Sunday Morning Podcast March 20, 2016. Bro. Dave Goble.
TEXT: JOHN 11:1-6, 14-18, 39-44
1-6
1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
14-18
14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:
39-44
39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
42 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.
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
Jesus delayed His coming. He had been summoned because Lazarus was ill unto death. Yet still Jesus delayed for two days before finally arriving to help, as was expected. It was a decision He made even after hearing the seriousness of Lazarus’s condition, (Verse 6). Jesus had waited so the glory of God would be more fully manifested. John 11:14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. By Lazarus being dead in the grave for 4 days, wiped out any doubt of his passing. This decision caused God to be glorified when Lazarus was resurrected.
This example is used here to illustrate that decisions we make daily, can bring glory to God, or not. The people witnessing this miracle, were brought to an accountability of Jesus being God’s son. That He had all power, and to awaken others to make sure their life was being lived for God’s glory. It was also to help them make a clear choice, to make heaven their goal. We all face a spiritual and final destination. We are faced daily with choices and decisions to make. Decisions ultimately set the course of direction our life is headed in. A direction that is toward an eternal destination. The daily choices we make, …do they glorify God’s will, or please our self? Pleasing self, goes directly against pleasing God.
Do we make decisions, big or small, from godly fear, ..or fear of man? And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both body and soul in hell. Matthew 10:28 Our decisions must be founded in love for God, (not in religion or traditions of men) so we can properly fear Him. Everything important thing in our life that we control, either leads us away from, or closer to God and heaven. Our decisions not only affect our own destination, but also those influenced by us. Thankfully God is faithful to warn us, but we must listen closely to Him by drawing near in prayer, and studying His Word. His wisdom and not our own, will help us choose goals not directed by the flesh. Making decisions to please God, requires us to die out to our own will, as Paul declared, “I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. I Corinthians 15:31”
Decisions can be made for God’s glory, when we keep heaven as our purpose!