John Chapter 11:1-10

You know that Jesus loves you know that when you get more the situations where you don't know what's going on. Are you confused fall back on what you do know know that Jesus does love you and desires the best for you sometimes got to be honest, I've been in situations where couldn't really get mind around the situation really couldn't do much hands around heart around the situation, but I knew the Lord will come to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina.

Out of all the things you can be sure of the most important is this Jesus loves you today pastor Dave explains why this is important to remember when we get into difficult situations. As he continues teaching in the Gospel of John chapter 11. Now here's David McGee is teaching the glory of God. John chapter 11 verse one says that a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha was that 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 him, saying, Lord, hold he whom you love is sick as is interesting and I want to point out something here in in the Greek that word love that they used is for Leo. It's the Greek word for a friendly type of love, a friendship type of love for you.

You love somebody and as a friend and then notice what they do not have to respect the sisters for this. They don't tell Jesus what to do. They simply say you know what the one you love is sick and you have to respect that because see, they're not telling Jesus exactly what he is supposed to do just present a problem to say okay Jesus. He said we don't know what to do and when I got to tell you what to do.

The reason I respect that is because what to be honest I don't always do that sometimes in my prayers. You know what I do I tell God the problem and I took out how to fix everything that a manner only God. This is the problem here is how you need to do it and then when he doesn't follow your directions. What you do you get upset I can't believe you not follow my directions got told how to solve this problem.

Meanwhile, God is doing something so much better than what we could come up with. See understand present him. The problem and don't tell them how to fix it, that he may lay on your heart how to fix, but don't tell him how to fix it.

You know, because he's God.

He knows everything.

So give the Lord the details in an and let leave the fixing up to him and understand the fixing is not necessarily what you think is best.

So what you think is best is what he thinks is best, and at times loved ones to be a difference between those two things.

There's going to be a difference between what you think should happen, and what God thinks should happen and if truly he is God in your life you will allow him the freedom to be God you will allow him the freedom to act in your life, as he sees best fit is working to see in this chapter that what he does here. It doesn't seem in the beginning that it's best for the people, especially for Lazarus but you know what Hennessey said is best for the people see that something at the end of the trial at the end of the tribulation.

That's what we see everything we see God knew what he was doing.

We see God had her back. The whole time God was fixing it but he was fixing that in his way and in his timing. Verse four when Jesus heard that, he said, this sickness is not on the death, but for the glory of God the son of God may be glorified through it.

He saying that this is going on because he so he can be glorified in the situation. You know what he sees that we don't often see that the situation do we look at a situation we go God to be glorified, but that's a good question to ask to turn around go.

How can be. How can God be glorified in this, but I know I've made a mess of things. But how can God be glorified in this.

I know that I'm struggling in this area. How can God be glorified in this and you'll come up with some beautiful answers will come up with some beautiful answers. Verse five now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus need to point out here, that's a different word than verse three verse three it's for Leo. The Greek word for Leo where we get words like fellowship and friendship verse five. It's agape got me a copy is the Greek word to love deeply to love fervently to love well with perfection was perfection. See, it's a way that God loves us with his agape love. It's interesting that many of the towns were told to love one another. It actually uses agape, which we know in our human self and our human frailties and in our human strengths is impossible, but not with God, see God gives us the love to love one another with so he uses a very strong word. Now for just review something real real simple real basic but Lazarus was sick right.

But Jesus is right here are John says right here that Jesus loved Lazarus.

You know what that means is that sickness or disease cannot be used as a barometer or a gauge of whether God loves you or not, or if God loves others are not seen what happens and I do this and you do this, probably to.

We may not admit it, but if somebody gets sick or somebody has an accident or something happens and what's the first thing we think or wonder what they did do some wrong forgot to do that to. That's the wrong assumption. That's a worldly assumption that's a secular assumption if you will, as the world thinks that God does all the bad things that willingly give him credit for that unit because like with insurance companies went. When there's a hurricane or something like that unit, you realize the term we use with an act of God or they're willing to give him the credit for that, but still struggled with the creation thing. Don't assume if you're sick of you in the midst of hard time for somebody you know is in the midst of a hard time or sick. That means God's love is pulled back from them in any way, or in any measure. As a matter fact, it may mean that God loves so much that he's counted them worthy to endure a trial or tribulation or situation that he didn't count us worthy to endure. So when you see somebody going through a hard time think wow wow it's gonna be awesome to watch their faith in the Lord bring them to the situation. Verse six is a little confusing. I guess verse six is so when he had heard that he was sick, he stayed two more days in the place where he was. It's interesting the order of the verses chap Deming verse six comes after verse five again of your taken note. You may want to jot that down for six comes after verse.

But my point is that it's established that Jesus loves Martha and Mary and Lazarus and then it says he stayed there two days. Why because we need to have that knowledge that he loved them so that we can understand that the two days had nothing to do with not loving them as we could assume many remove that person go well. He said they were sick, and then Jesus hung out there for two days.

That doesn't make any sense unless you understand the Jesus love them within agape love. We talked about Thursday night. We talked about last Sunday morning realizing that God loves you. This is an example of why that's so important see everything in your life every child.

Every tribulation should be viewed from the fact that you understand that God loves you, she because sometimes you will be in a situation where you don't understand you being a trial you don't understand you being a tribulation you don't understand.

And the tendency for us as the thing worked out doesn't love me anymore. Forgot doesn't love me as much when you get into a confusing situation where you don't know what's going on, fall back on what you do know what you do know what you should know is that Jesus loves. That's her first life lesson know that Jesus loves you know when you get more the situations where you don't know what's going on.

Are you confused fall back on what you do know know that Jesus does love you and desires the best for you sometimes got left behind stopped. I've been in situations where couldn't really get my mind around the situation really can get my hands or my heart around the situation, but I knew the Lord could and only that, but I knew the Lord knew how the situation would resolve and that somehow it had been filtered through his fingers and allowed to be in my life and I know that he loves me.

I will know everything were not wired to know everything in this life even though we sometimes try to understand everything. But if we know that God loves us. We can fall back if you will, on that can fall back on.

This is one of things that we know Poughkeepsie. Here is what we do a lot of times, or in a situation then and we we think we know what God should do in a situation I mean how many of us would be honest enough this morning to say this true that we see situations we goal God should do this got to do that. This is what God should think many of us have had the occasion of praying for somebody that doesn't know the Lord Nelson we hear things are going a horrible in their life or thinking kindly do what I told people how to do this. I told you know about them going to Billy Graham or harvest Crusade or something going forward. We do God's doing what he knows is best for that person and what's best for that person is that they may have to sink down a little bit lower. They may have to go through more stuff in order to be brought to the Lord and God knows that God is answering your prayer. He's answering your prayer is amazing sometimes what you know it would break. Lord help me to grow. Help me to grow toward increased faith.

Jesus, Lord, I want to have more faith. I want to grow and then what happens, God begins to answer that prayer and you and I often answers it right yet trials and tribulations, and what we do we get the military trials, and your relation to God. What you do it get me out of this mess are in God's like okay I'm confused. Should I answer the first requester should answer the one you're doing now because this was the answer first request know you're going to get your first request, but you humans are so confused. God is glorified in a way that I don't think we kind is different from us. Your Eliza God is different from you.

God is different for me because you don't look back on certain stories in the Bible and I see things I see like Daniel and how Daniel you know if I had been there I would have saved Daniel from the lines did as well.

This is just really a list just tweak the situation real quick and will have at work. Daniel never goes into the land is not what God chose Shadrach me shack and Abednego remember them got thrown into the fire. Is that how you would've handled that situation. I have to be honest go, no, no out of blew out the flame or madam run out of gas or whatever they were using some God chose about the Red Sea.

Would you have chosen to have the children of Israel surrounded by mountains in the Egyptian army with the Red Sea at their back. I witness but God chose to save Daniel in the lion's den. He chose to say Shadrach me shack and Abednego screw the fire and the fire.

He saw EEE chose to save the children of Israel in the Red Sea through the Red Sea. I know that that's ministering.

Some people in here this morning that perhaps are in situations that they don't understand and they really feel like God maybe should have kept him from the situation. Or maybe you feel like you should kept yourself from the situation can be glorified in that situation and save you in that situation, not necessarily from that situation will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now.

Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown about wanting them and pray for summer listeners in these cities and why he had a lanai city Lee, who and also Ammon acids and Boise in burly Idaho God, we thank you that we get the pray for these listeners today we pray that they will be encouraged and remember how much you love them, Lord of some of them are sick. We pray that you please heal them from the top of their head to the bottom of their toes. Lord, we pray that you would equip them and empower them to share their testimony of your goodness to other people. In Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse whenever you're given some time frame or something like that. It's always good to look at. I got a wire we given that some what does this mean were told today's told that he's dead for four days that's interesting you know what it tells me is that the day the messenger left Bethany Lazarus that it lays out like this.

Date one, the messenger left Bethany came to Jesus and Lazarus start date to the messenger return is about a day's journey, about 20 miles took about a day to walk that the second messenger returned Bethany on day two. And that's the first day that Jesus waits. Day three was the second day that Jesus waits day for is the day that Jesus arrives in Bethany save these been dead for four days. That's interesting because Jesus told the messenger. This sickness is not on the death was Jesus confused.

He did not understand that he not know that Lazarus probably at that point may have already been dead when he was saying is it's not permanent. This is not the way the situation is going to end.

It's not going to end in death. Hallelujah, as you know, what are stories not go in. Then death either. It's not going to end in death. I know Jesus. You know what happens at some point I will leave this tent behind and I go to be with the Lord at some point the future you know you may hear.

If this happens, you may hear will pastor David's dead beat dad that will be more alive than he's ever been.

Amen psych terraces… For now I will see you later. It doesn't end but see what did the messenger thing see and talk to Jesus and Jesus said, is not an end and 1/2 and then he went back and Lazarus was was dead.

I wonder I wonder beat it if he told the sisters this at that point. Or maybe he just thought wow really confuse I don't know what to do because Jesus said it's not an end in death. But Lazarus is dead.

Maybe just tucked away. That little salt in his heart until he saw how it played out the next life lesson at times. Your face will contradict circumstances at times. Your face will contradict circumstances. Now God's given us a measure of wisdom. He expects us to use it you know if if if you're sick, don't sit there and say I am not sick. I am not sick I am and don't go the doctor that's not filled with faith that silly God gave us Dr. Scott gave us medicine, but your circumstances will contradict your faith have the joy as believers of believing something in spite of the circumstances and have the joy of seeing in the circumstances line up with their faith instead of our faith lineup or circumstances, guys, don't be surprised when this happens, don't be surprised when this happens is second Corinthians chapter 5 verse seven says for we walk by faith not by sight.

For we walk by faith not by sight. When is it that you think that verse is telling us that at times it will be dangerous to spiritually walk by sunlight that we should walk by faith. This is a tough one.

And it this is the working out of our faith if you will, because we get a situation where we go on and know that but look at this and we take our house off the Jesus we put on our circumstances, we should be put them on Jesus seat, sometimes again your circumstances will contradict your face stand on your faith stand on your face. How do you walk, do you walk by faith, or do you walk by sight. There's a couple telltale symptoms of you will know I'm getting ready to convict myself don't like it when this happens, but if you're anxious about something if you're not at peace about something if you're depressed about something, then do a heart check because perhaps I think definitely perhaps because you believe in your circumstances not your faith.

This could be warning signals if you will.

Certainly those things are valid and in a no and that they fear sent on the Miller Road monies big trucks hauling one of these John Deere Hitachi you know earthmovers only) doubt you should feel anxious. Okay that's not this is the place you do you get out the road. But understand if those two things contradict each other and if you're in that situation where you're anxious, and the law returned to the board. Verse seven. Then after this he said to the disciples, let us go to Judea again verse eight the disciples said to him, Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone you and are you going there again, now this gun interesting to me because you have the disciples are seeking the rescue Jesus from his obvious short-term memory while he really doesn't remember that the Lord Lord, that's the place. The Jews that they wanted to stone you and in you want to go back to that place is also gun interesting because they say and are you going there again. They didn't say they were going there again is here going back will later use, I guess when you know it's interesting because you know they're sitting there thinking here, Jesus, you may have forgotten this, but this is still kinda fresh in our minds that these guys wanted to stone you something.

If we get back there something really bad could happen like you know they might miss you and hit one of us or something so we probably shouldn't do this and and and then reminded the Lord about the details Arthur Lord, you forgot that you forget this and this is unique. We see this in Jesus we also see this in Paul remember Paul at the felt and they beat them up and they stoned him, and they left them for dead. And then you know he goes out and in and do some other things and then he gets ready. He goes back to Philip how would you like to been a helper in the ministry with Paul. When Paul said all right were going back to Philip. I'm really excited ~~is that where they stoned you and left you for dead Jack. I'm excited.

I'm stoked going to Philip and you're doing okay.

It's a good time for me to turn in my notice, Paul.

I'm stepping down filaments and Jesus is revealing something here to us. We have front row seat to this Jesus is more concerned about ministry than he's concerned about his own well-being because there's times when ministry takes risks. There's times when ministry takes risk. Jesus was less concerned about his own well-being have taken taken risk in here an end and sometimes the Lord has really blessed my steps of faith sometimes is just fallen apart horribly and it's okay that's okay because ministry takes risk. I would rather take risk in ministry than the play it safe. You know, because I'm a follower of Jesus. I don't see Jesus playing it safe to see Jesus linger in back and go you know it you're right they did stone me there it in stone.

You guys want you all run along and minister to Martha and Mary know as a spiritual leader.

He put himself right in the middle of the risk in the following this is that this is a principle we need understand because checking out. We know that Jesus could have healed Lazarus from afar.

Dolly may he did with this insurance. I remember John Foraker to set a big deal breaker and it would've worked, it would happen. He's a son guiding do stuff like that but he couldn't have ministered to Mary and Martha, as he physically would have been there and so he made a decision plate safe stay here or go there and minister to them. I want to lay that backdrop before we read verse nine because there are some commentaries that are read that completely missed the point of verse not. I felt like verse nine Jesus answered her there not 12 hours in the day if anyone walks in the day. He does not stumble because he sees the light of this world, but if one walks in the night, he stumbles because the light is not in him. So Jesus is saying you know what there's 12 hours in the day I'm gonna be about the work of the kingdom.

I'm going to be ministering while on here and I actually read some commentaries that said Jesus what he is really saying here is that it was it was safe to be okay. I don't see that in those verses is more effective were familiar with what happens later on in the chapter, the Jewish leaders actually begin to seek the execution of Jesus because of what happens. See, this is the thing we have to understand this is that oftentimes I know this is gonna rock.

Some are your boats and praise God for the rocket up votes. Amen. Safe in Christianity at times will go together which no one at the end of this life, however long the Lord gives me at the end of this life.

I don't want to look back on my life and go out and do this and didn't do that I didn't do this that the other but you know when I played it safe. You don't hear Jesus congratulating anybody that comes into his presence and his role well done no safe service in their it's not in their guns, we gotta get that out of our heads.

Friend, you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now own Legion. A short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him.

Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life not done wrong things I have sinned, and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen it friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible. You've been forgiven you've been born again, congratulations for you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life you're the Bible tells us that the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. But it does cost for us to come and bring that message to you and to others in your neighborhood through radio through the Internet and through the mobile technologies that God has gifted us to be able to use so if you like to support this ministry. Please go to cross the bridge.com. Click on the donate button and ask God how much you would have you give either on a one-time basis or continuing basis each month to help ensure that the teaching of God's word continues to go out for pasta. Thank you so much for DA before we go. What are some ways that we can bless our listeners days you can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider a daily reading plan and the thought to meditate on throughout your day. From the heart. David McGee thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the gospel of God