1stBBC
Two days longer
John 11:1-6 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. 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. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
Whom you love is sick … but still Jesus stayed two day longer!!
Psa 13:1 How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
Two days longer … why?!
1. to learn how to wait
Joh 11:21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
Maybe you were too late!!!
John 11:23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
He is never late but we should learn to wait.
Psa 62:1 Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
Psa 25:5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
2. to learn how to weep
Woe unto them that are at ease in Zion …
A painful test but a very fruitful one.
A lesson that will teach us in whom we should trust.
2Co 1:8-9 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
He teaches us this lesson with a very compassionate heart.
John 11:35 Jesus wept.
3. to learn who He really is
Two days longer made the situation worse, chattered any self confidence, pride or any chance of healing and required more than a prophet or a good master to make a change.
John 11:39 … saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
John 11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
How much hours of prayers Jesus needed?
How much faith Lazarus the dead man showed so that He was raised from the dead?
4. to learn how to live by faith
Faith is action taken as a result of believing in the word of God. Not faith in faith or a state of mind.
John 11:39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone
John 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
Faith is trusting in God when He still takes two days longer to arrive.
5. for His glory
Phi 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Phi 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
My comfort, my plans … two days longer for His glory.
Pastor Tony Skaff
2005
