HOW TO HANDLE A DEAD SITUATION
John 11:1-44
Are there things in your life where you seemingly have not won the victory?
Have you allowed horrible situations to become cold?
Maybe at one time you had a fervency to see God move in your life but have allowed the situation to become cold.
Maybe you have allowed the situation to become dead!!
Maybe you have lost hope for deliverance?
Do you have someone in your life that you are praying for?
Possibly:
1. Are they lost?
2. Are they are living a life that’s not pleasing to God?
3. Are they just in need of a spiritual transformation?
Do you have friend or family members that need a touch from God?
Here in John 11
There was a family member who was sick ultimately dies
A friend of Jesus, that was sick and had died.
Look at v:4 – Remember the we are talking about…
HOW TO HANDLE A DEAD SITUATION
NOTICE:
John 11:4-6
4 When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."
5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.
NOTE:
1. Notice the attitude of Jesus as he heard the news of Lazarus
2. Jesus didn’t seem to get in a hurry.
3. He knew that Lazarus was dying ……but it didn’t rock His world.
4. Jesus wasn’t alarmed.
5. Notice that Jesus was not moved by a seemingly bad situation
6. He just kept doing what he needed to do.
He knew that there were no impossible situations
He knew the power to speak resurrection was not limited by any circumstances.
I think it would help us greatly ------ to realize that
our seemingly hard or impossible circumstances is nothing to God.
His power transcends our trouble.
His power is not limited by our limitations
His Love is not halted by our hopelessness.
Jesus said…
John 11:25
25 "I am the resurrection and the life….
1. He is able to resurrect a dead situation
2. Long after we have given up hope!!!
When it seems….
a) our finances have died and stinks
b) like our children are going to hell
c) our health is gone and the doctors have given up on us;
That’s when Jesus is ready to show forth his power and glory in us.
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When Jesus finally arrived in Bethany,
The family of Lazarus ----- was long past having hope.
He was dead, buried and his grave.
LISTEN:
One of Satan’s greatest lies is…
"It’s over – and –
There is nothing that God can or will do about it."
1. The devil will try to wrap you up in doubt and fear.
2. The devil will roll a stone of unbelief across the door to your heart
3. He’ll say ‘it’s over” ----- ‘it’s a dead situation”
4. He’ll say it’s time to quit and walk away.
5. He’ll try to say the grave is sealed and your situation is over
Are there situations that stink in your life?
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So in the first part of the chapter - - -
we find Mary and Martha trying
coming to the reality of their brother’s deadly sickness
You have to understand
there are things that
happen out of your control.
1. Doctors can’t handle it
2. Mom and Dad can’t bail you out
3. Your boss can’t help you
So, preacher how do you handle a dead situation?
How do recover something that is considered a dead issue?
Something that’s so final?
Well I’m so glad you asked
There are three steps you must take to resurrect your dead situation
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#1 ---- You must come to the reality of your situation
“I’ve lost hope!”
The reality of your being defeated!
Your children are on drugs
You have a secret area in your life that is – sin
Something you have to understand:
When coming to the reality of your situation
You are going to have to come to Jesus and say…….
I have a dead situation here!
What Jesus will say is………
verse 34 "Where have you laid him?"
What Jesus is saying to them?
"Take me back to the place where you gave up"
"Take me to the place where you quit believing"
"Take me to that spot where you quit praying"
"Take me back so I will know where to pick up."
So they take him to the tomb of Lazarus.
Where do you need to take him?
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When Jesus gets to the graveside, he begins to do what He came to do.
But the family stops Him!
Jesus ordered them to take away the stone -
LISTEN:
Martha says a profound statement
that keeps you from getting to your place of victory
"NO LORD, NOT NOW ••. BY NOW HE STINKETH"
Not now Lord, I don’t want to forgive that person
Not now Lord, I don’t want to stop that sin – it’s not hurting anyone…
• Not now Lord, I can’t love as you have loved me
• Not now Lord, I am done doing my own thing
Remember:
You were praying for God to change the situation, and
now that God is working on it,
don’t let the "stink" stop you.
1 Corinthians 10:13-14 (NKJV)
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
Don’t allow the stone of unbelief across the door to your heart
Realize what Jesus says in v:4
"This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."
Realize what Jesus was saying in v:23
"Your brother will rise again." - in other words - (the situation that you are in will not stay dead)
Realize what Martha said in v:27
27 She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world."
#1 ---- You must come to the reality of your situation
#2 You must recognize the Lord as your source for help!
Look at v:41
John 11:41-42
41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.
42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me."
You remember
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,
Psalms 46:1-2
1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear…
#1 ---- You must come to the reality of your situation
#2 You must recognize the Lord as your source for help!
#3 Jesus has resurrection power
Jesus wants you to take him back to the spot where you gave up
because He is about to start restoring:
Relationships, Families, Churches, and Ministries
But before He can do the restoring,
someone has to remove the stone from in front of the tomb.
I know it’s heavy ••• but you have to roll it!
I know you’ve been hurt .•• but you have to roll it!
I know you’ve been wounded .•• but you have to roll it!
As they rolled the stone away, Lazarus wasn’t free yet, but he could see a little daylight.
My situation may be a wreck but I see some daylight!
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Closing:
Notice what Jesus did when they rolled the stone
1. He didn’t say anything about the "stink" –
There is a lot that God could throw up in our faces but
He goes on and acts like He can’t even smell the stink.
2. He got Happy! (verse 41)
" .•• father I thank thee"
You’ve got to learn how to thank God even when you are standing in middle of a grave yard surrounded by people who have given up on you.
3. He called Lazarus out by name (verse 43)
4. He said, "Loose Him and Let Him go" (verse 44)
it’s time to take off the grave clothes •••
For Lazarus to get out the grave clothes,
he had to come to the one that was calling him out.
Would you also come to Jesus? He is calling you by name!
