Sermon nuggets Fri July 4
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY
(Next week I will not be near a computer on a missions trip so will not be sending out the nuggets)
Theme- Overcoming Death
Verses- John 11:38-44 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.
39 "Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days."
40 Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me.42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"
44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."(NIV)
The Special Power
Imagine having buried a loved one, had a visitation service, the funeral, the burial. Then Jesus comes to your home and asks if you would take him to where your loved one was buried. You travel to the cemetery and the freshly filled grave. Jesus commands that the casket be removed from the ground and opened! What would you think? Then Jesus calls your loved one by name and they sit up and get out of the casket and go home with you to live many more years of life. That's the way it was with Lazarus' resurrection.
There is no power in our lives without prayer. Jesus first prayed that the people might see God's glory. The fact that Lazarus had been dead four days gave greater authenticity to the miracle to be performed and greater opportunity for the people to believe, including His own disciples. Jesus recognizes it is for them that God is answering this prayer. It is for you and me as well.
Jesus is able to do what no one else can possibly do. He made it possible that death not overcome us. For all of us who trust and believe in Him and follow him know that someday He will stand before our grave and then shout this victory cry, "Come forth." and we will all rise before our Lord and King and give Him praise.
Jesus performed a mighty miracle in raising Lazarus from the dead. But also notice He did not take away the stone from the door of the sepulcher, nor did He remove the grave clothes when His resurrected friend came out of the tomb, "bound hand and foot." The Lord demanded something of those who longed for a miracle.
J. Boyd Nicholson said, "The Lord will not do by a miracle what we are to do by obedience," . Are we praying for a powerful miracle and ignoring our responsibility to do what we can and ought to do? Even the principle that God works when we obey can be applied to the healing of physical and emotional illnesses. I do not believe God's way of working is to roll away the stone from the problems in your life if the solution is within your own ability and letting Him work through you and accomplish what should be done in a normal and natural way. That is the way God designed his world to begin with. Did Jesus have to ask for the people to roll the stone away? No. He could have spoken and saw to it that it was done. The Angel rolled the stone away for His own resurrection.
I think how God's people might help roll away stones and take off grave clothes for new Christians called to life. Someone might be saved but still bound by stone of blindness and ignorance. There are many we can help by untying them of them free from the bondages of legalism, culture, liberalism, prejudice, fear, hatred, anger and other things that bind.
Warren Wiersbe in his book, Be Alive, reminds us that the experience of Lazarus is a good illustration of what happens to a sinner when he trusts the Savior (Eph. 2:1-10) Larzarus was dead, and all sinners are dead spiritually. He was decayed, because death and decay go together. All lost people are spiritually dead, but some are more "decayed" than others. No one can be more dead than another.
Lazarus was raised from the dead by the power of God, and all who trust Christ have been given new life and lifted out of the graveyard of sin. Lazarus was set free from the grave clothes and given new liberty. You find him seated with Jesus at the table later in the next chapter and all believers are seated with Christ in the heavenly places (Eph 2:6) enjoying spiritual food and fellowship.
Pastor Dale
Friday, July 4, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Specilal Passion John 11:28-37
Sermon nuggets Thurs July 3
Theme- Overcoming Death
Verses- John 11:28-37 And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. "The Teacher is here," she said, "and is asking for you."
29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him.
30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him.
31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.
34 "Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied.
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"
37 But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"
The Special Passion
Jesus not only showed compassion, but passion as well. He was not only showing his love to the family in coming to them in their grief, but weeps with them. He is among the mourners.
Jesus exhibited the human experience of grief. We have just read one of the most marvelous words written regarding the hope of the believer who faces death. But that does not deny the reality of human loss and the sharing of emotional empathy with those we love.
I got to wonder if the reason Jesus wept was because He called Lazarus back from the dead. He had to come back to the world of this life with its pain and sorrow and for Lazarus he had to die all over again later. Lazarus would have been better off if he had not been called back from the tomb. When we leave this world it is a far better healing that anything doctors or medicine can do. But for now it pleases God to show off the power and glory of Christ by raising Lazarus so people can be saved.
Grief is reaction to loss. There is nothing wrong with it. There is something right with it. Not all person experience grief in the same way and to the same degree. A lot depends on the closeness of the relationship, on the personality of the person, and the change in the future habits, and the nature of the death.
Wailing, weeping and fainting are seen sometimes to an excess, in our opinions, when we see the Middle Eastern people experience grief. Cultures express their feelings in different ways as well as families. One can be passionately in love, or passionately angry, or passionately excited. At times of death there are stages of grief psychologists tell us most people go through. I think they are demonstrated in this story.
After the initial shock stage, when your body numbs itself to tragic news it is easy to slip for a time into denial. It may take awhile to process the reality of a death of a loved one. I think we get a hint of this when both Mary and Martha repeat the same phrase independently in the presence of Jesus. "If you would have been here, my brother would not have died." Certainly this is an expression in the faith they had in Jesus as Lord, He could have healed Lazarus. But it is also saying to me they repeated that over and over again among themselves emotionally trying to think of other ways in which death would not have to have happened. One is playing out in their minds the alternatives as if there was a solution that would kept someone from dying. "If only we didn't take this car the accident wouldn't have happened. If only the Doctor caught it earlier he wouldn't have died, If only I would have warned him to stop smoking maybe he wouldn't have died of lung cancer." This is our psychological way of trying to think of alternatives to reality, but it still doesn't change the reality.
But I think Mary and Martha’s statement is the normal grief expression of anger. They did do something about it. They prayed. They sent a message to Jesus and Jesus didn't do what they wanted him to do. Isn't that the case with most people? We are angry. Some are angry at the one who died, or themselves, or the parties involved in the accident, or with the doctor, but most are angry at God who in their minds should and could have prevented it. It is an expression of anger which is normal in grief. We can't change it and it frustrates us.
Another expression of grief is the release of emotion. I'm glad the scriptures include that not only the women wept, but Jesus did too. The shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35, "Jesus wept." Jesus had passion. He showed emotion. Why were there were tears? Why did Jesus weep? I believe He wept because He was human. He experienced what we experience. Loneliness, sorrow, grief are human experiences and that is for Christians too. I believe there is a spiritual need to express emotion and at the right time tears. There are appropriate tears of empathy and bearing of sorrow with loved ones. The Bible says,"weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice."
Sometimes little boys are told, "I thought you are a really big boy now, don't cry." "Someone will see you and laugh, don't cry." I am not impressed with this culture that tries to tell men to stuff their emotions and do not allow for their expression. People will think you are not a real man. There is a theory that reason there are many more heart attacks experienced by men than women is the cultural expectation that men must hold their emotions in and women can express them freer and without embarrassment.
It is normal when we adjust to loss to feel sad, depressed, confused, to wonder if we are passing through a bad dream, It's normal to have angry feelings, to have our hearts ask, "Why God?" It is normal to feel guilt, to feel like you should have spent more time with the loved one, or sorry for not sharing some thing with them, or could have had a better relationship.
There are some other thoughts that come to my mind when I think of this passion of Jesus. Perhaps we see his sorrow over the effects that Satan has on this world. Death is an enemy. Satan kills. He saw again the tool of Satan at work.
Jesus went to them. He listened, He accepted their feelings, He shared with Mary in her feelings. If we do that we do a lot to help during tragic times. Generally we do not like to be around hurting people, but that helps in healing grief more than we understand by a friend who loves us and accepts us. Because of Jesus there is special passion.
Pastor Dale
Theme- Overcoming Death
Verses- John 11:28-37 And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. "The Teacher is here," she said, "and is asking for you."
29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him.
30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him.
31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.
34 "Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied.
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"
37 But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"
The Special Passion
Jesus not only showed compassion, but passion as well. He was not only showing his love to the family in coming to them in their grief, but weeps with them. He is among the mourners.
Jesus exhibited the human experience of grief. We have just read one of the most marvelous words written regarding the hope of the believer who faces death. But that does not deny the reality of human loss and the sharing of emotional empathy with those we love.
I got to wonder if the reason Jesus wept was because He called Lazarus back from the dead. He had to come back to the world of this life with its pain and sorrow and for Lazarus he had to die all over again later. Lazarus would have been better off if he had not been called back from the tomb. When we leave this world it is a far better healing that anything doctors or medicine can do. But for now it pleases God to show off the power and glory of Christ by raising Lazarus so people can be saved.
Grief is reaction to loss. There is nothing wrong with it. There is something right with it. Not all person experience grief in the same way and to the same degree. A lot depends on the closeness of the relationship, on the personality of the person, and the change in the future habits, and the nature of the death.
Wailing, weeping and fainting are seen sometimes to an excess, in our opinions, when we see the Middle Eastern people experience grief. Cultures express their feelings in different ways as well as families. One can be passionately in love, or passionately angry, or passionately excited. At times of death there are stages of grief psychologists tell us most people go through. I think they are demonstrated in this story.
After the initial shock stage, when your body numbs itself to tragic news it is easy to slip for a time into denial. It may take awhile to process the reality of a death of a loved one. I think we get a hint of this when both Mary and Martha repeat the same phrase independently in the presence of Jesus. "If you would have been here, my brother would not have died." Certainly this is an expression in the faith they had in Jesus as Lord, He could have healed Lazarus. But it is also saying to me they repeated that over and over again among themselves emotionally trying to think of other ways in which death would not have to have happened. One is playing out in their minds the alternatives as if there was a solution that would kept someone from dying. "If only we didn't take this car the accident wouldn't have happened. If only the Doctor caught it earlier he wouldn't have died, If only I would have warned him to stop smoking maybe he wouldn't have died of lung cancer." This is our psychological way of trying to think of alternatives to reality, but it still doesn't change the reality.
But I think Mary and Martha’s statement is the normal grief expression of anger. They did do something about it. They prayed. They sent a message to Jesus and Jesus didn't do what they wanted him to do. Isn't that the case with most people? We are angry. Some are angry at the one who died, or themselves, or the parties involved in the accident, or with the doctor, but most are angry at God who in their minds should and could have prevented it. It is an expression of anger which is normal in grief. We can't change it and it frustrates us.
Another expression of grief is the release of emotion. I'm glad the scriptures include that not only the women wept, but Jesus did too. The shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35, "Jesus wept." Jesus had passion. He showed emotion. Why were there were tears? Why did Jesus weep? I believe He wept because He was human. He experienced what we experience. Loneliness, sorrow, grief are human experiences and that is for Christians too. I believe there is a spiritual need to express emotion and at the right time tears. There are appropriate tears of empathy and bearing of sorrow with loved ones. The Bible says,"weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice."
Sometimes little boys are told, "I thought you are a really big boy now, don't cry." "Someone will see you and laugh, don't cry." I am not impressed with this culture that tries to tell men to stuff their emotions and do not allow for their expression. People will think you are not a real man. There is a theory that reason there are many more heart attacks experienced by men than women is the cultural expectation that men must hold their emotions in and women can express them freer and without embarrassment.
It is normal when we adjust to loss to feel sad, depressed, confused, to wonder if we are passing through a bad dream, It's normal to have angry feelings, to have our hearts ask, "Why God?" It is normal to feel guilt, to feel like you should have spent more time with the loved one, or sorry for not sharing some thing with them, or could have had a better relationship.
There are some other thoughts that come to my mind when I think of this passion of Jesus. Perhaps we see his sorrow over the effects that Satan has on this world. Death is an enemy. Satan kills. He saw again the tool of Satan at work.
Jesus went to them. He listened, He accepted their feelings, He shared with Mary in her feelings. If we do that we do a lot to help during tragic times. Generally we do not like to be around hurting people, but that helps in healing grief more than we understand by a friend who loves us and accepts us. Because of Jesus there is special passion.
Pastor Dale
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Special Promise John 11:16-27
Sermon nuggets Weds July 2
Theme Overcoming Death
Verses- John 11:16-28 Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
18 Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.
20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
21 "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."
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. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
27 "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."
The Special Promise
After Jesus decided to return to Bethany Thomas was so convinced that the Jews were going to kill Jesus that it was suicide to go back because it was only a couple of miles from Jerusalem. His comment showed he was willing to die with Jesus.
That reminded me of a Little Leaguer who came to his coach when his team found out that they were to play a much larger and advanced team in the playoff. He groaned, "We're going to get slaughtered." the Coach reminded him the of the importance of a positive mental attitude. He confessed he had forgotten then said, "I'm positive we're going to get slaughtered." And sure enough they did. Thomas was positive they were going to die with Jesus. But he was committed to Jesus even to die.
Certainly all eyes were on Jesus when he was entering the town. Many Jews were there to comfort the family even after Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. Mary was understandable upset, yet pleased to see Jesus and came to Him even before He made it to the house. Her trust was in Him regardless.
There is a tremendous lesson of the resurrection hope that is ours by faith in Jesus Christ. We have hope of seeing our loved ones again. The Bible tells us,"He who has the Son has life." Jesus gives us what we cannot give ourselves.
We cannot forgive ourselves of sin against God, only Christ can do that. Only Christ can bring our loved ones to life again. We cannot rise up ourselves only Christ can do that to us. When He asked Martha if she believed in the resurrection, indeed, she knew the conservative Jewish thought that is consistent with the Old Testament teaching, Daniel 12:2-3 "Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake; some to everlasting life, other to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever." She believed that at the last day there will be a resurrection. That is our hope. That is what we look forward to now purchased for us on the cross.
Walter Lowen wrote in the Readers Digest of the intense sorrow he felt and the emptiness he experienced because of the death of his beloved wife of 37 years. He felt all meaning was gone from his own life. The Doctor who was a friend and a fellow believer in Jesus took his arm and said in a matter of fact voice, "you'll see her again." That was all and he left the room.
Lowen writes, "But that was all I needed to hear, that simple gesture and eloquent statement reminded me of the one things that has been give to us to help us bear such separations form our beloved; the resurgent and ever present ability to believe in the immortality. The idea of immortality is the strongest lifeline to the grief-stricken. In my case I could from his words on, think of the separation of Selma and myself as temporary. Everything that sustained that belief sustained me. Three of my friends somehow knew the almost morbid sensitivity that one in grief has, they sent flowering plants instead of cut flowers, so that the idea of continuance of life and not its brief blooming would be suggested."
There are promises in Jesus comforting presence with us in our sorrow. There is the promise of faith that conquers the fiery darts of the evil one. Tell me, what in your life, have you concluded is beyond the Lord's power? What seems "hopeless". What is it that seems irreparable? A disease, a relationship, a business crisis? Consider: Ephesians 3:20 "he is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine" God's hands are NOT tied. Why is this important? Because God's sufficiency is your basis for hope.
There is the fantastic hope of resurrection that is for all who believe. This hope is in none other than Jesus Christ. Because Jesus is the resurrection and the life we take comfort in the fact He lives, so shall we, and we are promised a life everlasting. There is our hope.
Pastor Dale
Theme Overcoming Death
Verses- John 11:16-28 Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
18 Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.
20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
21 "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."
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. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
27 "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."
The Special Promise
After Jesus decided to return to Bethany Thomas was so convinced that the Jews were going to kill Jesus that it was suicide to go back because it was only a couple of miles from Jerusalem. His comment showed he was willing to die with Jesus.
That reminded me of a Little Leaguer who came to his coach when his team found out that they were to play a much larger and advanced team in the playoff. He groaned, "We're going to get slaughtered." the Coach reminded him the of the importance of a positive mental attitude. He confessed he had forgotten then said, "I'm positive we're going to get slaughtered." And sure enough they did. Thomas was positive they were going to die with Jesus. But he was committed to Jesus even to die.
Certainly all eyes were on Jesus when he was entering the town. Many Jews were there to comfort the family even after Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. Mary was understandable upset, yet pleased to see Jesus and came to Him even before He made it to the house. Her trust was in Him regardless.
There is a tremendous lesson of the resurrection hope that is ours by faith in Jesus Christ. We have hope of seeing our loved ones again. The Bible tells us,"He who has the Son has life." Jesus gives us what we cannot give ourselves.
We cannot forgive ourselves of sin against God, only Christ can do that. Only Christ can bring our loved ones to life again. We cannot rise up ourselves only Christ can do that to us. When He asked Martha if she believed in the resurrection, indeed, she knew the conservative Jewish thought that is consistent with the Old Testament teaching, Daniel 12:2-3 "Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake; some to everlasting life, other to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever." She believed that at the last day there will be a resurrection. That is our hope. That is what we look forward to now purchased for us on the cross.
Walter Lowen wrote in the Readers Digest of the intense sorrow he felt and the emptiness he experienced because of the death of his beloved wife of 37 years. He felt all meaning was gone from his own life. The Doctor who was a friend and a fellow believer in Jesus took his arm and said in a matter of fact voice, "you'll see her again." That was all and he left the room.
Lowen writes, "But that was all I needed to hear, that simple gesture and eloquent statement reminded me of the one things that has been give to us to help us bear such separations form our beloved; the resurgent and ever present ability to believe in the immortality. The idea of immortality is the strongest lifeline to the grief-stricken. In my case I could from his words on, think of the separation of Selma and myself as temporary. Everything that sustained that belief sustained me. Three of my friends somehow knew the almost morbid sensitivity that one in grief has, they sent flowering plants instead of cut flowers, so that the idea of continuance of life and not its brief blooming would be suggested."
There are promises in Jesus comforting presence with us in our sorrow. There is the promise of faith that conquers the fiery darts of the evil one. Tell me, what in your life, have you concluded is beyond the Lord's power? What seems "hopeless". What is it that seems irreparable? A disease, a relationship, a business crisis? Consider: Ephesians 3:20 "he is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine" God's hands are NOT tied. Why is this important? Because God's sufficiency is your basis for hope.
There is the fantastic hope of resurrection that is for all who believe. This hope is in none other than Jesus Christ. Because Jesus is the resurrection and the life we take comfort in the fact He lives, so shall we, and we are promised a life everlasting. There is our hope.
Pastor Dale
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Special Purpose John 11:4-15
Sermon nuggets Tues July 1
Theme- Overcoming Death
Verses- John 11:4-15 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 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea."
8 "But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?"
9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light."
11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up."
12 His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better."
13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
14 So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."
The Special Purpose vs. 4-15
After Jesus received the message of Lazarus’ illness He 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." Then He stayed there two more days. He was on a different time table than we are, because He has a different purpose than the world. Jesus’ special purpose on earth was to glorify His Father in heaven. He obeyed his Father's will. Are we committed to that? It is not important that we Christians are comfortable but that we glorify God in all we do. As we seek to fulfill that purpose in our lives we will find ultimate blessing.
Secondly, God's plan was to reveal Jesus' identity. What better evidence of His divine power than to raise someone who had been dead for four days? We also see in v. 41,42 that Jesus' public prayer was designed to testify to His divine commission. Through this public statement Jesus asserted: 1) that He was one with God and not a Son of Satan (as was an accusation). 2) That He was always heard by the Father because their wills were one. There is no doubt who Jesus is claiming to be -the Messiah, God in human form.
Acknowledging Christ’s divinity gives life more meaning. Our life is not vain and empty because Jesus has shown us that there is life eternal. Life is not lived in vain when there is an eternal goal, when there will be justice. We are not a cosmic accident but creatures intentionally created by God. How do we know? Because Jesus said so.
When Jesus announced it is time to go, the disciples were confused. They thought He was staying away from Judea because the Jews were out to kill him. Jesus asked them, "Are there not 12 hours in the day?" If a man chooses to serve God then that man's day will not end before God wishes it to end. There is time enough to do whatever God has for him to do. There is enough time to do the work which God has given us to do. But likewise one only has 12 hours to do a days work for the Lord and so time should not be wasted. Use it to the fullest and the utmost.
They walk and work while the sun is up while they can see and not stumble, but Jesus is teaching them more than the obvious. There is a time for work in God's kingdom, and when the night comes then the work is ended. Finish your greatest work of getting your life right with God while you have time, for the time is coming when it is too late and night is here. The great truth of the gospel is that God so loved the world, but the fact is also true that the love of God may be refused or ignored and the time will be missed and it will be too late. Friend do not put off making the spiritual commitment to God you need to make today.
Pastor Dale
Theme- Overcoming Death
Verses- John 11:4-15 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 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea."
8 "But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?"
9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light."
11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up."
12 His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better."
13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
14 So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."
The Special Purpose vs. 4-15
After Jesus received the message of Lazarus’ illness He 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." Then He stayed there two more days. He was on a different time table than we are, because He has a different purpose than the world. Jesus’ special purpose on earth was to glorify His Father in heaven. He obeyed his Father's will. Are we committed to that? It is not important that we Christians are comfortable but that we glorify God in all we do. As we seek to fulfill that purpose in our lives we will find ultimate blessing.
Secondly, God's plan was to reveal Jesus' identity. What better evidence of His divine power than to raise someone who had been dead for four days? We also see in v. 41,42 that Jesus' public prayer was designed to testify to His divine commission. Through this public statement Jesus asserted: 1) that He was one with God and not a Son of Satan (as was an accusation). 2) That He was always heard by the Father because their wills were one. There is no doubt who Jesus is claiming to be -the Messiah, God in human form.
Acknowledging Christ’s divinity gives life more meaning. Our life is not vain and empty because Jesus has shown us that there is life eternal. Life is not lived in vain when there is an eternal goal, when there will be justice. We are not a cosmic accident but creatures intentionally created by God. How do we know? Because Jesus said so.
When Jesus announced it is time to go, the disciples were confused. They thought He was staying away from Judea because the Jews were out to kill him. Jesus asked them, "Are there not 12 hours in the day?" If a man chooses to serve God then that man's day will not end before God wishes it to end. There is time enough to do whatever God has for him to do. There is enough time to do the work which God has given us to do. But likewise one only has 12 hours to do a days work for the Lord and so time should not be wasted. Use it to the fullest and the utmost.
They walk and work while the sun is up while they can see and not stumble, but Jesus is teaching them more than the obvious. There is a time for work in God's kingdom, and when the night comes then the work is ended. Finish your greatest work of getting your life right with God while you have time, for the time is coming when it is too late and night is here. The great truth of the gospel is that God so loved the world, but the fact is also true that the love of God may be refused or ignored and the time will be missed and it will be too late. Friend do not put off making the spiritual commitment to God you need to make today.
Pastor Dale
Monday, June 30, 2008
Special People John 11:1-3
Sermon Nuggets Week of June 30, 2008
Theme- Overcoming Death
Verses John 11:1-3Now 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."(NIV)
Special People
How do we face death victoriously? The only way to face the future in this fallen world is with a vital relationship with Jesus Christ. The most traumatic experiences every person faces are death of loved ones. Jesus is our only hope. This story of the raising of Lazarus demonstrates the power and passion of Jesus. It begins with the fact that this death of Lazarus was of a special friend.
Mary and Martha were sisters to Lazarus and all were special friends of Jesus. Why does Jesus pick such commoners for his friends and apostles? It is not because of their wisdom, merit, good looks, money, spiritual maturity, intelligence? This fact overwhelms me that God of the universe wants a relationship with all people and has a special heart for those the world may overlook. The relationship Jesus had with this family was special.
Martha, Mary and Lazarus provided a place to stay for Jesus and his friends. Martha was known as the server, and Mary the contemplative one. They were followers of Jesus, they were hospitable to the disciples. They helped Jesus ministry not only in worship, but also their material gifts, and most importantly their friendship. Jesus loved them.
Charles Wesley wrote in one of his Hymns, "Faithful to my Lord's commands. I still would choose the better part. Serve with careful Martha's hands, and loving with Mary's heart. "
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ you are one of God's favorites. You have been called to be part of his family. I am blessed with many special people, brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ that make our family larger. Jesus gives us that bond. We can bear one another’s burdens, We can share in their joys and sorrows. We are special because of Jesus love.
Mary and Martha knew of Jesus healing powers and so when Lazarus was quite sick they sent a messenger to find Him right away and let him know, so He could come at once. That is how I pray. I want to tell God how to do what He should do and when. .
The fact that Jesus loves us however, and we love and serve Him is no guarantee that we will be sheltered from the problems and pains of this life. Indeed, even the Father above loved his own Son, Jesus, yet permitted Him to suffer the death on a cross. Do not confuse troubles,
problems, pain and disease, with the thought that Jesus does not know, or care. He does.
I rejoice in the thought that you and I are among God's favorite people. We can claim, along with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. We are special people, because we are friends of Jesus.
Pastor Dale
Theme- Overcoming Death
Verses John 11:1-3Now 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."(NIV)
Special People
How do we face death victoriously? The only way to face the future in this fallen world is with a vital relationship with Jesus Christ. The most traumatic experiences every person faces are death of loved ones. Jesus is our only hope. This story of the raising of Lazarus demonstrates the power and passion of Jesus. It begins with the fact that this death of Lazarus was of a special friend.
Mary and Martha were sisters to Lazarus and all were special friends of Jesus. Why does Jesus pick such commoners for his friends and apostles? It is not because of their wisdom, merit, good looks, money, spiritual maturity, intelligence? This fact overwhelms me that God of the universe wants a relationship with all people and has a special heart for those the world may overlook. The relationship Jesus had with this family was special.
Martha, Mary and Lazarus provided a place to stay for Jesus and his friends. Martha was known as the server, and Mary the contemplative one. They were followers of Jesus, they were hospitable to the disciples. They helped Jesus ministry not only in worship, but also their material gifts, and most importantly their friendship. Jesus loved them.
Charles Wesley wrote in one of his Hymns, "Faithful to my Lord's commands. I still would choose the better part. Serve with careful Martha's hands, and loving with Mary's heart. "
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ you are one of God's favorites. You have been called to be part of his family. I am blessed with many special people, brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ that make our family larger. Jesus gives us that bond. We can bear one another’s burdens, We can share in their joys and sorrows. We are special because of Jesus love.
Mary and Martha knew of Jesus healing powers and so when Lazarus was quite sick they sent a messenger to find Him right away and let him know, so He could come at once. That is how I pray. I want to tell God how to do what He should do and when. .
The fact that Jesus loves us however, and we love and serve Him is no guarantee that we will be sheltered from the problems and pains of this life. Indeed, even the Father above loved his own Son, Jesus, yet permitted Him to suffer the death on a cross. Do not confuse troubles,
problems, pain and disease, with the thought that Jesus does not know, or care. He does.
I rejoice in the thought that you and I are among God's favorite people. We can claim, along with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. We are special people, because we are friends of Jesus.
Pastor Dale
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