(John 11:41-44 NIV) So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 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.” When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 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.”
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.
After all the talking, after all the tears, and after all the delays (due to Martha’s interruptions), they finally took away the stone. They granted Jesus acces to their pain-point. Jesus was now free to do what He was there to do. The sisters had done their part and Jesus was ready to do His.
Jesus had already prayed. He already knew what was going to happen, but He spoke out loud with the Father, for the benefit of those standing there. He was already a believer. He already believed that Lazarus was coming back from the dead. He already trusted the Father. But Jesus wanted this act of God’s power to be a witness to all present. Jesus knew that this miracle would cause them to expand their capacity to believe. He knew that this would stretch them and their faith. He said, “Lazarus, come out!” That was it. He spoke just three words, but these were three words spoken in faith. These were three words declared in complete confidence in the power of God. And just like that, the spirit of Lazarus rushed back into his four-day-dead body. His heart started pumping again. His lungs filled up with air again. His veins started distributing blood again. The synapses in his brain started firing again. He was outside of his body for four long days and his spirit brought life to his body AGAIN!
Lazarus struggled his way out of the cave, covered from head to toe with strips of linen. I am sure he looked like a mummy from an old movie. He was alive, but he was still wrapped up in grave clothes. He was alive, but he was still covered in ‘dead stuff.’ So Jesus said to the others who were there, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” I like the way the King James Version puts it: “Loose him, and let him go.” Lazarus was alive, but bound. He had life, but he did not have freedom. And what I like about it was that he could not get free all by himself. Jesus sent others to help him get free from the ‘dead-stuff’ that was keeping him bound. That’s how it is with us when we get Born-Again. Are we alive in Christ? Yes! Do we have eternal life in Him? Absolutely. But we come out of the cave of our old life wrapped up in ‘dead stuff.’ As much as we try, we cannot free ourselves of all the dead stuff that keeps bound. We need the help of others, co-laborers in God, and the power of God Himself, to walk in the freedom God desires for us to have.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
- Determine within yourself to be the one of the believers who gets results from God. This will require you to come to God a pure heart and strong faith. God loves all His children, but He is pleased with those who live by faith and produce fruit. His love and His pleasure are not the same thing.
- Continue to believe, no matter how dead the situation seems. We serve a God that can give life to dead situations! Nothing you face is ever beyond God’s power.
- Don’t allow frustration to blind you from possibilities. Once you lose your joy and peace, frustration will set in. Once frustration sets in, you are no longer in faith. Once you are no longer in faith, you have closed to the door to God and His power.
- You can be Born-Again, alive in Christ, and still wrapped-up in dead stuff. Like Lazarus when he first came out of the womb, you can be alive in Christ and still bound. Your heart can be pumping blood, and your body can still be tangled in dead matters. When you are Born-Again your spirit is alive, but your soul does not know how to match your conduct to your condition. Salvation is instantaneous, sanctification is a process. You were saved in a moment, and after that moment you begin a lifelong journey to learn to become like Jesus in this world.
- You can’t do it by yourself. It’s time-out for lone rangers in Christ. Lazarus could not get free by himself and Jesus did not expect him to. Jesus literally sent people to help him and He will do the same with you. There is strength in numbers. There is safety in a multitude of counselors. Allow others to help you in your Christian journey. There are people who want to help, receive their help and grow in Christ!
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me. I am growing in You, because I am dying to me. Thank You for giving me real-life examples in scripture I can identify with. I can connect with the pain of Mary and Martha. I can relate to their frustration and I can learn from what they did (both good and bad). I will add patience to my faith and maintain my joy and peace as I walk with You. I thank You for surrounding me with great brothers and sisters in Christ. I don’t have to walk this walk by myself and I am glad about it. You send people to help me and I will receive their help. Together, we grow into the people You have called, destined, designed and desire for us to be. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
1 comment
I am blessed thanks