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John 11:17-27
We invite you to attend our morning worship on Sundays at 9:30. Why not come check us out? This Easter Sunday, like all others, focuses on the Resurrection of Christ. In the midst of his torment Job asked, “If a man die, shall he live again?” Is there life after death? Eternal life is taught throughout Scripture beginning in Gen.3:21, 22 and continues through Rev. 22:19. In between, God gives detailed instructions that eternal life for all humans is a true as the first resurrection to eternal life – that of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is recorded in John 10, that when Jesus told the Jews He was the Messiah they wanted to stone Him for blasphemy. In John 11 when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead the Pharisees plotted to kill Him. The question is – does the continued exposure to Jesus and Scripture that you experience cause you to reject and hate Him more, or does it cause you to love and exalt Him more? Using John 11:25 as our focal verse for this Easter morning let’s consider some practical truths that help us celebrate a risen Savior!
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- GOD USES HUMAN WEAKNESS TO DISPLAY HIS WONDER! The doctrine presented in John 11:1-4 is taught throughout Scripture. Question: in a crisis situation where or to whom do you go? If we run to Christ in the midst of our crisis, the indwelling Holy Spirit will put the crisis to death and give to us new life in His power. You might ask, “would God really do that for me?” Yes! Why? Read verse 5! Jesus wasn’t physically present when this crisis happened to Lazarus. We have it better because the Holy Spirit lives in us all the time. That means a constant Presence that wants to breathe new life into us all the time.
- GOD WORKS SUPER- NATURALLY TO CAUSE US TO BELIEVE! Read John 11:14, 15. What often seems – even is – death to us is only sleep to God. Human life is so fragile that anything that threatens it is our enemy! When any part of our hopes/dreams/ plans/desires/relationships/anything doesn’t go as we planned or wanted it too, in our helpless situation it seem to be dead. How many times have you poured your heart into something that you really thought God was leading you to do only to have it fall apart right in front of you? We then cry out “WHY GOD!” Look at verses 21 and 32. Mary and Martha both say, “If only you would have been here…” We are good at finding reasons to put the monkey on God’s back aren’t we? Could it be the closer we walk with Christ the more casual we become toward Him? God let’s death occur sometimes so He alone, can work for us in our life. Watch!
- ETERNAL LIFE IS FOUND ONLY IN RESURRECTION! Read verses 25 and 26. These two verses are a banquet that will feed you all year, not just today. Notice in verse 4 Jesus says the ultimate reason for “all things” is to glorify God. Part of Jesus’ ministry was to glorify God through what Jesus did. We think because Jesus helped God to be glorified, we must do extraordinary things to help Him also. The point is God doesn’t need our help, we need His! We must learn, in our daily living, to give our entire life to God and KEEP OUR HANDS OFF! When we worry, fret, or fear, we must then pray all the more fervently that God help us keep our hands off the situation so we can watch Him breathe His eternal life-giving power into whatever it is going on in our life. Study this passage until you see that only God can give eternal life to all parts of your life.
If we can help you with this or any other spiritual matter, call us at (574) 643-9419.
