You might be buried but not dead. Jesus was told that Lazarus was sick, but He did not go straight away. He waited for two (2) more days until His close friend died.
I’m speaking to someone today who going through a similar situation. There are challenges and trials in your life which you are expecting Jesus to come and deal with, there and then but, it seems to be delayed, and you feel deeply disappointed as Mary and Martha were after losing their brother.
I want to encourage you today. Stretch your faith for Jesus is on His way to deliver you and give you peace. Jesus wants you to believe in Him for greater things than you can understand. God doesn’t want you to be disappointed in Him. Maybe you are trying to figure out where He went. I’m here to give you great news, God never left you. He is right there with you.
Following the death of Lazarus, verse 33 of the book of John 11 says when Jesus saw Mary weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.
Reading from John 11: 21 says; When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
If you notice carefully, the same statement was said again in verse 32 of the same book. She said; “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Like Mary, you are probably telling Jesus the same thing; If you had only been there, I would not have lost my job, relationship, house or scholarship. I am here to confirm that Jesus has never left you. He knows everything you are going through. He will always be there for you, your family and children.
Many think Jesus wept more because He loved Lazarus – Jesus wept because of the unbelief of the people. You are supposed to know your God – know that He is able. Christians need to understand that God does not delay, He is always on time.
“Where have you laid him?” Jesus asked.
Jesus says to you today; show me the place where you laid your vision down. show me the pace where you stopped dreaming at. Show me the place where you gave up from. God is changing your story. You have been barred but are not dead. You are going to have life again.
This is your day to rise again. Choose to rise up in faith. Now is the time for Children of God to rise up and posses the kingdom of God.
Jesus spoke to Martha about Faith. Jesus did not come earlier because that was not God’s timing. He was so specific, Lazarus was called by name.
I believe that if Jesus had simply said “come out” instead of “Lazarus, come out” (John 11:43), all who were in their graves would have come forth because Jesus’ has resurrection power in His Word and all He needs to do is speak and it will be whatever He speaks.
Today He is calling you by name – It was up to Lazarus to come out! It is upon you to either come out of that grave or stay there. Fill in your name. You have cried enough.. you have fasted enough. Today, chose to come out. Pastors come out of that grave!
“Your brother will rise again,” Jesus told Martha.
Listen to me, Jesus knows the pain you have and agony you are going through. He is going to perform a miracle in your life which is called “come and see”
There is a possibility that you can come out of that situation. Jesus is the resurrection and the life. The resurrection is not a place. It is a person, Jesus. He is life and He is here with us ready to perform a miracle in your life. Obey His instruction when He speaks.
You might be buried but not dead. It might be that people have mourned your death but, you are not dead child of the most high God. You are coming out of that grave in the mighty name of Jesus. Take off the grave clothes… you have been in that grave for too long. The voice of the Lord is calling, taking you out. The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness, says the lord.
The conclusion of your story has not been written. Jesus raised Lazarus and many more because their destiny was incomplete – God is not done with you yet therefore, you have to live.
Sermon by Pastor Edith Kamese.
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She is a higher institution lecturer in Korea, mother of five (five) and wife to Praise Cathedral Ntinda senior Pastor Godfrey Kamese.
