Miracles – Week 5

An “Even Now” Faith

1 A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. 2 This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus was sick. 3 So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.” 4 But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’ sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” 5 So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 6 he stayed where he was for the next two days. John 11:1-6

17 When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. John 11:17

21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” John 11:21-22

Where do you need an “even now” kind of faith?

34 “Where have you put him?” he asked them. They told him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Then Jesus wept. 36 The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” 37 But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?” John 11:34-37

The crowd asks the same question we want to ask in our waiting for a miracle. Jesus healed a blind man, couldn’t he heal me, keep my marriage together, help me keep my job?

Don’t put a period, where there needs to be a comma. God’s not done yet!

43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” John 11:43-44

Jesus specializes in resurrections! What do you need resurrected in your life?

Jesus can heal & resurrect, but what if He hasn’t yet? 1. Jesus has bigger purposes and perspectives than we can understand. 2. If he hasn’t done the miracle yet, it’s NOT because he doesn’t care. 3. He is revealing His glory in some way through your story.

When God doesn’t answer in our timing, or in the way we want, we have a choice to make: will we trust Him?

Next Steps:

1. Keep praying & seeking. Maybe your miracle is just another day away!

2. Choose to trust God in the waiting.

3. While you wait, represent Jesus well. What if He is revealing His glory to someone else through you?

4. Take the step to experience spiritual healing. This is the miracle we all need and can all experience.

25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” John 11:25-26

Do you need that spiritual healing? Jesus didn’t come to just give us another 10-20 years, but an eternity with Him. Do you believe this?

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9