Hope for Those Who Have Lost Loved Ones - III

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God don't want to hear from you. Would you consider emailing me you can reach me at greg@harvest.org again that's Greg harvest.org and you can also make me one of your friends on Facebook and drop me a comment of your revolving God let you down.

Where were you when my marriage dissolved. Where were you when my child went astray were you when my loved one God must read more, he points out, God can make himself very real to us. Times when our lives are just swirling with question. I don't understand this my maturity.

This doesn't make sense.

It's okay to save a single puzzling notice of you get us to walk and good times or bad times. It's only during the event that we asked why the Lord wants to walk beside us through it all today on a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie draws from his own bittersweet experiences to bring us fresh perspective on the faithfulness and compassion of the Lord will see it's okay to bring our urgent question God's also flexing vexing uncertainties is now in our text on 11 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, and how God can be glorified in such situation, but it's a hopeful message.

We see how the Lord deals with these people and how he deals with the before 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 a bunch resent. They were here at 12 friends. Is that okay Martha was so hospitable would 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 that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was said therefore the sisters sent to him, saying, Lord, be called a key 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 unscathed. Never having a major tragedy.

Never having any kind of illness, never losing a loved one. I had to fall going to be great, but then when it comes our way were shocked. Don't be shocked. Happens to everyone.

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 all rights over that. Don't misunderstand it, let it sink in. God loves you. Listen to this. 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 of 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 love them. He delayed his arrival. Remember, 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 beautiful in his time. So here's what is really happening.

Jesus is trying to jump very 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. I want to 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 of the life he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever 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. I've never felt the 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 by that, 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 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. He 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 arrest 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 am hurting. This doesn't make sense.

Why digit. It's okay to say those they go Greg about possibly know it is not blasphemy. Jesus himself said from the cross, 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 and we remember that every heard the horrible news of the death of his children that he worship God and said they can keep my end of 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 were to 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 right at them. 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 make some 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. Instead, 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 this message just a moment.

So many listeners have commented on the strength they received from these daily messages God's word ministers to them and it often gets them through some of their darkest hour standing. I listen to your assailant right on recently and I listen to your sermon about how you handled your son's tragic death and I explained something similar. My family was driving to meet me filling say night Bible study at our church when they were stand head on by an elderly man typing I last setting, 16-year-old daughter and a four-year-old granddaughter in the accident my 17-year-old daughter is currently at a rehabilitation center trying to recover from a traumatic brain injury. My stepdaughter who is driving managed to escape within a few broken bones and a concussion is her four-year-old daughter that we lost. I'm grateful that God has led me to listen to your sermon and help prepare me for the spiritual and emotional struggles in my heart so that I could stand strong in my faith we continue to pray for my daughters complete. Please continue to be revealing your sermons about death as they provide a wonderful foundation when things don't go their way and we expect them to God's word is such a comfort to so many difficult times, and if you like to share your story. Why not drop Pastor Greg an email send it to great@harvest.org again that's greg@harvest.org Pastor Greg continues now with this study. One of the most requested of the 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 you 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 GNC 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 have stood with their 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, if 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 all the shortest verse in the Bible verse 35 Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, see how he loved. That brings me to point number three. Jesus weep 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.

But 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 grief he carried our weaknesses in our sorrows weighed him down. Jackie knows 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 and 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 lazy 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. That'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 man while 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 at least as will the Romans believed that when they lost a loved one that they put their tears on the bottle they would be recorded and they haven't while I was immediately reminded of what the psalmist said worry says that you keep my tears in a bottle. While I have a terrible not this one. It was too much money it still there probably should, 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 gray 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 saw to 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 services. 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 but now is to put God's glory on display.

Despite this tragedy brings me to my final point number four.

God can 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 yet, we are going to think it would be good if you came back to earth again but we want to give you a choice.

You think that would come at me like trying to get a kid out of Disneyland. That's been there for like 12 minutes time ago. Now I don't want to go. Yeah, it's finally never know and come back to this stinking earth not suggesting Lazarus had no choice, as Jesus called the other side when Jesus calls people answer to everything 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. Did it die twice and is not been enough that I want. He had to die twice. So God was glorified through all of this lesson. The 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 they guard Dr. Chris 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 the enduring of the affliction listen to this. It is through hardship.

We will develop hope. You would think the best way to find hope is they 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 whole view of that hope. What are you hoping everybody holds and something somebody hope in themselves there like Maria in the sound of music. Remember I got confidence and confidence. What are you nuts you have confidence in confidence know 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 go. That's it is 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, you 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, in closing 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. Here's what you do you call out to God. And here's a great hope. The Christian house 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 will give a closing 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 them, help them to realize Jesus died on the cross for them and help them to turn from their sin and come view 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 for today's addition of a new beginning. Concludes but as Pastor Greg wraps up 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 one of our most requested studies of the past year.

Just mention a title when you call 1-800-821-3300 1-800-821-3300 or order online@harvest.org and we hope you've ordered your copy of Pastor Greg's brand-new phone Johnny Cash, the redemption of an American icon of fascinating biography. I think he's just iconic teaches at his own style and his own sound generally like to sing about trains you like to sing about death and redemption, but so often from the beginning, middle, into the end of his career that was at six long faith in Christ city put across to his music, including singing it many many milligram producing what some remember trying as much for his misdeeds as his music.

He was just like us is flawed.

He blew it.

He fell and he got up again. He never lost his faith. Pastor Greg takes you on a journey through the complicated, puzzling, inspiring life of Johnny Cash casino matter how far we fall in life.

God's hand is there some the main focus of my book is I wanted look at the puffy roots of Johnny's struggle and is strong faith, especially in the end of his life, Johnny Cash, the redemption of an American icon. The new book from Greg Loring and Marshall Terrell available now and will be glad to send you a copy to thank you for your investment speech.

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The only way we can be our call 1-800-821-3300 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org press.

Greg you pointed out the importance of asking Jesus to forgive our sins. A few moments ago. Could you help those who want to do that very thing right now. Yeah, you know, the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ stands at the door of our life any 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 with the 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. We here's what you need to do. You need to pray and I would like to lead you in a prayer right now where 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 MEI be the first to see the you welcome to the family of God and we want to help you grow as a believer. So let us send you our new believers growth packet sent free of charge if you prayed with Pastor Greg today just write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300.

That's 1-800-821-3300 or you can request it online@harvest.org by clicking the words know God when I start Pastor Greg has an eye-opening conversation with New York Times best-selling author Lee Strobel. The topic is miracles should be taken at face value. Can we verify their true and are they really happening here in the 21st century some great insights next time.

In our most requested study of the past year.

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