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
Now that we have covered the story of Lazarus from sickness to resurrection, I need to let you know what happened next. The Bible says:
(John 11:45-53 ERV)
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.
So what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. God is seeking to get the glory out of your life’s challenges.
— 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 was use what the devil meant for evil and turned it around for good.
— 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.
— Many people believed in Jesus as a result of this miracle. They were amazed to see Lazarus walking around when they knew he had died and remained dead for four days. God was glorified through the challenge that hit the house of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. In a similar fashion, God can be glorified through your life’s challenges. So while you are facing difficulties, say, “Lord, I know you did not bring this upon me. But my heart is OPEN to see how you can be glorified through it!?“
— Think about whatever situation you are facing this morning. If it’s hard, difficult, or even seemingly impossible, don’t blame God. Instead, keep your heart open to the Holy Spirit, so He can reveal to you how God can turn the situation around and use it for His glory. What the devil means for evil, God can turn around and use for good.
2. God wants to use you for His glory.
— Seeing yourself as Mary, Martha, or Lazarus in the story is understandable. Most people read a story like this and immediately identify with the person Jesus ministered to. However, you must graduate to the point where you see yourself as Jesus in the story.
— 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!
— 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 by God supernaturally.
— Shift perspective from the one being ministered to into the perspective of the one doing the ministering.
— Become a carrier of God’s presence, ready to be used for His divine purposes.
— Jesus was God in the flesh. He was the incarnation of the divine, and we are the continuation of His incarnation. How Jesus lived and what Jesus did, is how we are supposed to live as well. See yourself “as Jesus in, in this world!” (1 Jn 4:17).
3. God being glorified in a situation does not mean the situation will not have opposition.
The council of priests and Pharisees realized that if they did not take action to stop Jesus, everyone would believe in Him. They were more concerned about their physical temple than 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.
— Be aware that challenges and resistance may arise from unexpected sources. Many times, it will be from people close to you or those who are supposed to be on your side.
— In some sick way, the High Priest (Caiaphas) believed that killing Jesus would actually unify the Jews. 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! Said another way, no amount of opposition can stop the flow of God’s grace to you for your divine calling!
— Seek to discern the misguided intentions of those who oppose you, but don’t let the actions of others derail your faith. You can be aware of their attacks while still walking in the love of God. Never let the actions of a few cause you to get bitter or callous toward other people.
4. When you are a conduit of God’s glory, anything can happen, so we must be OPEN to God and how He wants to be glorified in any given situation.
— Understand that opposition is an inevitable part of being a vessel for God’s work.
— Remain focused on God’s guidance and wisdom (being led by the Holy Spirit), rather than getting discouraged by the opposition.
— Use opposition as an opportunity to glorify God, grow spiritually, and become more resilient in your faith.
— The point of being cognizant of God’s presence is to allow His glory to be manifested in, with, and through our lives.
— Acknowledge God’s ability to turn negative situations into positive outcomes!
— Remind yourself that God did not cause the troubles, but He can surely provide deliverance!
— Draw strength from God’s promises and His unwavering love for you!
That’s enough for today.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me!
You are God, supernatural in nature! 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 ON me, IN me, WITH me and FOR me.
I take You into every situation, and while there, I 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!
GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
