Title: Waiting on God: He is Never Late

Introduction:

In the story of Lazarus' resurrection found in John 11, we see that Jesus performed a great miracle by raising him from the dead. However, there are deeper lessons to be learned from this story. One important lesson is found in verse 6, where Jesus waits for two days before going to Lazarus. This sermon explores why Jesus waited and encourages us to wait on God, knowing that He is never late.

Why did Jesus wait?

Jesus waited because He had a purpose in mind. He wanted to manifest His glory and bring glory to God through Lazarus' resurrection (John 11:4). By waiting, Jesus taught us patience, strengthened our faith, and developed our trust in Him. He also used this time to get our attention and teach us important lessons.

God has the power to do all things:

We should not be discouraged when we serve a God who has the power to do all things. Just because He hasn't answered our prayers yet doesn't mean He can't or won't. Scripture assures us that with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). Jesus Himself declared that all power has been given to Him in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). We can trust in His power to work in our lives.

Wait for Him; He can never be late:

God is never late, even though it may seem like it at times. We must wait for Him and trust in His perfect timing. Just as Jesus came at the right time to raise Lazarus, He will come at the right time in our lives as well. Waiting on God develops our character and strengthens our faith. We must have the attitude of Martha and Mary, who accepted and believed in Jesus even though He didn't come when they expected Him to (John 11:20-22, 28-29, 32).

While waiting, be careful:

While waiting for God's timing, we must be careful not to take matters into our own hands or listen to the advice of others that contradicts God's word. Abraham made a mistake when he took matters into his own hands and had a child with his wife's maid (Genesis 16). We must trust in God's plan and wait for Him to fulfill His promises.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, waiting on God is not always easy, but it is necessary. We must remember that God is never late and His timing is perfect. As we wait, we can trust in His power to work in our lives and develop our faith. Let us have the attitude of Martha and Mary, accepting and believing in Jesus even when He doesn't come when we expect Him to. May we wait patiently and trust in God's plan for our lives.

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