Faith, Delays, and Community: The Lazarus Lesson

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound story of Lazarus, focusing on the delay of Jesus in responding to the crisis. This delay was not a sign of neglect but a strategic move to glorify God and advance His kingdom. When faced with crises, we often question God's timing and intentions. However, it's crucial to understand that delays in divine intervention are often tied to a greater purpose that transcends our immediate understanding. Lazarus's sickness and subsequent death were not the end but a means to demonstrate God's power and bring many to salvation.

Martha and Mary, in their grief, expressed their disappointment to Jesus, highlighting the importance of being honest in our prayers. Despite their pain, they held onto their faith, demonstrating that our emotions should be anchored in sound theology. This balance between emotion and doctrine is vital, as it grounds us during turbulent times. Jesus's declaration, "I am the resurrection and the life," reminds us that doctrine should lead us to a personal encounter with Christ, transforming our knowledge into a living experience.

The story also emphasizes the role of faith preceding sight. Jesus instructed the removal of the stone before Lazarus was raised, illustrating that faith requires action, not just belief. This act of faith is a testament to trusting God's word even when circumstances seem dire. Furthermore, the unbinding of Lazarus after his resurrection symbolizes the freedom that comes through community. While Jesus gives life, He uses His people to provide liberty, underscoring the importance of being part of a church family where we can support and liberate one another.

Key Takeaways:

- Divine Delays and Greater Purposes: God's delays are not denials but are often tied to a larger purpose that glorifies Him and advances His kingdom. When faced with a crisis, we should seek to understand what God wants to accomplish through it. [00:12]

- Honesty in Prayer: Like Martha and Mary, we should be honest with God about our disappointments while anchoring our emotions in sound theology. This balance helps us navigate our crises with faith and understanding. [06:20]

- Doctrine Leading to Experience: Doctrine is essential, but it should lead us to a personal encounter with Christ. Knowing about the resurrection is different from experiencing it, and our faith should be rooted in a relationship with Jesus. [08:32]

- Faith Precedes Sight: True faith requires action, not just belief. We must act on God's word even when we don't see immediate results, trusting that His promises will be fulfilled. [14:41]

- Community and Freedom: While Jesus gives life, He uses His people to provide liberty. Being part of a church family is crucial for mutual support and liberation, as we help each other overcome the bindings of life. [19:58]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - Divine Delays and Greater Purposes
[00:27] - Setting the Stage: Lazarus's Sickness
[01:18] - Prayer and Honest Communication
[02:41] - Theological Insights on Crisis
[03:32] - Seeking God's Glory in Crisis
[04:26] - New Terminology: Sleep and Death
[05:22] - Disappointment and Faith
[06:20] - Balancing Emotion and Theology
[08:32] - Doctrine Leading to Experience
[10:45] - The Critical Question of Belief
[11:43] - Jesus Weeps: Empathy in Crisis
[13:22] - Removing the Stone: Faith in Action
[15:13] - Faith as Action, Not Feeling
[16:12] - Jesus's Intercession and Our Faith
[19:58] - Community and Freedom: Unbinding One Another

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- John 11:1-44
- Hebrews 4:14-16
- Matthew 10:8

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Observation Questions:

1. What was the reason Jesus delayed in responding to the news of Lazarus's sickness, according to the sermon? [00:12]

2. How did Martha and Mary express their disappointment to Jesus, and what does this reveal about their relationship with Him? [06:20]

3. What action did Jesus instruct to be taken before Lazarus was raised, and what does this signify about faith? [13:22]

4. How does the sermon describe the role of the community in Lazarus's story after he was raised from the dead? [19:58]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of "divine delays" challenge or affirm one's understanding of God's timing and purpose in personal crises? [17:38]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that doctrine should lead to a personal encounter with Christ, and why is this important? [08:32]

3. How does the act of removing the stone before Lazarus's resurrection illustrate the relationship between faith and action? [14:41]

4. What does the sermon imply about the importance of being part of a church community in experiencing spiritual freedom? [19:58]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you experienced a "divine delay" in your life. How did you respond, and what did you learn about God's purpose through that experience? [17:38]

2. How can you be more honest in your prayers, like Martha and Mary, while still anchoring your emotions in sound theology? [06:20]

3. Consider the statement "I am the resurrection and the life." How can this truth transform your daily walk with Christ beyond just head knowledge? [08:32]

4. What is one specific action you can take this week to demonstrate faith in an area of your life where you are currently waiting for God's intervention? [14:41]

5. Identify a person in your church community who might be "bound" by a struggle. How can you support them in finding freedom, as illustrated in the unbinding of Lazarus? [19:58]

6. How can you actively participate in your church community to both receive and offer support, ensuring that you are part of the "unwrapping" process for others? [20:18]

7. Reflect on a personal crisis you are currently facing. What might God be trying to accomplish for His glory through this situation, and how can you align your prayers with this purpose? [03:32]

Devotional

Day 1: Divine Timing and Greater Purposes
In moments of crisis, it is natural to question God's timing and intentions. However, divine delays are not signs of neglect but are often tied to a larger purpose that glorifies God and advances His kingdom. The story of Lazarus illustrates that what seems like a delay is actually a strategic move to demonstrate God's power and bring many to salvation. When faced with challenges, it is essential to seek understanding of what God wants to accomplish through them, trusting that His timing is perfect and purposeful. [00:12]

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Reflection: Think of a current situation where you feel God is delaying. How can you shift your perspective to see this delay as part of a greater purpose?


Day 2: Honest Communication with God
Martha and Mary, in their grief, expressed their disappointment to Jesus, showing the importance of being honest in our prayers. Despite their pain, they held onto their faith, demonstrating that our emotions should be anchored in sound theology. This balance between emotion and doctrine is vital, as it grounds us during turbulent times. Being honest with God about our disappointments while anchoring our emotions in sound theology helps us navigate our crises with faith and understanding. [06:20]

Psalm 62:8 (ESV): "Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us."

Reflection: What is one disappointment or struggle you need to honestly bring before God today? How can you anchor this in your faith and understanding of His character?


Day 3: Doctrine Leading to Personal Encounter
Doctrine is essential, but it should lead us to a personal encounter with Christ. Knowing about the resurrection is different from experiencing it, and our faith should be rooted in a relationship with Jesus. Jesus's declaration, "I am the resurrection and the life," reminds us that doctrine should transform our knowledge into a living experience. This transformation is crucial for a vibrant and authentic faith journey. [08:32]

Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV): "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving."

Reflection: How can you move from simply knowing about Jesus to experiencing a deeper relationship with Him today? What practical steps can you take to cultivate this encounter?


Day 4: Faith in Action
True faith requires action, not just belief. Jesus instructed the removal of the stone before Lazarus was raised, illustrating that faith requires action even when circumstances seem dire. This act of faith is a testament to trusting God's word and promises, even when immediate results are not visible. Acting on God's word, despite uncertainty, is a powerful demonstration of trust and obedience. [14:41]

James 2:17 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you need to take a step of faith today? How can you act on God's word, trusting in His promises?


Day 5: Community and Freedom
While Jesus gives life, He uses His people to provide liberty. The unbinding of Lazarus after his resurrection symbolizes the freedom that comes through community. Being part of a church family is crucial for mutual support and liberation, as we help each other overcome the bindings of life. This emphasizes the importance of being actively involved in a community where we can support and liberate one another. [19:58]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Reflection: How can you actively contribute to your church community today? What steps can you take to support and encourage someone in your community who may need liberation?

Quotes

Jesus holds off on answering the prayer because he wants to use the crisis to bring a lot of people to Salvation if you're in a crisis and God is not moved all that means is the delay is tied to a bigger point that God wants to accomplish for his glory the the amplification of the name of his son and the advancement of his kingdom so you keep praying to a crisis. [00:00:00]

God will allow things in our lives that are not preferential to us but are glorifying to him this sickness is not unto death but it is for the glory of God so one of the questions you must ask and answer in prayer when you're in when I'm in when we're in a crisis is you must answer the question God what Glory do you want from my crisis. [00:03:12]

Martha said to Jesus Lord if you had been here my brother would not have died anybody here ever been felt God has let you down God God where were you God to put it in another word don't you care be this close stay two days longer and be glad doesn't make sense if you would have been here she expresses her pain and disappointment to Jesus. [00:05:42]

Point is okay to be honest in your prayers they neither sister is condemned because they express disappointment with God God's son after she expresses her disappointment she goes on to say in verse 22 even now I know that whatever you ask of God God will give to you whoa I don't want you to miss this Jesus verse 21 I'm hurting cuz I needed you and you didn't come. [00:06:24]

She marries her emotions with her theology so you want to always have a theological and doctrinal Foundation when you are emoting over your circumstances she is emoting about her pain but retreating to her theology that's why you need to learn Doctrine she says look right now I'm disappointed but I know what I believe and I'm going to appeal to what I believe in spite of how I feel right now. [00:07:18]

Doctrine is critical but Doctrine is always to lead to a person if all you get is Doctrine you may be heavy in the head with information but light on the experience you may know about the resurrection but never experience one cuz he says the resurrection that's doctrinal is tied to a person so here is a point the written word must always lead you to the Living Word. [00:08:38]

Faith must always precede sight once you put sight in front of Faith because you were from Missouri once you put sight in front of Faith you've negated faith faith is based on what you do not see if you got to see it first you won't see it no and how would she demonstrate faith not by a feeling but by removing the stone cuz Faith is not a feeling it's an action. [00:14:41]

Faith is acting like God is telling the truth it is acting like it is so even when it's not so in order that it might be so simply because God said so so you move in faith even when you don't feel it sometimes you're going to feel fitish got faith all over you you just feeling it sometimes you won't ever feel fiish but you can know you're operating in faith because you moving the stone. [00:15:20]

Jesus holds off on answering the prayer because he wants to use the crisis to bring a lot of people to Salvation oh so now there is a spiritual reason for a crisis delay in spite of a prayer being prayed because there's a bigger Kingdom Purpose at work than just the healing of Lazarus if you're in a crisis and God has not moved and you're operating by faith all that means is the delay is tied to a bigger point that God wants to accomplish for his glory. [00:17:18]

Lazarus has life but what he doesn't have is freedom cuz he's bound his hands were bound his feet was bound he's wrapped like a mummy you wrap a mummy he's wrapped from head all the way to to the toe so he has life but no Liberty everybody here this morning who's a Christian that means you have life but not everybody who's a Christian has Liberty you may be bound by an addiction Bound by an emotional struggle Bound by a health situation something may be holding you hostage even though you have life. [00:18:59]

Jesus gave him life but Jesus did not directly give him Liberty he said he told them to unloose him and let him go let me explain something but Jesus Christ wants to give every sinful person eternal life he offers life through his blood but he sets folk free through his people he still does it but he does it through his people that's why God wants every Christian to be an active part of a local church so that you can be unwrapped if you're trapped or so you can unwrap somebody else if you have been unwrapped yourself. [00:19:44]

God never meant for you to come once a week to hear somebody preach the Bible alone he wants you part of a family so you can be in the unwrapping untying and deliverance business so that you can be helping somebody else as somebody helps you he wants us Unbound from this habit that habit this sin that sin this circumstance that's what the church is supposed to be it's not in a weekly event it is a family relationship where folk are being loosed and set free. [00:20:34]

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Transcript
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