John 11:1-45
The Pathway to faith God Empowers and Blesses: (John 20:30-31)
Sign 1 – It honors God’s AUTHORITY. (John 2:1-12)
Sign 2 – It ACKNOWLEDGES God’s Word. (John 4:43-54)
Sign 3 – It ACTS in obedience. (John 5:1-14)
Sign 4 – It ACCEPTS God’s challenge. (John 6:1-15)
Sign 5 – It ALIGNS with God’s leadership. (John 6:16-24)
Sign 6 – It lives AWARE of God’s will. (John 9:1-41)
Sign 7 – It AGREES with God’s directives. (John 11:1-45)
Sign 8 – It ACCOMPLISHES God’s mission. (John 21:1-14)
2 Chronicles 7:3, When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “He is good; his love endures forever.”
Romans 8:31-32, 31 If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
John 11:1-3, 1 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
John 11:4-6, 4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.
John 11:17-22; Luke 10:38-42
John 11:23-26, 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
How to believe when facing GRAVE DIFFICULTY
1) Interact with COMPASSION. (John 11:27-37)
Philippians 4:6-7, 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Isaiah 9:6
2) Inspire CONSECRATION. (John 11:38-44)
Isaiah 61:1-3, 1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me . . . 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy
instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair . . .
What to believe about OUR GRAVE and PHYSICAL DEATH
1) It is TRANSITIONAL.
2 Corinthians 5:8, We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
2) It is ETERNAL.
Matthew 25:41
John 11:45, Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.
1 Thessalonians 4:14-15, 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word . . .
Questions:
1. What did you hear from the Holy Spirit?
2. What will you do because of it?
3. How can we pray for you?