Hear The Voice Of The Lord

Hear the Voice of the Lord,” Come Forth “

John 11:1-11 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.

7 Then after that saith he to his disciples,

Let us go into Judaea again. 8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?

9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day,

he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. 10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. 11 These things said he:

and after that he saith unto them,

Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go,

that I may awake him out of sleep.

John 11:38-44 38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave.

It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

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 grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

I love the story of Lazarus: I believe that Lazarus and his situation or condition “and” his resurrection, is so powerful, because it reminds us, “that it's not over, till God says it's over” It ain’t over till it’s over…

It reminds us that God can do anything

It reminds us that God works in the darkness

It reminds us that man's, Impossibilities

Are God's Opportunities, Praise the Lord

It teaches us that God is not glorified by our sin or sickness and disease, but he is glorified, by our deliverance, our healing, our freedom, our resurrection and our salvation.

Hear the Voice of the Lord,” Come Forth “

Here, word comes to Jesus, Lazarus is sick; But Jesus waits 2 days to respond:

It could just as easily been 12 years, like the woman with the issue of blood. Or 38 years, like the man at the Pool of Bethesda.

The point is: it doesn't matter,,, it doesn't matter how long or how wrong or how strong: It is all the same to Jesus.

It's the same power that heals a headache, that drives cancer, out of your body..

It’s the same power that heals a pulled muscle,,, that drives demons out.

After 2 days Jesus says, Now, Let’s go wake Lazarus up, Jesus is even reluctant to speak of Lazarus as dead, he simply says:

he's asleep and I'm going to wake him up.

Because as far as God's power is concerned there is no difference. Just, hear the Voice of the Lord and Come Forth ….

Somebody here today needs to know:

Your case, is not, too hard for Jesus.

It may be too hard for doctors,

But Dr. Jesus will take your case.

Jesus is the healer…………

Another thing this story shows us is:

It’s never too late.

Never give up

Never quit

Never quit praying,

Never quit confessing,

Never quit praising God.

Never quit believing.

You're closer than you think,

You’re on the edge of a miracle.

This story also shows us: Sometimes God delays, in answering our prayers,,, why?

So God alone,, Gets the Glory.

For many years the church has used this portion of Scripture to refer to, what they have called, the Lazarus generation.

Because Lazarus represents a hopeless cause, an irreversible situation, a condition beyond repair. That which has gone beyond the hope of no return, and that, which from all natural evidence, is dead and buried.