GOD IS NEVER LATE
John 11: 1-15
John 11:1-15
1 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.
12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. KJV
INTRODUCTION
Reading through John 11 brings to the mind that Jesus great miracle of rising up Lazarus from the dead. Beyond the miracle there are many more lessons to be learnt from this story. The one we are learning this morning is found in verse 6:
John 11:6
6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. KJV
Why did he wait TWO DAYS more?
Even though he had heard that Lazarus His friend (his lover) was sick;
John 11:3
3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. KJV
It is noteworthy that the whole of family of Lazarus are devoted lovers of Christ. May the Lord give us the grace to raise a family that loves Christ! With unity in the family
John 11:2
2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) KJV
Do everything within your reach to make every member of your household lovers of Christ
John 11:5
5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
KJV
Remember He said …”ye are my friends; if you do whatsoever I commanded you”
o If you love Christ…
o If you are friend of Jesus…
o And you are experiencing one trouble of the other…
He delayed for a reason.
That two days waiting may be years in your own case
He delayed for a reason; wait for him.
1. WHY DID HE WAIT SO LONG?
2. HE HAS POWER TO DO ALL THINGS
3. WAIT FOR HIM; HE CAN NEVER BE LATE
1. WHY DID HE WAIT SO LONG?
John 11:6
6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. KJV
This is a question to be considered very seriously: why did he wait two days still?
The answer was found in verse 4
John 11:4
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. KJV
He waited to
• manifest his glory
• for the right time
• teach you patience
• strengthen you
• get your attention
• develop your trust in Him
• develop your faith in Him
•
Isa 30:18-21
18 And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.
20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:
21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. KJV
Isa 55:8-9
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. KJV
Ps 30:5-8
5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
6 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.
7 Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.
8 I cried to thee, O Lord; and unto the Lord I made supplication. KJV
2. HE HAS POWER TO DO ALL THINGS
Why bothering yourself when you serve a God that can do all things.
That he has not done it, does not mean he cannot it:
Jesus is the same; he’s power is the same, he doesn’t change. In all places, In all churches, In all houses, In all businesses…
… But we the people are not stable in our ways
If you have not received what you are looking for why not change your approach and rather than changing church or change pastor or change spouse or change job e.t.c.
Mark 10:27
27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. KJV
Matt 28:16-18
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. KJV
Luke 1:26-27;37
26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. KJV
He has power to roll away the stone placed over your destiny and glory and you will come forth
Mary and Martha acknowledge the power of Jesus to heal Lazarus sickness, when they sent for Him
John 11:3
3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. KJV
3. WAIT FOR HIM; HE CAN NEVER BE LATE
God is never late; no matter how long wait for HIM.
Even though Lazarus was dead for four days, he was never late.
…He was four days late; yet he’s still on time
Martha and Mary waited, but Jesus did not come at their own time; but he came at His own time
Note that He will not do it at your own time but at his own time, that is why you need to wait for him
Even though Jesus did not go when Martha and Mary expected, yet they ACCEPTED AND BELIEVE Him when he came
John 11:20-22
Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. KJV
John 11:28-29
28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.
29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. KJV
John 11:32
32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. KJV
What is your attitude and reaction when answers to your prayers are delayed?
Isa 40:31
31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. KJV
When you allow Him in your life, there can never be any trouble that will trouble you
Matt 8:23-27
23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! KJV
He allowed the Egyptians to move so close before their destruction; your troubles may seem so close and overwhelming; God has a reason for that; wait for Him
Ex 14:10-27
10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord.
11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
12 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
15 And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
17 And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
23 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
24 And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,
25 And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians.
26 And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.
27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea KJV
He has the master plan for your life; wait for him.
WHILE WAITING…
be careful, so that you don’t do contrary to the will of God; at such time don’t listen to the word of man that contradicts the word of God.
Abraham made the mistake of His life while waiting…
Gen 16:2
2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. KJV
Gen 16:9-12
9 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
10 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
11 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction.
12 And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. KJV
God is never late; wait for Him, believe Him ONLY
What are the things you are believing God for:
? Your marriage
? Your family
? Your work
? Your job
? Your admission
? Your children
? Your health
I plead with you wait for God; he can never be late he will be right on time
John 11:6
6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. KJV
Songs
1. Draw me nearer, draw me nearer, my song every day…
2.
Prayer Points
1. Father I thank you for giving yourself to me, I appreciate the grace that I find in you
2. Every stone covering my glory, hear the word of God, be rolled away in the name of Jesus
3. Every storm of life troubling my faith; I command you to calm down in the name of Jesus
4. Lord Jesus; I understand you can never be too late; please give me the grace to wait for you in all areas of my life.
5. In the year 2017, I refuse to mourn; I will be celebrated in the name of Jesus.
