IT'S NOT OVER UNTIL GOD SAYS IT IS!!

                                                       

GOD SAYS: IT'S NOT OVER!

“… He that was dead came forth…” (John 11:42-43 KJV).  

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It is NOT always easy to continue to walk upright when BAD, DIFFICULT, TRAGIC, or MIND-BLOWING events and experiences happen or are happening. The bible says: “….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).

We may “lose heart” when we go through DEATH OF LOVED ONES, DISAPPOINTMENTS, LOSS OF RELATIONSHIPS, OR BROKEN DREAMS (Galatians 6:9 KJV). “…In DUE SEASON we shall reap if we do not lose heart…” (Galatians 6:9 KJV).

We may not be exactly like the men-servants in Luke 12:45, but we may come to a resigning conclusion, because God delayed his coming into our situations and circumstances of life. “…My Lord delayeth his coming…” (Luke 12:45 KJV).

Nonetheless, no matter how many days or years have passed, God will manifest his glory or presence in your situation and will turn things around for the good. “…And in the PROCESS of time “IT” CAME TO PASS…” (Genesis 4:3 KJV). “...ALL THINGS work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE…” (ROMANS 8:28 KJV).

People grow TIRED and WEARY from waiting. 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).

Making it to the FINISH LINE of HOPE (expectancy) in God’s promises, by waiting on God, becomes challenging. “…the one who endures to the end, he will be saved…” (Matthew 24:13 NASB).

It becomes challenging “IF” you are experiencing or have experienced a loved one go through a difficult sickness, take their last breath and die, be funeralized, and left in a cementary. . “…if thou hadst been HERE my brother had NOT died…” (John 11:21 KJV).

Such events and experiences can utterly discourage you and cause you to lose SIGHT of the FINISH LINE or of having HOPE for a FAVORABLY VICTORY “…if thou hadst been HERE my brother had NOT died…” (John 11:21 KJV).

God promised Lazarus’ sickness would not end in death, but it “LOOKED” like it DID end in DEATH. “…Lazarus is dead…” (John 11:14 KJV).

What promises of God did you RELY on that LOOKS as if it is DEAD, FAILED, or did NOT have a FAVORABLY outcome? “…Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made … failed; ALL CAME TO PASS…” (Joshua 21:45 NASB). 

Was Lazarus’ physical DEATH the FINISH LINE or end of the journey for Martha and Mary’s HOPE? NO. Why not? Because Jesus told them: “…this sickness is NOT unto death, but for the glory of God (or to reveal the presence of god)…” (John 11:4 KJV). “…"Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God (the witness of god's presence)?" (John 11:40 KJV).

What was God's PLANNED FINISH LINE for Martha and Mary’s HOPE? “…The plans [God has]…for you….[are]… plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE...” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)."...this sickness is NOT unto death…” (John 11:4 KJV).“…you will “see” the glory of God?" (John 11:40 KJV).

Did God’s WORD inspire your HOPE for a restored relationship, to see a sick relative or friend well again, to save a wayward child, to change a situation or circumstance, to break an addiction, but after days, weeks, months, or years “IT” NEVER came to pass? “…Lazarus is dead…” (John 11:14 KJV).

Did YOU, like Martha and Mary, HEAR, through the WORD of God, a PROMISE for your particular problem: “…this sickness is NOT unto death…” (John 11:4 KJV). Did Lazarus die? Yes, it LOOKS like it. Even Jesus said, “…Lazarus is dead…” (John 11:14 KJV).

Did Jesus lie? “…God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” (Numbers 23:19 NASB).“…this sickness is NOT unto death…” (John 11:4 KJV). “…Lazarus is dead…” (John 11:14 KJV). 

WHAT?!!!!

Did God LIE to Mary and Martha? Did God lie to you? After so many days or years of waiting, what else could it be, but a LIE? “…Lazarus is dead…” (John 11:14 KJV). What else was Martha and Mary supposed to think? “…said Martha 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).

Jesus responded, to the sisters, with a REMINDER of the PROMISE he’d made. “…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).

Have you lost HOPE in a PROMISE God made to you through HIS WORD? Did Martha and Mary lose HOPE in Jesus, the WORD? “… He (Jesus) had a name written, that no man knew … his name is called The Word of God…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB).  THE WORD SAID: “…this sickness is NOT unto death…” (John 11:4 KJV). “…“Your brother will rise again.”   …” (John 11:22-27 NASB).“…MARTHA SAID to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” …” (John 11:22-27 NASB).

Has your HOPE in God disappointed you? Was Martha and Mary be disappointed too? “…HOPE (expectancy in god's word) DOES NOT DISAPPOINT… (ROMANS 5:5 NASB). “…For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM  (depends upon him) WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED…" (ROMANS 10:11 NASB). “… HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM  (depends) WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED… (ROMANS 9:33 NASB). “…In You they trusted  (depended) and WERE NOT DISAPPOINTED…. (PSALMS 22:5 NASB).

 Why should you continue to TRUST or DEPEND upon the WORD of GOD no matter what? “…the things which are impossible with men … are POSSIBLE  [with God]…” (Luke 18:27 KJV).  “….” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”  She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world…” (John 11:22-27 NASB).“…I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27 KJV).

If you believed God and Martha and Mary believed God, what happened? It is clear, Martha and Mary believed in Jesus, believed in the resurrection, believed he was Christ, the Son of God, and believed Lazarus would rise again. God said, “…IT SHALL BE DONE TO YOU ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH…” (MATTHEW 9:29 NASB).  

With ALL their professed faith in Jesus,, the WORD; God said Martha and Mary experienced Lazarus physical death so that they may BELIEVE (depend upon god's word). “…I am glad for your sakes (his disciples, Mary, Martha, YOU) that I was not there (when Lazarus died), to the intent, you may BELIEVE (you may depend upon god's word (jesus))….” (John 11:15 KJV). “…I knew that thou (God) hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe (that they may depend upon the truth) that thou hast sent me…” (John 11:41-42 KJV).

BELIEVE WHAT?  “… that… [you]… may believe  (TRUST, DEPEND UPON THE TRUTH) that thou (God) hast sent [jesus, the word of god]…” (John 11:41-42 KJV).

WHO sent WHO? GOD sent JESUS, the WORD. “…This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom he hath sent…” (John 6:28-29 KJV).

WHO was SENT? “… HE …sent His Son (Jesus)...” (1 John 4:10 KJV).

Who EXACTLY is his Son, Jesus? “…the WORD… [was] … made flesh, and dwelt among us, we beheld his glory, glory of the ONLY begotten… [SON]… of the Father, full of grace and truth… [which]… came through Jesus Christ…” (John 1:14, 17 KJV). "… He (Jesus) had a name written, that no man knew … his name is called The Word of God…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB). 

“…THERE ARE THREE that bear record in heaven, the Father, the WORD (Jesus), and the Holy Ghost (Spirit): and THESE THREE ARE ONE.…” (1 JOHN 5:6-8 KJV). God says. Jesus speaks. The Holy Spirit does.

In other words, God says something; Jesus “SPEAKS” what God says; the Holy Spirit “DOES” what Jesus SPEAKS and God says. “…The Father, the WORD(Jesus), and the Holy Ghost (Spirit)…” (1 JOHN 5:6-8 KJV).

God is the Father. Jesus is the Word of the Father. The Holy Spirit is the Power of the Father. “…THESE THREE ARE ONE.…” (1 JOHN 5:6-8 KJV).

The FATHER’s (God) WORD (Jesus) is POWER (Holy Spirit) and they are ONE. “…THERE ARE THREE that bear record in heaven, the Father (GOD), the Word (JESUS), and the Holy Ghost (POWER): and THESE THREE ARE ONE.…” (1 JOHN 5:6-8 KJV).

HERE IS AN EXAMPLE: “…Then God SAID, “Let there be light”; AND THERE WAS LIGHT…” (Genesis 1:3 NASB). “…Then God SAID (God said something), “Let there be light” (Jesus, the Word spoke what he SAID); AND THERE WAS LIGHT (The Holy Spirit did what was said and spoken) …” (Genesis 1:3 NASB).

“…In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being … (John 1:1-4 NASB).

The FATHER’s (God) WORD (Jesus) is POWER (Holy Spirit) and they are ONE. “…THERE ARE THREE that bear record in heaven, the Father (GOD), the Word (JESUS), and the Holy Ghost (POWER): and THESE THREE ARE ONE.…” (1 JOHN 5:6-8 KJV).

Jesus, the WORD, speaks about the DEATH of Lazarus: “…this sickness is NOT unto death…” (John 11:4 KJV). “…“Your brother will rise again.”   …” (John 11:22-27 NASB). “…I am glad for your sakes (his disciples, Mary, Martha, YOU) that I was not there (when Lazarus died), to the intent, you may BELIEVE….” (John 11:15 KJV).

THat  “…you may BELIEVE (that you may depend upon god's word)….” (John 11:15 KJV).  THAT “… HE …sent His Son...” (1 John 4:10 KJV). “…the WORD… made flesh…” (John 1:14, 17 KJV). Therefore, “…He sent out his word and … rescued them (lazarus) from the grave…” (Psalms 107:20 NIV).

“…That ye believe on Him  (depend upon him) whom he hath sent…” (John 6:28-29 KJV). “…as my Father hath sent me…” (JOHN 20:19-21 KJV).  “…[the]…Father which hath sent me...” (John 6:38 KJV).  “ … he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to PREACH deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised…” (John 4:16-21 KJV). “… HE …sent His Son...” (1 John 4:10 KJV). “…He sent out his word and healed them…” (Psalms 107:20 NIV). “… my word … that goeth forth out of my mouth: …it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it…” (Isaiah 55:11 KJV).

“…this sickness is NOT unto death…” (John 11:4 KJV). “…“Your brother will rise again.”   …” (John 11:22-27 NASB).

God’s MOTIVE for sending Jesus, the WORD was his HOLY LOVE. “… Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and SENT His Son….” (1 John 4:10 KJV). “…The … SON (the WORD), which is in the BOSOM (deepest part of his heart) of the Father, he hath declared him…” (John 1:18 KJV).“…He sent out his word and healed them…” (Psalms 107:20 NIV). “… my word … that goeth forth out of my mouth: …it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it…” (Isaiah 55:11 KJV). “…“Your brother will rise again.”   …” (John 11:22-27 NASB).

God says something, from his heart and Jesus SPEAKS what he says to Martha and Mary by telling them to go to“… the PLACE “WHERE” the DEAD was laid…” (John 11:39-41 KJV). AND “…TAKE ye away the STONE …” (John 11:39-41 KJV). “…press on to reach the end of the race  … which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling [you]…” (Philippians 3:14 NLT).  THat “…you may BELIEVE (that you may depend upon his word)….” (John 11:15 KJV).  “…He will keep you strong to the end…” (1 Corinthians 1:8 NLT). “…your… sufficiency is of God…” (2 Corinthians 3:5 KJV).

God says something and Jesus SPEAKS what he says: “… "Did I not say to you that if you believe (if you depend upon my word), you will see the glory of God (the presence of god)?" (John 11:40 KJV).

Martha and Mary were eye witnesses to Lazarus DEATH. Lazarus did die. They SAW it. They BURIED him. He was IN the cemetery. “…Lazarus is dead…” (John 11:14 KJV). What else was there to HOPE for or EXPECT. Nonetheless, the WORD says:  “…LIVE BY FAITH (by depending upon God's WORD), NOT BY SIGHT…” (2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV).

God SENT his WORD (Jesus) to SPEAK to Mary and Martha: “…TAKE ye away the STONE …” (John 11:39-41 KJV). “…“Your brother will rise again.”   …” (John 11:22-27 NASB).“…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).

When they TOOK away the stone, the Holy Spirit, the confirming POWER of God's WORD, raised the DEAD. “…if you believe, you will see the glory of God (the presence of god)…" (John 11:40 KJV). “…“Your brother will rise again.”   …” (John 11:22-27 NASB). “… He that was dead came forth…” (John 11:42-43 KJV).  

“… [god's]… word  … that goeth forth out of [his]… mouth … it shall accomplish that which [Pleases God] …  and it shall prosper in the thing where to [God]… sent it…” (Isaiah 55:11 KJV).  “…Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made … failed; all came to pass…” (Joshua 21:45 NASB). God is “…watching over [his[… word to perform it…” (Jeremiah 1:12 NASB). 

“…“Your brother will rise again.”   …” (John 11:22-27 NASB). “… He that was dead came forth…” (John 11:42-43 KJV).  

“….[You]… CAN DO (keep HOPING in) all things THROUGH Christ which strengtheneth [you]…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). Therefore, “…He will keep you strong to the end…” (1 Corinthians 1:8 NLT). SO “…press on to …the end of the race  …” (Philippians 3:14 NLT). “…TAKE ye away the STONE …” (John 11:39-41 KJV). “…that… [you] … may believe (depend upon god's truth) that thou (God) hast sent (jesus, the word)…” (John 11:41-42 KJV).

"…if you believe (if you "keep" depending upon God's word), you will see the glory of God (the presence of god)…" (John 11:40 KJV).“… He that was dead came forth…” (John 11:42-43 KJV).  

YOU “WILL" SEE THE GLORY OF GOD OR THE PRESENCE OF GOD "IN" YOUR SITUATION! DON'T GIVE UP. IT MAY "LOOK" DEAD, BUT GOD IS THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE!! IT IS NOT OVER UNTIL "HIS WORD" SAYS IT IS!!