HOPE DEFFERED (DELAYED) #2
“…Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren
… Now Joseph had a dream …There we were, binding
sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves
stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.” And his brothers said
to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over
us?” ……. Joseph was thirty years old when he
stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt” (Genesis 37: 2, 5-14, 41:37-46).
*
Mary, Martha, and his disciples, obviously, already BELIEVED Jesus
could have prevented Lazarus’ death. They also knew Jesus could have simply
rebuked his sickness, or completely
restored him to health, or raise him immediately from the dead. “…The Spirit of the Lord is
upon me, … he hath anointed me (Jesus)
to PREACH the gospel to the poor; 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, To PREACH the acceptable year of the Lord…”
(John 4:16-21 KJV).
They BELIEVED Jesus COULD do anything. Believing a CHAIR will hold
you up is not the SAME as PROVING, you believe, by sitting upon the chair. God wanted
to ELEVATE their faith even HIGHER and make it STRONGER. “….To the intent, you may BELIEVE….” (John 11:15 KJV).
In order to develop, in Mary, Martha, and his disciples, such a
higher and stronger faith, it was important that Lazarus died a physical
death.”…I am glad for your sakes
that I was not there…” (John 11:14 KJV).
Martha, Mary, and his disciple’s spiritual growth in FAITH
depended on Lazarus’ death. “…that
you (they) “may”
believe…” (John 11:14 KJV).
The FAITH of God’s people is PRECIOUS to him! “….the proof of your faith (trust in, dependency
upon, and cooperation with his word), being
more precious than gold that perisheth though it is
proved by fire, may
be found unto praise and
glory (his indwelling
Spirit empowered them) and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ...” 1
Peter 1:7 ASV). “...[God]
knoweth the way that I take; when
he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold…”
(Job 23:10 KJV).
DEMONSTRATIONS of GOD’S GLORY are the building blocks for MORE
faith, GREATER faith, and STRONGER faith. THE
FAITH of Gods people will ALWAYS result in God’s GLORY. “…HOW MUCH MORE DO I
NEED TO SAY?
It would take too long to recount THE
STORIES OF the FAITH of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and
all the prophets… [Through]…
FAITH 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).
Jesus’ DELAYED his coming for the INTENT purpose of raising Lazarus
from the DEAD and to BUILD a STRONGER faith within Martha, Mary and his
disciples. HOW? “IN” and “THROUGH the POWER of the indwelling SPIRIT, which is
Jesus, the Word of God. “…that ye may BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God (the WORD)...” (1 John 5:13 KJV).
Jesus, the Son of God, had
another name. “… His
name is called The
Word of God…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB)
While DELAY makes
people focus on what is happening on the OUTSIDE, God is focusing on the HEART. “…The LORD looks at the
heart…”(1
Samuel 16:7 NASB).
God took Israel through the wilderness (delays,
trials or tribulations) for forty years. One reason he did it was to “….know what was in [their]…heart…” (Deuteronomy 8:2 KJV).
Many believers claim to BELIEVE in God,
yet struggle, in their heart, with the very FAITH they CLAIM to have. “Take heed, brethren, lest
there be in any one of you an evil heart of
unbelief, in departing from the living God”
(Hebrews 3:12 KJV). “... Let us labour therefore to enter into that
rest, lest any
man fall after the same example of unbelief (as Israel)…”
(Hebrews 4:10-11 KJV). “…I do believe; help
me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark
9:24 NIV).
“... the devils also believe...” (James 2:19 KJV).
“... except your righteousness (your demonstration
of belief) shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter
into the kingdom of heaven...” (Matthew 5:10 KJV).
Therefore,
“…WALK BY
FAITH...(trust in God, dependency upon God, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and cooperation with his instructions
(word)...” (2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV). “…live by faith, not
by sight….” (2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV).
“...God sees
not as
man sees, for man looks at the outward
appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart…”(1 Samuel 16:7 NASB). God is looking at the “…hidden man of the heart…” (1 Peter 3:4 KJV). “… From
within, out of the heart of
man,
proceed evil thoughts…these … come from within, and defile a person.”
(Mark 7:21-23 KJV).
God KNOWS the heart “…is deceitful above all things and desperately
wicked…who can know it [except God?]…”
(Jeremiah 17:9 KJV).
God’s TIMING: it OFTEN comes with a DELAY
not DEATH or even DENIAL. It’s a DELAY with the intent to help God’s people
BELIEVE or have a GREATER FAITH in the POWER of his WORD. “…[That]…ye
MAY BELIEVE…”
(John 11:14 KJV).
HOPE, your PRAYER life,
or your DREAMS were not meant to be weakened by DELAY, but to grow STRONGER.
Jesus TOOK Martha and Mary BACK to the PLACE where they BURIED their hope,
closed out their prayers, and put away their dreams. “…the PLACE
“WHERE” the DEAD was laid…”
(John 11:39-41 KJV).
“…Jesus
said…I am the resurrection and I am the LIFE…..” (John 11:25
KJV).
DEAD HOPE, forgotten PRAYERS and broken
DREAMS can be brought out of the BURIAL CHAMBER, of the heart, with
STRENGTHENED faith. STRENGTHENED faith that is EMPOWERED by HEARING the WORD OF
GOD. “…Faith
cometh by hearing, and hearing by the
word of God...”
(Roman 10:17 KJV). “…Jesus looked up to heaven and
said, “Father, thank you
for hearing me. You always hear me (the WORD),
but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that
they will believe you sent me (the WORD).” (John
11:41-42 NLT). “…And the prayer of [strengthened]
...faith SHALL save the sick (situation), and the Lord SHALL raise [the situation]... up…” (James
5:15 KJV).
“…THE WORDS
THAT I SPEAK unto you, they ARE SPIRIT, and they ARE LIFE…” (John 6:63 KJV). ). “…NOW UNTO HIM THAT IS “ABLE” to
do exceeding abundantly above
all that we ask or think, according to
the POWER that worketh in us…” (Ephesians 3:20 KJV). “…I am come that THEY MIGHT have life, and
that THEY MIGHT have
it more abundantly…” (John 10:10 KJV).
DEAD HOPE, DEAD PRAYERS, and DEAD DREAMS
can be totally revived or returned to LIFE by the COMMAND of the GOSPEL (which
is JESUS, the LIVING Word). “…Lazarus COME FORTH…he that was dead
came forth…” (John 11:43-43 KJV).
DEAD “HOPE,” PRAYERS, and DREAMS can be
brought BACK to absolute spiritual health and the GRAVE CLOTHES (negative
conclusions) removed. “…He that was DEAD came forth,
bound, head and foot with
graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a
napkin. Jesus saith unto them, ‘Loose
him, and let him go.’” (John 11:44 KJV).
Grave clothes represent EVERYTHING that
your HOPE, PRAYER, of DREAM was bound or
wrapped in such as: doubt, disappointment, what you saw, what you heard, what
you lived through, what didn’t happen, what did happen, the enemies lies, the
weapons the enemy formed against you, and weariness.
It is easy to see how HOPE DIES PRAYERS
DIE, and DREAMS DIE, especially with long-term DELAYS. God intends for you to
make it to the FINISH LINE by redeeming your HOPE, your PRAYER, or your DREAM. “…He
will
keep you strong to the end…” (1
Corinthians 1:8 NLT).
“…My Lord delayeth his coming…” (Luke 12:45 KJV). “…I am glad for your sakes that I was not there , to the intent, you
may BELIEVE….” (John 11:15 KJV).
Therefore, “Let us NOT become weary in
doing good, for at the PROPER TIME
WE WILL REAP A HARVEST if we
do not give up”…” (Galatians 6:9 NIV).
“…If
God is for [you], who …[or what]…is against [you]? …”
(Romans 8:31-39 NASB). “….
And he that was dead came
forth…” (John 11:42-43 KJV).
Does this MEAN you will
get EVERYTHING you want? No, it’s even BETTER than that, because it MEANS you will
get EVERYTHING God meant for you to have
and be BLESSED with.“...ALL THINGS
(sickness, divorce, death, disappointments, pain, heartbreak, etc.) work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE…”
(ROMANS 8:28 KJV).
“…BLESSED
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who HATH BLESSED us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ…”
(Ephesians 1:3 KJV).
“…His DIVINE POWER
hath given unto us ALL THINGS that pertain unto
life and godliness…” (2 Peter 1:3 KJV). “...He careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 KJV).
“…The LORD “WILL” accomplish (take care of)…that which concerns
[you]…” (John 14:31 NASB). “…God
is the one who provides ....”(2
Corinthians 9:10-13 KJV). “…God will generously PROVIDE all you need…” (2
Corinthians 9:8 NLT).
Being empowered by
“strengthened” faith, through DELAYS,
to depend upon his powerful WORD, will enable you to become a GREATER recipient
of his GLORY.
Becoming a GREATER recipient
of God’s GLORY means you have CHOOSEN to allow your faith to be strengthened,
in spite of a DELAY in your HOPES, PRAYERS, and DREAMS.
“...The life which I now live in
the flesh I live by ...[HIS]... faith [which is strengthened by the WORD] ... the
Son of God (the indwelling Son of God or WORD) …”
(Galatians 2:20-21 KJV). “…GOD IS SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “…The Spirit of God dwell[s]… in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV). “…Jesus Christ is
IN YOU…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). “…[You] CAN DO all
things THROUGH Christ which strengtheneth [you]…” (Philippians 4:13
KJV).“…The …HOLY SPIRIT …is the SOURCE of [all God’s
strengthen FAITH]. …it is …God who does
the work IN and THROUGH all of us who are his. The HOLY SPIRIT
DISPLAYS God’s power THROUGH each of us (who are strengthen by FAITH) …
(1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).
The witness of his SOVEREIGN
GLORY is GRANTED to the unearned, undeserving, and the unworthy recipients who
willfully CHOOSE to be STRENGTHENED to a GREATER faith. “…Since it is through God’s kindness …[and] not by [your] good
works. For in that case, God’s GRACE
(GLORY) would not be what it really is—free and undeserved…”
(Romans 11:5 NLT).
God’s GLORY is granted and
witnessed, because of his desire to freely bestow GOOD WILL and KINDNESS upon
all mankind, especially HIS PEOPLE. “…He
did this, not because we
DESERVED it, but because that
was his
plan
from before the beginning of time…” (2 Timothy 1:9 NLT).
God’s allows HIS PEOPLE to
WITNESS his GLORY NOT simply to be a SANTA CLAUS or GENIE to their every beck
and call or personal desires. God WANTS “...to
show us his GRACE
(GLORY) through Christ Jesus...who
went about doing good, and healing all
that were oppressed of the devil;
for GOD WAS WITH
HIM. And we are witnesses of
all things (HIS GLORY) which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in
Jerusalem…” (Acts 10:38-39 KJV & 2 Timothy 1:9). “…Jesus Christ is IN YOU…”
(2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV).
The WITNESS of God’s GLORY is
meant to bring WELL-BEING to mankind, especially “his people.” “…He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the
unrighteous…” (Matthew 5:45 NASB). However, “…You (God, the Holy Spirit, particularly) surround
[your people] WITH FAVOR (GLORY) as with a shield…” (Psalms 5:12 NASB).
In addition, his GLORY is witnessed
by “his people,” to bless THEM and to spread his blessings to others. God does
this by displaying his GLORY to his people, personally, and empowering them to
become witnesses by working in and through them. “…God will supply all [your need (the witness of his
Glory)]…” (Philippians 4:19 NASB). “…my cup
runneth over (with God’s GLORY)…” (Psalms 23:5 KJV). “…God will generously PROVIDE (display his GLORY
upon) all you need. Then
you will always have everything you
need and plenty left over to “SHARE” WITH OTHERS…” (2 Corinthians 9:8
NLT).
“… It is …God
who does the work IN AND THROUGH all of us who are his… (1
Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…Let your light so
shine before men, that they may
see your good works (empowered by the Holy Spirit)
and glorify your Father which is in heaven…”
(Matthew 5:16 KJV).
It gives God pleasure to
display his GLORY to his people. God’s GLORY is “his” to REVEAL freely, as he
pleases, and “not” yours to DEMAND. “…This
is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great
pleasure…”
(Ephesians 1 NLT). God “…does whatever pleases him...”
(Psalms 115:3 NIV). “… [God]… does as he pleases…” (Daniel 4 NLT).
“…Everything I plan will come to
pass, for I do
whatever I wish…” (Isaiah 46: 9-10
NLT).
His GLORY is his to DISPLAY
and REVEAL to whomever “HE” chooses and “not” yours or anyone else to DEMAND it
from him. “... God said to Moses, “I
will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose...” (Romans 9:15 NLT).
Even though God’s GLORY is his
to DISPLAY and REVEAL as he pleases he is GENEROUSLY to ALL. God
WANTS “...to show us his GRACE
(GLORY) through Christ Jesus...who
went about doing good, and healing all
that were oppressed of the devil;
for GOD WAS WITH
HIM. And we are witnesses of
all things (HIS GLORY) which he did …” (Acts 10:38-39 KJV & 2
Timothy 1:9). “…Jesus Christ is IN YOU…”
(2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV).
Mary and Martha had
concluded the hopes, prayers, and dreams about Lazarus was long dead and it was
TOO LATE for Jesus, the WORD, to do anything about it. She told Jesus: “… Lord, by this time, he stinketh: for he hath been
dead for four days …” (John 11:39 KJV). However, God’s truth SAYS: “…the things which are impossible with men are possible with
God…” (Luke 18:27 KJV).
Jesus promised THEM as
he PROMISES us all: “…..Said
I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory
of God?” (John 11:40 KJV). “…Jesus said…I am the resurrection and I am the life…..”
(John 11:25 KJV).
“…THE WORDS THAT I
SPEAK unto you, they ARE SPIRIT, and they ARE LIFE…” (John 6:63 KJV).
God SPOKE to Joseph in a DREAM.
However, JOSEPH’S DREAM
was DELAYED for 13 years. “…Joseph,
being seventeen years
old, was feeding the flock
with his brethren … Now Joseph had a dream …There we were, binding
sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves
stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.” And his brothers said
to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over
us?” …Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt”
(Genesis 37: 2,
5-14, 41:37-46).
“…[But]… in the PROCESS of time … [what God promised]… CAME TO PASS…”
(Genesis 4:3 KJV).
Slavery
or prison COULDN’T STOP the PROMISES of God upon Joseph’s life. “...God has blessed, and
I cannot reverse
it!” (Numbers 23:20 NLT). “…As many as are the
promises of God, in Him they are yes …also … Amen …” (2 Corinthians 1:2 NASB).
“…Jesus
said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you believe (trust in me,
depend upon me, and cooperate with my word), you will see the glory of God (his
presence and goodness in your life)?..." (John 11:40 KJV).
HOPE, PRAYERS, OR A DREAM DEFFERED
(DELAYED), NO MATTER HOW IT
APPEARS, IT NOT DEAD OR DENIED.
“…you will see the glory of God (his
presence and goodness in your life)?..." (John 11:40 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). “…Not one
of the good promises which the Lord
had made to the house of Israel failed; ALL CAME TO PASS…” (Joshua 21:45
NASB).
GO BACK AND GET YOUR HOPE, YOUR PRAYERS,
AND YOUR DREAMS GOD, PERSONALLY, PROMISED TO YOU: “…you will see the glory of God (his
presence and goodness in your life)?..." (John 11:40 KJV).
”
…Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt..[AS
RULER]...” (Genesis 37: 2, 5-14, 41:37-46).
“…you will see the glory of God ..."
(John 11:40 KJV).
