Lazarus (Part 18) – Glory and Opposition

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.

Now that we have covered the story from Lazarus getting sick to him being resurrected, I need to let you know what happened next.  The Bible says:

“There were many Jews who came to visit Mary.  When they saw what Jesus did, many of them believed in him.  But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus did.  Then the leading priests and Pharisees called a meeting of the high council.  They said, “What should we do?  This man is doing many miraculous signs.  If we let him continue doing these things, everyone will believe in him. Then the Romans will come and take away our Temple and our nation.”  

One of the men there was Caiaphas.  He was the high priest that year. He said, “You people know nothing!  It is better for one man to die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.  But you don’t realize this.”  Caiaphas did not think of this himself.  As that year’s high priest, he was really prophesying that Jesus would die for the Jewish people.  Yes, he would die for the Jewish people.  But he would also die for God’s other children scattered all over the world.  He would die to bring them all together and make them one people.  That day the Jewish leaders began planning to kill Jesus.” (John 11:45-53 ERV)

So what does this mean to you today?  A few things.

1.  God is seeking to get the glory out of your life’s challenges.

a)  God did not create the sickness that attacked Lazarus’ body.  Nor did He cause the sickness to eventually end in death.  But what He did do was use what the devil meant for evil, and turned it around for good.

b)  God does not cause bad things to happen to you, just so He can turn around and deliver you from them.  That would make God sick and sadistic.  But God does seek to manifest His glory in every situation: good or bad.  So no matter how bad a situation seems, God can manifest His power in it and get glory from it.

c)  Many people believed in Jesus as a result of this miracle.  They were amazed to see Lazarus walking around, when they knew he died and remained dead for four days.  God was glorified through the challenge that hit the house of Mary, Martha and Lazarus.  He can be glorified through your life’s challenges as well.

2.  God wants to use you for His glory.

a)  Seeing yourself as Mary, Martha or Lazarus in the story is understandable.  Most people read a story like this and they immediately identify with the person Jesus ministered to.  However, you must graduate to the point where you see yourself as Jesus in the story.

b)  The purpose of this series is twofold.  First, I want you to believe in God’s miracle-working power.  Second, I want you to believe that God’s miracle-working power can flow through YOU!

c)  You must see yourself as a carrier of God.  You are a human conduit of the divine.  When you see yourself this way, you are able to be used of God supernaturally.

3.  God being glorified in a situation does not mean the situation will not have opposition.

a)  The council of Priests and Pharisees acknowledged the fact that if Jesus was not stopped, everyone was going to believe in Him.  They were more concerned about their physical temple then God’s invisible Kingdom.  In like manner, you will sometimes face the fiercest opposition from people who claim to be on your side.  Not everyone who is “with” you is “for” you.

b)  In some sick way, the High Priest (Caiaphas), believed that killing Jesus would actually unify the Jews.  See, the devil will blind the minds of your opposers to the point where they think they are actually doing the right thing, in God’s eyes, while they are coming against you.  But here’s the good news: their poison cannot stop your purpose!

Closing Confession:  Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me.  You are a supernatural God.  You are not limited to the natural laws of this world.  You live in me.  This makes me a carrier of God.  I am a human conduit of the divine.  Your presence IN me, means human limits can no longer confine me.  I see myself as Jesus in this world.  You are IN me, ON me, WITH me and FOR me.  I take You into every situation with me, and I then position myself to be used OF You, for Your glory.  Opposition may come.  Haters may hate.  Arrows may fly.  Doors may shut.  But nothing and no one can stop me when I am doing Your will.  You will be glorified in, with and through me!  I declare this by faith.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

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