1 00:00:01,920 --> 00:00:04,480 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdik. I'm the pastor of Elevation 2 00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:06,960 Speaker 1: Church and this is our podcast. I wanted to thank 3 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:10,319 Speaker 1: you for joining us today. Hope this inspires you. Hope 4 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 1: it builds your faith. Hope it gives your perspective to 5 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 1: see God is moving in your life. Enjoy the message. 6 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 1: We're so excited about our new single Never Lost that 7 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 1: we were just singing and pray that you'll get that song. 8 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:28,640 Speaker 1: And what I want to do today is I actually 9 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:31,320 Speaker 1: want to take something that was in that song that 10 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:35,519 Speaker 1: you were just singing and bring it to your life 11 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:39,560 Speaker 1: at a really practical level today. And the song says 12 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 1: that God still shows up at the tomb of every Lazarus. 13 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: And I want to show you the scripture that that 14 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:52,200 Speaker 1: line came from today, and then I want to speak 15 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:56,160 Speaker 1: to the Lazarus in your life. Everybody in here has 16 00:00:56,200 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 1: a Lazarus, and everybody in here has a God, and 17 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 1: today we just want to bring these things into God's 18 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:07,200 Speaker 1: presence for a few moments. John Chapter eleven is the scripture. 19 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to our EPAM around the world. There are tens 20 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:13,039 Speaker 1: of thousands of people right now who are joining us 21 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 1: on their devices and less thank God for them as well, 22 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 1: that this word would be received in your life. I 23 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 1: got smart to beat up, brought my iPad today, my Bible. 24 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 1: I'm preaching from John eleven, and I'm covering quite a 25 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 1: few verses of scripture. And my Bible yesterday kept blowing, 26 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:34,480 Speaker 1: the pages kept blowing. It wasn't the Holy Spirit, it 27 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:37,039 Speaker 1: was the air vent and it just kept blowing to 28 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 1: different scriptures. And so I brought it on the iPad today. 29 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 1: I hadn't preached from it in a long time. And 30 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 1: it's locked and loaded and charged, and I want to 31 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:46,320 Speaker 1: preach to you. Well, it's not locked, it's going horizontal. 32 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 1: There's some old men stuff right here. You know, every 33 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 1: preacher gets persecuted. Paul had shipwrecks, and I have iPads 34 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 1: that go horizontal. It's kind of on the same level, 35 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 1: don't you think. But we're gonna look at something today together. 36 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 1: From John chapter eleven, Verse one. Now, a man named 37 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 1: Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of 38 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:13,520 Speaker 1: Mary and her sister Martha. This Mary, whose brother Lazarus 39 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:16,520 Speaker 1: now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume 40 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 1: on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. 41 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 1: So the sister sent word to Jesus, Lord, the one 42 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 1: you love is sick. When he heard this, Jesus said, 43 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 1: the sickness will not end in death. No, it is 44 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:32,679 Speaker 1: for God's glory, so that God's son may be glorified 45 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:38,399 Speaker 1: through it. Now, Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 46 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 1: Everything up until this point, by the way, makes total 47 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:44,960 Speaker 1: sense to me. We're given the name of this man, Lazarus. 48 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: His name literally means the one who God helps. Have 49 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:52,160 Speaker 1: you ever had God just help you out of a 50 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:54,800 Speaker 1: mess that you got yourself into, or a mess that 51 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 1: you couldn't get yourself out of. His name means the 52 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:02,360 Speaker 1: one that God helps. And his sister was Martha. She's 53 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 1: the one who made the mortgage payment. His other sister 54 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:09,240 Speaker 1: was Mary. She was a good listener. And Jesus liked 55 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 1: going by and visiting because Martha made these incredible lemon 56 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 1: pepper wings. He liked to eat her food. And then 57 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 1: Mary would sit at his feet and be discipled. And 58 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 1: there's nothing better than somebody. Well, I was going to say, 59 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 1: there's nothing better than a good listener, But a good 60 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 1: cook is better than a good listener. And if you 61 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 1: ever find a good cook and a good listener, marry him, 62 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 1: marry her. Okay, and Jesus loved to go to this 63 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 1: little place two miles outside of Jerusalem, and he would 64 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 1: often be refreshed there in his ministry travels. But now 65 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 1: they need his help. And it says that he loved them. 66 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 1: He loved all of them, He loved Lazarus, he loved Mary, 67 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: he loved Martha. And as lazarus sickness begins to overtake 68 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 1: the affairs of the family, Martha issues not necessarily an 69 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 1: invitation to Jesus, but a request for help. Lord. The 70 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 1: one you love is sick. I love how she phrased it. 71 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 1: You know, send him a message, say Lazarus, no, no, 72 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 1: say the one you love is sick, because he's very 73 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 1: busy and we need to get him here. So let's 74 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 1: just remind him of how much he loves Lazarus and 75 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 1: get him here real quick so he can do that 76 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 1: healing thing that he does for us. And everything makes sense. 77 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 1: You know that he loves them, so he would come 78 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:23,360 Speaker 1: to them, and he would visit them, and he would 79 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:26,279 Speaker 1: help them because lazarus name means help, so it's in 80 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 1: his very nature to expect the help that his name identifies, 81 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 1: just like as a child of God, you call on 82 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 1: your father and you expect him to help you. And 83 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:38,679 Speaker 1: everything up until here makes sense. But the next verse 84 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 1: is something that I want us to talk about for 85 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:42,719 Speaker 1: a few moments today, because some of you are at 86 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 1: a place in your life that doesn't make sense anymore, 87 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:48,039 Speaker 1: and it's that I want to speak to. It says 88 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 1: that he loved them, that Jesus loved them. He really 89 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:56,479 Speaker 1: loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus. Verse six. So when 90 00:04:56,520 --> 00:05:00,160 Speaker 1: he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed with where 91 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:06,360 Speaker 1: he was two more days. And that's what I wanted 92 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:09,360 Speaker 1: to work on together today, because it would be one 93 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:12,280 Speaker 1: thing if the Bible said he loved them, but he 94 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 1: stayed where he was two more days, because that would 95 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 1: mean that he couldn't come. He had other people to help. 96 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:25,800 Speaker 1: But it says this interesting word, So so he stayed 97 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:29,160 Speaker 1: where he was two more days, and that means that 98 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 1: verse six flows directly from verse five. He loved them, 99 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:38,960 Speaker 1: so he did not come when they wanted him. And 100 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: I want to talk about this today from my heart. 101 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:45,279 Speaker 1: I'm going to title this message the Lazarus Factor. The 102 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:48,760 Speaker 1: Lazarus factor. And Lord, I just pray that you would 103 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 1: enable me to preach this word beyond my human understanding 104 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:56,599 Speaker 1: or my oratorical abilities. God, I pray that something would 105 00:05:56,760 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: go forth from this pulpit today that would call forth 106 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,800 Speaker 1: from the hearts of your people the kind of faith 107 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 1: that makes the difference in Jesus's name. I pray, Amen, Amen, 108 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 1: you may be seated. Spoiler alert, Lazarus dies and gets 109 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 1: resurrected in John chapter eleven. I didn't want to leave 110 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 1: you in suspense too long. But you ever think about 111 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 1: how different people have different love languages. They have a 112 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 1: book about it, the Five Love Languages. And I'm so 113 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 1: thankful that God gave me a wife that one of 114 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 1: her love languages is physical touch. Do you're not happy? 115 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:47,040 Speaker 1: That makes me? What a blessing. I'm so glad her 116 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:49,479 Speaker 1: love language is and acts of service. I much prefer 117 00:06:49,560 --> 00:07:00,160 Speaker 1: physical touch. Amen, you know what God's love language, which 118 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 1: is trust. If you were to ask me from just 119 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:09,160 Speaker 1: studying the Bible for however many years I've been studying, 120 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 1: since I was sixteen, how does God receive love? He 121 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 1: loves to be trusted more than he even loves to 122 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:19,320 Speaker 1: hear you sing, and I'm not saying you don't have 123 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:23,320 Speaker 1: a great voice. He loves when you trust him more 124 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 1: than he even loves when you, you know, wear a 125 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 1: cross around your neck. He loves when you trust him 126 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 1: more than he even loves. And I probably shouldn't say 127 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 1: this as a pastor, but more than he even loves 128 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:38,840 Speaker 1: when you come to church. He loves when you trust 129 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 1: him on Tuesday. He just loves to be trusted. One 130 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 1: of the most difficult things I think in our life 131 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 1: is that we often equate love with comfort, while God 132 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 1: equates love with trust. If we are not studious, and 133 00:07:56,200 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 1: if we don't give attention to the scriptures, we will 134 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:02,680 Speaker 1: conflate and confuse our human definition of love with a 135 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 1: divine love, a love that is not simply an action, 136 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 1: but an essence of who God is. I don't know 137 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 1: about your first job, but I would put myself out 138 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 1: there as maybe having the most interesting first job in 139 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 1: the whole room, because my first job at age fifteen 140 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 1: was to work at Petrest Cemetery and Cremation Service, and 141 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: I'm proud of that. I did those funerals with dignity, 142 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:35,439 Speaker 1: and I lifted one hundred and eighty pound bull mastiffs. 143 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 1: That's part of how I learned to, you know, preaching 144 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:45,960 Speaker 1: dead churches was because right after my ministry of burying 145 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 1: dogs and cremating dogs, I had to go preach at 146 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:51,640 Speaker 1: Baptist churches, and you know, the atmosphere could sometimes be 147 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:54,839 Speaker 1: real similar some of the churches. Don't be hateful. I'm 148 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:59,959 Speaker 1: just telling you about my experience. It was a good job. 149 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:02,320 Speaker 1: And people often judge me when I tell them, because 150 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:04,440 Speaker 1: you remember, we used to go out there and I'm 151 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:06,600 Speaker 1: on the way to the mall. I tell Eric, I 152 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:08,720 Speaker 1: just need to stop by real quick and take care 153 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:10,839 Speaker 1: of these dogs real quick. And you could tell who 154 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:13,360 Speaker 1: your friends are when you stop by the crematory on 155 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 1: the way to the mall, who your friends are. But 156 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 1: some people would judge me. You know, you tell them 157 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 1: that you cremate dogs, and they look at you like 158 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:23,840 Speaker 1: you deal drugs. And it was a service with dignity. 159 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 1: It was I'm again very proud of the fact that 160 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:28,200 Speaker 1: I was fifteen years old with a job that paid 161 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 1: one hundred and fifty dollars a week. Yeah, and I 162 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 1: got my own beeper. Yeah, I don't know nothing, And 163 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:46,280 Speaker 1: you know what, I think that one of the worst 164 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:49,280 Speaker 1: jobs would have been to be the pr manager for 165 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:57,920 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ, to have to explain his actions or to 166 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 1: have to give a press conference for Jesus, especially when 167 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:08,080 Speaker 1: John chapter eleven says things like he loved them, he 168 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:12,440 Speaker 1: received hospitality from them, but when it came time for 169 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:17,239 Speaker 1: him to help them, he stayed away two extra days 170 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 1: because he loved them. As an interesting construct, and we 171 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:26,440 Speaker 1: come to find in all of our lives the difference 172 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:32,040 Speaker 1: between God's job and our job. See, God's job is outcome, 173 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:36,560 Speaker 1: your job is process. Can I preach a little bit 174 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:40,320 Speaker 1: to the three people who are awake. The longer that 175 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:43,720 Speaker 1: you think you can control outcomes in your life, the 176 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:47,040 Speaker 1: more frustration you are going to experience in this journey 177 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 1: of faith. And many of us were taught starting out 178 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:55,200 Speaker 1: that faith was a way of controlling outcomes. It was like, 179 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 1: if you pray this and do that, then you can 180 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 1: expect this. But everybody in here has a Lazarus. The 181 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:06,120 Speaker 1: Lazarus factor is the thing in your life that made 182 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 1: the formula fall apart. The Lazarus factor is the thing 183 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:12,880 Speaker 1: in your life that caused you to question the very 184 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 1: nature of faith and start to see. At this point 185 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:19,440 Speaker 1: in this passage, that faith is rarely a form of 186 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 1: manipulation by which we get God to keep our schedule. 187 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 1: I've got news for you. God will not be manipulated. 188 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:31,560 Speaker 1: God will not be moved just because we get uncomfortable 189 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 1: in a situation. And I hate to break it to you, 190 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:37,640 Speaker 1: but faith is not a means of manipulation. It is 191 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:41,880 Speaker 1: a patience with mystery, the kind of mystery that can say, 192 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 1: on one hand, God can do anything. But in that 193 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 1: very same breadth that you say God can do anything, 194 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:52,040 Speaker 1: there is something in your life right now that God 195 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:54,880 Speaker 1: will not do. That you see in his word that 196 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 1: he did for somebody else, but he has not done 197 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:02,679 Speaker 1: for you yet. Simply trying to say that everybody in 198 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:06,800 Speaker 1: here has a Lazarus, everybody in here has something that 199 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:10,520 Speaker 1: was supposed to be done. If God really loved you, 200 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:13,800 Speaker 1: he would, If God really saw you, he would. If 201 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 1: God was really strong like they say he is, he would. 202 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:19,800 Speaker 1: If God really had all power in his hand, he 203 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 1: would have. Because we confuse God's love with proof in 204 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 1: circumstantial evidence, we never really get to the foundational core 205 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 1: that the love of God is not always proven by 206 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:33,720 Speaker 1: the way I feel his presence. The love of God 207 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 1: is proven by the way I deal with his perceived absence. 208 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 1: The love of God is not only proven in the 209 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:42,440 Speaker 1: times where I thank Him for my blessings. The love 210 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:45,199 Speaker 1: of God is proven in my life where I cannot 211 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:48,600 Speaker 1: feel Him. But by faith I praise Him because he 212 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 1: is God. Even when I don't sense God. He is God. 213 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:55,600 Speaker 1: And I wonder, is there anybody who's willing to give 214 00:12:55,679 --> 00:13:01,120 Speaker 1: God a praise by faith in this place today? At Gaston, 215 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:06,079 Speaker 1: at Blakeney, at Valentine, at you see online? Give him 216 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:08,400 Speaker 1: a praise if you don't praise him for what he does, 217 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 1: but who he is. And they didn't have text messaging, 218 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:25,319 Speaker 1: so when Martha sent the message to Jesus, you need 219 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:29,000 Speaker 1: to get here quick. The one who you love needs 220 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 1: your help, she would have to wait several days, two 221 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:35,920 Speaker 1: days to be exact, from the time the messenger got 222 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:38,840 Speaker 1: there until the time he got back. But there was 223 00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:42,920 Speaker 1: one problem. When the messenger started coming back to Bethany, 224 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 1: he was by himself. He was supposed to bring Jesus. 225 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:50,760 Speaker 1: You know how it is when you see the person 226 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:52,199 Speaker 1: you didn't want to see and they don't have the 227 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 1: person with him that you really wanted to see. Where 228 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:03,080 Speaker 1: is he? She sent him message, and Jesus left Martha 229 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 1: on Red. You ever been left on red? Honestly, I 230 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:12,760 Speaker 1: only became familiar with this phrase a few months ago. 231 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:15,559 Speaker 1: There was somebody I was ignoring and I ran into 232 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 1: him in real life. He goes, bro, I'm like, praise 233 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:29,240 Speaker 1: the Lord. Brother. You know, I get real fake when 234 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:30,920 Speaker 1: I have to see somebody face to face that I 235 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 1: don't like. Like, what's up, man, what's been going on? 236 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:38,000 Speaker 1: He's like, I've been texting you. You left me on Red? 237 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 1: You got a new number or something like that. No, 238 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 1: did you get my message? Yeah? I got it, and 239 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:53,720 Speaker 1: then I faked the heart attack. You know, I didn't 240 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 1: know what to do. Hey, Jesus, the one you love 241 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:06,720 Speaker 1: is sit Hey Jesus, I'm depressed. Hey Jesus, I can 242 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:11,600 Speaker 1: hardly breathe right now. Hey Jesus, I feel all alone. 243 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 1: Hey Jesus, I need to know how to make this decision. 244 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 1: Hey Jesus, I need you to show my husband how 245 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 1: to stop being crazy. Hey Jesus, I need you to 246 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 1: do for my kids what prozac can't do and calm 247 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:31,520 Speaker 1: them down. Hey Jesus, I need you to straighten this out. 248 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:36,560 Speaker 1: And Jesus left Martha on red. Have you ever been 249 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:39,600 Speaker 1: left on red by God? Have you ever prayed a 250 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:42,280 Speaker 1: prayer that hit the ceiling? Have you ever prayed a 251 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 1: prayer that bounced right back? Have you ever prayed a 252 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:47,880 Speaker 1: prayer that came back to you with such velocity that 253 00:15:47,920 --> 00:15:50,280 Speaker 1: you barely got it out of your mouth before you 254 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:53,480 Speaker 1: had to stare at the same situation back in your face. 255 00:15:53,800 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 1: And he left them on red because he loved them, 256 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:04,960 Speaker 1: not because he was busy, but because he loved them 257 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:09,880 Speaker 1: so much he didn't come. I don't know what to 258 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:14,640 Speaker 1: do with that. Humanly speaking, my love language is presence. 259 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 1: You know, I love you, pastor, but you don't come. 260 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 1: You don't love me if you don't come. That's how 261 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:26,920 Speaker 1: I feel about it. You know, people will say things 262 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:33,400 Speaker 1: sometimes we're there with you in spirit. I appreciate that, 263 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 1: But there with me in spirit doesn't help me move 264 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:42,760 Speaker 1: these boxes. Huh. There with me in spirit doesn't cook 265 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:45,240 Speaker 1: chicken noodle soup when I have a coal talk to me, 266 00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:48,280 Speaker 1: somebody there with me in spirit. And then people are 267 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:52,360 Speaker 1: real annoying. They'll give you cliches and think that's supposed 268 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:56,120 Speaker 1: to comfort you. Well, if you know God put it 269 00:16:56,160 --> 00:16:59,280 Speaker 1: on you. He won't give you any more than you 270 00:16:59,320 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 1: can bear. They always got a scripture for you. You know. 271 00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:06,879 Speaker 1: That's why when I sent you the scripture the other day, 272 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:08,360 Speaker 1: I said, delete this if you don't want to see 273 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:12,919 Speaker 1: it right now, because sometimes the scripture is annoying. I 274 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 1: love how y'all look at me when I say stuff 275 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:17,280 Speaker 1: like that. That's how I know I'm preaching good because 276 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:19,399 Speaker 1: you give me that face. It's the face that you 277 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 1: make when you thought it, but you would never say 278 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:30,680 Speaker 1: it out loud. Halloween is over, take your mask off 279 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:34,919 Speaker 1: and admit for a moment. Come on, y'all, this is 280 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 1: my job to say the stuff that you're thinking anyway, 281 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:42,600 Speaker 1: so you don't think you're going to hell for thinking it. 282 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 1: You can have great faith and still be frustrated. You 283 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 1: can have great faith and still wonder sometimes what the 284 00:17:56,520 --> 00:18:00,280 Speaker 1: one day, I'm gonna put out a whole CD call 285 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:05,520 Speaker 1: Honest Worship, and it's gonna have songs you love like 286 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:10,800 Speaker 1: you're never gonna let never gonna let me down, except 287 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:14,360 Speaker 1: that one time you're never gonna It's gonna have ad 288 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:18,080 Speaker 1: libs like you seldom lost the battle, except when I 289 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:25,760 Speaker 1: was fourteen, And you're gonna sing about the real situations. 290 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 1: The one you love is sick, and we often conflate 291 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:42,160 Speaker 1: God's love with the circumstances of our life. Now, if 292 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:45,680 Speaker 1: you look to the circumstances of your life for the 293 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:50,000 Speaker 1: proof of God's love, you are looking for love in 294 00:18:50,240 --> 00:19:00,680 Speaker 1: all the wrong places. So Jesus says one of those 295 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 1: things that could sound like a cliche on the surface, 296 00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:07,359 Speaker 1: He says, this sickness will not end in death but 297 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:14,600 Speaker 1: for the glory of God. Well, hallelujah. Do you know 298 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:18,159 Speaker 1: what I mean? God is your provider, but he's not 299 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 1: paying my rent. The stuff you won't say. In fact, 300 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:26,760 Speaker 1: when we put this online, let's put the stuff you 301 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 1: wish you had the guts to say. But Martha, Martha 302 00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:36,520 Speaker 1: said it, and I want to show you how she responded. 303 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:43,160 Speaker 1: Because everybody has a Lazarus. Everybody has something that God 304 00:19:43,280 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 1: was supposed to do for you that he did not do. 305 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:51,480 Speaker 1: What I love about the Bible is that it gives 306 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:57,960 Speaker 1: us the inside of hindsight. The inside of hindsight means 307 00:19:58,440 --> 00:20:02,480 Speaker 1: I know why John wrote Book of John because at 308 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 1: the end of it he says, the reason I wrote 309 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:08,520 Speaker 1: all of this was that you may believe. And he 310 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:11,159 Speaker 1: organizes his gospel account. If you ever read the Gospel 311 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:13,560 Speaker 1: of John, it reads differently than Matthew, Mark, and Luke. 312 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:16,000 Speaker 1: Those are called the synoptic gospels. That means optic, you know, 313 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:19,040 Speaker 1: like see with sin, sin with see with they saw 314 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:23,000 Speaker 1: with one another. John's on a whole different wave. John 315 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:28,160 Speaker 1: takes seven signs that Jesus did, seven statements that Jesus made, 316 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:32,239 Speaker 1: and then he organizes it not as it's happening, but 317 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:37,879 Speaker 1: after it happened, and after he has the insight of hindsight, 318 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:43,679 Speaker 1: so he addresses who Jesus is with a knowledge of 319 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:47,000 Speaker 1: what he came for, after he saw him do all 320 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:51,679 Speaker 1: that he could do. The insight of hindsight is really powerful, 321 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:54,639 Speaker 1: but we don't live our lives with the insight of 322 00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:58,439 Speaker 1: hindsight about every situation. I would like to suggest to 323 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:02,200 Speaker 1: you that Mary and Artha, who were mourning the loss 324 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:06,040 Speaker 1: of their brother Lazarus in John chapter eleven, never read 325 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:11,160 Speaker 1: John chapter twelve. That's just a guess, especially since John 326 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:14,919 Speaker 1: didn't write it until a D. Eighty five. Jesus died 327 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:18,040 Speaker 1: in a d. Thirty two, so that means they didn't 328 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:20,560 Speaker 1: get to read chapter twelve while they had to live 329 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:23,600 Speaker 1: out chapter eleven. Who am I preaching to? Who is 330 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:26,840 Speaker 1: in chapter eleven? Today? Let me show you something. If 331 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:32,159 Speaker 1: you're in chapter eleven, it's in verse two, it's in parentheses. Now, 332 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:35,640 Speaker 1: I want to caution you be very careful to never 333 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:39,119 Speaker 1: put a period where God put a parenthesis. What do 334 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:41,879 Speaker 1: you mean by that? I mean that some things in 335 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 1: your life will make sense after the fact that don't 336 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:49,560 Speaker 1: make sense right now. And John chapter eleven, Verse two 337 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:52,879 Speaker 1: is very interesting because it says, not only did Mary 338 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:56,120 Speaker 1: cook for not only did Martha cook for Jesus, but 339 00:21:56,280 --> 00:21:59,800 Speaker 1: Mary worship Jesus. Give me verse two. This Mary, who's 340 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:03,800 Speaker 1: other Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who 341 00:22:03,840 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 1: poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with 342 00:22:07,359 --> 00:22:10,760 Speaker 1: her hair. The only catch is this that didn't happen 343 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:14,959 Speaker 1: until John chapter twelve. That happened after what we are 344 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:19,080 Speaker 1: about to read. That happened after the revelation that Jesus 345 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:21,919 Speaker 1: was about to give. But the writer puts it in 346 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:26,199 Speaker 1: chapter eleven because if you do not see yourself worshiping 347 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:30,120 Speaker 1: in John chapter twelve, you will not have the strength 348 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 1: to wait. In John chapter eleven, I don't know who 349 00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:36,960 Speaker 1: this is for, But God said this morning. I want 350 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:40,600 Speaker 1: you to see yourself in John chapter twelve. I want 351 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:43,399 Speaker 1: you to see your self worshiping. I want you to 352 00:22:43,520 --> 00:22:47,440 Speaker 1: see yourself grateful. I want you to see your self restored. 353 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 1: I want you to see yourself better. I want you 354 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:53,280 Speaker 1: to see your self free. I want you to see 355 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 1: yourself delivered. I want you to see your self healed. 356 00:22:56,760 --> 00:23:02,400 Speaker 1: I want you to see yourself with a testimony. Come on, y'all, 357 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:05,399 Speaker 1: high five twelve people. Tell them I read the next chapter. 358 00:23:06,359 --> 00:23:09,280 Speaker 1: I found out it doesn't end in then. But for 359 00:23:09,359 --> 00:23:15,040 Speaker 1: the glory of God, I speak that over your children. 360 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:19,280 Speaker 1: Your children will worship the Lord. Your children children will 361 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:22,879 Speaker 1: have a legacy. You will see the goodness of the 362 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:26,560 Speaker 1: Lord in the land of the Living. Shouted. You believe 363 00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:33,840 Speaker 1: it now, shout if you want to believe it. But 364 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:40,280 Speaker 1: it's kind of hard right now. God liked that second 365 00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:45,960 Speaker 1: shot better than the first one. They say, you've got 366 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:49,959 Speaker 1: to see it to believe it. God says, you've got 367 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:58,960 Speaker 1: to believe it to see it. And what I love 368 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:07,280 Speaker 1: about it, yew's it down is Jesus has to break 369 00:24:07,280 --> 00:24:09,119 Speaker 1: it down. You know. This is for those of us 370 00:24:09,119 --> 00:24:13,920 Speaker 1: who are in the remedial class and for the advanced students, 371 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:18,840 Speaker 1: the honor Christians. You can make your grocery list while 372 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:23,480 Speaker 1: I share this. But for the rest of us, the disciples, 373 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 1: even the ones who followed Jesus, even the ones who 374 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:31,600 Speaker 1: had the most exposure to him, were constantly confused about 375 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:37,000 Speaker 1: his motives, and they doubted the outcome because they had 376 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:41,200 Speaker 1: not yet seen the cross. Even at the cross, most 377 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:43,120 Speaker 1: of them went home because they had not yet seen 378 00:24:43,160 --> 00:24:50,600 Speaker 1: the resurrection. He's the God of the outcome. He's the 379 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:54,720 Speaker 1: God of the outcome. I'm not. And the reason I 380 00:24:54,760 --> 00:24:57,720 Speaker 1: need that in my life is because all I can 381 00:24:57,880 --> 00:25:01,560 Speaker 1: do is sow the sea. I was reading one scripture 382 00:25:01,560 --> 00:25:04,040 Speaker 1: where Jesus said that we should pray to the Lord 383 00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:06,880 Speaker 1: of the harvest, and for a long time I read 384 00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:09,000 Speaker 1: it just thinking about how we should pray. But then 385 00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:11,280 Speaker 1: I thought about the fact that he called God the 386 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:16,480 Speaker 1: Lord of the harvest. The harvest represents the result, the 387 00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:20,680 Speaker 1: seed represents the process. He's the Lord of the harvest. 388 00:25:21,400 --> 00:25:25,800 Speaker 1: He's the God of the outcome. But I'm the lord 389 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:31,560 Speaker 1: of the seed. I decide what I sew, I decide 390 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:35,520 Speaker 1: what I withhold. He's the God of the outcome, and 391 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:37,879 Speaker 1: the only thing that's difficult for us in reading this 392 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:42,960 Speaker 1: passage is that we have the insight of hindsight. The 393 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:46,399 Speaker 1: disciples didn't. So he said to his disciples verse seven, 394 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:50,760 Speaker 1: let's go back to Judea. But Rabbi, they said, a 395 00:25:50,840 --> 00:25:54,359 Speaker 1: short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, 396 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:57,720 Speaker 1: and yet you are going back. What they didn't understand 397 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:02,320 Speaker 1: is that Jesus was invincible until his assignment was complete. 398 00:26:02,560 --> 00:26:05,160 Speaker 1: He wasn't going to die until it was time to die. 399 00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:08,040 Speaker 1: He wasn't going to die on accident because there was 400 00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:11,120 Speaker 1: a price on his head. He would only die at 401 00:26:11,119 --> 00:26:14,920 Speaker 1: that penultimate glory moment where God was revealing and releasing 402 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:17,800 Speaker 1: the salvation that he brought him to earth to carry. 403 00:26:18,359 --> 00:26:20,919 Speaker 1: But they didn't know that. And see, we don't know that. 404 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:23,880 Speaker 1: You don't know when you're going through what you're going through. 405 00:26:23,920 --> 00:26:25,880 Speaker 1: While you're going through what you're going through. But you're 406 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:29,119 Speaker 1: gonna find out that this sickness is not unto death 407 00:26:29,400 --> 00:26:34,960 Speaker 1: but for the glory of God. So Jesus answered verse nine. 408 00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:39,800 Speaker 1: Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks 409 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:42,040 Speaker 1: in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by 410 00:26:42,080 --> 00:26:44,879 Speaker 1: the world's life. It is when a person walks at 411 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:49,560 Speaker 1: night that they stumble for they have no light. Well, 412 00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:54,199 Speaker 1: that clears it up. Are we going to Judea or not? 413 00:26:55,240 --> 00:26:57,119 Speaker 1: Are we going to health Lazarus or not? I know 414 00:26:57,160 --> 00:27:00,119 Speaker 1: you feel this way when I preach sometimes it's like you. 415 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:06,560 Speaker 1: But it's not anymore clear because I still don't know 416 00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:12,159 Speaker 1: what to do. So after he had said this, he 417 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:14,280 Speaker 1: breaks it down a little further Verse eleven, y'all enjoyed 418 00:27:14,280 --> 00:27:17,320 Speaker 1: this Bible study today. After he said this, he wanted 419 00:27:17,359 --> 00:27:23,040 Speaker 1: to tell them, our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. He 420 00:27:23,080 --> 00:27:28,280 Speaker 1: means he's died. He's speaking symbolically, but the disciples are 421 00:27:28,320 --> 00:27:31,560 Speaker 1: kind of literal. You know. He says he's fallen asleep. 422 00:27:31,800 --> 00:27:37,520 Speaker 1: I'm going to wake him up. His disciples replied, Lord, 423 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:44,520 Speaker 1: if he sleeps, he'll get better. Jesus had been speaking 424 00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:49,520 Speaker 1: of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. 425 00:27:50,400 --> 00:28:00,360 Speaker 1: So then he told them plainly, Lazarus is dead. Make 426 00:28:00,440 --> 00:28:06,479 Speaker 1: it plain, Jesus, because I will always see things on 427 00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:11,720 Speaker 1: the surface. See, everybody in here has a Lazarus. But 428 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:14,520 Speaker 1: I'm not just talking about a person that you've lost. 429 00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:18,600 Speaker 1: Everybody in here has a Lazarus, but it might not 430 00:28:18,640 --> 00:28:23,640 Speaker 1: be a relationship. Your Lazarus might be something in your 431 00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:27,679 Speaker 1: character that you thought would be fixed by now, and 432 00:28:27,760 --> 00:28:31,160 Speaker 1: you send a message to Jesus saying, come over here 433 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:34,960 Speaker 1: to Bethany and see about me. Come over here and 434 00:28:35,440 --> 00:28:38,680 Speaker 1: break these chains off of my life so I can 435 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:42,880 Speaker 1: serve you. Everybody in here has a Lazarus. I'm not 436 00:28:42,920 --> 00:28:46,440 Speaker 1: a rookie pastor anymore. I've been at this about as 437 00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:49,080 Speaker 1: long as my oldest son has been alive. And one 438 00:28:49,080 --> 00:28:53,000 Speaker 1: thing I've learned is everybody has a Lazarus. Some people's 439 00:28:53,080 --> 00:28:56,520 Speaker 1: lazarus is buried so deep they forgot about it. It 440 00:28:56,560 --> 00:29:00,040 Speaker 1: no longer even registers anymore. Because we've learned how to 441 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:03,880 Speaker 1: move on from the event, but we never process the disappointment. 442 00:29:04,840 --> 00:29:08,000 Speaker 1: And the Lazarus factor says that how you process the 443 00:29:08,040 --> 00:29:13,160 Speaker 1: disappointment determines whether it becomes faith that propels you or 444 00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:17,080 Speaker 1: fear that paralyzes you. So when they send word to 445 00:29:17,240 --> 00:29:20,680 Speaker 1: Jesus and he didn't come when they wanted, now they 446 00:29:20,720 --> 00:29:23,560 Speaker 1: have a decision to make. If he did not come 447 00:29:23,600 --> 00:29:25,880 Speaker 1: when we want him to come, and did not do 448 00:29:26,040 --> 00:29:29,040 Speaker 1: what we wanted him to do, does he still love us? 449 00:29:29,960 --> 00:29:33,800 Speaker 1: This is the Lazarus factor. I know that he loves me, 450 00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:37,880 Speaker 1: and I am no longer looking for proof of that fact. 451 00:29:38,760 --> 00:29:42,240 Speaker 1: I am living from the proof that he loves me. 452 00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:45,640 Speaker 1: This love is not based in just what he did. 453 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:49,560 Speaker 1: Sometimes this love is proven by what he chooses not 454 00:29:49,720 --> 00:29:58,360 Speaker 1: to do. Jesus said, I'm going to wake him up, 455 00:29:59,240 --> 00:30:02,840 Speaker 1: and I love a well Thomas's faith. Watch this, he says. 456 00:30:02,960 --> 00:30:05,760 Speaker 1: Jesus says verse fifteen, I'm glad I was not there 457 00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:09,760 Speaker 1: so that you may believe. But let us go to him. 458 00:30:09,960 --> 00:30:13,120 Speaker 1: And Thomas, also known as Didamus, said to the rest 459 00:30:13,160 --> 00:30:16,240 Speaker 1: of the disciples, let us also go that we may 460 00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:24,240 Speaker 1: die with him. What great faith. Jesus says, I'm going 461 00:30:24,280 --> 00:30:31,480 Speaker 1: to wake him up, and Thomas says, let's go die. 462 00:30:32,760 --> 00:30:39,480 Speaker 1: The Lazarus factor is the faith to follow him anyway. 463 00:30:41,040 --> 00:30:43,600 Speaker 1: This message is from my heart today, because we all 464 00:30:43,600 --> 00:30:47,520 Speaker 1: have a Lazarus. And whether that's a dream that didn't 465 00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:49,520 Speaker 1: play out the way that you thought it would play out, 466 00:30:50,520 --> 00:30:52,960 Speaker 1: or whether that's a way that you saw the most 467 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:57,720 Speaker 1: important relationships in your life materializing. You know, the starter 468 00:30:57,880 --> 00:31:01,920 Speaker 1: kit version of Christianity that you started with, and now 469 00:31:01,920 --> 00:31:06,000 Speaker 1: you're having to understand the fact that he'd loved them 470 00:31:06,680 --> 00:31:12,600 Speaker 1: and he was still late. God's never late. You never 471 00:31:12,640 --> 00:31:17,640 Speaker 1: read the Bible. You just memorized the cliche. Jesus was late. 472 00:31:18,080 --> 00:31:21,160 Speaker 1: I started to say he was fashionably late, but actually 473 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:26,080 Speaker 1: he was functionally late. It means he showed up late 474 00:31:26,840 --> 00:31:31,320 Speaker 1: because of his love, because there was something about his 475 00:31:31,480 --> 00:31:35,080 Speaker 1: character that they would not see if he showed up 476 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:39,280 Speaker 1: at the sick bed. He had to show up at 477 00:31:39,280 --> 00:31:42,960 Speaker 1: the tomb so they could see something about him. Not 478 00:31:43,120 --> 00:31:46,400 Speaker 1: a new thing that he was, but what God is 479 00:31:46,440 --> 00:31:49,440 Speaker 1: doing in your life right now. He is going to 480 00:31:49,560 --> 00:31:53,560 Speaker 1: show you his glory in a way you've never seen before. 481 00:31:54,040 --> 00:31:57,840 Speaker 1: He's going to show you his demonstration of power in 482 00:31:57,880 --> 00:32:00,880 Speaker 1: a way you haven't experienced it yet. And I know 483 00:32:01,400 --> 00:32:04,960 Speaker 1: it's really difficult to stay in that place of faith. 484 00:32:05,080 --> 00:32:08,440 Speaker 1: In fact, the Bible says in verse seventeen, on his arrival, 485 00:32:08,720 --> 00:32:12,120 Speaker 1: Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb 486 00:32:12,480 --> 00:32:15,880 Speaker 1: for four days. Now. This is significant to the Jewish 487 00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:19,840 Speaker 1: audience for which John intended this gospel account. They believe 488 00:32:19,880 --> 00:32:22,280 Speaker 1: that within the first three days of death, the spirit 489 00:32:22,320 --> 00:32:24,600 Speaker 1: could return to a man. It was a sort of 490 00:32:24,640 --> 00:32:28,400 Speaker 1: superstitious belief that was common to Judaism in the first century, 491 00:32:28,720 --> 00:32:32,760 Speaker 1: but Jesus waited until after their time period expired to 492 00:32:32,880 --> 00:32:36,480 Speaker 1: reveal his glory. I wonder, is God waiting past the 493 00:32:36,520 --> 00:32:40,360 Speaker 1: point of your expectation so his strength can kick in 494 00:32:40,760 --> 00:32:44,560 Speaker 1: with a new velocity. I feel your spirit God, he 495 00:32:44,720 --> 00:32:50,360 Speaker 1: showed up after four days. Now. Now Bethany was less 496 00:32:50,400 --> 00:32:53,240 Speaker 1: than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come 497 00:32:53,280 --> 00:32:55,440 Speaker 1: to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss 498 00:32:55,480 --> 00:32:58,080 Speaker 1: of their brother. So they came to comfort Martha and 499 00:32:58,080 --> 00:33:00,760 Speaker 1: Mary because that's all they could do. There's only so 500 00:33:00,920 --> 00:33:04,000 Speaker 1: much people can do for you, even if they mean well, 501 00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:06,440 Speaker 1: There's only so much your friends can do for you. 502 00:33:06,960 --> 00:33:11,240 Speaker 1: Stop worshiping people. People can only do so much for you. 503 00:33:11,640 --> 00:33:14,640 Speaker 1: Don't make them an idol. They are not your God. 504 00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:18,120 Speaker 1: People can be a gift, but they cannot be your God. 505 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:21,720 Speaker 1: There's some things in my life that only Christ can do. 506 00:33:22,160 --> 00:33:25,960 Speaker 1: There's some things I appreciate the help. I appreciate the prayers, 507 00:33:26,160 --> 00:33:29,480 Speaker 1: I appreciate the well wishes. But I need Jesus for 508 00:33:29,520 --> 00:33:32,760 Speaker 1: this job. This is a big one. I need the Master, 509 00:33:33,120 --> 00:33:35,640 Speaker 1: I need the healer. I need the great I Am. 510 00:33:36,040 --> 00:33:38,400 Speaker 1: I need the bread of life, I need the light 511 00:33:38,520 --> 00:33:51,000 Speaker 1: of Heaven. I need Jesus. I need Jesus Verse twenty. 512 00:33:51,000 --> 00:33:53,640 Speaker 1: When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out 513 00:33:53,680 --> 00:33:59,600 Speaker 1: to meet him, but Mary stayed home. We all have 514 00:33:59,600 --> 00:34:05,800 Speaker 1: different ways of dealing with disappointment. Some of us get 515 00:34:05,880 --> 00:34:10,319 Speaker 1: under the covers. I love Martha. She met him at 516 00:34:10,320 --> 00:34:17,040 Speaker 1: the gate. Oh you want to show up now, Welcome 517 00:34:17,080 --> 00:34:21,040 Speaker 1: to Bethany, the same Bethany. You came to to eat 518 00:34:21,040 --> 00:34:23,440 Speaker 1: my cooking. You came when I cooked, but you didn't 519 00:34:23,480 --> 00:34:30,600 Speaker 1: come when I cried. It's good to see you. Would 520 00:34:30,600 --> 00:34:33,000 Speaker 1: have been really good to see you about two days ago. 521 00:34:34,480 --> 00:34:37,359 Speaker 1: It's good to see you. I appreciate the comfort. I 522 00:34:37,400 --> 00:34:40,000 Speaker 1: appreciate the peace. But why didn't you just keep it 523 00:34:40,040 --> 00:34:45,920 Speaker 1: from happening so I wouldn't need the peace? The stuff 524 00:34:45,960 --> 00:34:51,040 Speaker 1: you won't say, but Martha would, Oh yes she would. 525 00:34:51,480 --> 00:34:54,080 Speaker 1: The significant thing is not even what she said. It's 526 00:34:54,080 --> 00:34:57,840 Speaker 1: the fact that she showed up. She comes to Jesus 527 00:34:57,960 --> 00:35:01,640 Speaker 1: at the gate. And this is because every other time 528 00:35:01,640 --> 00:35:03,319 Speaker 1: he's been to Bethany, she led him in the house, 529 00:35:03,920 --> 00:35:10,440 Speaker 1: not this time. I love how God will come as 530 00:35:10,480 --> 00:35:15,680 Speaker 1: far as we let him in our life. And she 531 00:35:15,760 --> 00:35:17,719 Speaker 1: met him at the gate. This is just a story 532 00:35:17,760 --> 00:35:20,320 Speaker 1: about a man named Lazarus. But it's really a story 533 00:35:20,360 --> 00:35:23,920 Speaker 1: about whatever you brought in here today that died on you. 534 00:35:24,200 --> 00:35:27,600 Speaker 1: It's really a story. People say sometimes that when you preach, 535 00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:30,000 Speaker 1: you shouldn't make the Bible about the people. It's about God. 536 00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:35,560 Speaker 1: A woman named Mary, a woman named Martha, a man 537 00:35:35,680 --> 00:35:42,520 Speaker 1: named Lazard, a man named Jonathan, a woman named Rachel. 538 00:35:43,520 --> 00:35:45,200 Speaker 1: I wish I had time to do every name in 539 00:35:45,239 --> 00:35:47,600 Speaker 1: the house, but some of y'all got hard to pronounce names, 540 00:35:47,600 --> 00:35:52,120 Speaker 1: and you'll be embarrassing me. He deals with her individually, 541 00:35:54,600 --> 00:36:00,120 Speaker 1: and she says exactly what she means, Lord, You're still Lord. 542 00:36:01,280 --> 00:36:06,160 Speaker 1: I love how she shifts the perspective from Lazarus to Lord. 543 00:36:07,760 --> 00:36:11,120 Speaker 1: I love how she still has this understanding. Watch this. 544 00:36:11,480 --> 00:36:14,160 Speaker 1: You didn't do what I wanted you to do, but 545 00:36:14,200 --> 00:36:22,080 Speaker 1: that didn't change my understanding of who you are. I 546 00:36:22,120 --> 00:36:25,640 Speaker 1: want to preach this kind of faith. So when he 547 00:36:25,719 --> 00:36:28,200 Speaker 1: stays two more days instead of running to see about 548 00:36:28,239 --> 00:36:30,719 Speaker 1: what you need him to see about, you won't change 549 00:36:30,719 --> 00:36:38,200 Speaker 1: your mind about who he is. If you would have 550 00:36:38,239 --> 00:36:43,439 Speaker 1: been here, she said, my brother would still be here 551 00:36:45,080 --> 00:36:48,279 Speaker 1: if you would have been here, Like you used to 552 00:36:48,320 --> 00:36:51,880 Speaker 1: come here when you needed a place to stay, and 553 00:36:51,920 --> 00:36:56,359 Speaker 1: you didn't want to go on AIRB and B. I'm 554 00:36:56,360 --> 00:37:01,080 Speaker 1: not cooking for you this time. I'm upset, and she 555 00:37:01,360 --> 00:37:07,880 Speaker 1: offers Jesus an honest assessment about what she expected. The 556 00:37:08,040 --> 00:37:12,120 Speaker 1: most godly prayer you can pray is the most honest 557 00:37:12,160 --> 00:37:16,160 Speaker 1: prayer you can pray. The most honest prayer you pray 558 00:37:16,400 --> 00:37:19,839 Speaker 1: will be the most godly prayer that you pray. So, 559 00:37:19,920 --> 00:37:23,080 Speaker 1: she says, I expected you to come. Did you not 560 00:37:23,239 --> 00:37:26,160 Speaker 1: get the message? You left me on red? You left 561 00:37:26,200 --> 00:37:29,560 Speaker 1: me in my hurt and Lazarus kept getting sicker and sicker, 562 00:37:29,800 --> 00:37:32,600 Speaker 1: and my faith got weaker and weaker. And at first 563 00:37:32,640 --> 00:37:35,480 Speaker 1: I thought, well, just surely he's been detained. But then 564 00:37:35,520 --> 00:37:38,960 Speaker 1: I found out you didn't come on purpose. If you 565 00:37:39,000 --> 00:37:42,200 Speaker 1: would have been here, if they would have raised me, 566 00:37:43,120 --> 00:37:46,239 Speaker 1: if they wouldn't have abused me, if you would have 567 00:37:46,400 --> 00:37:49,920 Speaker 1: stopped it, if you would have prevented it, if you 568 00:37:50,000 --> 00:37:53,200 Speaker 1: can do all things, why didn't you do what I 569 00:37:53,239 --> 00:37:56,160 Speaker 1: needed you to do? That I've seen you do for others. 570 00:37:56,520 --> 00:37:59,880 Speaker 1: I saw you heal people, I saw you touch lives. 571 00:38:00,280 --> 00:38:02,840 Speaker 1: I saw you take better care of people who treated 572 00:38:02,880 --> 00:38:11,040 Speaker 1: you worse. But you have confused my love with conformity 573 00:38:11,160 --> 00:38:18,080 Speaker 1: to your agenda. If you would have been here, Lazarus 574 00:38:18,280 --> 00:38:22,360 Speaker 1: would not have died. And then something takes over Martha, 575 00:38:22,600 --> 00:38:24,880 Speaker 1: and I'm praying it'll take over us today because everybody 576 00:38:24,880 --> 00:38:27,719 Speaker 1: in here has got a Lazarus. Everybody in here has 577 00:38:27,719 --> 00:38:30,359 Speaker 1: got something that you just buried or you're in the 578 00:38:30,400 --> 00:38:33,560 Speaker 1: process of burying, and there's a funeral going on at 579 00:38:33,600 --> 00:38:35,760 Speaker 1: the same time that faith is trying to be born 580 00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:39,360 Speaker 1: in your heart today. But something kicks into Mary's spirit 581 00:38:39,600 --> 00:38:42,840 Speaker 1: and she's like, if you would have then we could have. 582 00:38:43,000 --> 00:38:45,560 Speaker 1: But look at verse twenty two. But I know that 583 00:38:45,640 --> 00:38:49,759 Speaker 1: even now, and I want somebody to shout right now, 584 00:38:49,880 --> 00:38:54,000 Speaker 1: just say now, now, God is present in this moment. 585 00:38:54,120 --> 00:38:57,040 Speaker 1: God is with me in this season. God is for 586 00:38:57,160 --> 00:39:00,440 Speaker 1: me in this moment. God is with me in this season. 587 00:39:00,880 --> 00:39:04,840 Speaker 1: Shout now now, I know that devil has been trying 588 00:39:04,880 --> 00:39:07,879 Speaker 1: to keep you at the graveside, But let's bring our 589 00:39:07,920 --> 00:39:11,600 Speaker 1: disappointment into the presence of God for a moment and 590 00:39:11,680 --> 00:39:14,799 Speaker 1: declare that even now he is sovereign, even now he 591 00:39:14,920 --> 00:39:18,160 Speaker 1: is holy, even now he is good, even now he 592 00:39:18,320 --> 00:39:27,319 Speaker 1: is working, even now he's showing up. Even now, God 593 00:39:27,400 --> 00:39:31,319 Speaker 1: will give you whatever you ask. And Jesus said to 594 00:39:31,360 --> 00:39:34,480 Speaker 1: her your brother will rise again, and Martha answered, I 595 00:39:34,520 --> 00:39:37,160 Speaker 1: know he will rise again in the resurrection at the 596 00:39:37,239 --> 00:39:40,000 Speaker 1: Last Day. And Jesus said, you're missing the point. I 597 00:39:40,160 --> 00:39:45,480 Speaker 1: am the Resurrection and the life. You keep trying to 598 00:39:45,560 --> 00:39:49,399 Speaker 1: prove my presence by what I do, But I want 599 00:39:49,440 --> 00:39:52,880 Speaker 1: you to see who I am. So I didn't do 600 00:39:53,480 --> 00:39:56,239 Speaker 1: what you wanted me to do because I needed you 601 00:39:56,400 --> 00:40:00,040 Speaker 1: to see who I am. I am a frivist. I 602 00:40:00,080 --> 00:40:10,279 Speaker 1: think it's closer. The one who believes in me will 603 00:40:10,320 --> 00:40:13,640 Speaker 1: live even though they die question question next verse, next verse, 604 00:40:14,120 --> 00:40:16,160 Speaker 1: and whoever lives by believing them, we will never know. 605 00:40:16,200 --> 00:40:28,080 Speaker 1: Do you believe this? Do you believe this? Do I 606 00:40:28,160 --> 00:40:38,480 Speaker 1: believe what? Bro Preacher? Do you believe what I just said? 607 00:40:39,120 --> 00:40:44,000 Speaker 1: And she answers, yes, Lord, I believe that you are 608 00:40:44,080 --> 00:40:50,440 Speaker 1: the Messiah. Now it's two things in the text delay. 609 00:40:51,320 --> 00:40:55,279 Speaker 1: One says your brother will rise. One says I am 610 00:40:55,320 --> 00:41:00,719 Speaker 1: the Resurrection. She says, I believe that you are who 611 00:41:00,760 --> 00:41:03,960 Speaker 1: you say you are. I don't even know what you're 612 00:41:04,000 --> 00:41:09,280 Speaker 1: gonna do. But the Lazarus factor is that thing inside 613 00:41:09,320 --> 00:41:20,280 Speaker 1: of you that somehow knows he is God. I believe 614 00:41:20,320 --> 00:41:23,719 Speaker 1: that you are. It sure would have been nice if 615 00:41:23,760 --> 00:41:29,760 Speaker 1: you had. But even though you didn't, you are even 616 00:41:30,920 --> 00:41:38,560 Speaker 1: though you didn't. You are even though I wish you are, 617 00:41:39,680 --> 00:41:45,040 Speaker 1: even though I hoped you are, even though he died, 618 00:41:45,719 --> 00:41:51,400 Speaker 1: You are even though it happened. You are even though 619 00:41:51,520 --> 00:42:00,800 Speaker 1: that's over. Even now I believe you are. And God, 620 00:42:00,920 --> 00:42:05,319 Speaker 1: God brings us to these points to see what will 621 00:42:05,360 --> 00:42:09,600 Speaker 1: we do with our disappointment. She met him at the gate, 622 00:42:10,280 --> 00:42:13,520 Speaker 1: and she confessed faith in him, even in the absence 623 00:42:13,560 --> 00:42:17,760 Speaker 1: of the miracle that she so desperately needed. I believe 624 00:42:17,800 --> 00:42:20,440 Speaker 1: that you are the son of God who is to 625 00:42:20,480 --> 00:42:23,080 Speaker 1: come into the world. And after verse twenty eight she 626 00:42:23,160 --> 00:42:27,080 Speaker 1: had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary. 627 00:42:27,200 --> 00:42:29,960 Speaker 1: A sigh. The teacher is here, she said, and he's 628 00:42:30,040 --> 00:42:33,200 Speaker 1: asking for you. And when Mary heard this, she got 629 00:42:33,320 --> 00:42:36,680 Speaker 1: up quickly and went to him. Now, Jesus, I love 630 00:42:36,719 --> 00:42:40,160 Speaker 1: the Bible. Jesus had not yet entered the village, but 631 00:42:40,320 --> 00:42:42,359 Speaker 1: was still at the place where Martha had met him. 632 00:42:42,640 --> 00:42:45,680 Speaker 1: He will stand where you need him to stand, and 633 00:42:45,719 --> 00:42:48,200 Speaker 1: he will come as far as you invite him. So 634 00:42:48,360 --> 00:42:51,640 Speaker 1: listen what that means if you choose to keep God 635 00:42:51,800 --> 00:43:02,160 Speaker 1: at a distance. He stood at the gate, and Mary 636 00:43:02,280 --> 00:43:06,000 Speaker 1: was mad too. I love how they were both mad, 637 00:43:06,040 --> 00:43:12,439 Speaker 1: but they still got a miracle. I don't know how 638 00:43:12,440 --> 00:43:15,160 Speaker 1: this is gonna go over, but give God an angry praise. 639 00:43:22,640 --> 00:43:25,480 Speaker 1: Mary fell down at his feet, not in faith, but 640 00:43:25,560 --> 00:43:33,720 Speaker 1: in frustration. But she came to him, and everybody followed 641 00:43:33,719 --> 00:43:39,680 Speaker 1: her out there. Everybody that came around, Aunt Margaret just 642 00:43:39,719 --> 00:43:48,560 Speaker 1: started with the letter m Mary. Martha Margaret said, she said, 643 00:43:48,640 --> 00:43:53,360 Speaker 1: verse verse thirty two. She reached the place where he 644 00:43:53,520 --> 00:43:55,520 Speaker 1: was and saw him and fell at his feet and said, Lord, 645 00:43:55,520 --> 00:43:57,279 Speaker 1: if you have been here, my brother would not have died. 646 00:43:58,520 --> 00:44:01,839 Speaker 1: And Jesus saw her weeping. The Jews who had come 647 00:44:01,880 --> 00:44:04,440 Speaker 1: along with are also. He was deeply moved in spirit 648 00:44:04,520 --> 00:44:10,719 Speaker 1: and trouble. When he saw her pain, he participated in it. 649 00:44:13,280 --> 00:44:18,680 Speaker 1: The Lazarus factor is not only that God gives miracles 650 00:44:18,719 --> 00:44:25,600 Speaker 1: in desperation. The Lazarus factor says that He is with 651 00:44:25,800 --> 00:44:34,800 Speaker 1: us in the pain of disappointment as well. And he asked, Martha, 652 00:44:34,880 --> 00:44:39,440 Speaker 1: do you believe this? And he asked Mary for a location, 653 00:44:40,840 --> 00:44:44,960 Speaker 1: where did you lay him? Take me to that place, 654 00:44:47,000 --> 00:44:50,960 Speaker 1: not the place that you let everybody else see, that place, 655 00:44:53,520 --> 00:44:57,200 Speaker 1: that place where you kind of buried your belief in God. 656 00:44:58,960 --> 00:45:03,760 Speaker 1: It was a rejection that place. It was a loss 657 00:45:05,120 --> 00:45:12,960 Speaker 1: that place, it was a betrayal. That place. It's a 658 00:45:12,960 --> 00:45:16,600 Speaker 1: place where you feel exhausted, and it's sometimes a place 659 00:45:16,600 --> 00:45:19,920 Speaker 1: where you're embarrassed of it. It's not the rooms in 660 00:45:19,960 --> 00:45:22,799 Speaker 1: the house that you show the guests, it's the other 661 00:45:22,920 --> 00:45:30,919 Speaker 1: rooms that place. What I couldn't figure out was why 662 00:45:30,920 --> 00:45:33,760 Speaker 1: did Jesus wait when he could have come and spoken 663 00:45:33,760 --> 00:45:36,800 Speaker 1: a word. And if he could have come and spoken 664 00:45:36,840 --> 00:45:40,280 Speaker 1: a word, why didn't he just speak it from a distance. 665 00:45:41,280 --> 00:45:44,200 Speaker 1: He didn't even have to come to Bethany to heal Lazarus. 666 00:45:45,480 --> 00:45:48,840 Speaker 1: But I think he wanted us to see that He 667 00:45:49,000 --> 00:45:55,280 Speaker 1: likes to come close to what other people would push away. 668 00:45:56,239 --> 00:46:01,600 Speaker 1: Everybody has a Lazarus. Everybody as a turn that your 669 00:46:01,640 --> 00:46:05,080 Speaker 1: life took that you didn't see coming and that God 670 00:46:05,120 --> 00:46:09,399 Speaker 1: didn't prevent. And as simple as this message may be, 671 00:46:10,239 --> 00:46:12,120 Speaker 1: I think it may be the deepest one that you 672 00:46:12,200 --> 00:46:17,440 Speaker 1: ever hear, because God is saying, take me to that place. 673 00:46:19,080 --> 00:46:23,520 Speaker 1: It is not a physical location, it is an emotional one. 674 00:46:23,800 --> 00:46:30,759 Speaker 1: Take me to that place where you laid him, where 675 00:46:30,800 --> 00:46:35,840 Speaker 1: you stop being optimistic, where you started going through the 676 00:46:35,920 --> 00:46:41,160 Speaker 1: motions swinging an axe with no blade. Take me to 677 00:46:41,239 --> 00:46:45,320 Speaker 1: that place where you just learned to manage the addiction 678 00:46:45,719 --> 00:46:49,919 Speaker 1: rather than fighting it. Take me to that place where 679 00:46:49,920 --> 00:46:52,719 Speaker 1: you just decided to show people a facade because you 680 00:46:52,719 --> 00:46:56,000 Speaker 1: don't think they can handle what's really you in the 681 00:46:56,000 --> 00:47:03,120 Speaker 1: core of your being that placebody has a Lazarus, And 682 00:47:03,239 --> 00:47:06,920 Speaker 1: the question is not whether or not you have a Lazarus. 683 00:47:06,960 --> 00:47:11,839 Speaker 1: The question is what are you gonna do about it? Now. 684 00:47:11,920 --> 00:47:15,600 Speaker 1: Jesus made the trip to the tomb, and when he 685 00:47:15,640 --> 00:47:17,440 Speaker 1: got there, some of y'all said, you were going to 686 00:47:17,480 --> 00:47:20,080 Speaker 1: memorize more scripture this year. I'm gonna give you one 687 00:47:20,080 --> 00:47:26,279 Speaker 1: to start, verse thirty five, Jesus Web, so you can 688 00:47:26,320 --> 00:47:28,960 Speaker 1: go home and tell somebody you memorize the whole Bible 689 00:47:29,040 --> 00:47:33,200 Speaker 1: verse today. That's the whole verse, Jesus Web. How powerful 690 00:47:33,440 --> 00:47:38,160 Speaker 1: that before he spoke the word, he wept. Before he 691 00:47:38,239 --> 00:47:42,440 Speaker 1: demonstrates his authority, he demonstrates his empathy. He wants you 692 00:47:42,480 --> 00:47:44,520 Speaker 1: to know, I'm with you while you're waiting for it. 693 00:47:44,760 --> 00:47:47,160 Speaker 1: I'm with you while you're waiting for it. I'm with you. 694 00:47:47,840 --> 00:47:50,359 Speaker 1: I was with you when you didn't see me. I 695 00:47:50,480 --> 00:47:52,960 Speaker 1: was with you when you didn't feel me. I was 696 00:47:53,000 --> 00:47:55,359 Speaker 1: with you when people couldn't do it for you. I 697 00:47:55,480 --> 00:48:01,680 Speaker 1: was with you, and he wept. And when they saw 698 00:48:01,719 --> 00:48:04,480 Speaker 1: that verse thirty six, many of the Jews gathered there said, 699 00:48:04,520 --> 00:48:09,919 Speaker 1: see how he loved him, Look how much he loved him. 700 00:48:10,040 --> 00:48:12,760 Speaker 1: And then some of the other Jews said, verse thirty seven, 701 00:48:13,640 --> 00:48:15,920 Speaker 1: could not he who opened the eyes of the blind 702 00:48:15,960 --> 00:48:20,319 Speaker 1: man kept this man from dying. So now I got 703 00:48:20,360 --> 00:48:23,839 Speaker 1: one voice saying, he loves you so much. And then 704 00:48:23,880 --> 00:48:26,320 Speaker 1: I got another voice saying, if he loves me so much, 705 00:48:26,400 --> 00:48:31,080 Speaker 1: then why. And the Bible says that Jesus, once more 706 00:48:31,080 --> 00:48:34,920 Speaker 1: deeply moved, did not respond to their opinions, but operated 707 00:48:34,960 --> 00:48:38,520 Speaker 1: according to his purpose. I feel the presence of God 708 00:48:38,520 --> 00:48:42,880 Speaker 1: in this place. Now watch this moment and receive it 709 00:48:42,920 --> 00:48:45,920 Speaker 1: for your Lazarus in your life. It says, Jesus, once 710 00:48:46,000 --> 00:48:50,200 Speaker 1: more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a 711 00:48:50,239 --> 00:48:55,080 Speaker 1: cave that the stone laid across the entrance. The stone 712 00:48:55,080 --> 00:48:58,960 Speaker 1: across the entrance means nothing else is going in and 713 00:48:58,960 --> 00:49:04,520 Speaker 1: nothing else is coming down. That's some of your hearts today. 714 00:49:05,320 --> 00:49:07,799 Speaker 1: And then Jesus tells them something to do that he 715 00:49:07,840 --> 00:49:11,560 Speaker 1: could have easily done without their help. Take away the stone. 716 00:49:12,800 --> 00:49:15,480 Speaker 1: Isn't that crazy? He's about to raise this man from 717 00:49:15,520 --> 00:49:20,560 Speaker 1: the dead, but he can't push the stone. He could, 718 00:49:21,360 --> 00:49:27,160 Speaker 1: but he didn't until the moment where you open yourself 719 00:49:27,200 --> 00:49:31,600 Speaker 1: to the possibility that God can do it. Your heart 720 00:49:31,680 --> 00:49:35,640 Speaker 1: is a closed tomb keeping dead things in. But here's 721 00:49:35,680 --> 00:49:42,040 Speaker 1: what's beautiful. When Martha responded to Jesus' command, she was 722 00:49:42,120 --> 00:49:45,960 Speaker 1: embarrassed because she didn't want to expose what was inside. 723 00:49:46,000 --> 00:49:49,160 Speaker 1: She said, Lord, by this time there's a bad odor. 724 00:49:49,440 --> 00:49:51,960 Speaker 1: I don't want anybody to see this. I don't want 725 00:49:52,000 --> 00:49:54,880 Speaker 1: anybody to know this. I don't want anybody to go 726 00:49:55,000 --> 00:49:57,560 Speaker 1: know what's really going on in my heart. But then 727 00:49:57,640 --> 00:50:00,920 Speaker 1: Jesus said something, Did I not tell you that if 728 00:50:00,960 --> 00:50:05,000 Speaker 1: you believe, you will see the glory of God and 729 00:50:05,040 --> 00:50:07,319 Speaker 1: get ready to praise him by faith Verse forty one. 730 00:50:07,840 --> 00:50:12,680 Speaker 1: They took away the stone, and Jesus looked up and said, 731 00:50:12,719 --> 00:50:15,440 Speaker 1: get ready to praise him. Father. I thank you that 732 00:50:15,520 --> 00:50:18,840 Speaker 1: you heard me. I know you always hear me. But 733 00:50:18,960 --> 00:50:22,319 Speaker 1: I set it for them that they may believe, that 734 00:50:22,400 --> 00:50:25,880 Speaker 1: they may believe I sent you through trouble, that you 735 00:50:26,040 --> 00:50:29,480 Speaker 1: may believe I sent you through the sea, that you 736 00:50:29,640 --> 00:50:33,480 Speaker 1: may believe that you sent me. And then Jesus get 737 00:50:33,480 --> 00:50:35,880 Speaker 1: ready to praise him. Verse thirty forty three, come on, 738 00:50:35,960 --> 00:50:38,959 Speaker 1: come up. When he had said this, he called out, 739 00:50:39,280 --> 00:50:48,000 Speaker 1: in a loud voice, Lazarus, come out. Lazarus, come out. 740 00:50:49,120 --> 00:50:54,280 Speaker 1: Forty four. When he said it, the dead man came out, 741 00:50:54,680 --> 00:50:59,080 Speaker 1: the dead dream came out, the dead thing came out. 742 00:50:59,520 --> 00:51:07,040 Speaker 1: The place gave to lie. The tripones game together to boone. 743 00:51:07,280 --> 00:51:19,279 Speaker 1: Hear the word of the Lord. Latharus, come for, praise him. Lazarus, 744 00:51:20,640 --> 00:51:30,279 Speaker 1: come for. In a loud voice, he commanded that thing 745 00:51:30,360 --> 00:51:37,280 Speaker 1: that was dead to come alive. And the Lazarus factor says, 746 00:51:38,680 --> 00:51:44,279 Speaker 1: you don't always get Lazarus back, but his presence is 747 00:51:44,320 --> 00:51:49,279 Speaker 1: always calling something forth. Come and let us sink in. 748 00:51:51,600 --> 00:51:54,600 Speaker 1: You know I'm right about it. You know he's the 749 00:51:54,600 --> 00:51:57,799 Speaker 1: god of the outcome. You know he's the god who 750 00:51:57,840 --> 00:52:00,759 Speaker 1: is working all things together. Right. You didn't forget that, 751 00:52:00,880 --> 00:52:05,920 Speaker 1: did you, Martha. You didn't let you didn't let your 752 00:52:06,000 --> 00:52:11,320 Speaker 1: Lazarus convince you that he didn't love you. He loved Lazarus. 753 00:52:12,920 --> 00:52:17,480 Speaker 1: He loves Larry Stevens Fredick Jr. He loves Holly Aanna Fredick. 754 00:52:18,640 --> 00:52:24,520 Speaker 1: He loved me so much that he lets something die. 755 00:52:25,280 --> 00:52:28,759 Speaker 1: Showed up at the spot, and he's still showing up 756 00:52:30,160 --> 00:52:33,960 Speaker 1: at the tomb of every Lazarus. They didn't want him 757 00:52:34,000 --> 00:52:36,160 Speaker 1: to show up at the tomb. They wanted him to 758 00:52:36,200 --> 00:52:41,040 Speaker 1: show up in the hospital room. In this place, I 759 00:52:41,040 --> 00:52:42,560 Speaker 1: want you to know that, even though it's not the 760 00:52:42,600 --> 00:52:46,920 Speaker 1: place you planned to be, he's standing here. He has 761 00:52:47,000 --> 00:52:52,040 Speaker 1: not forsaken you. He has not abandoned you. In Greek, 762 00:52:52,320 --> 00:52:57,479 Speaker 1: the word is ume. It means never. When he said 763 00:52:57,560 --> 00:53:00,000 Speaker 1: never will I leave you, never will I forsake you 764 00:53:00,640 --> 00:53:07,320 Speaker 1: is a double negative. Oo mah, it means never, no, never. Father, 765 00:53:07,400 --> 00:53:10,319 Speaker 1: In the name of Jesus, I thank you that you 766 00:53:10,400 --> 00:53:14,359 Speaker 1: hurt us the first time. I thank you that there's 767 00:53:14,360 --> 00:53:18,960 Speaker 1: nobody standing before you today who cannot declare that you 768 00:53:19,040 --> 00:53:23,719 Speaker 1: are weeping with us in our disappointment, and your word 769 00:53:23,800 --> 00:53:28,359 Speaker 1: is going forth into our future. I speak to every 770 00:53:28,440 --> 00:53:31,360 Speaker 1: Lazarus in this room today in the name of Jesus. 771 00:53:32,200 --> 00:53:36,440 Speaker 1: I call joy forth. In the name of Jesus, I 772 00:53:36,520 --> 00:53:41,920 Speaker 1: call peace, purpose and glory forth, for we know that 773 00:53:42,000 --> 00:53:46,319 Speaker 1: this sickness does not end in death, but for the 774 00:53:46,360 --> 00:53:54,280 Speaker 1: glory of God. The Lazarus factor he is getting glory 775 00:53:54,480 --> 00:53:58,479 Speaker 1: out of this situation. Look at me for one moment, 776 00:53:58,520 --> 00:53:59,920 Speaker 1: I'm over my time, but I got to tell you 777 00:54:01,480 --> 00:54:05,719 Speaker 1: it was the situation that gave the opportunity for revelation. 778 00:54:08,239 --> 00:54:12,160 Speaker 1: God is doing that in your life right now. Thank 779 00:54:12,160 --> 00:54:14,600 Speaker 1: you for joining us. Special thanks to those of you 780 00:54:14,640 --> 00:54:17,640 Speaker 1: who give generously to this ministry. Is because of you 781 00:54:17,760 --> 00:54:20,759 Speaker 1: that this ministry is possible. You can click the link 782 00:54:20,760 --> 00:54:24,640 Speaker 1: in the description to give now or visit Elevationchurch dot 783 00:54:24,760 --> 00:54:28,040 Speaker 1: org slash podcast for more information and if you enjoyed 784 00:54:28,040 --> 00:54:31,120 Speaker 1: the podcast, you can subscribe. You can share it with 785 00:54:31,160 --> 00:54:33,400 Speaker 1: your friends. You can click the share button, take a 786 00:54:33,440 --> 00:54:35,959 Speaker 1: screenshot and share it on your social stories and tag 787 00:54:36,080 --> 00:54:44,040 Speaker 1: us at Elevation Church. Thanks again for listening. God bless you.