HE STINKETH,
BUT IT AIN'T OVER!
“…Martha,
the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him,
Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been
dead for four days.
…”
(John 11:39 KJV).
*
The body of Lazarus,
according to tradition, had been embalmed with spices and perfumes, wrapped in
linen grave clothes, and had, most likely, started to decompose. “…by this time he stinketh…” (John 11:39 KJV).
According to an old
proverb, it was believed that the soul hovered over the body for 2 or 3 days,
before it took flight for good. So by the fourth day, there was no doubt
Lazarus was considered truly, fully, and completely DEAD.“…Martha, the sister … saith … Lord, by this
time he stinketh: …” (John 11:39 KJV).
Martha advises Jesus, the
WORD, that her brother, MORE THAN LIKELY, “stinks” by now. Based on her level
of faith, she sees opening the tomb as unnecessary and possibly a disregard
for, the feelings, of the MOURNERS. “… for he hath been dead for four days.
…”
(John 11:39 KJV).
Martha had resolved and relinquished all HOPES, DREAMS, AND PRAYERS regarding
Lazarus’ physical LIFE. Her brother was DEAD. Dead is DEAD and by now “…he stinketh…” (John 11:39). “… by this time
he stinketh…”
(John 11:39 KJV).
When something or someone DIES; your HOPE, DREAMS, and PRAYERS,
regarding that something or someone, DIES too! “…Lazarus
is DEAD…” (John 11:14 KJV). “…he stinketh: for he hath been dead for four days.
…”
(John 11:39 KJV). Lazarus was in “….the place WHERE
the DEAD was laid…” (John 11:41 KJV).
When something or someone
is DEAD people BURY it or them somewhere! When you BURY something or someone
you deposit it or them into a GRAVE. Once it or they are deposited into a GRAVE
decomposition happens. Decomposition causes things and bodies to putrefy and
smell or stink. “…
by this time he stinketh…” (John 11:39 KJV).
Martha
was attempting to prevent Jesus from exposing her brother in his decomposed
condition. Plus it was forbidden to open a tomb once it was closed. In
addition, there were concerns about touching that which was considered
unclean. Martha, most likely, didn’t want people SEEING Lazarus, her beloved
brother, in a state of corruption. Would you? “…he hath been dead for four days …” (John 11:39 KJV).
Many
people don’t like seeing a loved one’s casket go into the ground. I know I
don’t. And I certainly wouldn’t want to exhume the body after many days and
open the casket again for ALL to see. “…TAKE ye away the STONE….they TOOK away the STONE from the
PLACE “WHERE” the DEAD was laid…” (John 11:39-41 KJV).
Martha has no
clue that Jesus is about to perform a MIRACLE. She is still operating partially
in the natural, at her current level of faith, with her limited knowledge of
THE POWER OF GOD’S WORD, and from her narrow perspective of THE RESURRECTION. “…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 the death of a loved one, the death
of dreams about that loved one, the death of prayers on that loved one's behalf, or the death of HOPE for the loved one's future. Regardless, once something or someone is DEAD we are not interested in exhuming it
or them. “...They TOOK away the STONE from the
PLACE “WHERE” the DEAD was laid…” (John 11:39-41 KJV). Jesus wanted
the STONE removed. “…TAKE ye away the STONE …” (John 11:39-41 KJV).
The
death of HOPE, DREAMS, and PRAYERS was NOT meant to be a memorial event. “...They
TOOK away the
STONE from the PLACE …” (John 11:39-41 KJV).
However, the thought of exhuming dead BODIES, HOPES, DREAMS, PRAYERS may be
difficult. After a while, you may not even FULLY remember what some of them
were. “…
by this time he stinketh…” (John 11:39 KJV).
Martha
didn’t SEE the BIGGER picture. When Jesus tells YOU to roll away the STONES
you’ve placed over your DEAD hopes , prayers, and dreams; there is a GREATER dependency
upon the POWER of HIS WORD he is trying to REVEAL to you through the POWER of his Holy
Spirit! “…Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" (John 11:40 KJV).
“... For in ... [Jesus, the Word of
God]... the righteousness
of God is REVEALED from [one level of]... faith to [another
level of] ...faith; as it is written, “ ... the righteous man
(through the empowering of the indwelling Holy Spirit) shall live by faith (by dependency upon the power of god’s word)...” (Romans 1:17 NASB).
Like Lazarus, your DEAD hopes and dreams may have been buried so long, they have decomposed in the
heart and they stink! You became sick of your hopes, prayers, and dreams a LONG time ago.
“…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).
Mary and Martha hopes, dreams and prayers may have been for Lazarus to recover, but instead he got sick, died, they prepared him for burial, they funeralized him, rolled the stone across his tomb, and had his repast, He was DEAD and their hopes, dreams, and prayers, regarding their brother, DIED too!
Once
something or someone is DEAD; those in mourning make an attempt to move forward and
began a new era of life without it or them. "…"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 the familiar, especially for those still living, because
usually there is 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, Jesus told the by-standers to roll away the stone. “…TAKE ye away the STONE …” (John 11:39-41 KJV).
What CAN be done in human
strength God leaves 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. “…Lazarus, come forth…he that was dead
came forth…”
(John 11:42-43 KJV).
Remember, Martha had a level of faith, because she
believed that she would see Lazarus again in the resurrection. She had,
however, no FAITH beyond seeing him on the last day. JESUS SAID: “…thy brother shall rise again…Believest thou this? …” (John 11:23-27 KJV).
MARTHA SAID: “…I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day…” (John 11:23-27 KJV).
Martha was HOPEFUL she would SEE Lazarus again “IN” the FUTURE resurrection, but she
had no HOPE for him before “that” day. “…I know that he shall rise again …” (John 11:23-27 KJV).
During DARK experiences of DEEP sadness, grief, disappointment, regret, or
sorrow HOPE can become weaken, fluctuate, or totally DIE. The centurion said: “…I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!...” (Mark 9:24 NIV).
Jesus sympathizes with your
weaknesses. “…We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses…” (Hebrews 4:15 NASB). “…When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and
the Jews who came with her also
weeping, He
was deeply moved in spirit
and was troubled …Jesus wept. So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!” …Jesus, again being deeply moved within,
came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, “Remove the stone...” (John 11:33-39 NASB).
God is both a
sympathetic and comforting Father. “…Blessed
are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted...” (Matthew 5:4 KJV). “…Blessed
be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and
the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation…”(2 Corinthians 1:3-4
KJV).
However, God is not an enabler. He will sympathize and comfort you through your troubles, heartaches, and disappointments, but more importantly, he will STRENGTHEN you. “…Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to
think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is
of God…” (2 Corinthians 3:5 KJV). “…“… [His]…
power is made perfect in weakness…” (2
Corinthians 12:9 NIV). “…[God will] … grant
you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man…”(Ephesians 3:16 KJV).
“…May …God … work in us
what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ…” (Hebrews 13:20-21
NIV). “…it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his
good pleasure…”
(Philippians 2:13 KJV).
He will EMPOWER you
to ROLL AWAY the STONE. He will empower you to roll away the disappointment,
the doubt, the heartbreak, the time factor, thinking you are too old, thinking
it’s too late, or thinking it’s “now” impossible.“... Remove the stone...” (John 11:33-39 NASB),
“... For in ... [Jesus, the Word of
God]... the righteousness
of God is REVEALED from [one level of]... faith to [another
level of] ...faith; as it is written, “ ... the righteous man
(through the indwelling Holy Spirit) shall live by faith (by dependency upon the power of god’s word)...” (Romans“…Jesus said
to her, “Your brother will
rise again.” …”
(John 11:22-27 NASB). 1:17 NASB).
“…where have ye laid him?...” (John 11: 34 KJV).
“…TAKE ye away
the STONE…” (John 11:39-41 KJV).
“…Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by
this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days…”
(John 11:39 KJV).
!! “…they TOOK away the STONE from the PLACE “WHERE”
the DEAD was laid…”
(John 11:39-41 KJV).
“…Martha said … by
this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days…”
(John 11:39 KJV).
JESUS SAID: “…loose him and let him go …”
(John 11:44 KJV).
“…"Did
I not say to you that if you believe (keep depending upon the POWER of God's Word), you will see the glory
(PRESENCE OF HIS GOODNESS) of God?" (John 11:40 KJV).
“…And
he that was dead came forth (THE PRESENCE OF HIS
GOODNESS WITNESSED WITH YOUR “OWN” EYES!)…”
(John 11:42-43 KJV).
QUESTIONS AND POTENTIAL ANSWERS FOR FURTHER STUDY
HE STINKETH
1. HOW WAS LAZARUS' BODY, ProbabLY EMBALMED AND WRAPPED, ACCORDING TO THE TRADITIONS OF HIS DAY? HE WAS PROBABLY embalmed with spices and
perfumes, wrapped in linen grave clothes, and had, most likely, started to
decompose.
ACCORDING TO AN
OLD PROVERB WHAT DID THEY BELIEVE ABOUT THE SOUL? THEY believed
that the soul hovered over the body for 2 or 3 days, before it took flight. So
by the fourth day, there was no doubt Lazarus was considered truly DEAD.
AFTER THE FOURTH DAY, WHEN JESUS WANTED TO GO TO LAZARUS’ TOMB, WHAT DID MARY
AND MARTHA SAY TO HIM? THAT THEIR BROTHER’S BODY HAD
PROBABLY STARTED TO STINK. “… for he hath been dead for four days.
…”
(John 11:39 KJV).“…Martha,
the sister … saith … Lord, by this time he stinketh: …” (John 11:39 KJV).
WAS LAZARUS
ACTUALLY DEAD? YES, LAZARUS WAS ACTUALY DEAD. “…Lazarus
is DEAD…” (John 11:14 KJV). “…he stinketh: for he hath been dead for four days.
…”
(John 11:39 KJV). Lazarus was in “….the
place WHERE the DEAD was laid…” (John 11:41 KJV).
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BODY TO MAKE
IT BEGIN TO STINK? Decomposition causes the body to putrefy and smell or stink. “… by this time
he stinketh…”
(John 11:39 KJV). “…he
hath been dead for four days …” (John 11:39 KJV).
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. When mary,
Martha, AND jesus got to lazarus’ grave, what did he tell them to do? Roll away the stone.. “…TAKE ye away the STONE….they TOOK away the STONE from the PLACE “WHERE” the DEAD was
laid…” (John 11:39-41 KJV).
WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF PUTTING A STONE
OVER A GRAVE? A stone was often used to MARK a memorial
event.
WAS ROLLING AWAY STONE FROM LAZARUS GRAVE SIMILAR TO EXHUMING THE
BODY? YES. “...They
TOOK away the STONE from the PLACE “WHERE” the DEAD was laid…”
(John 11:39-41 KJV). “…TAKE ye away the STONE …” (John 11:39-41 KJV). The
death of “...They TOOK away the STONE from the PLACE
…”
(John 11:39-41 KJV).
GOD
WANTS MARY AND MARTHA TO EXHUME THE BODY OF LAZARUS, WHICH CAN ALSO SYMBOLIZES THE
EXHUMING OF THEIR HOPES, THEIR DREAMS, AND THEIR UNANSWERED PRAYERS IN RELATIONSHIP TO THEIR BROTHER TOO. WHAT HOPES, DREAMS, OR
PRAYERS, IN YOUR LIFE, HAVE BEEN BURIED, SO LONG, THEY STINK? DISCUSSION QUESTION.“… by this time
he stinketh…”
(John 11:39 KJV).
JESUS,
THE WORD, TOLD MARY AND MARTHA TO GO BACK TO THE PLACE WHERE THE DEAD WAS LAID
AND ROLL AWAY THE STONE SO THEY COULD “SEE” WITH THEIR “OWN” EYES, THE GLORY OF
GOD AS HE MIRACULOUSLY “EXHUMES” THEIR HOPES, DREAMS, AND UNANSWERED PRAYERS, IN REGARD, TO WHAT
WAS “NOW” DEAD. IF THE WORD OF GOD IS
TAKING YOU BACK TO THE PLACE WHERE YOU HAVE LAID YOUR DEAD HOPES, DREAMS, AND
UNANSWERED PRAYERS, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE? SO THAT "YOU" WILL HAVE A GREATER FAITH OR DEPENDENCY UPON GOD’S WORD BY “SEEING” WITH YOUR
OWN EYES, THE GLORY OF GOD (HIS PRESENCE & THE PRESENCE OF HIS GOODNESS). “…Jesus
said to her, "Did I not say to
you that
if you believe, you
will see the glory of God?" (John 11:40 KJV). “... For in ... [Jesus, the Word of
God]... the righteousness
of God is REVEALED from [one level of]... faith to [another
level of] ...faith; as it is written, “ ... the righteous man
(through the empowering of the indwelling Holy Spirit) shall live by faith (by dependency upon the power of god’s word)...” (Romans 1:17 NASB).
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3.
IF A DEAD BODY DECOMPOSES, ONCE IT IS DEAD, IS IT
POSSIBLE FOR YOUR HOPES, DREAMS, AND UNANSWERED PRAYERS TO DECOMPOSE IN THE
HEART TOO? DISCUSS HOPES, DREAMS, AND UNSANSWERED
PRAYERS THAT HAVE STATED TO FADE OR BE BURIED. “…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).
CAN JESUS, THE WORD, RESURRECT AND
GIVE “NEW” LIFE TO THAT WHICH IS DEAD? YES, HE CAN. "…"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). “…I am the
resurrection and the life…” (John 11:25 KJV)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. HOW DOES THE
“DEATH” OF ANYTHING OR ANYONE “CHANGE" YOUR LIFE, SITUATIONS, AND CIRCUMSTANCES? DEATH changes the familiar, because THE LIVING
HAVE NO MORE HOPE FOR, DREAMS ABOUT, OR PRAYERS REGARDING 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).
WOULD GOING TO
THE PLACE WHERE YOU BURIED SOMETHING OR SOMEONE DEAD BE AN UNFAMILIAR BEHAVIOR
FOR YOU? YES. WHY OR WHY NOT? BECAUSE ON MY “OWN” I WOULDN’T HAVE ANY REASON TO EXHUME THE
DEAD.
WHAT IF THE WORD OF GOD TOLD YOU TO “ROLL AWAY THE STONE” WHERE
THE DEAD WAS LAIN? I MIGHT STILL HAVE SOME HESITANCY
FOR DOING IT? WHY OR WHY NOT? DISCUSS THIS
QUESTION.“...They TOOK away
the STONE from the PLACE “WHERE” the
DEAD was laid…” (John 11:39-41 KJV).
HOW DID JESUS,
THE WORD, EXHUME THE BODY OF LAZARUS? HE SPOKE TO HIM.
WHAT HAPPENED AFTER, JESUS, THE WORD SPOKE TO HIM? HE THAT
WAS DEAD COME FORTH. “…Lazarus, come forth…he that was dead came forth…” (John 11:42-43 KJV). “…I am the
resurrection and the life…” (John 11:25 KJV).
WHAT DID MARY AND MARTHA “SEE” OR
“WITNESS WITH THEIR VERY OWN EYES?” THEY “SAW,” WITH THEIR OWN EYES LAZARUS
RETURN FROM THE DEAD AND TO LIFE AGAIN. “…Jesus
said to her, "Did I not say to
you that
if you believe, you
will see the glory of God..." (John 11:40 KJV).
GLORY IS THE ACTUAL “WITNESS” OF HIS PRESENCE AND THE
PRESENCE OF GOD’S GOODNESS. WHICH PART
DEMONSTRATED GOD’S GLORY? WHEN LAZARUS ACTUALLY
CAME FORTH; MARY AND MARTHA “SAW” GOD’S PRESENCE AND GOODNESS IN HIS POWER TO
RESURRECT THEIR BROTHER AND RESTORE LIFE TO HIM. “…you will see the glory of God..." (John 11:40 KJV).
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. MARY AND MARTHA
HAD FAITH IN JESUS, THE WORD, BUT HOW DID THEY INTERPRET LAZARUS’ RESURRECTION
WHEN THEY WERE TOLD THEIR BROTHER WILL RISE AGAIN? THEY
THOUGHT JESUS, THE WORD, WAS TALKING ABOUT A "FUTURE" RESURRECTION DAY. JESUS SAID: “…thy brother shall rise again…Believest thou this? …” (John 11:23-27 KJV).
MARTHA SAID: “…I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day…” (John 11:23-27 KJV).“…I know that he shall rise again …” (John 11:23-27 KJV).
WHAT DID JESUS
REVEAL TO THEM ABOUT THE “POWER” OF GOD’S WORD? HE TOLD
THEM HE, THE WORD OF GOD, “WAS” THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE. “…I am the
resurrection and the life…” (John 11:25 KJV).
IS RESURRECTION AND LIFE A FUTURE
EXPERIENCE OR IS IT EXPERIENCED WHEN YOU BECOME A “NEW” CREATION THROUGH JESUS,
THE WORD OF GOD? IT IS EXPERIENCED WHEN YOU BECOME A NEW
CREATION. “…I am the
resurrection and the life…” (John 11:25 KJV). “…Lazarus, come forth…he that was dead came forth…” (John 11:42-43 KJV). “…YOU
were dead in your sins and
... [NOW]…God made you ALIVE with Christ. He forgave [you]…
all [your]… sins…”
(Colossians 2:13 NIV). “…YOU
were dead in your sins…” (Colossians 2:13 NIV). “..Therefore if any man be
in Christ, he is
a NEW CREATURE: old things are passed away; behold, ALL THING ARE
BECOME NEW…” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).“… [The] Good News about Christ (THE WORD OF GOD). It is the power of God at work (through HIS HOLY
SPIRIT), saving (RESURRECTING AND GIVING LIFE TO) everyone who believes
(DEPENDS UPON HIS WORD)…”
(Romans 1:16 NLT).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6.
JESUS’ DELAY WAS NOT TO HURT MARY AND MARTHA, BUT TO
STRENGTHEN THEIR FAITH OR DEPENDENCY UPON WHAT? UPON THE POWER OF GOD’S WORD. “….To the intent, you
may BELIEVE….” (John 11:15 KJV).
“… that they may believe (OR DEPEND UPON THE TRUTH) that thou hast sent me (YOUR WORD)…” (John 11:41-42 KJV). “…thy brother shall rise again…Believest thou this? …” (John 11:23-27 KJV).
MARTHA SAID: “…I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day…” (John 11:23-27 KJV).
“…I
am the resurrection and the
life…”
(John 11:25 KJV). ).
“…I do believe; help
me overcome my unbelief!...”
(Mark 9:24 NIV). “…He helps me…” (Psalms 28:7 NLT). “…You
are my helper and my savior…”
(Psalms 40:17 NLT). “… The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness…” (Romans 8:26 NLT). “…he that was dead came forth…” (John 11:42-43 KJV). “... For in ... [Jesus, the Word of
God]... the righteousness
of God is REVEALED from [one level of]... faith to [another
level of] ...faith; as it is written, “ ... the righteous man
(through the empowering of the indwelling Holy Spirit) shall live by faith (by dependency upon the power of god’s word)...” (Romans 1:17 NASB).
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
IT’S BEEN DEAD TOO LONG
7. MARY AND MARTHA
CRIED OVER THE DEATH OF THEIR BROTHER. DOES
JESUS SYMPATHIZE WITH OUR WEAKNESSES? YES HE DOES. “…We
do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses…”
(Hebrews 4:15 NASB). “…When
Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply
moved in spirit and was troubled …Jesus wept. So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!” …Jesus, again being deeply moved within,
came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, “Remove the stone...” (John 11:33-39 NASB).
NOT ONLY DOES GOD SYMPATHIZE WITH OUR
WEAKNESSES, BUT DOES HE COMFORT YOU THROUGH THEM TOO? YES,
HE DOES.
“…Blessed
are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted...” (Matthew 5:4 KJV). “…Blessed
be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and
the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation…”(2 Corinthians 1:3-4
KJV).
GOD
WILL SYMPATHIZE WITH YOU AND COMFORT YOU THROUGH “ALL” YOUR TRIBULATIONS, BUT
WHAT WILL HE ALSO DO? HE WILL STRENGTHEN YOU. “…[God
will] … grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man…”(Ephesians 3:16 KJV). “…Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to
think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is
of God…” (2 Corinthians 3:5 KJV). “…“… [His]…
power is made perfect in weakness…” (2
Corinthians 12:9 NIV). “…May …God … work in us
what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ…” (Hebrews 13:20-21
NIV). “…it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his
good pleasure…”
(Philippians 2:13 KJV).
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
8. IS DEFEAT AND THE
KILLING OF YOUR GOD-GIVEN HOPES, DREAMS, AND UNANSWERED PRAYERS A WEAPON OF THE
ENEMY? YES. WHY OR WHY NOT? THE ENEMY COMES INTO YOUR LIFE TO KILL YOUR HOPES, DREAMS AND
PRAYERS AND TO STEAL AND DESTROY THEM.“…The thief cometh
not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…”
(John 10:10 KJV).
WILL ANY WEAPON
(DEVICE, TRICKERY, DEFEAT) THE ENEMY “FORMS” AGAINST YOU PROSPER, EVEN THE
KILLING OF YOUR HOPES, DREAMS, OR UNANSWERING PRAYERS? NO.
WHY OR WHY NOT? THE ENEMY MAY MEAN YOUR “SEEMINGLY”
DEFEAT FOR BAD, BUT GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD. “ALL” THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR THE
GOOD OF GOD’S PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY LOVE HIM AND HAVE BEEN CALLED ACCORDING TO
HIS PURPOSE. “…In that coming day no weapon turned against you
will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These
benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their
vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken!..” (Isaiah 54:17 NLT).“..All things work together for
GOOD to
them that LOVE
GOD, to them who are THE CALLED to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 KJV). Satan
“…intended to harm me, but [FIRST LOVE]…God intended it for
good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives”
Genesis 50:20 NIV).
WILL GOD EVER
GIVE HIS GLORY TO THE ENEMY OR WILL HE SHOW IT TO HIS CHILDREN AS PROMISED? HE WILL NOT GIVE HIS GLORY TO ANOTHER AND HE “WILL” SHOW HIS
GLORY TO HIS “OWN” PEOPLE. “…BY GRACE … [you are] …saved (FROM SIN AND ANY WEAPON
FORMED BY THE ENEMY, BUT) …not of [HUMAN] WORKS, that no man should glory
(boast in the flesh)…” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV). “…..This is the WORD of the
LORD ... saying, Not
by [human] might, nor by [human] power, but by my (GOD’S) Spirit…”
(Zechariah 4:6 KJV). “I am the Lord;
that is my name! …I will not give my glory to anyone else (not YOU or ME OR DEAD
SITUATIONS)…” (Isaiah 42:8 KJV). “…He said to [them].., "You are My Servant, Israel ( MY PEOPLE), In Whom I will show
(REVEAL) My GLORY (PRESENCE & GOODNESS)…” (Isaiah 49:3
NASB). “…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).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
9. JESUS, THE WORD
TAKES YOU BACK TO THE PLACE WHERE YOU BURIED YOU DEAD HOPES, DREAMS, OR PRAYERS. YOUR VICTORY IS IN THAT PLACE. AFTER
YOU ROLL AWAY THE STONE, WHAT DOES THE JESUS, THE WORD, DO? HE SPEAKS TO THAT WHICH IS DEAD. “…he that was dead came forth…” (John 11:42-43 KJV).
WHO SPOKE GOD’S WORD OVER THE DRY BONES IN EZEKIEL
CHAPTER 37? EZEKIEL DID. “ …‘dry bones, hear the word of
the lord! …. as I was prophesying, 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.
Then …breath
entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army …‘This is
what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves… Then you ...will know that I
am the Lord, when I open your graves… you[r HOPE]… will live …Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it...’”
(Ezekiel 37 NIV).
DID
EZEKIEL “SEE” THE GLORY OF GOD? YES. “…"Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" (John 11:40 KJV).
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10. IF YOU HAVE GIVEN UP ON CERTAIN HOPES, DREAMS OR PRAYERS
WHAT DOES JESUS, THE WORD, TELL YOU TO DO TO GET BACK ON TRACK? COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF GRACE (UNMERITED FAVOR) AND GET
“HIS” HELP. “..Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of GRACE, that
we may obtain mercy, and find GRACE to help in time of need…”
(Hebrews 4:16 KJV). “…ask me for anything in my name (Jesus), and I will do it...” (John 14:12-14 NLT).
AFTER YOU PRAY, WHAT IS
THE NEXT THING YOUR NEED TO DO OVER YOUR DEAD HOPES, DREAMS, OR PRAYERS? SPEAK
THE WORD. “…SPEAK THE WORD ONLY
…”
(Matthew 8:5-9 KJV). “…THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK unto you, they ARE SPIRIT,
and they ARE LIFE…” (John 6:63 KJV). “…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).
THE
WORD TOLD MARY AND MARTHA TO GO TO THE PLACE OF THE DEAD, BUT WHAT WAS THEIR
OPINION OF GOING BACK ? THEY THOUGHT THE DEAD WAS SO
DEAD, IT WAS STINKING NOW. “…Martha, the sister of him
that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this
time he stinketh: for he hath been dead for four
days. …” (John 11:39 KJV).
WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE OF JESUS,
THE WORD OF GOD? HE REMINDED THEM, THAT REGARDLESS OF THE
STENCH, THEY WOULD “SEE” THE GLORY OF GOD. “…"Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" (John 11:40 KJV).
WHAT DOES JESUS, THE WORD, WANT TO REVEAL TO MARY AND
MARTHA? THE WORD WANTS TO REVEAL GOD’S PRESENCE, GOD’S
GOODNESS, AND THE CONFIRMING “POWER” OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT! “…Then you will know that I the Lord (THE WORD) have spoken, and I (GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT) have
done it, declares the Lord
(THE WORD)...’” (Ezekiel 37 NIV). “…he that was dead came forth…”
(John 11:42-43 KJV).
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11. WHEN GOD TOOK MARY AND MARTHA TO THE PLACE WHERE THE DEAD WAS LAID AND
THEY REMOVED THE STONE, WHAT DID JESUS, THE WORD, DO “BEFORE” HE RESURRECTED
LAZARUS? HE PRAYED. “…Jesus
lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest
me always: but because of the people
which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me…” (John 11:41-42 KJV). “…Father,
I thank thee that thou hast heard me
… I knew that thou hearest me always…” (John 11:41-42 KJV).
WHO IS THE “ME” THAT JESUS WAS
TALKING ABOUT? In this content, THE “ME?” is Jesus.
Jesus is the WORD. “…Father,
I thank thee that thou hast heard me
(the WORD) …” (John 11:41-42 KJV).
WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT “HEARS” HIS WORD? HE
BEGINS THE CONFIRMING WORK (DOING WHAT HIS WORD SAYS IT WILL DO) BY THE POWER OF HIS
HOLY SPIRIT. God
says, I “…am watching over my word to perform it…” (Jeremiah 1:12 NASB). “…So shall my word
be 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).
“…As many as are the promises of God,
in Him they are yes …also … Amen …” (2 Corinthians 1:20
NASB). “…Not one of the good
promises which the Lord had made
… failed; all came to pass…” (Joshua 21:45 NASB).
“…He has granted to [you]…
His precious and magnificent promises…” (2 Peter 1:4 NASB). “And this is the confidence that we have in him,
that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us…” (1 John 5:14 KJV).
“…You can ask
for anything in my name (JESUS), and I
will do it, so that the Son can
bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name (Jesus, THE WORD OF GOD), and I will do it...” (John 14:12-14 NLT). Jesus had another name. “… His name is called The
Word of God…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB). “… Jesus (the WORD of GOD)
…came and SPAKE, unto them saying, “All POWER is given unto me IN heaven and earth…” (Matthew 28:18 KJV).“…he that was dead came forth…” (John 11:42-43 KJV).
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