You had this plan for your life, this dream you thought was going to fall into place but not only has it not falling into place but it has died. When it seems our prospects don’t have a pulse it’s not because God doesn’t care. God will let something die so we can see only what God can do happen. In these moments when we feel hopeless and that God has forgotten us the story of Lazarus gives us a clear understanding of what’s really going on. 

In football the head coach is given a red flag that he can throw out when he feels the referees have made a bad call on a play that gives the opposing team an advantage. Obviously you and I have made plenty mistakes, there are times in our lives where we want to through the red flag at God because it looks like He hasn’t made the right call. Because if He really new what was going on He wouldn’t have called that play.  If He really knew how this was going to affect me He wouldn’t have allowed this to happen. If he knew the pain that was going to occur after this He wouldn’t have allowed this to happen that’s not the God I know. Somehow He missed it. 

John 11:1-3 1 A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. 2 This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. 3 So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”

Mary and Martha send for Jesus’s help. They started with the right intentions they took their problem to Jesus. But not only did they do the right thing Jesus gave them hope when he sent back word that everything was going to be alright but the problem occurs when Lazarus dies and Jesus is glad about it verse 14.

John 11:14-15 So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.  15 And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”

I can only imagine how Mary and Martha felt not only were you not here after we called on you Jesus but you are glad that you weren’t. Um excuse me! In verse 23 Jesus says your brother will live again. Jesus will allow things to die in order that we might see a resurrection something that only God can do because only God can raise the dead.

In verse 25-26 Jesus is asking us do we believe?  Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.  Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

Everyone was weeping including Jesus but in the mist of an emotional time.  Jesus gives the instruction to move the stone and Martha followed Jesus command with human logic.

When god is ready to do something in our lives that involves a resurrection it will often include an illogical request. This request makes no sense. This principle has occurred several times in scripture the Virgin Mary, Abraham and sacrificing his son who would be the head of a great nation, Gideon and his army, the march around the walls of Jericho,  Naaman dipping his body in the Jordan River, and so on. The temptation is to go logical and apply human wisdom to the supernatural. When it doesn’t make since we debate with Gods instructions. 

Martha’s instructions were real simple move the stone. Verse 40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” We don’t need to discuss with god human logic all we do is delay the resurrection because of the discussion. Leaving us in the tomb. If u believe u will see not if you see you will believe.

To experience the living Christ active in our dead situation our belief must precede sight. Because with out faith it is impossible to please GodFaith is the substance of things hoped for and evidence of things not seen. Faith is acting on things that do not fit into our 5. senses because if the 5 senses can grab it then it’s sight not faith.

What is the one way Martha would have known if she had faith? By removing the stone.

How do we know we have faith? Can we feel it? Having faith is doing what God told us to do when He said do it. If we are discussing it we haven’t reach the faith point yet. If you are thinking about it you are not at the faith point yet. We are not at the faith point until we remove the stone 

For me I looked at things like ok God tell me what you gone do, show me and then I’ll move but I’m learning that I have to move in Gods revealed will for him to reveal to me his secret will. I just need to be obedient and not get around to being obedient. A lot of the time I’m so curious about what God will do when it’s really none of my business.

What happens when we finally do what God tells us to do? 

John 11:41-44 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me.  You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.”Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!”  And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”

We need Jesus to step in and talk to God for us but Jesus won’t talk to the father until he sees our faith. The key to prayer is Jesus praying for what you are asking for.

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 15:7 NIV

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15

If you are trapped in a dead situation Jesus is saying come forth

Meditate on: any of the above verses

Apply: Faith

Prayer: Jesus bring life out of death. In your name, amen.