Read John 11
This morning we continue our series entitled, “The Year of Supernatural Manifestation”, with our mini-series on “The Miracles of Jesus.” Let’s continue with the story of Lazarus.
In yesterday’s message we saw how Jesus was so moved by Mary’s position of worship and the condition of her heart that He was ready to act. He asked, “Where have you laid him?” and He busted into tears. Mary’s worship touched Jesus in a way that Martha’s words never could. Jesus was ready to move, so they headed to the tomb. The gravesite was a cave sealed with a large stone. When they arrived at the gravesite Jesus said something the Father often tells us today. Jesus said, “Roll away the stone.” Remember, God will not force Himself upon you. Jesus was there, He was ready, He was willing, and He was able, but He was not going to move the stone away for them. He was not going to open up the door. He was not going to reopen the wound. He was not going to peel back the pain. This was something that they had to do themselves. They had to grant Jesus access to the situation. Once they allowed Him access, He would do the rest.
At this point Martha almost messed-up the situation again. She had already frustrated Jesus with her lack of faith, which caused Jesus to ask to speak to Mary. Mary only said 12 words – the same 12 words that Martha initially said – but since she said them in a different way, from a position of surrender and worship, Jesus moved into action. Mary did her part and Jesus and He was ready to move on their behalf. They had already walked to the gravesite. The stage was set for the miracle. Mary did not have to say anything else; her heart had already spoken volumes. Mary was ready, Jesus was ready, and Lazarus (although dead) was ready. Everything seemed to be going well. The only thing left was the removing of the stone. But here comes Martha saying, “But, Lord, it has been four days since Lazarus died. The body is stinking by now!” Can you believe that? Jesus was the resurrection and the life personified. Jesus was God in the flesh. Jesus was THE ANSWER to all their questions. Jesus was ready to do perform the impossible. And Martha was complaining about a smell?
Martha was so blinded by her situation that she had no clue what was about to happen. If she realized that Jesus was about to raise her brother from the dead, the odor would not have mattered. But sometimes our situation stinks so bad to us that we fail to see what God wants to do in our lives. Jesus replied, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” We will deal with that statement tomorrow.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Never allow the pain of your situation to blind you to God’s power.
a) Martha lost her joy and peace. She lost her faith and patience. There was a point in the story where Martha believed Jesus would show up and heal Lazarus. But the sting of death changed everything. The door of possibility was closed in her heart and mind.
b) When Jesus told Martha that he was the resurrection and the life, that those believed in Him, although dead, could live again, it went right over her head. She could receive what Jesus was saying because her heart was hurting.
c) Even when Jesus was physically present and obviously willing to move on her behalf, she could not see it, receive it, or believe it. The pain of the situation had blinded her and she did not want to peel back the possibility of Jesus doing something ‘now,’ because it would reopen the wounds. Learn from her life. Learn that there are no impossibilities in God and learn to never fully close the door of possibilities.
d) We all go through painful situations, because God never promised us a pain-free life. But never allow your pain to keep you from God’s purpose.
2. Your heart must be open to receive God’s limitless possibilities.
a) When Jesus said, “Roll away the stone”, Martha’s heart was so closed to the limitless possibilities of God that she actually complained about the stench of the body. God-in-the-flesh, Jesus, was ready to raise her brother from the dead and all she could think about was now much the body was stinking after four days. This is what happens when you close the door of your heart to God’s limitless power.
b) The point of this series (The Miracles of Jesus), is to open your heart to God’s limitless power. If you can believe that Jesus caused the blind to see, lame to walk, dumb to speak, deaf to hear and dead to rise, then surely you can believe God to do something about the situation you are facing this morning.
c) When you open your heart to God’s limitless power, you are no longer the issue. At that point, God is free to move and you will be amazed by what He does. You will see that His will far surpasses anything you could have ever dreamed up on your own.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me. I am a believer, not a doubter, and I don’t take that lightly. I believe You and I keep the door of possibility open in my life. Not everything that happens is good, but by Your grace, I will maintain my joy and peace while I walk and live by faith. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. Sometimes we have to endure painful situations. But I refuse to allow my pain to blind me from Your purpose. You will never leave me, nor forsake me. You are always with me. Your presence gives me both joy and peace. I have the excitement of joy and the serenity of peace. My heart is open to believe and my spirit is open to receive. I am ready for Your will to be done in my life, on earth, as it is in heaven. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
