1 00:00:00,210 --> 00:00:03,330 S1: Hey there. Thanks for listening to the Greg Laurie podcast, 2 00:00:03,330 --> 00:00:07,590 S1: a ministry supported by Harvest Partners. I'm Greg Laurie. Encouraging 3 00:00:07,590 --> 00:00:09,810 S1: you If you want to find out more about Harvest 4 00:00:09,810 --> 00:00:13,110 S1: Ministries and learn more about how to become a harvest partner, 5 00:00:13,110 --> 00:00:18,300 S1: just go to harvest. Org. How many of you believe 6 00:00:18,300 --> 00:00:20,370 S1: in the name of Jesus? Yes. 7 00:00:21,060 --> 00:00:21,780 S2: All right. 8 00:00:22,620 --> 00:00:25,739 S1: Let's all pray together. Father, we're so glad here to 9 00:00:25,739 --> 00:00:28,920 S1: be here today because we believe in the name of 10 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:32,940 S1: Jesus and all that he has done for us. And now, 11 00:00:32,940 --> 00:00:35,130 S1: as we open your word, we pray that you will 12 00:00:35,130 --> 00:00:38,220 S1: speak to our hearts, because you've told us in Scripture 13 00:00:38,220 --> 00:00:41,730 S1: that you come and the volume of your book. So 14 00:00:41,729 --> 00:00:45,060 S1: as we open the book that's inspired by you, that's 15 00:00:45,060 --> 00:00:48,840 S1: breathed by you, we know Jesus will come to us 16 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:52,590 S1: and speak to us, and we want to hear from you, Lord, today. 17 00:00:52,590 --> 00:00:55,710 S1: So we commit this time of Bible study to you. Now, 18 00:00:55,710 --> 00:00:59,190 S1: in Jesus name we pray. Amen. You can all be seated. 19 00:00:59,220 --> 00:01:04,200 S1: Welcome to church, everybody. Hello to harvest Orange County. Harvest 20 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:07,890 S1: at home watching at Harvest Dawg as well. Now let's 21 00:01:07,890 --> 00:01:10,320 S1: turn at our Bibles to John chapter 11. And the 22 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:17,009 S1: title of my message is Power over Death. John 11. 23 00:01:17,020 --> 00:01:21,009 S1: So my grandchildren used to have a bunch of rabbits 24 00:01:21,010 --> 00:01:25,630 S1: and there was they had different names, a fuzzy and 25 00:01:25,630 --> 00:01:30,400 S1: cotton one name one was named Chubby Cutie, which is 26 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:35,290 S1: funny because that's what my wife calls me. But so 27 00:01:35,290 --> 00:01:38,860 S1: back to Fuzzy and Cotton. They were a couple that 28 00:01:38,860 --> 00:01:42,580 S1: let's say they had they're very successful at bringing more 29 00:01:42,580 --> 00:01:47,050 S1: rabbits into the world. And my granddaughter Ali came to 30 00:01:47,050 --> 00:01:50,140 S1: me one day and she was in tears and she said, 31 00:01:50,140 --> 00:01:54,520 S1: Papa Fuzzy, the rabbit died. And then she said, It's 32 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:59,770 S1: not fair. And I assured her that Fuzzy had lived 33 00:01:59,770 --> 00:02:03,220 S1: a very long life. He had many offspring that he 34 00:02:03,220 --> 00:02:06,790 S1: left behind. We counted around 80 bunnies that were left 35 00:02:06,790 --> 00:02:10,690 S1: from Fuzzy. And so I actually saw Fuzzy using Tinder 36 00:02:10,690 --> 00:02:13,510 S1: on his phone one time. But that's another story for 37 00:02:13,510 --> 00:02:16,480 S1: another day. But, you know, I just said, hey, you know, 38 00:02:16,900 --> 00:02:19,690 S1: this happens. And of course, we wonder, will we see 39 00:02:19,690 --> 00:02:23,020 S1: our pets again in heaven? Well, I think it's pretty 40 00:02:23,020 --> 00:02:26,830 S1: simple answer All dogs go to heaven. No cats do. Simple. No, no. 41 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:32,600 S1: None of that's true. But will we see them? I 42 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:35,720 S1: don't know. Who knows? It's possible that you might see 43 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:39,140 S1: your pet on the other side somewhere, but we don't 44 00:02:39,139 --> 00:02:42,769 S1: have certainty of that. But we know that when heaven 45 00:02:42,770 --> 00:02:45,290 S1: comes to earth and what we call the new Earth, 46 00:02:45,290 --> 00:02:48,710 S1: that there will be animals with us. And we read 47 00:02:48,710 --> 00:02:52,130 S1: about a little child leading a lion, which would be 48 00:02:52,130 --> 00:02:55,760 S1: the ultimate pet, a lion. That's one cat I can 49 00:02:55,760 --> 00:03:00,740 S1: get behind, right? A lion. And so we don't know 50 00:03:00,740 --> 00:03:04,820 S1: about these things. But Ali raised a good issue. And 51 00:03:04,820 --> 00:03:09,410 S1: it's simply this death is not fair. Death is harsh. 52 00:03:09,410 --> 00:03:13,100 S1: It's mean. And it rips people that we love away 53 00:03:13,100 --> 00:03:18,500 S1: from us. Sometimes expectedly, we know it's coming. Other times unexpectedly, 54 00:03:18,500 --> 00:03:22,339 S1: we're all still reeling by this horrific act of pure 55 00:03:22,340 --> 00:03:27,560 S1: evil against these innocent people On this Christian school campus 56 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:32,660 S1: in Nashville, Tennessee, six people died altogether. Three of them 57 00:03:32,660 --> 00:03:36,800 S1: were precious little children and one was the daughter of 58 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:41,240 S1: the pastor there, Pastor Scruggs. And another little girl was 59 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:44,300 S1: trying to pull the fire alarm to warn the other children, 60 00:03:44,300 --> 00:03:48,200 S1: Our hearts just break because it's so hard for us 61 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:51,380 S1: to wrap our minds around the death of a child. 62 00:03:51,380 --> 00:03:54,770 S1: You know, we know that grandparents are going to definitely 63 00:03:54,770 --> 00:03:58,070 S1: die and then parents and time and even us and time, 64 00:03:58,070 --> 00:04:02,720 S1: but nobody plans or thinks through the death of a 65 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:07,670 S1: child or doing a funeral service for your child. Just 66 00:04:07,670 --> 00:04:12,530 S1: last Saturday. Yesterday, our son Christopher had his birthday. He's 67 00:04:12,530 --> 00:04:15,560 S1: in heaven. He's been in heaven for 14 years now, 68 00:04:15,710 --> 00:04:19,010 S1: and he is 48 years old. I could say he 69 00:04:19,010 --> 00:04:22,010 S1: would have been 48, but I believe he's very much alive. 70 00:04:22,010 --> 00:04:24,920 S1: So I'll say he is 48, though I don't know 71 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:28,760 S1: that they count years in heaven like we do on Earth, 72 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:32,270 S1: and we know we will see him again. And Cathy 73 00:04:32,270 --> 00:04:37,760 S1: and I and our son Jonathan went to his grave 74 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:42,070 S1: and we reflected on his life. And we all prayed 75 00:04:42,070 --> 00:04:46,810 S1: and recommitted ourselves to the calling God has put on 76 00:04:46,810 --> 00:04:49,270 S1: our lives. And and you say, well, that's a really 77 00:04:49,270 --> 00:04:51,909 S1: morbid thing to do. I mean, go to a grave. 78 00:04:51,910 --> 00:04:56,419 S1: And what? Yeah, but it's it's a grounding thing to do. 79 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:59,890 S1: I'll tell you that. Because it just reminds you one 80 00:04:59,890 --> 00:05:03,250 S1: day I will be here, too. I've told you this 81 00:05:03,250 --> 00:05:05,920 S1: before about a person who was walking through a cemetery 82 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:08,590 S1: and they saw a tombstone and on it were inscribed 83 00:05:08,589 --> 00:05:12,490 S1: these words. Pause. Now, stranger, as you pass by as 84 00:05:12,490 --> 00:05:15,400 S1: you are now. So once was I, as I am now. 85 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:19,870 S1: So you will be. So prepare for death and follow me. 86 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:22,900 S1: And a person reading that was overheard to say to 87 00:05:22,900 --> 00:05:25,900 S1: follow you is not my intent until I know which 88 00:05:25,900 --> 00:05:32,410 S1: way you went. Right. The Christian can look death right 89 00:05:32,410 --> 00:05:36,430 S1: in the face and not be afraid because we know 90 00:05:36,430 --> 00:05:39,700 S1: death is not the end. We know there is life 91 00:05:39,700 --> 00:05:42,729 S1: beyond the grave. Sure. We're realists. You know, people accuse 92 00:05:42,730 --> 00:05:45,609 S1: Christians of being out of touch with reality. I think 93 00:05:45,610 --> 00:05:48,400 S1: other people are out of touch with reality that don't 94 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:51,820 S1: deal with this topic head on as we ought to, 95 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:55,089 S1: because only those who are prepared to die are really 96 00:05:55,089 --> 00:05:58,359 S1: ready to live. So we look at death and we say, 97 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:00,760 S1: I'm not looking forward to it, but I know it's 98 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:03,580 S1: not the end and I know I'm simply changing my 99 00:06:03,580 --> 00:06:06,760 S1: address from earth to heaven because I've put my faith 100 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:09,760 S1: in Jesus Christ, and that's how we can view it. 101 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:15,310 S1: And this is. Not only does the Believer have the 102 00:06:15,310 --> 00:06:18,490 S1: hope that the moment they die, they go immediately into presence, 103 00:06:18,490 --> 00:06:22,180 S1: into the presence of God. But the Bible also teaches 104 00:06:22,180 --> 00:06:25,900 S1: there will be a bodily resurrection. That means the body 105 00:06:25,900 --> 00:06:29,530 S1: that is in the grave now will one day be resurrected. 106 00:06:29,529 --> 00:06:33,250 S1: We will see our loved ones again. But we're so 107 00:06:33,250 --> 00:06:36,880 S1: uncomfortable with this topic. We don't even like to use 108 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:40,450 S1: the actual words. Instead of saying someone died, we'll say, Well, 109 00:06:40,450 --> 00:06:44,169 S1: they they passed on. Or technically, you might say, Well, 110 00:06:44,170 --> 00:06:48,700 S1: they expired. An undertaker, we call him a mortician. A 111 00:06:48,700 --> 00:06:52,960 S1: coffin is called a casket. A graveyard is a memorial park. Well, 112 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:55,690 S1: that's whatever you want to call it. It is what 113 00:06:55,690 --> 00:06:59,560 S1: it is. And death is harsh and death is mean 114 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:03,070 S1: and death is final. And death is real. And death 115 00:07:03,070 --> 00:07:06,070 S1: is not our friend. It is the enemy. In fact, 116 00:07:06,070 --> 00:07:10,480 S1: first Corinthians six, 1526 says the last enemy to be 117 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:16,660 S1: destroyed is death. And actually, God never wanted us to die. 118 00:07:16,690 --> 00:07:19,930 S1: There was no death in the Garden of Eden before 119 00:07:19,930 --> 00:07:23,020 S1: Adam and Eve, eight of the forbidden fruit. There was 120 00:07:23,020 --> 00:07:26,920 S1: no sickness, there was no aging. There was no need 121 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:31,990 S1: for police officers or the military or anything of that kind. 122 00:07:31,990 --> 00:07:35,650 S1: There was no suffering at all. It was pure bliss. 123 00:07:35,650 --> 00:07:39,700 S1: But our first parents ate of the forbidden fruit and 124 00:07:39,700 --> 00:07:43,000 S1: sin entered the world and so did death. And this 125 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:45,520 S1: is a story before us now in John 11 of 126 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:49,090 S1: three people that were impacted by the death of someone 127 00:07:49,090 --> 00:07:54,460 S1: they loved. We're talking about Mary, Martha and Lazarus. And 128 00:07:54,460 --> 00:07:58,690 S1: we're talking about when Lazarus, the brother, got sick and died. 129 00:07:58,690 --> 00:08:02,350 S1: And by the way, they were inseparable. They were close siblings. 130 00:08:02,350 --> 00:08:07,150 S1: Not all siblings are close. Sometimes we have sibling rivalry. 131 00:08:07,150 --> 00:08:09,490 S1: They're fighting with each other all the time. But other 132 00:08:09,490 --> 00:08:12,820 S1: siblings do everything together. I remember when I first met 133 00:08:12,820 --> 00:08:16,510 S1: my wife, Cathy. She wasn't my wife yet, and she 134 00:08:16,510 --> 00:08:19,660 S1: was at a Bible study with her two sisters. They 135 00:08:19,660 --> 00:08:24,520 S1: went everywhere together. Mary excuse me, Mary Wright, Mary Cathy 136 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:27,730 S1: and Dodie. And so there they were sitting in front 137 00:08:27,730 --> 00:08:30,340 S1: of me, and I noticed Cathy and I noticed her 138 00:08:30,340 --> 00:08:33,250 S1: because there was a light shining on her. And I 139 00:08:33,250 --> 00:08:36,550 S1: realized later Dottie was holding a flashlight over her head. So. 140 00:08:36,970 --> 00:08:39,100 S1: And I noticed her and I thought, Well, there's something 141 00:08:39,100 --> 00:08:40,780 S1: about this girl. I want to meet her. So I 142 00:08:40,780 --> 00:08:43,059 S1: went up to all of them. Hey, how are you? 143 00:08:43,059 --> 00:08:45,819 S1: I'm Greg. And. And so I said, You want to 144 00:08:45,820 --> 00:08:48,340 S1: go get coffee after church? And we did. And then 145 00:08:48,340 --> 00:08:50,949 S1: another week passed. I saw him again. Hey, you want 146 00:08:50,950 --> 00:08:53,020 S1: to go out after church and get some desserts? Sure. 147 00:08:53,020 --> 00:08:55,270 S1: And we all went. And the third week I said 148 00:08:55,270 --> 00:08:57,640 S1: to Cathy, Hey, you want to go out after church 149 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:00,730 S1: and get some dessert? She said, Sure, I'll get my sisters. 150 00:09:00,730 --> 00:09:03,460 S1: I said, I don't want your sisters. 151 00:09:05,110 --> 00:09:06,580 S3: I just want you. 152 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:13,000 S1: And thus our relationship began. But they did everything together, 153 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:18,609 S1: and so did Mary, Martha and Lazarus, a tight knit family. 154 00:09:18,610 --> 00:09:22,750 S1: So this is sign number seven in our series that 155 00:09:22,750 --> 00:09:26,679 S1: we're calling The Seven Signs of Jesus. The first sign 156 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:29,350 S1: was turning water into wine at a wedding. The final 157 00:09:29,350 --> 00:09:32,050 S1: sign was a resurrection of a man from the dead. 158 00:09:32,050 --> 00:09:35,620 S1: So we go from a wedding to a funeral, reminding 159 00:09:35,620 --> 00:09:38,079 S1: us that God is in control of all things in 160 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:41,469 S1: our life. From the beginning to the end. He's there 161 00:09:41,470 --> 00:09:44,680 S1: with us and our joys and our sorrows. But the 162 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:49,390 S1: ultimate sign of Jesus was not even the resurrection of Lazarus. 163 00:09:49,390 --> 00:09:52,810 S1: As amazing as it was, the ultimate sign of Jesus 164 00:09:52,809 --> 00:09:57,880 S1: was his death and resurrection. Everything was building to this crescendo, 165 00:09:58,210 --> 00:10:02,020 S1: Jesus said. A wicked and an adulterous generation seeks after 166 00:10:02,020 --> 00:10:04,570 S1: a sign, but no sign will be given to them, 167 00:10:04,570 --> 00:10:07,239 S1: but that of the prophet Jonah. And as Jonah was, 168 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:10,150 S1: three days and three nights and the belly of the 169 00:10:10,150 --> 00:10:13,540 S1: sea monster or the great fish, so will the I, 170 00:10:13,540 --> 00:10:16,449 S1: the son of man Jesus speaking be in the heart 171 00:10:16,450 --> 00:10:19,330 S1: of the earth three days and three nights, Loose paraphrase 172 00:10:19,330 --> 00:10:22,479 S1: Jesus says, You guys want a miracle. You want to sign. 173 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:25,360 S1: Here it is. I'm going to dine across. I'm going 174 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:27,280 S1: to bear the sin of the world and I'm going 175 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:30,040 S1: to rise again from the dead. And we'll celebrate that 176 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:34,090 S1: next week. But let's see what happened to Lazarus. John 177 00:10:34,090 --> 00:10:36,760 S1: 11 I'm starting in verse one. I'm reading from the 178 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:41,160 S1: new King James version. Now a certain man was sick. 179 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:45,780 S1: Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 180 00:10:45,780 --> 00:10:48,570 S1: And it was that Mary who anointed the Lord with 181 00:10:48,570 --> 00:10:51,570 S1: fragrant oil and wiped his feet with her hair, whose 182 00:10:51,570 --> 00:10:56,670 S1: brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore, the sisters sent to him saying, Behold, 183 00:10:56,670 --> 00:11:00,990 S1: he whom you love is sick. So we'll stop there. 184 00:11:01,290 --> 00:11:03,449 S1: What did we learn from this story? Point number one, 185 00:11:03,450 --> 00:11:06,900 S1: if you're taking notes, life is filled with pain and 186 00:11:06,900 --> 00:11:10,320 S1: sorrow and the death of loved ones. Is that not 187 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:13,440 S1: the most depressing point of all time? But is it 188 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:16,679 S1: not true? Sorry that I have to be the one 189 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:18,849 S1: to break this to you in case you don't know it. 190 00:11:18,870 --> 00:11:22,740 S1: But life is filled with the pain, death and sorrow 191 00:11:22,740 --> 00:11:26,429 S1: of loved ones. Now, when you're younger, this is hard 192 00:11:26,429 --> 00:11:30,570 S1: to wrap your mind around. But you see people dying and. 193 00:11:30,570 --> 00:11:33,540 S1: And it starts to settle in that one day this 194 00:11:33,540 --> 00:11:36,750 S1: will happen to you as well. So this is what 195 00:11:36,750 --> 00:11:40,020 S1: we see. And when tragedy comes in our life or 196 00:11:40,020 --> 00:11:44,220 S1: we lose a loved one, we say, why me? Why 197 00:11:44,220 --> 00:11:48,360 S1: is this happening to me? But it's ultimately going to 198 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:53,100 S1: happen to everyone, including you. In fact, we're told in 199 00:11:53,100 --> 00:11:57,090 S1: first Peter 412 Don't think it's strange concerning the fiery trial, 200 00:11:57,090 --> 00:12:00,780 S1: which will try you as though some strange thing is 201 00:12:00,780 --> 00:12:04,880 S1: happening to you. So we have to accept this fact. 202 00:12:04,890 --> 00:12:08,610 S1: But that brings me to point number two. God loves us. 203 00:12:08,970 --> 00:12:14,220 S1: God loves us. Don't rush over that. Don't misunderstand it. 204 00:12:14,220 --> 00:12:18,270 S1: Let it sink in. God loves you. I want you 205 00:12:18,270 --> 00:12:22,890 S1: to say this out loud. God loves me. Go. It's true. 206 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:26,850 S1: Do you believe that God loves you? Okay, So no 207 00:12:26,850 --> 00:12:31,920 S1: matter what you're facing right now, don't forget this simple fact. Therefore, 208 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:35,520 S1: what he does or allows to happen in your life 209 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:40,200 S1: as his child is motivated by his everlasting love for you. 210 00:12:40,380 --> 00:12:45,000 S1: Let me repeat that. It's on the screen. God loves you. Therefore, 211 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:48,600 S1: whatever he does or allows to happen in your life 212 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:54,960 S1: as his child is motivated by his everlasting love for you. Now, 213 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:57,840 S1: I'm interested in what Mary and Martha do. Now, remember, 214 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:01,290 S1: Lazarus is still alive, but he's very sick. They know 215 00:13:01,290 --> 00:13:05,610 S1: this is serious. So they send word to Jesus. The 216 00:13:05,610 --> 00:13:08,790 S1: one that you love is sick. In verse three, another 217 00:13:08,790 --> 00:13:12,960 S1: translation of the same statement is, Lord, your dear friend 218 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:17,730 S1: is very sick. And this is an excellent example of 219 00:13:17,730 --> 00:13:21,960 S1: what we need to do when we are in crisis. 220 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:25,320 S1: We are not here to tell God what He should do, 221 00:13:25,770 --> 00:13:28,920 S1: but we are here to tell him about our problem 222 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:32,790 S1: and say, Lord, here's my problem. And they describe it 223 00:13:32,790 --> 00:13:37,200 S1: to Jesus. Call on the Lord. There's nothing wrong with 224 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:40,680 S1: asking God to help you. Nothing wrong with asking God 225 00:13:40,679 --> 00:13:43,680 S1: to deliver you. In fact, you should do it. Because 226 00:13:43,679 --> 00:13:45,510 S1: in the book of James that says you have not 227 00:13:45,510 --> 00:13:48,870 S1: because you ask, not now. God may deliver you from 228 00:13:48,870 --> 00:13:51,870 S1: your problem and he may simply walk with you through 229 00:13:51,870 --> 00:13:55,380 S1: your problem, but bring it before the Lord when the 230 00:13:55,380 --> 00:13:59,699 S1: Israelites are criticizing and turning against Moses. We read in 231 00:13:59,700 --> 00:14:05,400 S1: Exodus 1525, he cried unto the Lord when Hezekiah received 232 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:09,420 S1: a threatening letter. We read in Isaiah 37, He spread 233 00:14:09,420 --> 00:14:13,890 S1: it out before the Lord. When John the Baptist was beheaded, 234 00:14:13,890 --> 00:14:19,330 S1: his disciples went and told Jesus, That's what we should do. Christ, 235 00:14:19,350 --> 00:14:24,030 S1: that's it. Go and tell Jesus. Hey, Jesus, I have 236 00:14:24,030 --> 00:14:27,630 S1: a problem. I have a need. I have a burden. 237 00:14:27,750 --> 00:14:30,450 S1: I have this thing that's happening to me right now, 238 00:14:30,450 --> 00:14:34,200 S1: and I'm asking you to help me. Psalm 46 One 239 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:38,670 S1: reminds us that Jesus is a very present help in 240 00:14:38,670 --> 00:14:45,090 S1: times of trouble. A present help. Now, they could have said, Now, look, Lord, 241 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:48,840 S1: you owe us. We fed you in your disciples. A 242 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:52,410 S1: lot of times you see, Jesus and His boys would 243 00:14:52,410 --> 00:14:56,490 S1: often frequent the house of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Mary, 244 00:14:56,490 --> 00:15:01,100 S1: Martha and Lazarus could legitimately say, Jesus is our friend. 245 00:15:01,110 --> 00:15:04,470 S1: You see, they lived in Bethany, and Bethany is striking 246 00:15:04,470 --> 00:15:08,250 S1: distance from Jerusalem. So as Christ would make his way 247 00:15:08,250 --> 00:15:10,890 S1: into the city, he would just stop by. I wonder 248 00:15:10,890 --> 00:15:15,540 S1: if he came by unannounced. He certainly couldn't text Martha. Hey, Martha, 249 00:15:15,540 --> 00:15:18,570 S1: How's it going? We're on our way into Jerusalem, man. 250 00:15:18,570 --> 00:15:20,880 S1: Are we hungry? And we all know what a great 251 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:24,150 S1: cook you are. Could you make something for us? Sure. 252 00:15:24,150 --> 00:15:26,610 S1: Come on in, Lord. And then they would all come. 253 00:15:26,610 --> 00:15:29,490 S1: It probably all went into the kitchen together. Why is 254 00:15:29,490 --> 00:15:32,100 S1: it that in our homes everyone wants to hang around 255 00:15:32,100 --> 00:15:35,190 S1: in the kitchen? You might even have a proper living 256 00:15:35,190 --> 00:15:38,820 S1: room that no one ever uses the most. Of this 257 00:15:38,820 --> 00:15:42,090 S1: room in a home, the living room. We all want 258 00:15:42,090 --> 00:15:46,030 S1: to be in the kitchen because that's where the action is, right? 259 00:15:46,050 --> 00:15:49,260 S1: Isn't this making you hungry right now? Because that's where 260 00:15:49,260 --> 00:15:52,410 S1: the food is. And everyone people are leaning up against 261 00:15:52,410 --> 00:15:54,720 S1: the stove and their clothes are catching on fire. But 262 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:59,730 S1: the food's there. It's good, right? So they could have said, Lord, 263 00:16:00,570 --> 00:16:03,810 S1: we fed you so many times, you kind of owe us. 264 00:16:03,810 --> 00:16:08,400 S1: It's time to reciprocate. But they didn't do anything like that. 265 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:11,460 S1: They just said, Lord, the one that you love is sick. 266 00:16:12,620 --> 00:16:15,680 S1: They didn't even say the one that loves you is sick. 267 00:16:16,250 --> 00:16:19,190 S1: They said the one that you love is sick. They 268 00:16:19,190 --> 00:16:22,240 S1: weren't even appealing on the basis of their love for him. 269 00:16:22,250 --> 00:16:26,320 S1: They were appealing on the basis of his love for them. 270 00:16:26,330 --> 00:16:29,030 S1: Let's pick the story up, John 11, verse four. When 271 00:16:29,030 --> 00:16:32,450 S1: Jesus heard about it, he said, Lazarus sickness will not 272 00:16:32,450 --> 00:16:35,480 S1: end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God. 273 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:39,440 S1: So the Son of God will receive glory from this. Now, 274 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:44,120 S1: don't miss this verse. Although Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus, 275 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:47,330 S1: he stayed where he was for the next two days. 276 00:16:47,330 --> 00:16:53,270 S1: I'd underline that actually. Although Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus, 277 00:16:53,270 --> 00:16:56,480 S1: he stayed where he was for the next two days. 278 00:16:56,510 --> 00:17:01,490 S1: Then he said to his disciples, Let's go back to Judea. 279 00:17:01,490 --> 00:17:05,210 S1: He loved them, so he waited. That doesn't make sense. 280 00:17:05,780 --> 00:17:09,500 S1: We would expect that verses say, because Jesus loved Mary, 281 00:17:09,500 --> 00:17:12,290 S1: Martha and Lazarus. He got on the back of the 282 00:17:12,290 --> 00:17:16,699 S1: fastest horse and rode to them. Or, Hey, in the 283 00:17:16,700 --> 00:17:19,560 S1: case of Christ, he could have just moved there, just boom, 284 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:22,400 S1: here I am. Or he could have spoken the word. 285 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:24,710 S1: He didn't even have to go to them. He could 286 00:17:24,710 --> 00:17:27,800 S1: have spoken the word and said, Lazarus, you are healed. 287 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:32,660 S1: But none of this happened. He delayed his arrival. Why? Listen? 288 00:17:32,660 --> 00:17:37,850 S1: Because he loved Lazarus. Now we think this is a contradiction. 289 00:17:37,940 --> 00:17:42,080 S1: If Jesus really loved Lazarus, why didn't he immediately go 290 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:45,439 S1: and heal him? And in the same way, when hardship, 291 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:49,940 S1: tragedy or even death come into our lives, we wonder 292 00:17:49,940 --> 00:17:54,800 S1: if God really loved me? Why did he let this happen? Right? 293 00:17:55,190 --> 00:17:58,610 S1: We've asked this before. If God loved me, why did 294 00:17:58,609 --> 00:18:02,370 S1: he let this happen? It's hard to see through eyes 295 00:18:02,369 --> 00:18:06,330 S1: that are filled with tears. And the point that we 296 00:18:06,330 --> 00:18:09,930 S1: need to see in all of this is not why 297 00:18:09,930 --> 00:18:13,560 S1: it's happened. But remember, God is in control. And also 298 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:18,900 S1: remember that his delays are not necessarily his denials. A 299 00:18:18,900 --> 00:18:23,669 S1: verse I love. Ecclesiastes 311 says, God has made everything 300 00:18:23,670 --> 00:18:29,430 S1: beautiful in his time. See, we look at the small picture. 301 00:18:29,460 --> 00:18:32,910 S1: God looks at the big picture. We look at the 302 00:18:32,910 --> 00:18:37,740 S1: temporal God looks at the eternal. See, I'm an artist 303 00:18:37,740 --> 00:18:40,409 S1: of sorts. More of a cartoonist, if you want to 304 00:18:40,410 --> 00:18:43,200 S1: call that an artist. I like to think of myself 305 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:46,830 S1: as an advanced doodler, but I like to draw. If 306 00:18:46,830 --> 00:18:48,630 S1: there's a piece of paper near me and a pen, 307 00:18:48,630 --> 00:18:51,840 S1: I'll start drawing. I can't stop myself. And people will say, 308 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:55,710 S1: Do a caricature of me now, A caricature by its 309 00:18:55,710 --> 00:19:00,540 S1: very definition is an exaggeration of something. And so someone says, 310 00:19:00,540 --> 00:19:02,580 S1: Draw me. I'll look at them and I see them 311 00:19:02,580 --> 00:19:05,760 S1: in a certain way as something of an artist and 312 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:08,790 S1: also as someone with a warped sense of humor. And 313 00:19:08,790 --> 00:19:11,250 S1: I might see flaws like, Oh, well, your ears are 314 00:19:11,250 --> 00:19:13,470 S1: quite big. So when the drawing they do of you, 315 00:19:13,470 --> 00:19:16,680 S1: your ears are going to be gigantic. And that's what 316 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:21,030 S1: a caricature is. That's why I never do caricatures of girls, 317 00:19:22,530 --> 00:19:25,680 S1: because I'll draw a girl and make her perfect, flawless. 318 00:19:26,250 --> 00:19:28,110 S1: So cute and adorable. 319 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:29,760 S3: Just say I don't look like that. 320 00:19:29,910 --> 00:19:33,000 S1: But, guys, I'm brutal, man. I just. Yeah, I'm going 321 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:36,420 S1: to go for it. It's meant to make you laugh, right? 322 00:19:36,420 --> 00:19:39,540 S1: So even before I begin to draw, I might start laughing. 323 00:19:39,540 --> 00:19:41,940 S1: You don't see anything in the paper, but I see 324 00:19:41,940 --> 00:19:45,770 S1: it in my imagination. I know what I'm going to do. 325 00:19:45,780 --> 00:19:49,920 S1: So God is drawing a picture of our life. He 326 00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:53,490 S1: does a stroke here, a line there, and we say, 327 00:19:53,490 --> 00:19:55,379 S1: I don't. What is this? I don't see what it's 328 00:19:55,380 --> 00:19:57,150 S1: going to be. Or it says, You're going to like it. 329 00:19:57,150 --> 00:20:00,810 S1: Wait till it's done. We're a work in progress. He's 330 00:20:00,810 --> 00:20:06,930 S1: looking at what he's ultimately going to do in your life. So, 331 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:09,720 S1: Mary and Martha, I wonder if they bragged on Jesus 332 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:12,270 S1: a little. Hey, we know Jesus. Look, we've got him 333 00:20:12,270 --> 00:20:15,510 S1: in contacts on our phone. Look right there. Jesus, right there. 334 00:20:15,690 --> 00:20:18,720 S1: I get text him right now. He's over here all 335 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:22,020 S1: the time. Let me tell you all of his favorite meals. 336 00:20:22,020 --> 00:20:24,120 S1: Let me tell you what's he like in person. Let 337 00:20:24,119 --> 00:20:26,280 S1: me tell you what he's like in person. They might 338 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:29,370 S1: have said, you see, Jesus will show up. He's our friend. 339 00:20:29,460 --> 00:20:33,000 S1: And not only did Jesus not show up, but he 340 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:35,909 S1: got there late and even missed the funeral. So Lazarus 341 00:20:35,910 --> 00:20:39,149 S1: has now died. And not only has he died, he's 342 00:20:39,150 --> 00:20:43,680 S1: in the process of decomposition. In fact, it's Martha who 343 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:47,820 S1: says to Jesus, Lord, by now he stinks. Earth. That's 344 00:20:47,820 --> 00:20:51,090 S1: King James. I like that translation. That's a nice way 345 00:20:51,090 --> 00:20:54,359 S1: to tell someone they don't smell right. Have you used 346 00:20:54,359 --> 00:20:56,880 S1: deodorant lately? I don't know. Why do you ask? Because 347 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:01,350 S1: by now you stink earth. Think about using that if 348 00:21:01,350 --> 00:21:05,820 S1: you like. It's all yours. But So he shows up late, 349 00:21:05,820 --> 00:21:10,020 S1: He comes into town. The funeral service is over. It's 350 00:21:10,020 --> 00:21:15,150 S1: a complete disaster. What happens next, John? 11 verse 20. 351 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:18,690 S1: Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, 352 00:21:18,690 --> 00:21:21,359 S1: went and met him, Mary was sitting in the house 353 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:24,000 S1: and Martha said to Jesus, Lord, if you would have 354 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:27,300 S1: been here, my brother would not have died. But now 355 00:21:27,300 --> 00:21:29,640 S1: I know that whatever you ask of God, God will 356 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:35,450 S1: give you. Jesus said, Your brother will rise again. Martha says, 357 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:37,740 S1: I know he'll rise again in the resurrection. At the 358 00:21:37,740 --> 00:21:41,190 S1: last day Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection 359 00:21:41,190 --> 00:21:43,680 S1: and the life He that believes in me. Though he 360 00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:46,590 S1: were dead. Yet shall he live. And whosoever lives and 361 00:21:46,590 --> 00:21:50,669 S1: believes in me shall never die. I love that statement, 362 00:21:50,670 --> 00:21:56,030 S1: don't you? What a powerful statement of Jesus Christ. But 363 00:21:56,030 --> 00:22:00,139 S1: Martha's effectively saying, Allow me to paraphrase Jesus. 364 00:22:00,980 --> 00:22:01,909 S4: You blew it. 365 00:22:02,780 --> 00:22:06,230 S1: We were bragging on you. We were expecting you to 366 00:22:06,230 --> 00:22:09,170 S1: show up. If you had been here, my brother would 367 00:22:09,170 --> 00:22:13,609 S1: not have died. You miss the opportunity. Jesus says your 368 00:22:13,609 --> 00:22:16,670 S1: brother will rise again. Yeah, I know. In the resurrection. No, Martha. 369 00:22:16,850 --> 00:22:21,540 S1: Read my lips. I am the resurrection. I am the 370 00:22:21,540 --> 00:22:24,240 S1: life he that believes in me. Though he were dead, 371 00:22:24,240 --> 00:22:27,240 S1: yet shall he live? But we've all said things like this. 372 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:30,480 S1: Maybe to the Lord. Where were you, Lord? Where were 373 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:34,109 S1: you when my marriage dissolved? Where were you when my 374 00:22:34,109 --> 00:22:38,369 S1: parents divorced? Where were you when my child went astray? 375 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:42,300 S1: Where were you when my loved one died? And so 376 00:22:42,300 --> 00:22:45,899 S1: there's nothing wrong with telling God how you feel. You know, 377 00:22:45,900 --> 00:22:48,389 S1: I think sometimes people say, you know, never pray a 378 00:22:48,390 --> 00:22:51,390 S1: prayer like that. No, pour your heart out to God. 379 00:22:51,390 --> 00:22:54,869 S1: And if you're hurting, tell God you're hurting. If you're confused, 380 00:22:54,869 --> 00:22:57,690 S1: tell God you're confused. If you don't like what's happening 381 00:22:57,690 --> 00:23:00,210 S1: to you. Go ahead and tell him you don't like 382 00:23:00,210 --> 00:23:04,200 S1: what's happening to you, but cast it on the Lord. 383 00:23:04,350 --> 00:23:07,080 S1: I think the problem is sometimes we withdraw from God 384 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:10,200 S1: in times of crisis. We don't talk to God. We 385 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:13,680 S1: don't talk to anybody else. We're in our little cocoon 386 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:17,940 S1: of depression and misery. No heed. Call out to God. God. 387 00:23:17,940 --> 00:23:21,450 S1: Why did you let this happen? I don't expect an answer. 388 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:24,359 S1: I think if God told you why things happen, you 389 00:23:24,359 --> 00:23:28,169 S1: wouldn't be satisfied anyway. You know, because how is it 390 00:23:28,170 --> 00:23:30,900 S1: going to make things better? God says, My ways are 391 00:23:30,900 --> 00:23:35,280 S1: above your ways. My thoughts are above your thoughts. We 392 00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:39,960 S1: live on promises, not explanations. So we should not spend 393 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:44,730 S1: too much time asking why. But I love what Jesus says. 394 00:23:44,730 --> 00:23:48,090 S1: He says, Your brother will rise again and I am 395 00:23:48,090 --> 00:23:52,740 S1: the resurrection and the life. And then, Mary, now comes 396 00:23:52,740 --> 00:23:56,760 S1: we pick the story up. John 11, verse 32. Then 397 00:23:56,760 --> 00:23:59,640 S1: Mary came where Jesus was and saw him and fell 398 00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:01,889 S1: down at his feet saying, Lord, if you would have 399 00:24:01,890 --> 00:24:06,450 S1: been here, my brother would not have died. Therefore, when 400 00:24:06,450 --> 00:24:09,570 S1: Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who came with 401 00:24:09,570 --> 00:24:13,500 S1: her weeping, he groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 402 00:24:13,500 --> 00:24:16,770 S1: And he said, Where have you laid him? They said, Lord, 403 00:24:16,770 --> 00:24:19,830 S1: come and see. Now the shortest verse in all of 404 00:24:19,830 --> 00:24:26,280 S1: the Bible, John 1135 Jesus wept. Two words Jesus wept. 405 00:24:26,670 --> 00:24:29,520 S1: And the Jews said, See how he loved him. Point 406 00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:34,229 S1: number two. Because Jesus loves us. He weeps with us 407 00:24:34,230 --> 00:24:39,480 S1: in our times of pain. Because Jesus loves us. He 408 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:43,290 S1: weeps with us in our times of pain. Yes, Jesus 409 00:24:43,290 --> 00:24:48,120 S1: was God walking among us. But Jesus was also a 410 00:24:48,119 --> 00:24:53,669 S1: man who felt our pain and sorrows. Isaiah 53, says 411 00:24:53,670 --> 00:24:57,990 S1: If Jesus, he was despised and rejected a man of 412 00:24:57,990 --> 00:25:01,889 S1: sorrows and acquainted with the bitterest grief, we turned our 413 00:25:01,890 --> 00:25:03,479 S1: backs on him and looked the other way. When he 414 00:25:03,480 --> 00:25:06,510 S1: went by, he was despised and we did not care. 415 00:25:06,540 --> 00:25:10,080 S1: Yet it was our weaknesses that he carried. It was 416 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:15,780 S1: our sorrows that weighed him down. Wow, Jesus has walked 417 00:25:15,780 --> 00:25:20,010 S1: in your shoes and then some. He voluntarily put himself 418 00:25:20,010 --> 00:25:23,189 S1: in the way of danger to bear your sorrows on 419 00:25:23,190 --> 00:25:25,740 S1: the cross. He didn't just bear your sins, he bore 420 00:25:25,740 --> 00:25:29,010 S1: your sorrows. You might say God doesn't know what it's 421 00:25:29,010 --> 00:25:31,919 S1: like to live in this earth. Oh, doesn't He? Well, 422 00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:34,590 S1: God doesn't know what it's like to lose a son, 423 00:25:34,890 --> 00:25:38,880 S1: doesn't he? He gave his only begotten son. Well, God 424 00:25:38,880 --> 00:25:42,090 S1: doesn't know what it's like to be misunderstood. Oh, I 425 00:25:42,090 --> 00:25:45,119 S1: think he does. God doesn't know what it's like to 426 00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:50,040 S1: be rejected by people and be betrayed. Oh, he knows that. Well. Well, 427 00:25:50,040 --> 00:25:53,129 S1: he doesn't know what it's like to be lonely. Listen, 428 00:25:53,130 --> 00:25:56,750 S1: Jesus was the loneliest man who ever walked this earth 429 00:25:56,760 --> 00:25:59,490 S1: when he hung on that cross and bore the sins 430 00:25:59,490 --> 00:26:02,670 S1: of the world. And even his father turned his face 431 00:26:02,670 --> 00:26:06,210 S1: away at that moment, causing Christ to say, My God, 432 00:26:06,210 --> 00:26:12,030 S1: my God, why have you forsaken me? Jesus understands everything 433 00:26:12,030 --> 00:26:15,900 S1: that you are going through right now, and He cares 434 00:26:16,020 --> 00:26:19,800 S1: and He sorrows with you in that time of sorrow. 435 00:26:19,830 --> 00:26:24,120 S1: Hebrews 217 says it was necessary for Jesus to be 436 00:26:24,119 --> 00:26:27,480 S1: in every respect like us. That's why he had to 437 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:30,989 S1: enter into every detail of human life. And then when 438 00:26:30,990 --> 00:26:33,090 S1: he came before God, his high priest, to get rid 439 00:26:33,090 --> 00:26:37,410 S1: of people's sins, he would have already experienced it all himself, 440 00:26:37,410 --> 00:26:40,320 S1: all the pain, all the testing, and would be able 441 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:44,670 S1: to help where help was needed. He knows what you're 442 00:26:44,670 --> 00:26:49,110 S1: going through. Death breaks the heart of God just as 443 00:26:49,109 --> 00:26:51,929 S1: it breaks ours. So we say, then why doesn't he 444 00:26:51,930 --> 00:26:54,899 S1: do something about it? Well, actually, he has. Look at 445 00:26:54,900 --> 00:26:57,480 S1: John 11, verse 33, and then I'll drop down to 446 00:26:57,480 --> 00:27:01,080 S1: verse 38 when Jesus saw her weeping and saw the 447 00:27:01,080 --> 00:27:05,730 S1: other people wailing with her, he was moved with indignation 448 00:27:05,730 --> 00:27:09,510 S1: and was deeply troubled. And again, verse 38, he was 449 00:27:09,510 --> 00:27:12,300 S1: deeply troubled. And they came to the grave and there 450 00:27:12,300 --> 00:27:17,610 S1: was a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. Now, 451 00:27:17,609 --> 00:27:21,780 S1: this word used here for trouble can be translated. Mad 452 00:27:22,260 --> 00:27:27,330 S1: Jesus was mad. Yes, Jesus had anger. He never lost 453 00:27:27,330 --> 00:27:31,290 S1: his temper like we do. But he had righteous indignation. 454 00:27:31,290 --> 00:27:34,740 S1: He was angry. Why was he angry? Was he angry 455 00:27:34,740 --> 00:27:38,100 S1: at Mary and Martha for doubting him? No. Was he 456 00:27:38,100 --> 00:27:40,320 S1: angry at the people who are mourning the death of 457 00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:45,090 S1: Lazarus again? No. He was angry with the Grim Reaper, 458 00:27:45,090 --> 00:27:48,119 S1: if you will. He was angry with death itself. He 459 00:27:48,119 --> 00:27:50,760 S1: was angry because this was not the way it was 460 00:27:50,760 --> 00:27:54,240 S1: meant to be. And it made him angry. Then he says, 461 00:27:54,240 --> 00:28:00,139 S1: remove the stone. Where this is, Lord. He stinks. Move 462 00:28:00,140 --> 00:28:05,960 S1: the stone. And then he says, Lazarus, come forth. And 463 00:28:05,960 --> 00:28:08,990 S1: Lazarus comes back from the other side. He's still wrapped 464 00:28:08,990 --> 00:28:12,320 S1: up in bandages, so it's not like Lazarus comes out. Hey, 465 00:28:12,530 --> 00:28:19,010 S1: he's more like. Someone unwrapped these things. It's a good thing. 466 00:28:19,010 --> 00:28:22,760 S1: Jesus said Lazarus, come forth. Because if he'd simply said, 467 00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:27,139 S1: Come forth, every body and every grave in every place 468 00:28:27,140 --> 00:28:32,000 S1: would have burst out at that moment. Lazarus in particular, 469 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:36,050 S1: come forth. And by the way, I feel sorry for Lazarus. 470 00:28:36,220 --> 00:28:40,200 S1: You say, Why? Because he had to die twice. Isn't 471 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:43,830 S1: it bad enough to die once? This poor guy had 472 00:28:43,830 --> 00:28:47,750 S1: to go twice. You know, when a loved one leaves you, 473 00:28:47,760 --> 00:28:51,800 S1: you want to communicate with them. And sometimes people try 474 00:28:51,800 --> 00:28:54,230 S1: to contact people on the other side. Never do that. 475 00:28:54,230 --> 00:28:57,740 S1: The Bible forbids it. They can't hear you. And any 476 00:28:57,740 --> 00:29:00,560 S1: messages people say are coming from the other side. That's 477 00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:05,240 S1: not true. Okay. But I understand the longing to communicate 478 00:29:05,240 --> 00:29:09,140 S1: with someone that has died. You can't talk to them. 479 00:29:09,140 --> 00:29:12,650 S1: They can't talk to you. So don't try. But you 480 00:29:12,650 --> 00:29:15,680 S1: can talk to the Lord about what you're facing. But 481 00:29:15,680 --> 00:29:17,960 S1: let's just say for the sake of a point that 482 00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:19,850 S1: we can make a phone call. When did this become 483 00:29:19,850 --> 00:29:22,610 S1: the symbol of a phone call? But we all do it, right? 484 00:29:22,610 --> 00:29:26,270 S1: Someone called me a phone. Doesn't look like that. But anyway, 485 00:29:26,360 --> 00:29:28,970 S1: let's just say we could call our loved one in heaven. Hey, 486 00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:31,040 S1: I've missed you so much. 487 00:29:31,340 --> 00:29:32,780 S3: And guess what? 488 00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:35,600 S1: I want you to come back here again. You know what? 489 00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:40,790 S1: What happened? Did hang up on you? What? I want 490 00:29:40,790 --> 00:29:43,280 S1: to go back there. No. Come back. It's so great. 491 00:29:43,280 --> 00:29:45,140 S1: We had the greatest burger. What? 492 00:29:45,320 --> 00:29:45,830 S3: What? 493 00:29:46,100 --> 00:29:49,730 S1: We saw an amazing sunset. I am sure you did. 494 00:29:50,150 --> 00:29:52,130 S1: If they could speak to you. But you're not seeing 495 00:29:52,130 --> 00:29:55,070 S1: what I'm seeing right now. I can't wait till you 496 00:29:55,070 --> 00:29:58,700 S1: join me here. No one in heaven would ever want 497 00:29:58,700 --> 00:30:01,250 S1: to come back to Earth if they were even given 498 00:30:01,250 --> 00:30:05,720 S1: the choice. But having said that, here's Lazarus called from 499 00:30:05,720 --> 00:30:10,400 S1: the other side. Now he has to die again and 500 00:30:10,400 --> 00:30:13,729 S1: face all of the challenges of life. But here's the 501 00:30:13,730 --> 00:30:16,790 S1: big story not just that a man was raised from 502 00:30:16,790 --> 00:30:20,630 S1: the dead, but it's this Death is not the end. 503 00:30:21,170 --> 00:30:24,050 S1: The tomb for the Christian is not the entrance to 504 00:30:24,050 --> 00:30:28,700 S1: death but to life. Heaven is the earthly life of 505 00:30:28,700 --> 00:30:33,330 S1: the believer, glorified and perfected. Okay, so your loved ones, 506 00:30:33,330 --> 00:30:37,100 S1: they're in pure bliss. The reason they don't want to 507 00:30:37,100 --> 00:30:39,800 S1: come back is because it's better where they are. It'd 508 00:30:39,830 --> 00:30:43,220 S1: be like, imagine the most beautiful place you've ever been. 509 00:30:43,220 --> 00:30:46,670 S1: You know, maybe some tropical island looking at the greatest 510 00:30:46,670 --> 00:30:50,540 S1: sunset of all time, eating your favorite food with someone 511 00:30:50,540 --> 00:30:53,840 S1: you love. And dolphins are jumping out and unicorns are 512 00:30:53,840 --> 00:30:57,200 S1: galloping by. I don't know. There's no unicorns, but, you know. Yeah, 513 00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:00,170 S1: it's just a perfect moment. All this is so great. 514 00:31:00,170 --> 00:31:03,230 S1: And then imagine someone saying, we need to leave immediately 515 00:31:03,230 --> 00:31:05,360 S1: and go to the dump. I hear they're burning some 516 00:31:05,360 --> 00:31:08,840 S1: trash right now. Why? Why would I want to go 517 00:31:08,840 --> 00:31:11,300 S1: to the dump when I'm here? And that's what it 518 00:31:11,300 --> 00:31:14,540 S1: would be like to go from heaven to earth. That's 519 00:31:14,540 --> 00:31:17,600 S1: why Paul said, I have a desire to depart and 520 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:22,520 S1: be with Christ, which is far better. But it's important 521 00:31:22,520 --> 00:31:26,570 S1: for me to stay here with you. Heaven is so 522 00:31:26,570 --> 00:31:30,860 S1: much better. But the real message here is that death 523 00:31:30,860 --> 00:31:34,160 S1: is not the end and God will be with you 524 00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:37,220 S1: and the hardest times of your life and he'll be 525 00:31:37,220 --> 00:31:39,860 S1: with you in the greatest times of your life. He'll 526 00:31:39,860 --> 00:31:44,060 S1: be with you for all of your life. He'll never 527 00:31:44,060 --> 00:31:47,600 S1: abandon you. Jesus said, I will never leave you or 528 00:31:47,600 --> 00:31:51,620 S1: forsake you. One of my favorite verses as Isaiah 43. 529 00:31:51,980 --> 00:31:54,020 S1: When God says, When you go through deep waters and 530 00:31:54,020 --> 00:31:57,680 S1: great trouble, I'll be with you. When you go through 531 00:31:57,680 --> 00:32:01,820 S1: rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk 532 00:32:01,820 --> 00:32:05,270 S1: through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up. 533 00:32:05,270 --> 00:32:11,990 S1: The flames will not consume you. David said in Psalm 23. Yea, 534 00:32:12,020 --> 00:32:14,600 S1: though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 535 00:32:14,600 --> 00:32:17,840 S1: I will fear no evil. Why, David? Because you are 536 00:32:17,840 --> 00:32:21,320 S1: with me. God will be with you in every phase 537 00:32:21,320 --> 00:32:24,200 S1: of your life. Going back to the first miracle water 538 00:32:24,200 --> 00:32:26,870 S1: into wine. Wedding day. Amazing day. 539 00:32:27,740 --> 00:32:30,290 S3: He's there at the birth of a baby. He's there at. 540 00:32:30,290 --> 00:32:31,760 S1: The death of a loved one. 541 00:32:31,760 --> 00:32:32,540 S3: He's there at the. 542 00:32:32,540 --> 00:32:35,270 S1: Beginning of life, the middle of life. And he's there 543 00:32:35,270 --> 00:32:37,100 S1: at the end of life. And then he's. 544 00:32:37,100 --> 00:32:38,420 S3: There to take you to the. 545 00:32:38,420 --> 00:32:43,730 S1: Afterlife. So you don't have to be afraid anymore. It 546 00:32:43,730 --> 00:32:47,030 S1: doesn't mean we want to die. Christians don't just sit 547 00:32:47,030 --> 00:32:49,370 S1: around and say, Hey man, I wish I would die today. 548 00:32:49,370 --> 00:32:52,160 S1: That'd be cool. No, we don't want to die, but 549 00:32:52,160 --> 00:32:55,870 S1: we don't fear death. If this is the day, we say, fine, Lord, 550 00:32:55,880 --> 00:32:57,590 S1: you know, to be absent from the body is to 551 00:32:57,590 --> 00:33:00,380 S1: be present with you, whatever you have in mind. Because 552 00:33:00,380 --> 00:33:05,780 S1: no one loves life more than the Christian right. Hello? Yes, 553 00:33:05,780 --> 00:33:11,570 S1: thank you. I'm not sure about you guys. No one 554 00:33:11,570 --> 00:33:13,160 S1: loves life more than the Christian. 555 00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:16,610 S3: Well, I don't know. I have to think about that 556 00:33:16,610 --> 00:33:17,600 S3: for a moment. 557 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:22,280 S1: I know you really are responding in your heart. You're just. 558 00:33:22,670 --> 00:33:25,100 S3: You just need to express it a little bit more. 559 00:33:25,550 --> 00:33:30,920 S3: Say amen. That's how you do it. It's every now 560 00:33:30,920 --> 00:33:32,240 S3: and then. Amen. 561 00:33:33,560 --> 00:33:35,990 S1: Okay. Don't give me your fake Amen. So I don't 562 00:33:35,990 --> 00:33:40,640 S1: want him. And don't do him at the wrong point either. 563 00:33:41,930 --> 00:33:44,480 S1: The sermon is now over. Amen. No, not then. 564 00:33:46,480 --> 00:33:47,890 S3: But he will be with you. 565 00:33:47,920 --> 00:33:50,110 S1: You don't have to be afraid. So I want to 566 00:33:50,110 --> 00:33:52,420 S1: close with this statement of Jesus. I just love. 567 00:33:52,420 --> 00:33:52,750 S3: It. 568 00:33:53,550 --> 00:33:56,190 S1: He says, I'm the resurrection and the life he that 569 00:33:56,190 --> 00:33:58,770 S1: believes in me, though he were dead. Yet shall. 570 00:33:58,770 --> 00:33:59,040 S3: He. 571 00:33:59,040 --> 00:34:02,670 S1: Live. And whosoever lives and believes in. 572 00:34:02,670 --> 00:34:03,360 S3: Me shall. 573 00:34:03,360 --> 00:34:07,230 S1: Never die. Then he asked. There you go. You're getting it. 574 00:34:07,230 --> 00:34:08,489 S1: That's good. That was. 575 00:34:08,489 --> 00:34:11,549 S3: Good. Perfect. 576 00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:16,170 S1: We need more of that harvest. Orange County. More of that. Okay. 577 00:34:18,790 --> 00:34:20,980 S1: You guys in Riverside are good. You just stay where 578 00:34:20,980 --> 00:34:24,250 S1: you are. Orange County. Time to up the game with 579 00:34:24,250 --> 00:34:28,899 S1: the aim any. Okay, but don't overdo it. We'll find 580 00:34:28,900 --> 00:34:32,800 S1: the balance together. Whoever lives and believes in him shall 581 00:34:32,800 --> 00:34:36,400 S1: never die. But what does it mean to believe in Jesus? 582 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:39,339 S1: Does it mean to merely acknowledge a man named Jesus 583 00:34:39,340 --> 00:34:42,820 S1: walked this earth some 2000 years ago and even to 584 00:34:42,820 --> 00:34:45,400 S1: acknowledge he died on a Roman cross, and even to 585 00:34:45,400 --> 00:34:49,089 S1: acknowledge he rose from the dead? Well, that's important. But 586 00:34:49,090 --> 00:34:52,180 S1: it's more than that. It's believing in him. And what 587 00:34:52,180 --> 00:34:54,310 S1: does that mean? It means to put your faith and 588 00:34:54,310 --> 00:34:58,900 S1: trust in Jesus Christ as your savior. I know we 589 00:34:58,900 --> 00:35:03,070 S1: use this phrase a lot, but I think it's accurate, personal, 590 00:35:03,070 --> 00:35:09,580 S1: Lord and savior. He becomes your God. He becomes your Lord. 591 00:35:09,640 --> 00:35:13,990 S1: He becomes your friend. And he comes into your life. 592 00:35:14,020 --> 00:35:17,410 S1: You say, Well, how does that happen exactly? Through prayer. 593 00:35:17,890 --> 00:35:20,890 S1: When I say, Lord, I'm sorry for my sin, I 594 00:35:20,890 --> 00:35:23,770 S1: believe you died on the cross for me and paid 595 00:35:23,770 --> 00:35:26,500 S1: the price for every sin I've committed. And I turn 596 00:35:26,500 --> 00:35:29,049 S1: from my sin. Or as the Bible puts it, I 597 00:35:29,050 --> 00:35:32,860 S1: repent of my sin. I change my direction in life. 598 00:35:32,860 --> 00:35:34,930 S1: And I believe in you. I trust. 599 00:35:34,930 --> 00:35:35,560 S3: You. 600 00:35:35,860 --> 00:35:38,500 S1: And if you do that, God will forgive you of 601 00:35:38,500 --> 00:35:42,069 S1: all of your sin. And you can know with certainty 602 00:35:42,070 --> 00:35:44,920 S1: that you will go to heaven when you die. And 603 00:35:44,920 --> 00:35:48,730 S1: you can find the meaning and purpose of life. You said, Well, 604 00:35:48,730 --> 00:35:50,739 S1: I want that to happen for me now. Will It 605 00:35:50,739 --> 00:35:53,980 S1: can and it will for some of you, because we're 606 00:35:53,980 --> 00:35:56,710 S1: going to pray together and I'm going to extend an 607 00:35:56,710 --> 00:36:00,910 S1: invitation for anyone here, though, wants to ask Jesus Christ 608 00:36:00,910 --> 00:36:03,040 S1: to come into their life and be forgiven of all 609 00:36:03,040 --> 00:36:06,520 S1: of their sin so they can know with certainty they'll 610 00:36:06,520 --> 00:36:09,160 S1: go to heaven when they die, and so they can 611 00:36:09,160 --> 00:36:13,420 S1: find the meaning and purpose of life. Let's all pray. Father, 612 00:36:13,420 --> 00:36:16,089 S1: I ask you to speak to the hearts of all 613 00:36:16,090 --> 00:36:19,240 S1: those that are here, all those that are watching, wherever 614 00:36:19,239 --> 00:36:22,210 S1: they are. If they don't know you, we pray that 615 00:36:22,210 --> 00:36:26,770 S1: your Holy Spirit will convict and convince them of their 616 00:36:26,770 --> 00:36:29,950 S1: sin and their need for Jesus and help them to 617 00:36:29,950 --> 00:36:34,000 S1: come to you and believe right now. Now all our 618 00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:37,360 S1: heads are bowed and we're praying. Maybe there's someone here 619 00:36:37,360 --> 00:36:40,930 S1: that would say, I need Jesus today. I want my 620 00:36:40,930 --> 00:36:43,990 S1: sin forgiven. I'm not sure that I'll go to heaven 621 00:36:43,989 --> 00:36:47,440 S1: when I die, but I want to go to heaven. 622 00:36:47,800 --> 00:36:50,500 S1: I want to find the meaning and purpose of life. 623 00:36:50,500 --> 00:36:53,740 S1: Pray for me if that's your desire. If you want 624 00:36:53,739 --> 00:36:56,620 S1: Christ to come into your life, He if you want 625 00:36:56,620 --> 00:36:59,649 S1: him to forgive you of your sin, if you want 626 00:36:59,650 --> 00:37:01,990 S1: to know that when you die, you will go to heaven. 627 00:37:02,500 --> 00:37:05,620 S1: If you're ready to say yes to Jesus, wherever you are, 628 00:37:05,620 --> 00:37:07,060 S1: I want you to raise your hand up and I'm 629 00:37:07,060 --> 00:37:08,920 S1: going to pray for you. Raise your hand up and 630 00:37:08,920 --> 00:37:11,410 S1: let me pray for you. God bless you. God bless 631 00:37:11,410 --> 00:37:13,980 S1: you and you, wherever you are, raise your hand up. 632 00:37:13,989 --> 00:37:16,900 S1: I'll pray for you. Today. You're saying I want Christ 633 00:37:16,900 --> 00:37:19,810 S1: in my life today. Let me pray for you. God 634 00:37:19,810 --> 00:37:23,480 S1: bless you. Anybody else. If you haven't raised your hand now, 635 00:37:23,480 --> 00:37:26,240 S1: do it. Let me pray for you. God bless you. 636 00:37:26,239 --> 00:37:27,020 S3: And you. 637 00:37:27,230 --> 00:37:30,649 S1: Now there's others watching on screens. You can raise your 638 00:37:30,650 --> 00:37:33,020 S1: hand wherever you are. I can't see you, but that 639 00:37:33,020 --> 00:37:36,770 S1: doesn't matter, does it? The Lord sees you. You say 640 00:37:36,770 --> 00:37:41,239 S1: I need Jesus too. And we'll all pray together. Anybody else? 641 00:37:41,239 --> 00:37:43,219 S1: I'll wait one more moment. If you want Christ in 642 00:37:43,219 --> 00:37:46,250 S1: your life, raise your hand. Let me pray for you. 643 00:37:47,180 --> 00:37:48,169 S3: God bless you. 644 00:37:48,350 --> 00:37:50,239 S1: I'm going to ask every one of you that just 645 00:37:50,239 --> 00:37:52,910 S1: raise your hand to stand to your feet. You heard 646 00:37:52,910 --> 00:37:55,880 S1: me right. Stand up. Maybe you didn't raise your hand, 647 00:37:55,880 --> 00:37:58,550 S1: but you want Christ to come into your life. Stand 648 00:37:58,550 --> 00:38:01,100 S1: up and we're going to pray together. We're going to 649 00:38:01,100 --> 00:38:04,420 S1: settle this right here, right now. Stand to your feet. 650 00:38:04,430 --> 00:38:07,700 S1: By the way, people are standing. Are you one of them? 651 00:38:07,969 --> 00:38:11,479 S1: Do you need to be? Anybody else? Stand wherever you are. 652 00:38:11,480 --> 00:38:14,360 S1: Wherever you're watching me, just stand up. This is a 653 00:38:14,360 --> 00:38:18,530 S1: commitment you're making to Christ. Make it where you are. 654 00:38:18,739 --> 00:38:21,520 S1: Just stand to your feet. I'll wait one more moment. 655 00:38:21,530 --> 00:38:24,799 S1: Anybody else you want Jesus Christ to come into your 656 00:38:24,800 --> 00:38:28,620 S1: life and forgive you of your sin. Stand up and 657 00:38:28,620 --> 00:38:29,790 S1: let me pray with you. 658 00:38:30,520 --> 00:38:32,410 S3: God bless you that are standing now. 659 00:38:32,410 --> 00:38:33,969 S1: I'm going to pray a prayer and I'm going to 660 00:38:33,969 --> 00:38:36,759 S1: ask that you pray it out loud after me. In fact, 661 00:38:36,760 --> 00:38:38,740 S1: I'm going to ask everyone to pray this prayer as 662 00:38:38,739 --> 00:38:42,100 S1: we encourage these folks praying it for the first time. 663 00:38:42,100 --> 00:38:45,489 S1: So as I pray, pray this out loud after me, 664 00:38:45,489 --> 00:38:47,770 S1: let's all pray together. Lord Jesus. 665 00:38:49,410 --> 00:38:52,920 S3: I know that I'm a sinner, but I know that 666 00:38:52,920 --> 00:38:54,210 S3: you're the savior. 667 00:38:54,840 --> 00:38:59,110 S1: Who died on the cross for me. You paid the 668 00:38:59,110 --> 00:39:01,270 S1: price for my sins. 669 00:39:02,560 --> 00:39:06,410 S3: I ask you to forgive me now. I repent of 670 00:39:06,410 --> 00:39:07,340 S3: my sin. 671 00:39:08,540 --> 00:39:13,100 S1: And I choose to follow you. From this moment forward 672 00:39:13,640 --> 00:39:18,680 S1: as my savior and Lord as my God and my friend. 673 00:39:19,680 --> 00:39:21,660 S1: Thank you for hearing this prayer. 674 00:39:22,750 --> 00:39:28,850 S3: In answering this prayer. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen. 675 00:39:31,940 --> 00:39:35,000 S1: Hey everybody. Thanks for listening to this podcast. To learn 676 00:39:35,000 --> 00:39:39,350 S1: more about Harvest Ministries, follow this show and consider supporting it. 677 00:39:39,350 --> 00:39:40,730 S1: Just go to Harvest. 678 00:39:41,120 --> 00:39:41,480 S3: Org. 679 00:39:41,480 --> 00:39:44,090 S1: And to find out how to know God personally, go 680 00:39:44,090 --> 00:39:47,750 S1: to Harvest Org and click on Know God.