everything. He knows all you have done and all you will do. He knows all that has happened in your life and all that will happen. So when you are approaching Him in prayer, you don’t have to waste time telling Him what happened. Focus on your time in prayer on the outcome, not the situation.
d) What happened may have been a surprise to you, but you can rest in the fact that it was NOT a surprise to God. He already knew, He is not surprised, and He already prepared you for it!
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me. I find peace in knowing that You know all things. You know the end from the beginning. You sit on the circle of the earth. You know my thoughts before I think them, my cares before I feel them, my concerns before I share them, and my actions before I take them. You know everything. You knowing gives me peace. If something is ever a surprise to me, I rest in the fact that it was NOT a surprise to You! You already knew and You have already prepared me for such a time as this! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
