Hope for Those Who Have Lost Loved Ones: It’s Okay to Ask Questions

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God check out virtue our website for Christian women go to harvest.org/virtue of God let you know where were you when my marriage is all were you when Lloyd is were you in my loved one God will report so God could make him so very real time line searches, swirling questions, I don't understand is why the note is two times, it's only during the event you will board wants to walk beside us through it all you have to Greg Laurie draws from his own experiences to bring us fresh perspective on the faithfulness and compassion for you. It's okay to bring her question is also the flexing uncertainty is no love.

This is a story of people who are lost with the story of the death of a loved one, amending Lazarus and how his sisters, Mary and Martha reacted.

It's also a story of how Jesus reacts to such circumstances. How God can be glorified in such a way but it's a whole full message we see how the Lord deals with these people. Now he deals with the one we read these verses like to point out that Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were a tightknit family. There were three siblings that love each other and they had a great home.

Everyone knew Martha was a killer chef and Jesus love to come visit shown up with about the resident they were here 12 friends. Is that okay Martha was so hospitable and always make up a fantastic meal for the Lord these guys, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus can legitimately say that Jesus of Nazareth was their personal friend because he frequented their home which was within striking distance from Jerusalem. There in Bethany, so now tragedy comes even though there, and Lazarus is very very ill that so the story starts. John 11 verse one now certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. It was at Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore, the sister sent to them, saying more, behold, he whom you love is set so what we learn from the store number one life is filled with pain, sorrow, and the death of loved ones again. Life is filled with pain and sorrow the death of loved ones. I don't know why but some of us may think were going to get a pass for you to somehow make it through life.

One skate never having a major tragedy.

Never having any kind of illness, never losing a loved one. I am just all gonna be great.

But then when it comes our way were shocked. Don't be shocked. Happens everywhere. Jesus said in this world you will have tribulation, so it's going to come your way.

It's going to knock at your door number two. God loves us. God loves us. Don't rush over that. Don't misunderstand it, let it sink in. God loves you. Listen the best whatever he does or allows to happen in your life as his child is motivated by his everlasting love for you. God says in his word.

I have loved you with an everlasting love.

Therefore with lovingkindness. I have drawn you he loves you and he loved them and Jesus would ask in his time and in his way with verse four and five when Jesus heard that, he said, this sickness is not in the death, but for the glory of God the son of God may be glorified through it. Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Therefore, when he heard that he was sick, he stayed two more days in the place where he wants what he did what it seems like we would've read that when Jesus heard this, because he loved Mary Martha and Lazarus. He found the fastest horse and ran full speed to get to his sick friend. Or we could read that Jesus just appeared there.

Oh hello everyone, what's up, how can I help know because he loved them, he delayed his arrival remembering his delays are not necessarily his denials just as surely as God has his will. He has his timing of Ecclesiastes 311 says God is made everything mutable in his time. So here is what is really happening. Jesus is trying to help Mary and Martha to get the big picture guys. I know it seems like I can come there right now what I want to do is better than what you're asking me to do, they go above and beyond your request. When he finally shows up. Things are looking pretty bleak. Lazarus is not sick anymore. Lazarus is dead is been away for four days. The process of decomposition is already set in Jesus not only did not come and heal his friend even missed his funeral and so see them coming down the road. Martha is going to give Jesus a piece of her mind. Look at John 11 verse 20 then Martha Cindy Seger Jesus was coming when I met him, but Mary was sitting in the house. Then Martha said to Jesus, Lord of you would've been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know whatever you ask of God, he will give it to you. Jesus said your brother will rise again positive. All I know he will rise again in the resurrection of the last eight Jesus said I am the resurrection and the life he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live news.

Whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe that pretty press words from sister Martha. Here, Lord, if you would've been here.

This would not have happened.

Allow me to loosely paraphrase it and I don't think I'm taking any liberties here Jesus Martha saying you blow it. We were bragging on you, you, we were telling everyone you are close friend and you didn't show up only needed you have ever felt that God let you down if you were asked God why God why where were you when my marriage dissolved.

Where were you when my parents divorced.

Where were you when my child went astray.

Where were you when my love one died.

Mina, I want you to know something very important.

Jesus does not rebuke Martha for what she said you would've thought he would us and shut your mouth girl show some respect to who I am, then do that. He sort of absorbed. Why, because in effect would Martha was doing was not all that bad. Oh sure, she should the babies accusing remarks to Christ. But the fact that she was making them to Christ. In other words, she was talking to Jesus. She wasn't running from Jesus. She was running to Jesus with her problem and that's what you need to do.

You know people zero don't arouse God why you not unsafe as God.

Why is much as you want.

Don't expect an answer but ask away. You know what I say to you, be honest with God. You think God doesn't see your heart when you pray, so be honest to God. I'm not happy right now. I don't understand this.

I'm hurting.

This doesn't make sense. Why digit. It's okay to say no single Greg Ovitz was only know it is not blasphemy. Jesus himself said from across my God, my God, why have you forsaken me was a blasphemy know he was calling on his father underline the words. My God, my God, Lord. I'm calling on you look at the honesty of the psalmist as he deals with his problems, and then he called out to God. That is what we need to do don't withdraw from God in your Christian friends, go to the Lord and cry out to him. You can ask why you probably won't get an answer in old Joe. We all know his story, we remember that after he heard the horrible news of the death of his children that he worship God and said, naked came I into this world naked going out. Blessed be the name of the Lord. And yet, as you read the book of Job he has God why many times and he never really got an explanation, but let me ask you that if the Lord would actually tell you why certain things happen as they did without erasure pain or heal your broken heart… I got that okay okay I'm tardy asking nonmonetary you ready Martha. I did this for this reason we get what unit AutoCAD grapefruit Gottlieb probably is it. I don't agree with that guy knew you'd say that. That makes no sense to me Lord, I am sorry yeah you know it that's probably why he doesn't tell you listen.

We live on promises, not explanation.

We shouldn't spend too much time asking why, and said we should be asking the question what is and what am I supposed to do. You are to turn the Lord Mr. Greg Laurie will have the second half of message just a moment, everybody Greg Laurie here personally inviting you to join us for what we call Harvest at Home.

It's a Bible study.

It's a worship service into church in your home, you're not able to get out your church right now.

If so, join us per Harvest at Home people are listening this from around the world listen to this. We have seen thousands of people commitments to follow Christ. Join us this weekend Harvest at Home.

This doddle Pastor Greg continues now with new study. The most requested message of the past year called hope for those who have lost loved ones and no Jesus puts things in an eternal perspective. Your brother will not die. Yeah.

Lord, I know all resurrection I've heard all that you don't know Martha read my lips, I am the resurrection and the life he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live this over losing him shall never die. While that's Martha Chancey seemed satisfied because we don't read much more. But she said now along comes Mary Mary is usually more soft-spoken Martha you always knew we had stood with her. She spoke her mind. Mary Moore laid back when Mary comes along. In verse 32 that then Mary came where Jesus was and saw him and fell down at his feet, saying, Lord of you would've been your my brother would not abide same statement is Martha. Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, he groaned in the spirit and was trouble and he said where have you laid him, they said, Lord, come and see how the shortest verse in the Bible verse 35 Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, see how he loved brings me to point number three.

Jesus weeps with us in our time of pain Jesus weeps with us in our time of pain.

Yes, Jesus was God with all of his power and glory.

He was also a man and he was a man who felt our pain and sorrow. Isaiah 53 says he was despised and rejected. He was a man of sorrows, and appointed with the most bitter greed. He carried our weaknesses in our sorrows weighed him down. Jackie Knowles, he voluntarily put himself in the way of danger, to bear our sorrows on the cross. Why would he do this.

Hebrews 217 gives the answer. It says it was necessary for Jesus to be in every respect just like us and since he is gone through suffering and temptation is able to help us when were being tested within the visited breaks your heart it breaks his as well.

Scripture reminds us that God keeps our tears in a bottle barber told in Psalm 56 a. You keep track of all of my sorrows. You've collected all of my tears in your bottle you recorded each one in your book when I was in Israel in 2008 before our son died. We were running through talented. We went to a Jewish antiquities store and heard about and they had relics dating back to 3000 years amazing is like a museum except that lets you hold things just don't drop them cost a fortune and does so I was looking around.

It's a lot of fragments of pottery in you. A lot of just very weathered things, understandably, but then standing out in the midst of all of these antiquities was this beautiful translucent blue bottle and I asked the manual the store sir. What is this blue bottle says all that's a Roman curable, is it really.

I've never heard of a Roman tier bottle.

What is that he says will the Romans believed that when they lost a loved one of the put their tears on the bottle they would be recorded and they haven't while I was immediately reminded of what the psalmist said I worry says that you keep my tears in a bottle while I am at your bottle, not this one. It was too much money it still there probably but I would tier bottle in heaven.

God keeps record of every tear I've shed regard keeps a record of every tear you shed God keeps our tears in a bottle.

So he may wipe them away Sunday at three just a few more verses a will and look at verse 33 of John 11 when Jesus saw her weeping, and saw the other people wailing with her. He was moved with indignation was deeply troubled and Jesus was troubled and they came to the grave and it was a cave with a stone rolled across the synthesis word for trouble could be better translated.

He was mad. Yes, he was angry and he was ticked off and why was Jesus that was Jesus angry with the mourners and those of her cry. What's wrong with you people, absolutely not. He felt complete compassion.

Don't forget he wept with that not tell you who he was angry with. He was angry with the Grim Reaper if you will. He was angry with death itself. This was not the way it was meant to be, or should have never been death.

There should've never been aging. There should've never been disability there should've never been sick this I should have hair sought I throw that in the secret listening. That's the least of the concerns right above the wonder defendant heaven will beget a glorified body of we will all be bald like me. Maybe this is the perfected state in you that have here is a part of the curse service. Death is in operation.

Death is not the way it was meant to be, but the curse came because of the fallen. Jesus was angry about that now is to put God's glory on display. Despite this tragedy brings me to my final point number four God to be glorified through human suffering and bring good despite the betterment to deal with this Warner next message in the series but course we all know what happened. Lazarus was raised from the dead.

I don't think that's a big part of the story, but it is a significant part he calls back from the great formula I feel sorry for last. Honestly, if you could interview someone and they haven't said you were going to think it would be good if you came back to earth again but we want to give you a choice that would come at me like trying to get a kid out of Disneyland.

That's been there for like 12 minutes. Time to go.

Now I know yeah it's finally never know and come back to this stinking earth not suggesting Lazarus had no choice because Jesus called the other side. When Jesus calls people answer to nothing.

Jesus did not just say come forth because every body and every grave would've come out simultaneously globally singled out S come for up from the grave he arose wrapped in bandages, but the bad thing for Lazarus. Yet it die twice and is not bad enough that I want you had to die twice. So God was glorified through all of this lesson. Sometimes God is glorified through the removal of the affliction and you have some problem and you have people pray and it goes away. Praise God for that, or the doctor does a surgery in your cancer free or they take care of that heart issue or whatever it is we thank God think our Dr. burst with Pam as well, but we realize God is the one ultimately control so that's wonderful. Then there are times when the surgery does not go as hope.

There are times when the illness is not removed. The problem is not taken away. And then God can be glorified to be enduring of the affliction listen to this. It is through hardship. We will develop hope. You would think the best way to find hope to have a trouble-free life right know the best place to find hope is through the crisis of life, because Romans 53 says we glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance which means endurance and perseverance produces character, and character produces hope. Hope is going to come through hardship. So when a Christian suffers and still glorifies God, and reassures the rest of us that there will never be a valley so deep that God will not get us through it. That also reminds us that death is not the end. Physical death is not the end of existence. It's just a change in the state of existence. The tomb is not the entrance to death, but the entrance to lie. Heaven is the earthly life of the believer glorified and perfected.

When a believer dies they go into God's presence.

That's the ultimate hope you have that hope. What are you hoping everybody holds and something somebody hope in themselves there like Maria and the sound of music.

Remember I got confidence and confidence when you not you have confidence in confidence.

Now that's like assisting all I have my open technology really all I'm putting my hope in politicians.

I really feel sorry for you. Listen, this is a tried and tested truth I'm saying to you now.

Put your hope in God, he will never let you pass. That's it. It's true because the Bible says it through.

Let me just say personally. I know it's true because I put it to the test and God gives been there for me and he will be there for you and no matter what you face in life he will walk with you through it.

The psalmist said yay though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me.

You are either hopeful or hopeless.

The Bible says in Proverbs 1028 the hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked are all in vain hope in God, let me ask you enclosing that we are hope is maybe your facing crisis right now.

Maybe you've just heard the worst news imaginable. Maybe you're going through troubles in your marriage troubles at work troubles with your family physical troubles health troubles financial troubles. The list goes on.

I'm sure one of those categories applies to you you're just in anguish, or you're in anxiety right now and you wonder what do I do is what you do you call out to God. And here's a great hope.

The Christian matter what happens in life we have the guaranteed assurance that when we die we will go to heaven. It's called when when when when is Christ living inside of you. You know that you go to heaven when you die, if not you want this. Hope you can find it right now working to close in prayer nominally give you an opportunity to put your faith in Jesus Christ with all our heads. Father I pray for everybody here. Everybody listening to this message. I asked Lord that you will help them to see how much you love.

Help them to realize Jesus died on the cross for them and help them to turn from their sin and come due now and be forgiven in Jesus name I pray, amen Greg Laurie important prayer about coming to the Lord to find forgiveness of sins. And if you like to do that. Pastor Greg will help you in just a moment before today's addition of a new beginning.

Concludes but as Pastor Greg wraps out this presentation you can get a permanent copy of all the insights it's an extended length study called hope for those who have lost loved ones. It's our most requested study of the past year just mentioned that title when you call 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime 24 seven that's 1-800-821-3300 or order online@harvest.org.

We know that more than 140,000 people made professions of faith. Last year through harvest ministries, the Lord moved in such a mighty way in the midst of such a tumultuous year and one of the main outreach platforms was your film called a rush of hope it's right now were making the DVD available and we are hoping our listeners will take this film and use it themselves to bring people to the Lord naturally to Dave, you know, during these days of the coronavirus. It's been hard for a lot of people to go to church but listen to this.

Jesus did not say the whole world should go to church but he did say the church to go to the whole world. We need to go to where people are and I'll tell you where people are right now they're looking at screens looking at phone screens, tablet screens, computer screens and television screens so we thought. Instead of saying the people come to us. We thought let's go to them let's saturate. Let's permeate. Let's get the message to them in a way that will be entertaining visually stimulating but without compromising the essential gospel message. So the result of that was a rush of hope, a cinematic crusade that I did with my friend John Irwin who is along with his brother Andy Irwin run the kingdom studios as a part of Lions gate. These are what the Brits might call proper filmmakers of the of the most successful Christian film of all time. I can only imagine these guys know how to make movies.

So when I had this idea to do this so I went to them so we work with director Ben small bone under the direction of John Irwin to produce many of called the greatest evangelistic film they have ever seen those other words not mine, but we have some proof that it's reaching people because we've seen thousands of people come to Christ. As a result of simply watching this film that we called a rush of hope, something about something. Imagine getting someone you care about in front of the screen to watch. This is a all at some cheesy religious film. They don't want to watch it.

Trust me, they'll be cooked after the first two minutes and we will pray that God will impact them with the message of the gospel that is baked into this film, so I want to send you your own copy of a rush of hope for the first time ever out on DVD.

We also will send you information about how you can stream it exclusively. This is not information for the general public, but you will be able to do it because will give you the info you need and we want to encourage you to support our ministry.

Listen to this I can sell this to you but instead I'm in a give it to you… For your gift of any size son can only give a little son can give a little bit more. Some can give a lot do what you can to help us get the gospel out to our generation. Our nation needs to hear the gospel.

One of their hope was there for America right now you really think it's a political hope. I don't care what side of the aisle you're on the need is spiritual and the answer is spiritual and the answer is the gospel.

Paul said, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one who believes the where the Paul users from a Greek word that translates out to explosive power its dynamic or dynamite power. There is explosive power in the simple message of the gospel.

The story of the life, death and resurrection of Christ, and we want to get this message to people you care about so order your copy of our rush of hope and send what you can and in advance.

Let me say thank you.

Yet such a strategic time not only for your donation. But for you to reach out with the hope of the gospel and this is our last opportunity to mention this resource surrenders today at a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 and we can take your call 24 seven or just go online to harvest.org will Pastor Greg you pointed out the importance of asking Jesus to forgive our sins, for a few moments ago.

Could you help those who want to do that very thing right now you know the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ stands at the door of our life and he knocks and if any man will hear his voice and open the door he will come in maybe. As you've heard me speak today while you've heard another voice speaking to you. It's a voice of God and you realize you need Christ in your life you need your sins forgiven you want the assurance that you will go to heaven when you die when here's what you need to do.

You need to pray and I would like to lead you in a prayer right now or you will be seeing the Jesus Lord come in the my life. I choose to follow you. So let's pray Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I think you for dying on the cross for my sin. I turned from that sin.

Now and I put my faith in you be my Lord, my Savior and my God, my friend. I choose to follow you, Jesus. From this moment forward.

Thank you for loving me and calling me and accepting me in Jesus name I pray, amen. Listen if you just pray that prayer I want you to know on the authority of Scripture that Christ himself is coming to your life. The Bible says these things we write to you that believe on the name of the son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. If you just pray that prayer and minute you can know today you have eternal life, and yet be the first to see the you welcome to the family of God that we want to help you grow as a believer. So let us send you our new believers growth packet will send it free of charge if you prayed with Pastor Greg today just write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us at 1-800-821-3300. We are here to take your call around the clock, seven days a week that's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click know God well next time Pastor Greg launches a brand-new series called phase 101 crash course on the Christian life is when we find ourselves falling back into sin.

We've lost sight of the basics some good corrective help, coming next time you beginning and possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email, devotions@harvest.org