Delays, Denials And Devotion Series

Delays, Denials and Devotion

Little Log Church

John 11:1-27

February 14-15, 2004

INTRODUCTION

There is a path to life that’s narrow and that few find. We could call it the road less traveled. But those by the grace of God that are led to the path to life then begin a path of life. We begin our hyphen. And this path of life, this hypen, is either a good path of life or a great path of life. Actually it’s either good or abundant. And unfortunately, few of us have even thought about this difference before. And as a result, this great path of life, or abundant path of life could also be considered a road less traveled.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

John 10:10(NASB)

Jesus says he came so that we may hold, possess or cling to an uncommon, more excellent, extra-ordinary, full, real and genuine, active and vigorous life.

Satan wants us to believe and therefore live as though that means nothing more than a long and healthy, normal, status quo, busy and successful life.

But the truth is Jesus came so that we may experience an extra-ordinary, uncommon, complete, convincing and complelling, wholehearted and intentional life. He came so that we may experience the road that today is the road less traveled.

That was a summary of last week. And I have to tell you, in the three years I’ve been here, there has never been the response both during and after a message like there was last weekend. There were more heads nodding, more “amens”, more “thank you’s” more “that was great” or “that was just what I needed’s” than ever before.

Many of you were excited. Many of you were convicted. Many were enthusiastic. Many were challenged. Many were motivated. Many were ready to experience that abundant life. And I have a feeling that those we read about in chapter 10, vs. 42 who “believed him there” felt just like you did. But, as is always the case, they and you had to go home. The high of the moment, the mountaintop experience, the atmosphere of the gathered body had to end. In other words, Sunday turned into Monday. Turn to chapter 11 and lets pick up where we left off last week.

1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.2 And it was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.3 The sisters therefore sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick."4 But when Jesus heard it, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it."5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.6 When therefore He heard that he was sick, He stayed then two days longer in the place where He was.7 Then after this He * said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again."8 The disciples * said to Him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?"9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.10 "But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him."11 This He said, and after that He * said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, that I may awaken him out of sleep."12 The disciples therefore said to Him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover."13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep.14 Then Jesus therefore said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead,15 and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him."16 Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him."17 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days.18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off;19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother.20 Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him; but Mary still sat in the house.21 Martha therefore said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.22 "Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You."23 Jesus * said to her, "Your brother shall rise again."24 Martha * said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day."25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies,26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"27 She * said to Him, "Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world." John 11:1-27 (NASB)