Lazarus’ death was no doubt hard on Jesus. Not because he couldn’t do anything, but because he knows what we are going through, and he knows what God is doing.
We don’t know what sickness Lazarus had, but Jesus knows all, knew all, and knew these days were coming. He got word of Lazarus’ sickness and the report that he was close to death. His response was “this will not END in death, but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
There are many things to learn here – Jesus could have prevented the illness. he could have stopped the death from happening – But God was at work and cared in the midst of difficult circumstances.
Well, Lazarus died and most likely by the time Jesus “got word” he actually was already dead, because he stayed where he was 2 days and then made a 2-day trip and Lazarus had been dead for 4 days. But on the way, Jesus said, “I’m on my way to wake him up.” Whatever you go through, believe that Jesus is ON the Way.
I just want to focus on one thing here. In v21, Martha comes to Jesus and entreats him honestly, gently, “Lord, IF you had been here (THEN) my brother wouldn’t have died.” She says “if” and the “then” is implied. This was HER understanding, but If death was God’s plan and for his glory, THEN it would have still happened IF Jesus had been there. But then she continues, “Yet, even now I know that whatever (if) you ask from God (then) God will give you.” And Jesus answers, “your brother will rise again.”
There was disagreement in their day among faithful Jewish people about “The Resurrection of the Dead”. Some believed in it, others did not. So Martha states her theologically correct position, “I know that he WILL rise again in The Resurrection at the Last Day.” But she is saying, “I have an IF and a THEN for the future but I want and IF THEN for NOW.”
And then Jesus responds with his own IF / THEN… “I am the Resurrection and the Life. (IF) The one who believes in me, even if he dies, (then) will live. Everyone who lives and (if) believes in me (then) will never die. Do you believe this? And Martha says, “Yes Lord… I believe you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who comes into the world.”
Well… interesting response, but ultimately GREAT. Martha isn’t quite sure what this answer means pertaining to her brother here and now, BUT she’s got her faith set on Jesus, her eyes fixed on Jesus, bringing her troubles to him, and that’s Great. We don’t always understand what God is saying, what he is doing, but if we can focus on HIM.
Then it continues, “having said this, she went back and called her sister…” It’s also interesting that Mary comes to Jesus and says the same thing. Only Mary had fallen to her knees, was weeping, and it’s all she could get out. The crowd, not from the same faith position, also speaks among themselves a similar “If/Then” but from a position of incredulity rather than faith. And the mixture of feelings, knowing all, knowing the positions they were all in, he is deeply moved. I’m sure a huge stew of emotions the Savior felt.
See this, for now, our “if/then” is not always accurate, nor always in God’s plan. However, IF he is the Son of God, THEN we can still come to him with our understanding, our requests, our hurt; we can trust him, we can believe in him, and we can live by the Greatest “if/then” – that is, IF I believe in Jesus – This will not end in death. Death will likely come, but it will not be the end of the story. If we believe in Jesus, Then LIFE is the End of our Story, Eternal Life – that is where we are heading, through every door, every trial, every struggle, come to Jesus, TRUST Jesus, Believe in Jesus – HE is the Resurrection and the Life –
Belief and walking in faith is often a process. It’s one thing to believe that Jesus forgives, that he saves, but often a different thing to believe he can change my circumstances here and now. I would go so far as to say there are many things God COULD do that don’t “seem miraculous” and yet they are because we won’t believe and follow and allow.
Jesus, Peter, James, and John have been on the Mount of Transfiguration. They have seen Jesus transfigured, seen Moses and Elijah, heard God speak saying, “this is my Son, listen to him.” Then on the way down, Jesus tells them, “don’t tell anyone until I rise from the dead.” With all they have seen and heard, they were most wondering about v10 what does he mean by “until I rise from the dead.” They don’t understand.
Then they all get back down and find the other eight having an argument with religious leaders and a crowd and want to know, what’s this all about. To which they find out it is over the request for freedom from demonic activity that a boy is experiencing and his father had brought him looking for Jesus, got the disciples, and they couldn’t do it. Jesus says, “you unbelieving generation… how long must I put up with you? Bring him to me.” Wow, I don’t know what Jesus sounds like but I sort of hear this.
I love the give and take here. Jesus is teaching us how to work in this circumstance. He asks the father about the history of the situation, “how long has this been happening to him” v21. It’s not that he didn’t know but I like what he is doing. He is teaching the disciples and sort of testing the father. Father tells him basically most of his life. He tells him it has been very dangerous, potentially fatal, and then instead of TELLING Jesus what to do, setting expectations, he says, “if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Ok – I believe this father is in a faith filled, humble position. The request is to feel this deep inside, compassion, and help, come to our aide. And then within that framework of request he leaves it to the Lord. I hear him saying, “Jesus, feel what we feel, come to our aid, do what you can, what you will, what you think is right.
IF?Well – Yes I can – “everything is possible for the one who believes.” – He’s asking, “do you believe, I can?” Where is your faith? Again, the man answered humbly and honestly. “I DO Believe, help my unbelief?” Honesty and a request for assistance where he falls short. In every circumstance, we need to trust our Sovereign Lord to do right, best, to feel fully what we feel, and come to our aid with the right answer. And Jesus speaks directly to the unclean spirit and says, “… I command you: Come Out of him and never enter again.”
So… yes, “everything is possible” – that word dynatos = powerful, able, possible – there is an idea of potential power – but there is a connection to Belief. Now, this has been misused over the last 2 millennia. This does NOT mean you just need to want it seriously, or beg furiously, it doesn’t mean to fire up your faith engine either. It means to place your trust in a fully confirmed fashion with the Power of God, the Will of God, the Purpose of God, and for the Glory of God. Before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he reminded his sisters, “did I tell you that you would see the glory of God?” John 11:40
So, back to this story, in vv28-29 – the disciples ask Jesus privately, “why couldn’t we drive it out?” Alright, we are still learning. We tried, we didn’t succeed. And Jesus says, “this kind came come out by nothing but prayer.” Oh man, I didn’t get the words right, what’s the magic “abracadabra”? Prayer is where we ask God what he wants to do, and believe what he says, and in obedience follow and attempt the impossible. In 1 John 3:19-24, it teaches that our spirit, must line up with The Spirit of God. If then as we pray, The Spirit confirms with our spirit then things can happen. The Holy Spirit will confirm or condemn that 1) we are RIGHT with God 2) we are IN LINE with God’s plans, purpose, and timing and so THEN 3) when we ASK, fully informed, truly believing we have confidence before God and receive whatever we ask 1 John 3:21-22 – why because we keep his commands and do what is pleasing in his sight. So then John teaches there in vv22-23 that FAITH is evidenced by obedience and love or worshipful living.
My guess here in Mark 9 is that either the disciples wanted to do this for the wrong reasons, which at their developmental stage at the time was not uncommon; or it wasn’t God’s will for THEM to do it, but for Jesus to do it and be glorified and proven to be who he was. IF they had attempted this with MUCH PRAYER – the Holy Spirit would have revealed one or both of those realities and told them to get it right or wait for Jesus. Then, instead of arguing, and trying, they could have encouraged, Jesus will be back soon, and he will do this.
So, I come back to my first thoughts. So many things, like marriages, addictions, attitudes, struggles with anger, you name it, actions that fail to see deliverance in our lives is often because we do not believe God can, or we do not really WANT God to do it, so we don’t ask and believe. Do we want God to deal with our anger? Do we want God to fix our marriage? Do we want God to deliver us from the addiction? The come, pray, hear, act in faith and obedience, in love for God and for Others and then know that ANYTHING is POSSIBLE if we Believe.
Another side of this then is our lack of communion with God to ask what he wants and stay there. If he says, “yes, but wait” – Stay there. Sometimes God says “no” and faith stops asking, because God says, “no” so we receive the answer and stay in faith, but move from the ask. In all of that we can still pray confidently to God for compassion and help, full of faith, with great trust, knowing that God is Good, God is Great, and God is Going to Lead us From Victory to Celebration.
There are a series of events that Dr. Luke puts together that was then designated as “chapter 18” of his gospel.
It begins with a story of a persistent widow seeking justice from a Judge. She gets it, but Jesus says, won’t God grant justice to the elect who cry out? Then the Son comes, will he find faith?
Then you have an arrogant Pharisee and a Repentant Tax Collector. The pharisee speaks arrogantly of his pious worth, and the tax collector cries, “God have mercy on me, a sinner!” Jesus says, the one who exalts himself will be humbled.
Then children come to Jesus and he says that we too must come like children.
Jesus then famously meets a wealthy young ruler who wants to know what to DO for life eternal. Jesus says he must sell everything and follow me and the man leaves said because of great wealth. Then Jesus says, how hard… for those with wealth to enter the kingdom.
Then Jesus tells his disciples for the third tie that all the prophesy will come true and he will be mocked, killed, and rise on the third day, and v34 says they understood none of these this… the meaning was hidden from them, and they did not GRASP what was said.
This then is immediately followed closing out the chapter with a blind man in Jericho who hears Jesus is coming through town. All of these stories have in common a difficulty in understanding. Yes, in vv34 it says it was a hidden aspect. But most often what “hides” our understanding is personal not paternal. It is not so much that the Father’s fault, but ours. We are wanting something else. We have a different experience, or have a different expectation. The rich man had a list of laws he followed, Jesus said, sell all you have and follow me. Well, uh, no, and he went away sad. The Pharisee was busy doing stuff, but not humbling himself. The disciples were waiting for an earthly Kingdom so Jesus dying, no they didn’t GRASP that. Interesting because word is ginosko which means to know by experience. Not epignosis which means to be taught. They had not had any experience with this idea, so they didn’t grasp it
So then, here the Blind Man. He finds out Jesus is coming. Well certainly, he had never SEEN Jesus, for obvious reasons, but he had never experienced Jesus, but he had HEARD and so he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus asked, what do you want? I have tried to copy that practice of Jesus before I offer an answer, or fill a need I think is there, I ask, “what do you want?” And the man said, “Lord, I want to see.” Great! Jesus said, “Receive your sight… your faith has healed you” Instantly he could see and Began to Follow.
Wow! Great stuff here about how Impossible becomes Possible.
He Called Out – are we asking?
He Believed – he called out BECAUSE he believed 1) Jesus was the Son of David (Messiah), and he was Lord (kyrios) master, and He believed that Jesus was ABLE to do what he needed/wanted, but still Jesus was master and could make the decision.
He Received – Jesus is Lord, but if we don’t ask, we most likely won’t have. He is Lord of the Question and the Answer.
He Followed – He didn’t just want his physical needs, but he had faith to follow for all that Jesus had for him.
And all of this chapter centers around v27 – What is Impossible (adynatos – without power) with man, is Possible (dynatos – strong, powerful, possible) with God. I love that play on words just adding the “a” in front changes everything. Jesus adding Jesus changes everything. God is not required to do what we say, but he is able, concerned, compassionate, capable, and Creator of all things so come, cry out, believe, receive, and follow him.
Romans 3 is a very well-known passage and verse 23 one of the most quoted in scripture. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Yep, we know it and quote it, and I’m not going to write anything here that most don’t know, but… I’m going to write anyway. Yesterday, I read v22 which begins, The Righteousness of God…
Growing up in the church, in a pastor’s home, doing “right” was drummed into me from the beginning. And when I came up short, it was often drummed in with the drum of discipline, often administered with wood or leather. I know that’s not politically correct, but discipline IS important for good development. I’m not saying that I believe in abuse, but I do believe in correction. Yet, even good correction doesn’t bring about God’s Righteousness.
Scripture is clear that ALL of our righteous acts are comparatively “filthy rags”. (Isaiah 64.6) polluted garments (CSB) and the literal meaning of the word is worse than that, something we wouldn’t want to talk about but a regular reality of life. So, Paul makes it clear v22 the righteousness of God is THROUGH (because of, by) faith IN Jesus Christ – Not just ANY faith, not just sincerity, but by belief IN Jesus – And not just anyone named Jesus, but Jesus, born in Bethlehem, the promised Christ / Messiah, the previously existent, only, Son of God, faith in that Jesus is the vehicle to the righteousness of God
To ALLwho believe (verb, present, active tense = believe, entrust, actively now)
Why? Because we all fall short. I said a few minutes ago, I often came up short, and I still do. And discipline was drummed into me. But verse 22 says there is no distinction. Colossians 3:11 says there is no distinction, not Greek or Jew… Barbarian or Scythian slave or free” … WE are the one who make distinctions, well if you come from this family, or are in this position, or are only THIS “bad”. But without distinction, we ALL come up short. “Well, my sin isn’t as bad as theirs.” NO DIFFERENCE, no table of reference – Short is Short = unrighteous. The “bar” of measure is the glory (weight, reputation) of God. ALL SHORT
But v22 also says to all who believe… that is also without distinction. ALL… v24 they… oh here’s the good news – just like there is no distinction / difference in our sin, there is not distinction in the OPPORTUNITY
– SAVE ONE – to all WHO BELIEVE – IF they have faith in Jesus, THEN, they are Justified Freelyby his grace.
Now stop and look at that backwards – charis – grace = that’s receiving something good that I do not deserve. It comes freely – dorean = a gift, no charge, not earned. Grace, freely given… they – those who believe – they are justified – dikaioo = declared righteous. A verdict is rendered in the courts of Heaven. This is not earned on the battlefield, it is not earned in a contest, it is not earned by inheritance or family position. This word is in the present tense, is passive, and plural. This isn’t only for ONE, but for ALL WHO, and I can’t DO anything for it, but it is being done, remains done, for all who believe – Our position / standing is changed from the state of short of God’s Glory / righteousness, to being declared righteous!
Whew hands up somebody celebrate
We are, in the declaration of Heaven, moved from one position to another; from short of, to positioned in
By Grace… through the redemption that is IN Christ Jesus
Yes, God IS Love, but he is also JUST. So, forgiveness is available, but is borne by the work of Christ at the cross, and only received as we believe and receive that provision. I owed a debt beyond my ability to pay, and he had paid a debt he did not owe on my behalf. And when I believe and receive, everything CHANGES!
Oh, I know we know this, or do we? do you? Just an important reminder today, and if you have not, you can right now. Stop trying and start trusting, stop wondering and believe, and find the change of God. There is a great chasm between us and God, but faith in the work of Christ, bridges the gap
Matthew 20:22 – you don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink
Often we don’t know what we are asking the Lord. We’ve all seen or read stories of a genie, “I wish for…” And we all think, “wouldn’t it be great if I had _______________”. But sometimes the literal fulfillment might not be what we thought. There is an important principle, “every change, changes every THING.”
There is an “old school” way of praying that we need to come back to, “Lord if it be your will.” “Lord, I’d like you to move in this way, but bring about your best.” How did Jesus pray, “not my will but yours be done.” There is a slice of Christian Culture that says, “If I just have enough faith.” They believe that somehow it all comes down to man’s faith. But in that scenario we are assuming that 1) We know best 2) we know the by-product. It then is always important that we have faith, 1) in God’s Ability, 2) in God’s knowledge, 3) in God’s wisdom, 4) in God’s goodness, 5) to follow and trust God with the outcome.
So, here Jesus says, “you don’t know what you are asking.” When you back up to v20, Momma Zebedee brings her boys to Jesus and says, “Promise that my boys can sit on your right and left in the Kingdom.”
And Jesus says, “You don’t know what you are asking.”
Kingdom reward DOES have earthly struggles. What she asked is like me saying, “promise me that I can WIN the Marathon I just signed up for, my first.” Yeah, the problem is, there is a price to be paid to prepare. There is an effort necessary to complete that task. I may not have the capacity for that task, even IF I do the work. I know of marathon runners that HAVE the capacity to do the pace needed to win, and yet still get to a place in the race when their bodies quit, and they have passed out from the exhaustion.
Jesus asks, “are you able to drink the cup” – Mark adds, “to be baptized with the baptism which I am baptized” – Can you be immersed with what it takes? And surprisingly, a bit ignorantly, if not arrogantly – James and John answer, “Yes we are” – mighty bold statement. They were ready, at least they thought they were.
Then Jesus makes a surprising statement – “you WILL indeed drink my cup.”
boys, I have good news and bad news. The good news is you WILL drink the cup of suffering, the bad news is the results will be different that you are hoping or thinking.
Following Jesus is about – Following JESUS, not about where we get to sit. Being In the Kingdom is the result of the work of Christ, and our faith filled reception of it, anything extra is, well, extra.
Jesus says, “to sit at my right or left is not mine to give, it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
Wait, so if I obey, and follow Christ, and prepare, and I’m good at what I do… I don’t get a mega church, and big earthly success? Not Necessarily
So, you are saying that God has a plan, a purpose, and my path doesn’t mean the same results as everyone else? Not Necessarily
Jesus had already told them in Matthew 19:28 that they were going to have Twelve Thrones to judge Israel. So they had a huge promised task and reward, the Sons of Zebedee just wanted assurance of greater notoriety, “hey mom, can you help us?”
The Call is to Deny Self and follow him. The certainty then is that the work of Christ has provided all we need for life and godliness, so any additional outcome, besides Heaven and inclusion in the Kingdom is wholly on the purposes and plans of God.
Jesus, divine yet incarnate, subordinated himself to the Father, he relied on the power of the Holy Spirit, so what are WE to do? At the beginning of THIS chapter, Jesus tells the parable of workers who worked, full days, part days, and just a few minutes and they all got what? They all got the same reward. So then, we are quibbling about recognition not even reward, so regardless, let it go.
This makes the other 10 disciples angry, and Jesus has to sit them ALL down in vv25-28. Service isn’t about Sovereignty but about Surrender, Subjugation. Jesus says, “the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them… it must NOT be THAT way among YOU. On the contrary, whoever wants to be great must be a servant… The Son of Man did not come to BE Served, but to Serve, and to give his life.
Giving of my life doesn’t just mean to die. It means to release control and recognition, for the sake of a greater dominion.
Let me add one thing:
Don’t worry if there will be enough reward and recognition for you in Heaven, there WILL be. There will be reward, there will be crowns, there will be blessing, and it will be MORE than we can imagine. But when we get there and when we receive it, our response will be to feel unworthy, and to use whatever we receive as “worship tools”, throwing them at the feet of the One who provided it all
When death comes, when tragedy strikes, there is an opportunity to see something we would not have seen otherwise. Most of the time, what is revealed is not something “new”, just unexperienced or unbelieved.
John 11:40 – Jesus said to her, “didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?
If You Believe -(then) You would See the Glory of God
We must note first that Jesus references previous teaching, revelation – “Didn’t I tell you…”
Everything we hear of God, read in his Word, experience in prayer and worship, is preparing us for faith; faith that changes us, faith that moves us, faith that reveals the glory of God. Sometimes we just aren’t paying attention. We aren’t applying the truth. We are stuck in previous understanding. We are clouded by our circumstances, and he says, “didn’t I tell you, haven’t we been over this?”
Now we don’t here specifically which teaching the Master is referring to, but she did. It was so common as we walk with him, he teaches us. Most of his teaching with his disciples weren’t sit down, sermon on the mount moments, most were just along the way. So, have we been paying attention?
Go back in chapter 11. When word reached Jesus that Lazarus was sick, he told the 12, “this will not end in death… but that the Son… glorified.” He told them, “Lazarus is asleep, I’m going to wake him.” The disciples weren’t following what he was saying, so he said, “He is dead. I’m glad… so that you may believe”. Faith is the goal.
Then he arrives at Mary and Martha’s house, and Martha is saying, “if only you had been here, he wouldn’t have died.” Martha had faith, but her faith had a GPS location. If you had been HERE, you could have done something. And Jesus says, “your brother will rise again.” And Martha confesses her theological position, the right position. She says, “I know… in the resurrection.” Not everyone believed in a Resurrection. The Sadducees did NOT believe in a Resurrection which is why they were so SAD, You See. (Oh come on, laugh or groan but enjoy it) Martha had the right theological position, but don’t let your good theology get in the way of believing God for more.
And Jesus says let me stretch your good theology, YES there is a coming resurrection from the dead, but “I AM the Resurrection and the Life… The One who believe… will live… never die… do YOU believe.”
And she responds, “Yes Lord, I believe you are the Messiah”. Ok, again, good Theology, but that’s not what Jesus asked. He didn’t ask her if he were the promised anointed one, but did she believe HE was the Resurrection, The Life.
And after her theological statement, which was the wrong answer, she walks off.
Of course, the famous verse, “Jesus wept” – don’t forget, he feels, he hurts, he knows, he cares. Then we get to the tomb, v39 “Remove the stone” i.e. “I’m getting ready to do something, if you want in, if you believe.”
And Martha says, “Oh Lord… it stinks… it’s been 4 days… the opportunity is gone.” and then he says… “Didn’t I tell you… If You Believe… you will see the glory of God“
So much of our experience is shallowed by our lack of faith. What then is the “glory of God”? I love this discussion and we can spend a lot of time there, but let me paint a simple picture, a picture that God gives. The word, in Greek, is doxa, I love it. The word in simplest form means “Reputation”. So, then what is God’s reputation? Well, let’s go to the source. In Exodus 33 and 34. Moses begs to see the glory. God says, “well you can’t but I’ll show you my back, but then God does much more”. The Hebrew word for glory is the word “chabod” and in its root sense they tell me that it means “weight”. So God, covering Moses with his hand, walks by him and declares his Reputation in Exodus 34.
The Lord, The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love and truth. Maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. He will not leave the guilty unpunished.
That’s the glory of God – and Moses fell down on the ground and worshiped him. Oh the glory of Justice and Grace. Grace is not because he looks the other way for a select few, no, it is because the fullness of Justice was poured out on Christ on the cross – guilt was punished. So, for all who believe and receive it is available and life eternal is the result. If you believe, then the goodness of his glory is available, and life is the result.
v41 – they removed the stone. The action of faith is NOT a work that secures salvation, it is just to remove the obstacle of unbelieve. If they don’t move the stone, then Jesus doesn’t do the work. If they DO remove the stone, THEY still can’t raise Lazarus, but Jesus can, and it happens according to their faith. God will do what he will do, it’s just a matter of if we get to join him.
Lazarus come out… unwrap him and let him go
v45 therefore many… who … saw did believe
My belief reveals the glory of God
My belief releases God’s power in my circumstance
My belief inspires others to believe as well
What has God been telling you? Are you paying attention? If we believe, then we will see the glory of God. It may not be what you wanted or expected, but what God wants, and it is always for His Glory
An hour is coming, and has come when each of you will be scattered. I have told you these things so that IN ME you will have peace. You WILL have suffering in this world. BE COURAGEOUS. I have conquered the world
Jesus said, “Oh NOW you believe.” How often we make little steps out of “belief” and into faith. God shows us the same thing he’s BEEN showing us for months, or years, and we finally GET IT, or at least part of it; our eyes are opened and God says, “now you see.”
“Now You Believe” – so just go on with your revelation? No… this revelation is for the hard stuff still to come. “an hour is coming, and HAS come” You GOT THIS. It is IN the struggle that we are forced into the Master’s presence. At the Master’s feet, or on our backs, knocked down by life, we focus on his voice and his message and v30 says “by THIS we believe”. How many hard things have happened that were the vehicle that moved you OUT of “self-competency” and INTO faith in God? And this new knowledge / revelation, is FOR THIS HOUR
An hour is coming and has come
There is something coming and we are now at the threshold and the increased knowledge and faith you have received is what will get you through the next chapter to come.
You will be scattered i.e. “you ain’t seen nothing yet”.
The enemy is riled up too… you will FEEL alone. But if we are on the obedient, God-honoring, Spirit empowered mission, you are NOT ALONE, never alone, “because the Father is with me”. Jesus understood what we must, that we will never be alone in the plan and purposes of God. So he says, “now that you believe… let me tell you why I revealed this… What’s God saying today? Believe and Go
So that – those are some of my favorite words in scripture – God is always a SO THAT God, not a SO WHAT, God.
So that you may have PEACE – Eirene = welfare, peace, be undisturbed
God’s revelation comes not for your permission, not even for your embrace… but that you might not be disturbed by the struggle, but have PEACE, not in the information, because peace comes not from the information but is a gift of the Holy Spirit
John 11 is famous for the death and resurrection of one of Jesus’ close friends, Lazarus. Jesus gets word that Lazarus is sick and dying. But Jesus, in his Omniscience, knows that Lazarus is already dead. He says “this sickness will not end in death, but is for the glory of God”.
The last time they had been in Judea, they had attempted to stone him to death in John 10. So, when Jesus says, “Let’s go to Judea again”, the disciples aren’t keen on the idea. “uh, Teacher, they tried to stone you, and you’re going there again?” I like that “you’re”, meaning, “we’re”.
Has God ever called you to go back to a place where things were hard the last time? Have you been asked to revisit a place where you were attacked before?
I once got invited to come back to a church shortly after being at a camp with them where a person got angry with me over a minor sporting event and things got out of control. “Well Lord, ok”. Then when I got there, the issue hadn’t blown over. While I was speaking the Lord told me to do something. He told me to give my check to that person. You should know at this moment, coming out of a natural break in my schedule as an evangelist, I hadn’t worked in 6 weeks. This was my first check in 6 weeks. Ultimately, I did what God told me to do. The person didn’t want it, but I gave it anyway, publicly, and told them God told me to, and just to pray and ask God what to do with it. Then I had to go home and explain to my wife what I had just done, which of course she said, “maybe he needed it.”
Well the disciples said, “Jesus is this a good idea?” And Jesus response is a bit cryptic at first, v9 “aren’t there twelve hours in a day? If anyone walks during the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the LIGHT OF THE WORLD” (emphasis mine). Later he explains, “Lazarus is dead… let’s go to him” and Thomas replies, “let’s go too so that we may DIE WITH HIM”. Not sure if he was expecting to die with Lazarus or with JESUS. But “let’s go”.
What does it mean to “walk in the day”. I don’t think it means from 06:00 to 18:00. It means to walk in the “light of the world” the “light of God”.
1 John 1:7 says, “if we walk in the light we have fellowship… the blood of Jesus cleanses”
Isaiah 2:5 says “come let us walk in the Lord’s light”
Psalm 56:13 “you rescued me to walk before God in the Light”
Psalm 89:15 “happy are the people who know the joyful shout; Lord they walk in the light of your face” – what is the joyful shout? “Jesus Saves”
Isaiah 9:2 “the people walking in darkness have seen a great light“
John 8:12 “I Am the light of the World”
are you with me? Jesus IS the Light. He doesn’t just contain light, give light, he IS Light. If we walk in HIS revelation, we can trust where we are going. But often he doesn’t “shine” light on everything, just the area he wants obedience, “Let’s go to Judea”. That was the only light he was giving them at first. He didn’t tell them the whole situation, or what he was going to do. Yes, an Amazing thing was going to happen. Perhaps the greatest act, before the Cross and Resurrection, was Jesus raising Lazarus. They were going to see the high point. And yet that High Point was also going to bring about renewed effort to KILL him, which was a LOW point for Him and a HIGH Point for all of us who would receive.
They had no idea what he was going to do, what would happen, maybe they will kill us… but if “failure” is the result of OBEDIENCE, then it is never failure, it is following in faithful obedience, and he will say “well done.”
That Wednesday night, I gave some money to a student, and went home with the satisfaction of obedience, and didn’t give it a second thought. Flash Forward 4 years. I was speaking at a Youth Camp. One Evening outside, I heard a voice say, “Pastor Jim can I talk to you.” The person was shadowed in the night. I came over, and stepped into the light and saw the face of that young man from 4 years before. He looked at me and said “I don’t know if you know who I am…” I said, “Yes I know who you are.” And then he said, “The last 4 years have been for this moment… You were right, I was wrong, I’m sorry, but you should know that God has called me into the ministry and I’m in school studying to be a youth minister.”
I’m not sure what you THINK this is going to be about, but let me say right up front, it is NOT about gossip and other useless whispers. This is about the Whispers of the Spirit of God. This is about the Quiet Words that prepare us for the Loud Battles. This is about the things in the secret, that prepare for the public.
Matthew 10:26-30 – Jesus speaking says therefore, don’t be afraid of them since there is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered… nothing hidden that won’t be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light, what you hear in a whisper, proclaim on the housetops. Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body… aren’t 2 sparrows sold for a penny? Not one falls without the Father’s consent… Don’t be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows.
So much beauty here, but this is our Savior speaking real to us about the struggles of ministry. This is our King and General sending the 12 out into battle and telling them the reality of going on Mission for God.
So, let’s start with the Sparrows first. Matthew tells us that Jesus said, “aren’t 2 sparrows sold for a penny?”. But when Luke tells the story he records, aren’t 5 sparrows sold for 2 pennies? These are NOT conflicting accounts they are 2 tellings of the same event. Can’t you see Jesus walking with his disciples in the market? There a sellers selling little sparrows perhaps for those who can’t afford something better. “2 Sparrows for a penny” “2 Sparrows for a penny”. And then another says “5 sparrows for 2 pennies.” They are just throwing in the 5th one to sweeten the deal. I used to preach a sermon titled, “The Forgotten Sparrow”. Sometimes we feel like that don’t we, and Jesus says, “you are worth more than many sparrows. Oh he loves his sparrows. He does not let one fall without his consent. And so WE know that he loves us MORE than a flock, more than all the flocks of sparrows, so if he cares for them, you, do NOT BE AFRAID, especially out there on the battlefield. You will not fall without his consent.
Don’t be afraid, I cannot control fearful circumstances, but I CAN Combat Fearful Feelings, and Counter Fear with TRUTH.
You perhaps have heard me said, and one day I will finally write this book, but I believe fear is based on a combination of 4 Lies or False Perceptions.
We believe 1) I’m alone 2) I’m Unloved 3) I’m Unable and / or 4) I am Uninformed. In other words, No one knows, No one cares, I can’t, or I don’t know how. All of those assumptions are false for the child of God. You are never alone, always loved, able, and instructed, if you are of Christ.
Don’t be afraid because you think no one knows, or no one cares, or you can’t survive this, don’t know how, because it will be uncovered, revealed.
In the meantime, seek the whispers of your loving God and Savior in the dark. It’s like a parent soothing a child at night, haunted by nightmares. Our God quiets us with singing, he whispers “peace be still”. He tells us, “I know child, I’m here, I care, I love you, you can do this.”
He will give us revelation in the dark, in the quiet place to get us through the battle in the daytime. Are you rising early in the darkness? Are you spending time in the late dark hours? Are you pulling away to spend time listening to the Lord? It’s that only idea of a “quiet time”. I’m NOT telling you when it needs to happen, or even HOW to do it, but it NEEDS to HAPPEN. Are you spending time crying out to him, listening to him, learning from him?
Too many people want to stand and proclaim, but they haven’t spent time with the Savior in the dark so they don’t have anything to say. But if we are listening to the whispers alone, then we are ready to speak in public. We will know what to say, and when to say it.
Then we understand in the hard times that he knows, he has consented though perhaps not caused your circumstances. And we know that YOU are WORTH His Time. You are Worth His Effort. You are Worth the Death of the Son of God. So, don’t be afraid, draw near, listen, then speak boldly, and survive the struggle, and thrive in it.
Why is this important? You go back to v16 and he says “I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves… beware… bear witness… you will be given what to say… the Spirit of your Father is speaking through. Yes, we understand betrayal, and death threatens, but you are NOT above your masters, if it happened to him, guess what may happen to us? But don’t be afraid.
Listen to the Whispers of the Savior and Go on Confident Mission
Do you ever wonder if maybe you heard God wrong? Or maybe you were slow in getting started, or unexpected obstacles arose, or uncontrollable circumstances arose. Maybe you’ve gone too far the wrong way. Now, you feel like perhaps you’ve lost your chance? Well Abram knew that feeling.
God gave him a clear call and a clear promise in Genesis 12: The Lord said to Abram: Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you 2 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; … 7 The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land”…
But a lot had happened since then. Abram had been through famine, war, faced Pharaohs and Kings, he had lied and cheated to protect himself. He had worshipped the Lord, had displeased the Lord. 20 years had passed, and Abram wondered, “Is the Deal still on?” “Have I missed my chance”? “Have I Disqualified myself”?
READ Genesis 15:1-7
The Word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision…Do not be afraid, I am your shield, Your reward will be very great.
There are some important truths for us to consider, First:
1. Don’t Settle for Less than the Vision of God
Don’t Be Afraid
Don’t Let Fear make You impatient
Don’t in impatience make your ownway when the promise seems “slow” in coming to pass. God does not delay, he is not slow, that’s what 2 Peter 3:8-9 teaches. God’s clock runs differently from ours, and it also runs PERFECTLY. Fear is often the issue and is manifested in Lack of Trust
God says, “do not be afraid, I am your shield, and great reward“
We talked about fear a few weeks ago. Fear is based on lies we believe:
I’m alone – no one knows
I’m unable – I can’t
I’m uninformed – I don’t know how
I’m unloved – no one cares
Those are lies, but we think they are true… Yet God says: DO NOT BE AFRAID
God says here: “DON’T be Afraid.” How do we fight fear? With FAITH!
Make Sure the Path Leads you to God’s Vision
God had promised him a “great nation” and “offspring”. Abram thinks that he must have “heard God wrong” or “missed his chance”, so he needed to find another way. I don’t think he was mad at God, but just resigned himself to doing things a different way.
You have given me no children… So a servant … will be my heir
He was going to make Eliezer his “son” and heir. Eliezer was a good man, Abram’s most trusted and faithful servant. This was a “good plan”, but Eliezer, good as he was, was no more than a SUBSTITUTE for God’s Best!!
In his book, “Good to Great“, Jim Collins says “Good is the enemy of great.”
“We don’t have great schools, principally because we have good schools. We don’t have great government, principally because we have good government. Few people attain great lives, in large part because it is just so easy to settle for a good life. The vast majority of companies never become great, precisely because the vast majority become quite good — and that is their main problem.” Collins writes, “That good is the enemy of great is not just a business problem. It is a human problem. If we have cracked the code on the question of good to great, good schools might become great schools. Good newspapers might become great newspapers. Good churches might become great churches.”
God’s path is always GREAT
Be Honest About Your Reservations
Sometimes we get Stuck because we won’t be honest about where we are. We say the right thing. Make appearances of doing the right thing, but aren’t honest with God about our reservations, frustrations, fears, anger, with others and even with God.
V2 – Abram says, Lord God, what can you give me, since I am childless… Look, you have given me no offspring, so a slave born in my house will be my heir.
Abram doubts his ability not God’s ability. “Lord I’ve been willing, I left my hometown, I’ve come with you on this journey, but here we are, 20 years later, and we are past the opportunity. You didn’t give it and I can’t do it.”
If you’ve come to the end of your rope… if you’ve tapped out your resources… if you no longer have anything to offer… Then maybe God has your right where he needs you.
2. Take a Second Look at God’s Vision
I Am Your Shield
15:4 now the word of the Lord came to him… this one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir.
When God gives us a word, it may seem impossible, but if it is God’s word, he’s not looking for our help, or a different plan. He’s not looking for our permission to change the process.
If it seems unbelievable, that’s what God does.
Step Outside The Tent
Sometimes it’s hard to see from INSIDE. It’s hard to see past the “reality”.
Abram looked around the tent and all he could see was no children, no blessing, no fulfillment of the vision. Inside the tent, you can only see so far. Inside the tent our view is limited, our imagination is limited. Inside the tent you are blinded from seeing the beauty of the vision.
God took him outside the Tent
An Unimaginable vision of God.
V5 Look at the Sky.
Stop looking at what is NOT and look at what IS. Look at what God has already done, and imagine what he can do.
“Count the Stars“
– you can only get a glimpse, the gist, an idea, but you can’t even understand it. It’s imagined that IF he COULD count the stars visible they would number more than 4000, but in reality the stars in the field of vision would be more than 50,000.
If you are able to count them… your offspring will be that numerous
Abraham’s offspring included those who would be his by family birth. But they also included those spiritually who would follow his way. Those who would become “sons of Abraham”, Paul called them.
If you are able to count them…
You can count the apples in a tree. And you can count the seeds in an apple. But who can count the apples in a seed? Until the story of life is over, you never can count the apples in that one seed.
God’sways truly are higher than ours
Isaiah 55:8–9 (CSB)
8“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration. 9“For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
The Vision of God will be glorious and beautiful
His Vision will inspire others who view it displayed in You
3. You Can Believe The Promise of God
Your Reward Will Be Great
The only thing that God required of Abram was
Believe and Walk in the Promise
The “currency” that Heaven recognizes is FAITH
Hebrews 11:1 (CSB)
1Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.
Then Hebrews 11, lists the “Hall of Fame of Faith”. It tells the story of those Saints of Old who were faithful to follow God. None of them were perfect, but they were full of Faith. Not full of excellence, not full of strength, not full of talent, or so many things we might list. But they had FAITH.
And then Hebrews 12 continues
Hebrews 12:1–2 (CSB)
1Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
How do we join the Hall of Fame of Faith? Were they “SUPER-SPIRITUAL”? No, they were real, they struggled, they waivered, they fell down.
“Abraham believed and it was credited to him as righteousness”
believed – means confirm/trust
credited – parallel to a bookkeeping transfer, like an item is moved from one column to another. Abraham’s faith is moved into the column of Righteousness
Romans 4:17–21 (CSB)
17As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations— in the presence of the God in whom he believed, the one who gives life to the dead and calls things into existence that do not exist. 18He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be. 19He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about a hundred years old) and also the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do.
He believed based on the Power and Faithfulness of the One making the promise
See it as alreadycompleted
Paul speaks of us as believers in Romans 8 and says that those he “foreknew, he predestined, called, justified and glorified” All of those things are in the Past Tense, COMPLETED. Before we ever knew, it was already true in God’s mind.
So…
Live in it untilGod brings it to fulfillment
Abraham so fully believed here; that years later when he was called to Sacrifice Isaac, he carried on without even a doubt because he believed God was going to fulfill his promise, and it wasn’t hinging on Isaac, but on God.
Before Faith flowered, Abraham saw God’s promise based on his own ability, but AFTER Faith was credited as Righteousness, he lived ACCORDING to it, then he knew That the promise wasn’t based on him, it wasn’t on Isaac, the Promise was Based ON GOD the Giver of the Promise.
Faith is what pleases God.
Everything else is a byproduct of the fact that you believe him.
John 6:27–29 (CSB)
27Don’t work for the food that perishes but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal of approval on him.” 28“What can we do to perform the works of God?” they asked. 29Jesus replied, “This is the work of God—that you believe in the one he has sent.”
If you’re current situation doesn’t seem to fit the vision, trust the God of the vision in spite of the nature of the circumstance.
Remember what he’s alreadydone for you
Abram had to become a NOBODY before God could work through him.
“I brought you From…”
Oh my don’t forget where you have been, from wince you come
Ur was a place of false worshipers, idol worshipers, it was the area of Nimrods people.
I brought –
You didn’t get to God by anything you have done
I brought you
You didn’t leave because you thought of it
I brought – yatsa = to come, to go forth
I brought you FROM
– The heart of the message of the Gospel is “REPENT” – come FROM where you are …
I the Lord brought you from Ur… TO GIVE you this land to possess
Oh yes, Lord. The call of God is based on HIS Promise, on His Power, Based on his GRACE
To give you this land to POSSESS
Nehemiah 9:7–8 (CSB)
7You, the Lord, are the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans, and changed his name to Abraham. 8You found his heart faithful in your sight, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites…
God says, “I wanted to save you because I had a plan that included YOU
God says, “because of my power I delivered and continue to deliver you”
He didn’t have to do anything, but it was his GRACE, working in Abram’s life that gave him what he didn’t deserve. He brought him to a place of promise and blessed him over and over.
WillyougoOutside the Tent with God?
Jeremiah 31:16–17 (CSB)
16This is what the Lord says: Keep your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for the reward for your work will come— this is the Lord’s declaration— and your children will return from the enemy’s land. 17There is hope for your future— this is the Lord’s declaration— and your children will return to their own territory.
Will You Believe?
Walk in Faith?
Don’t Be Afraid – BELIEVE
I Am Your Shield – Rest In Me
Your Reward Will Be Great –– I Have Your Reward – I Am Your Reward – Your Reward is GREAT
Pastor Goforth 