UNSHAKABLE FAITH
John 11:1-44
It is a common knowledge that there is nothing in this world that can be considered as permanent. Even the world that we are living is being shaken by numerous Earthquake every day. This proves that everything in this world can be shaken.
But there is verse in the Old testament which had been quoted by both Paul and Peter. This verse is a reference about Jesus as the Rock the sure foundation of our faith. The bible said that those who believe in Him is UNSHAKABLE.
Quoted by Paul:
even as it is written, "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of offense; and no one who believes in him will be disappointed."
Romans 9:33 WEB
For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed."
Romans 10:11 WEB
Quoted by Peter:
Because it is contained in Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen, and precious: He who believes in him will not be disappointed."
1 Peter 2:6 WEB
This is the original reference by Isaiah
So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken.
Isaias 28:16 BSB
Therefore the Lord GOD said: "Look, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will be unshakable.
Isaias 28:16 CSB
And so the LORD says, "I'm laying a firm foundation for the city of Zion. It's a valuable cornerstone proven to be trustworthy; no one who trusts it will ever be disappointed.
Isaias 28:16 CEV
This prophetic word from Isaiah has been fulfilled in the life of Jesus. Let us see how believing in Him became the foundation of Unshakable faith of one family. The family of Martha, Mary and Lazarus the siblings.
THE LAZARUS CHALLENGE: (John 11:1-44)
Lazarus is a symbol of disappointment to many of us. We can relate to Martha and Mary as they say “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. There is Lazarus in everyone’s life. Inside of us is a silent question, when I’m in pain where are you God?
21 Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. John 11:21
32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
John 11:32
Martha, Mary and Lazarus are friends of Jesus. They are very close. But when the tragedy of sickness and later death struck them, their faith has been tested to see if their faith is unshakable.
LET US SEE HOW DID MARTHA AND MARY OVERCOME THE GREATEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF THEIR LIFE?
HOW TO HAVE AN UNSHAKABLE FAITH?
I – Unshakable faith is not based on personal merits and accomplishment. But it is always planted on two strong foundation: It is based on Personal relationship with Jesus and the divine confidence on the love of God
1Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” John 11:1-3
II – Unshakable faith does not look on the problem alone but it seeks to understand the purpose of God
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.” John 11:4
III – Unshakable faith does not demand based on our own conditions and timing but it waits on God’s perfect time
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. 7 Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” John 11:5
IV – Unshakable faith seize good opportunities and it prepares for the worst period of time.
8 The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought 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 one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” John 11:8-10
V – Unshakable faith does not exaggerate the problem but minimize major problems by treating them calmly and confidently
11 These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.”
12 Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” 13 However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.
VI – Unshakable faith must experience the greatest test to produce great testimonies. Lazarus is the greatest display of miracle because he was once a dead man
14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.”
16 Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”
VII – Unshakable faith accept the reality of the situation but it does not close the door for the possibility of the present situation. It never closes its mind on the severity of the problem but it also believes that in God’s presence everything is possible.
17 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about [a]two miles away. 19 And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21 Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”
VIII – Unshakable faith is unshakable because it is founded on knowing Jesus and believing on his word.
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
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.”
IX – Unshakable faith does not keep the faith by herself but lead others to Jesus
28 And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.” 29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but [b]was in the place where Martha met Him. 31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, [c]saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”
X – Unshakable faith is not control or hiding of true emotions. It is not fake positive declarations but a divine longing for manifestation of the presence of God.
32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
XI – Unshakable faith allow God to see where it hurts. It invites the healer and the comforter to see deeply where our hopes and dreams buried in pain of frustrations and desperations
33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 34 And He said, “Where have you laid him?”
They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”
XI – Unshakable faith doesn’t care about people’s opinion. It is always focus on the plan of God.
35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”
37 And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?”
XII – Unshakable faith let the tomb of their failure to be opened to the author of life and they don’t care about the stench.
38 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”
Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”
40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41 Then they took away the stone [d]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.”
43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”
Conclusion:
All of us have a Lazarus challenge in our life. But every disappointment is an opportunity to make our faith unshakable. Lazarus can be an opportunity for God to display his great power. An opportunity for our life to become the great testimony for God’s glory.
