“…Jesus said, “Remove the
stone.” Martha, the sister of the
deceased, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been
dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of
God?” So
they removed the stone..…” (John 11:39-41 NASB).
*
Jesus told the by-standers to
remove the stone. “…TAKE ye
away the STONE
…” (John 11:39-41 KJV). What CAN be done in human strength God leaves to UP TO
YOU. “...They TOOK away
the STONE from the PLACE “WHERE” the
DEAD was laid…”
(John 11:39-41 KJV).
What CAN ONLY be done
in supernatural strength or POWER is entrusted to Jesus, the WORD. “…[Jesus]…cried in a loud voice….Lazarus, come forth…he
that was dead came forth…” (John 11:42-43 KJV).
“…TAKE ye away
the STONE …”
(John 11:39-41 KJV). A stone was often used to MARK a memorial event. A
memorial event, such as a funeral, uses a headstone to commemorate the occasion.
After the funeral, most
people have no reason to exhume a loved one’s body. “...They
TOOK away the STONE from the PLACE “WHERE” the DEAD was laid…”
(John 11:39-41 KJV).
However, Jesus requested
the removal of the STONE. “…TAKE ye away the STONE …” (John 11:39-41 KJV).
When a person dies, it
is traditional to have a memorial event such as a funeral. The death of HOPE,
however, was NOT meant to be a memorial event. “...They
TOOK away the STONE from the PLACE …”
(John 11:39-41 KJV).
Removing the stone can
be symbolic to opening the casket. Opening the casket is exposing that which is
dead. “…TAKE ye away the STONE …” (John 11:39-41 KJV).
In this story, the purpose of exposing, that which is dead, is to remove ALL doubt that the situation or circumstance is TRULY "DEAD. “…this sickness is NOT unto death…” (John 11:4 KJV). YET, “…Lazarus
is dead…” (John 11:14 KJV). NONETHELESS, “…Jesus said to her, “Your
brother will rise again.” …”
(John 11:22-27 NASB).
God is about to CONFIRM HIS WORD by the POWER of his Holy Spirit that the GREATNESS of the MIRACLE will REVEAL his GLORY and PRESENCE. “...They
TOOK away the STONE from the PLACE “WHERE” the DEAD was laid…”
(John 11:39-41 KJV).“…[Jesus]…cried in a loud voice….Lazarus, come forth…he
that was dead came forth…” (John 11:42-43 KJV). “… He
that was dead came forth…”
(John 11:42-43 KJV).
In addition, that
which is dead eventually begins to decompose. Its original features start to fade, change, and the body starts to stink (SMELL). “… by this time he stinketh…”
(John 11:39 KJV).
Just like DREAMS, HOPES. and LONG-TERM PRAYERS deferred over a long period of time eventually begin to decompose to the point they completely alter,
fade, waver, or die altogether. “…Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But desire fulfilled is a tree of life…” (Proverbs 13:12 NASB). “…Unrelenting
disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break
can turn life around…” (Proverbs 13:12
MSG).
HOPES, DREAMS, and LONG-TERM PRAYERS are so
vivid and colorful, in the beginning, but deferred gratification impacts the heart and long stretches of time KILLS, STEALS and DESTROYS EXPECTANCY of them ever being fulfilled. .“…The
thief cometh not, but for to steal,
and to kill, and to destroy…” (John 10:10 KJV).
Suddenly, Jesus inspires YOU to remove the STONE and OPEN the casket where you’ve
placed your hopes, dreams, and long-term prayers. “… the
PLACE “WHERE” the DEAD was laid…”
(John 11:39-41 KJV).
There is also a BIGGER
picture God is trying to REVEAL to you! “…"Did I not say to you that
if you believe (if you continue to DEPEND upon my WORD), you will see the glory of God (the presence of god)?" (John 11:40 KJV).
Like Lazarus, your DEAD hopes, dreams, and long-term prayers have
been buried so long, they have decomposed in the heart and they are NOW a STENCH of bad memories! “…he stinketh: for
he hath been dead for four days. …”
(John 11:39 KJV). “…when
Jesus came, he found that he had lain in The grave four days already…”
(John 11;17 KJV).
You became sick of your deferred hopes, dreams, and long-term prayers a LONG time ago. “…How long, O LORD?
Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?”
(Psalms 13:1 NASB). “…Hope (expectancy) deferred makes the heart sick,…”
(Proverbs 13:12 NASB).
“…Unrelenting
disappointment leaves you heartsick…”
(Proverbs 13:12 MSG).
What happened? Years ago you had hopes, dreams, or prayers for a loved one to change, for a healing, for restoral of a relationship, to go to school, to fulfill a certain career or talent, or ministry, to see someone delivered, for a certain person's salvation, and the list goes on and on. However, IT NEVER HAPPENED!!
You know the bible says,
“…The vision [is] yet FOR AN APPOINTED TIME, but at
the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, WAIT FOR IT; because IT WILL SURELY COME,
it will not tarry….” (Habakkuk
2:3 KJV). YET“…My Lord
delayeth his coming…” (Luke 12:45
KJV).
Because the LORD delayed his coming into your hopes, dreams, and prayers you have BURED them in your heart and they are DEAD to you. Once something is DEAD; you mourn them. Then you make an attempt to move on and began to do new things. "…"Behold,
the former things have
come to
pass, Now I declare new
things; Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you."
(Isaiah 42:9 NASB). "…Behold, I will do something
new…” (Isaiah
43:19-20 NASB).
DEATH changes or
transforms, forever, what was once familiar, especially for those still living.
There is usually NO HOPE for restoral or revival of that which has DIED. “…I will lead the blind by ways they have not
known, along “unfamiliar”
paths I will guide them; I will turn
the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them…”
(Isaiah 42:16 NIV).
YET“…My Lord delayeth his coming…” (Luke 12:45 KJV). People, are only human; they grow TIRED and WEARY
from waiting on God to bring their hopes, dreams, and prayers to pass.
The bible says: “… They that
WAIT UPON the LORD shall
renew [their] strength…” (Isaiah 40:31 KJV). “…WAIT ON the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall
strengthen thine heart: WAIT, I say, on the LORD…” (Psalms 27:14 KJV).
“…The LORD [is] good unto them that WAIT FOR HIM…”
(Lamentations 3:25 KJV). “…THOUGH IT TARRY, WAIT FOR IT….”
(Habakkuk 2:3 KJV).
“….LET US NOT GROW
WEARY while doing good,
for in DUE SEASON we shall reap if
we do not lose heart…”
(Galatians 6:9 KJV).
At the INSPIRATION of God’s Word; GO BACK to“… the PLACE “WHERE” the DEAD was laid…”
(John 11:39-41 KJV). AND “…TAKE ye away the STONE …” (John 11:39-41 KJV). “…"Did I not say to you that
if you believe (if you continue to DEPEND upon my WORD), you will see the glory of God (the presence of god)?" (John 11:40 KJV).
When you take away the
stone or open the casket of that which is dead; in your humanity, what would
you expect to SEE?
When you look back, over
time, will you see your DEAD hopes, dreams, or prayers?
What does the WORD SEE, in regard, to your DEAD hopes, dreams, and prayers? “…, "Did I not say to you that
if you believe, you will see the
glory of God?"
(John 11:40 KJV).
“…NOW UNTO
HIM THAT IS ABLE to do
exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think…”
(Ephesians 3:20 KJV). “…eye
hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into [the human]… heart … the things which God HATH prepared for them that love him...” (1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV).
God calls Martha, Mary, the disciples, the
Jews and NOW he is calling YOU to pay ATTENTION and REFOCUS upon HIS WORD and PROMISES. “…"Did I not say to you that
if you believe (if you continue to DEPEND upon my WORD), you will see the glory of God (the presence of god)?" (John 11:40 KJV). “…the things which are impossible with men are possible with God…”
(Luke 18:27 KJV). “…. Is
there any thing too hard for [God]…?”
(Jeremiah 32:27 KJV).“…The vision [is] yet FOR AN APPOINTED TIME, but at
the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, WAIT FOR IT; because IT WILL SURELY COME,
it will not tarry….” (Habakkuk
2:3 KJV).
“…MY WORD … that goeth forth out of my mouth: it SHALL NOT return
unto me void, but it SHALL ACCOMPLISH that which I please, and it SHALL PROSPER in the thing whereto I sent it…”
(Isaiah 55:11 KJV). God says, I “…am
WATCHING over my word to PERFORM it…” (Jeremiah 1:12 NASB).
After all they had been through, Martha and Mary were convinced that Lazarus was
DEAD for good. Their hopes, dreams, and prayers about Lazarus was DEAD too! Maybe you are convinced that your HOPES, DREAMS, and PRAYERS about someone, some situation, or circumstance is DEAD for good too. Maybe you have accepted or adapted to the perceived failure of your hopes, dreams, and prayers and you have resigned to MOVING on. Ezekiel may have been convinced that bones in the valley were DEAD permanently too (Ezekiel 37).
Even Jesus said, “…Lazarus
is dead…” (John 11:14 KJV). The dry bones, in the valley, were also dead. Your hopes, dreams and prayers, as far as you are concerned, have long
since died too. Yet the WORD of God says to Martha and Mary: “…TAKE ye
away the STONE …”
(John 11:39-41 KJV). The Word of God says to Ezekiel, "....prophesy (SPEAK) to these
bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!” (Ezekiel 37 NIV).
What happened when they
TOOK away the stone? “… He that was dead came forth…”
(John 11:42-43 KJV). “…the dead man[‘s]…. hands and feet … [were]
… bound in graveclothes …Jesus told
them, “Unwrap him
and let him go!”
(John 11:44 NLT).
What happen when Ezekiel SPOKE
to the dry bones? “…As I was
prophesying (SPEAKING GOD’S WORD), there was a noise, a rattling sound, and THE
BONES CAME TOGETHER, BONE TO BONE. I
LOOKED, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there
was no breath in them. …and BREATH ENTERED THEM; they came to LIFE and STOOD UP on
their feet—a vast army...’”
(Ezekiel 37 NIV).
What is God’s motive
for DISPLAYING these deferred MIRACLES? “….To the intent, you may BELIEVE (you may depend upon the word of god)….” (John 11:15 KJV).
“… that they may believe that
thou hast sent me…”
(John 11:41-42 KJV). Therefore, “…believe the works…”
(John 10:38 NIV).
A GREATER faith or dependency UPON God can be GAINED when FACED
with impossible or “seemingly” DEAD situations and circumstances. “…TAKE ye away the STONE …” (John 11:39-41 KJV). . “…[SPEAK]… to these bones…” (Ezekiel
37 NIV).
Only God can OPEN DOORS you thought were LONG shut to you for good.” “…I have set before thee an open door…:
(Revelation 3:8 KJV). “…God had …opened the door of faith …”
(Acts 14:27 KJV). “…A certain woman named
Lydia …heard us: whose heart the Lord opened…”
(Acts 16:14 KJV). “…Praying … that God
would open
unto us a door of utterance…”
(Colossians 4:3 KJV). “…I have set before thee an open door…:
(Revelation 3:8 KJV).
Therefore, God is saying to you TODAY: “…TAKE ye
away the STONE …”
(John 11:39-41 KJV).
. “…[SPEAK]… to these bones…” (Ezekiel
37 NIV). “…I have opened a door
for you …”
(Revelation 3:8 NLT). Removing the stone, speaking to the bones, and going
through the open door requires you to depend upon God, once again, for those dead hopes, dreams, and prayers.
It requires you to be strong in the Lord knowing you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. It requires that you CONTINUE to courageously wait on HIM. It requires you to be strengthen with CONFIDENCE that you will SEE the GOODNESS (fulfilled dreams, hopes, and prayers) in the land of the living. "... I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait on the lord..." (Psalms 27:13014 NIV).
“…Blessed are
those who WAIT for his help…” (Isaiah 30:18 NLT). “… They that WAIT UPON the LORD shall RENEW [their] strength…” (Isaiah
40:31 KJV).
“… [God]
grant[s]… [true believers]… to be strengthened
with might by his Spirit in the inner man…” (Ephesians 3:16 KJV). “…I can do all things through
Christ which
strengtheneth me…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV).
“…WAIT ON
the LORD: be of good
courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: WAIT, I say, on the LORD…”
(Psalms 27:14 KJV). “…The LORD [is] good
unto them that WAIT FOR HIM…” (Lamentations 3:25 KJV).
“…THOUGH IT TARRY, WAIT FOR IT….” (Habakkuk 2:3 KJV).
Martha may have buried certain hopes, dreams, and prayers with Lazarus, but she still had faith in God's Word. She said, “…I KNOW that EVEN NOW, whatsoever
thou wilt ask of God, God
WILL give thee…”
(John 11:22-23 KJV).
However, her faith or dependency upon the Word needed to grow and develop further.“…Jesus said to her, “Your
brother will rise again.” …”
(John 11:22-27 NASB). She had faith
for the future resurrection. “……I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the
last day…” (John 11:23-27 KJV).
Martha and Mary’s,
level of faith or dependency upon God's WORD, did not EMPOWER them to depend upon a PRESENT, RIGHT NOW resurrection. Martha and Mary’s, level of
faith or dependency upon God's Word, could not STOP his physical DEATH or empower them to endure Jesus’ DELAY. “…Martha [said] ... unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been
here, my
brother had NOT died…Mary was come where Jesus was….saying unto him, Lord, if thou
hadst been here, my
brother had NOT died…”
(John 21, 32 KJV).
Listening to Jesus, the
LIVING WORD of God is the WAY to exercise, empower, and strengthen faith “Jesus saith…I am (the word) the way [to strengthen faith)…”
(John 14:6 KJV). “…Faith cometh (is strengthened) by HEARING… the WORD of God…”
(Roman 10:17 KJV). “…MY WORD … SHALL NOT return unto me void, but it SHALL
ACCOMPLISH that which I please, and it SHALL PROSPER in the thing whereto I sent it…” (Isaiah 55:11
KJV). “…, "Did I not say to you that
if you believe, you will see the
glory of God?"
(John 11:40 KJV).
Exercising, empowering, and strengthening faith (dependency upon God) is done by listening and hearing the WORD of God. That fruit of indwelling faith is produced by the Holy Spirit and becomes the
EVIDENCE of things not yet SEEN in the natural. “…The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit
in [y]our lives … FAITH….” (Galatians 5 NLT). "…Now FAITH IS (dependency upon God is) the substance (guarantee, certainty) of things hoped for (expected),
the evidence (proof) of things not seen…”
(Hebrews 11:1 KJV). AND “… BY
FAITH (by depending upon God's WORD) we understand (become aware of) … that
what we now see …[will] … not come from anything that can be seen…” (Hebrews
11:1-35 NLT).
BY FAITH (by dependency upon God's WORD): “…the
things
which are impossible with men ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD…”
(Luke 18:27 KJV). “….I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: IS THERE ANY THING TOO HARD FOR ME?”
(Jeremiah 32:27 KJV). “… [GOD]… IS
ABLE to do exceeding abundantly above
all that we ask or THINK…”
(Ephesians 3:20 KJV).
“…HOW MUCH MORE DO I NEED TO
SAY? It
would take too long to recount THE
STORIES OF FAITH (the stories of those who depended upon God's WORD such as those) of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all
the prophets.
BY FAITH (by depending upon God's Word) these
people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had
promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by
the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became
strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death….”
(Hebrews 11:1-35 NLT).
Mary and Martha, ONCE AGAIN, depended upon the WORD for their buried hopes, dreams, and prayers; they rolled away the stone, and God RENEWED, EMPOWERED, and STRENGTHENED their FAITH (dependency upon him). “…He
that was dead came forth…”
(John 11:42-43 KJV).
Why did God do this for Mary and Martha? Why will he do it for you? God LOVES you and he wants you to KNOW him. “…the Lord
loves His people …” (2 Chronicles 2:11 NASB). “… I
have loved you
with an everlasting love…”
(Jeremiah 31:3 NASB). “ “… Indeed, He loves the
people…” (Deuteronomy 33:3 NASB). “…Then you
will know that I the Lord (the word) have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord...’”
(Ezekiel 37 NIV). "….Then you will know that I
am the Lord your God…’”
(Exodus 16:12 NLT). “… [He WILL DO these] … miracles before [you]
….” (John 12:37-40 NLT). “… so you will know that [He is] the Lord…” (Exodus 10:1-2 NLT). “…. [Through these miracles],
thou (you) shalt know that I AM the Lord...” (READ Exodus 7:14-25). “…Your rock and Your
fortress, your deliverer, Your GOD, Your rock, in whom [you can] … take refuge; Your
shield and
the horn of Your salvation, YOUR
stronghold.…" (Psalms 18:3 NASB).
Shout hallelujah!!
Therefore, whoever you
are, GO BACK to“… the PLACE “WHERE” the DEAD was laid…”
(John 11:39-41 KJV). AND “…TAKE ye away the
STONE …” (John 11:39-41 KJV).
YOU ARE NOT TOO OLD. IT IS NOT TOO LATE. TOO MUCH TIME HASN'T PASSED. IT IS NOT OVER. IT CAN BE FIXED, REPAIRED, AND RESTORED. IT DOES MATTER. THE OPPORTUNITY HAS NOT PASSED. GOD CAN MAKE UP FOR THE YEARS. YOU CAN "STILL" DO IT!!!
GOD HAS SOMETHING TO SHOW YOU. GO THROUGH THE "OPEN DOOR" “…you will see the
glory of God... [UPON YOUR BURIED HOPES, DREAMS, AND PRAYERS]!!!"
(John 11:40 KJV).
ROLL AWAY THE STONE!!
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