We will start with a quick testimony:
Yesterday was Mother’s Day, and I pray all the mothers felt celebrated and appreciated. We did our best to celebrate Isabella. A few days before Mother’s Day, Isabella was celebrated in a way that I want to share with you.
Isabella is the CEO of Inspired Solutions, Inc. She was recognized by the Women Presidents Organization (WPO), in partnership with JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking, as the leader of one of the 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies in the United States. The companies recognized have generated over $9.4 billion in revenue and employed approximately 19,000 people. For Isabella to be in that number is a blessing.
To me, this is another example of #TheGraceLife.
Read more about this at https://www.women-presidents.com/news-events/50-fastest/
This morning, we continue our series, “The Miracles of Jesus.” Before we get into the miracle, let’s look at the foundational scripture I will share with you all year.
(Psalm 126:4 TPT)
Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again.
This is a season of refreshing and restoring for us. I pray you get refreshed and restored as we study each miracle.
Read John 11
We have been through this miracle several times now. I have been giving you lessons we can glean from it. We will continue today.
So what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. Jesus Feels Our Pain.
— “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). These two words, the shortest verse in the Bible, reveal the depth of Jesus’ compassion and empathy.
— Even though Jesus knew He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead, He was still moved to tears by the sorrow and mourning around Him.
— In our own struggles and heartaches, when we are facing debilitating challenges, we can take comfort in knowing that Jesus understands our pain and grieves with us.
— Our God was a human. One of the profound reasons Jesus left the splendor of heaven to experience life as we do— to walk our paths, face our temptations, feel our emotions, and endure our pain— is to truly understand our human condition.
— The book of Hebrews says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” (4:15). Jesus, our High Priest, stands in heaven as our representative before the Father. He deeply resonates with our experiences. Jesus is no stranger to pain, discomfort, or disillusionment. His time spent on earth enables Him to deeply understand our circumstances from His heavenly perspective. Remember that, when you pray. You are praying to a God who understands..
2. Faith Can Move Mountains.
— Despite the seemingly hopeless situation, Jesus asked Martha, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” (John 11:40).
— Lazarus had been dead for four long days when Jesus asked Martha that question. This is a reminder that God can literally do anything. If He could bring Lazarus back to life, then surely He can do whatever you need Him to do in your life today. But like Jesus asked Martha, “Do you believe?” You must have faith that sees the invisible and believes in the impossible.
— Faith challenges our natural perspectives. Absorbed in her grief, Martha viewed the situation from a purely human perspective. Jesus challenged her to elevate her vision and see with spiritual eyes. Faith has the capacity to shift our perspective from the natural to the supernatural, opening our eyes to God’s possibilities.
— Faith can open the door for God’s miracles even in our darkest moments when all hope seems lost. We must hold onto our faith, for with God, all things are possible.
— Faith welcomes divine intervention. When we pray, in faith, amid a seemingly impossible situation, we welcome God to do what He can do! We are giving Him permission to perform miracles and reveal His glory in our lives.
— Faith requires courage. It takes courage to believe in the face of adversity. When the doctors say, “We have done all we can do.” When the lawyers say, “Sorry, but it does not look like this will turn our well for us.” When the bank says, “I am sorry, but you are out of time.” If God gave you a WORD, then you must STAND on that Word, in faith, without wavering, without a doubt, fully believing that God will do what He said He would do in your life!
— Faith Gives Birth to Hope. I have to explain this point. In one sense, faith adds substance to our hope (Heb 11:1); meaning that hope is open-ended, and faith adds substance to it, because it is tied to a promise from God. However, there is a form of faith that is not directly tied to a specific promise. There are levels of faith:
a) Faith in the works (what you see).
b) Faith in the Word (what you read in the Bible).
c) Faith in a Rhema Word (what God spoke to you).
d) Faith in God (this is a general faith in God and His commitment to you).
In this last form of faith, when you have faith in God, you believe that He will do what He planned to do in your life. Even when you have not seen anything, read anything, or heard anything, you still believe that God will ensure His best comes to pass in your life. When you have this type of faith, it gives birth to HOPE, even in situations where all human hope seems lost! This hope does not disappoint, because it is anchored in God’s unchanging character.
I will close this point with something Jesus said to His disciples in Mark 11.
(Mark 11:22-24 NKJV)
22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.
23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
3. Nothing is Beyond God’s Power!
— Lazarus wasn’t just asleep or momentarily dead. He had been in the tomb for four days. From a human point of view, he was about as dead as you can be. This underscores the finality of his condition.
— This miracle shows us that nothing is beyond God’s power. Not even death itself. No situation is too hopeless, no problem too big, no mistake too great for God to handle.
— God’s power defies human logic. The resurrection of Lazarus defied all human logic and understanding. It’s a reminder that God’s power is not limited by human reasoning or scientific laws. So please do not “think” your way out of faith!
— God’s power is not limited by time or space! There were miracles that Jesus performed when He did not GO. He just spoke. His words went where He did not need to go. His power is limited by space. In the miracle of Lazarus, Jesus showed God’s power over time. God is not restricted by time. Whether it’s a situation that’s been dead for four days, four years, or forty years, God can still breathe life into it.
I have more, but that’s enough for today.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me!
While I may have had some dry areas in my life, in this season, my heart is being drenched again. I have fresh wind, fresh fire, and a fresh anointing.
I believe again. My faith is rekindled. My passion is restored. My hope is revived. I believe in a God who can do anything!
There is nothing too hard for You! No mountain is too high. No valley is too low. No challenge is too difficult. It’s never too hard, and it’s never too late!
No matter what I face, I do so knowing that my God is with me and He can do all things!
I believe in a God of miracles. I believe in a God who can give life to dead situations. So I enter this day, and this week, looking UP and not down, FORWARD and not backward, knowing that the best is yet to come!
GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
