Author: E. DeWayne Swann

PRAYER Part 4

How Does God Answer Prayers?

YES.

NO.

Wait, or I have something better.

  

YES!

 

When Peter was in prison and a “prayer was being made earnestly to God for him by the church.”

Acts 12:5-17 (HCSB)
⁵ So Peter was kept in prison, but prayer was being made earnestly to God for him by the church.
⁶ On the night before Herod was to bring him out ⌊for execution⌋, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while the sentries in front of the door guarded the prison.⁷ Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him up and said, “Quick, get up!” Then the chains fell off his wrists. ⁸ “Get dressed,” the angel told him, “and put on your sandals.” And he did so. “Wrap your cloak around you,” he told him, “and follow me.” ⁹ So he went out and followed, and he did not know that what took place through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.¹⁰ After they passed the first and second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went outside and passed one street, and immediately the angel left him.
¹¹ Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from all that the Jewish people expected.” ¹² When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many had assembled and were praying. ¹³ He knocked at the door in the gateway, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer.¹⁴ She recognized Peter’s voice, and because of her joy, she did not open the gate but ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gateway.
¹⁵ “You’re crazy!” they told her. But she kept insisting that it was true. Then they said, “It’s his angel!” ¹⁶ Peter, however, kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astounded.
¹⁷ Motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he explained to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Report these things to James and the brothers,” he said. Then he departed and went to a different place.

 

NO!

Isn’t “No” an Answer?

Amy Carmichael

 

Just a tiny little child Three years old,

And a mother with a heart All of gold.

Often did that mother say, Jesus hears us when we pray,

For He’s never far away And He always answers.

 

Now, that tiny little child Had brown eyes,

And she wanted blue instead Like blue skies.

For her mother’s eyes were blue Like forget-me-nots. She knew

All her mother said was true, Jesus always answered.

 

So, she prayed for two blue eyes, Said “Good night,”

Went to sleep in deep content And delight.

Woke up early, climbed a chair By a mirror. Where, O where

Could the blue eyes be? Not there; Jesus hadn’t answered.

 

Hadn’t answered her at all; Never more

Could she pray; her eyes were brown As before.

Did a little soft wind blow? Came a whisper soft and low,

“Jesus answered. He said, No;  Isn’t No an answer?”

 

The above poem, written by Amy Carmichael, was based on an incident that actually did occur in her life when she was three. It turned out to be in the providence of God for her to have brown eyes.

She became a missionary to India in the late 1890s. At first her ministry was primarily evangelistic. But along the way she became aware that some parents in India sold their daughters to the temple, where they were used for immoral purposes.

God led one such child to her, and through a series of events and a sense of the Lord’s leading, Amy took the child in. Then more stories of other girls (and later, boys) surfaced and more opportunities to rescue and provide homes for these children arose.

Amy had to struggle with this, because the Lord had seemed to be blessing her evangelistic work. Was it right to turn from that ministry to give herself to housing and raising children? She concluded that that was indeed God’s will for her life.

The ministry grew exponentially and eventually became a whole compound, with housing for children of all ages, the workers who took care of them, and even their own hospital.

As Amy went “undercover” to find details of these children, she would stain her arms with coffee and wear Indian dress so that she could pass as an Indian woman and move freely in Indian society where she never could have as an Irish missionary.

This she could not have done with blue eyes — her eyes would have given her away immediately. Neither she nor her mother could have ever known, all those years ago, the Lord’s purpose for her brown eyes, but the lesson of faith stayed with her all her life.

 

Sometimes I have to thank God for what we call “Unanswered Prayers”

 Wait, or I have something better.

When Jesus was in the garden, He Himself had to wait, As One preacher said, Jesus isn’t just there to pray at the Mount of Olives . . . He is there to wait. He knows what’s coming, He has been waiting for it, and He is ready to fulfill His promise. Over and over through the Gospels Jesus says my hour or time has not come. And then He said the time has come for the Son Of Man to be glorified.

John 17:1 (HCSB)

Jesus Praying for Himself

¹ Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven, and said: Father, (every time Jesus prays, He says Father) the hour has come. Glorify (glory, honor, magnify)
Your Son so that the Son may glorify You, …

Even Jesus had to wait, and accept what he physically didn’t want, pain, for us!

We have to trust The God that knows tomorrow, He knows what is best for us.

Sometimes there’s a spiritual battle, likes we have never seen and the answer is delayed but right on time. As when Daniel “prayed for all of Israel because they have broken God’s law and turned away, and refusing to obey You. The promised curse written in the law of Moses, the servant of God, has been poured out on us because we have sinned against Him.” Daniel 9:11

And an angel shows up;

Daniel 10:12-14 (HCSB)
…¹² “Don’t be afraid, Daniel,” he said to me, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers.¹³ But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia. ¹⁴ Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the last days, for the vision refers to those days.” …

It took a while but God gave him a prophetic answer, and God says;

Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV)
³ ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

“Answer you, and show” you will get an answer and He will SHOW you things, great and mighty things, not GIVE you things.

As long as God can get the Glory, He will Show and at times give us exactly what we need, and sometimes things we didn’t know we needed.

 

And sometimes there is an answer before we asked;

There is a story of a missionary family in the early 1900’s in Africa they had 2 small children. The second being born after they arrived on the mission field. The youngest was sickly and needed much care.

It had to be wrapped in blankets most of the time to ensure that it stayed warm enough. The mother was heard to say, over and over, “I wish we had a hot water bottle.” Her thinking was that with a hot water bottle, she could place it next to the child and provide it some heat. After a few weeks, a package arrived from England.

In that package were several items that were sent to the family anonymously to help them in their new location. Among the items, there was a hot water bottle. The mother thanked God, but couldn’t recall having prayed for it.

As the last of the items were taken out of the box, the oldest child came to her mother and said, “Where’s my new baby doll?” Her mother responded, “There isn’t a doll in here.” The little girl asked them to look again, and when they did, under all the packing material was a little, new baby doll.

The mother asked the girl how she knew there was a doll in there. She said, “Well, when I asked God to send a hot water bottle for the baby, I asked Him to send me a dolly.”

This story becomes even more remarkable when we stop to consider that this package had to travel to Africa first by ship, then by pack animals until it reached the family. It began its journey some 6 months before the baby had been born and before the little girl had ever begun to pray for those things!

What a God we serve!

And again, and it is well worth repeating,

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV)
¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Pray without ceasing, Pray all the time.

In everything give thanks, Praise Him!

This is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. This is the WILL of God!!

PRAYER Part 3

• Prayer of Praise.

 

1. Adoration (Thanking Him for who He is)

 

This psalm is a solemn meditation on, and admiration of, the glory and greatness of God, of which we are all concerned to think highly and honorably. It begins and ends with the same acknowledgment of the transcendent excellency of God’s name. It is proposed for proof v. 1 that God’s name is excellent in all the earth, and then it is repeated as proved (with a “quod erat demonstrandum”-which was to be demonstrated) in the last verse. For the proof of God’s glory, the psalmist gives instances of his goodness to man; for God’s goodness is his glory.
Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible.

 

Psalm 8:1-9 (HCSB)
¹ Yahweh, our Lord, how magnificent is Your name throughout the earth! You have covered the heavens with Your majesty.
² Because of Your adversaries, You have established a stronghold from the mouths of children and nursing infants to silence the enemy and the avenger.
³ When I observe Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You set in place, ⁴ what is man that You remember him, the son of man that You look after him?
⁵ You made him little less than God and crowned him with glory and honor.
⁶ You made him lord over the works of Your hands; You put everything under his feet: ⁷ all the sheep and oxen, as well as the animals in the wild,
⁸ the birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea that pass through the currents of the seas.
⁹ Yahweh, our Lord, how magnificent is Your name throughout the earth!

 

Thanking God, Yahweh, for Who He Is, that is Adoration!!!

 

 Thanksgiving (Thanking Him for what He has done)

 

This psalm has something of David in it, but much more of Christ. It begins with such expressions of devotion as may be applied to Christ; but concludes with such confidence of a resurrection (and so timely a one as to prevent corruption) as must be applied to Christ, to him only, and cannot be understood of David, as both St. Peter and St. Paul have observed.

 

Acts 2:24-25 (NKJV)
²⁴ whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.
²⁵ For David says concerning Him: ‘I foresaw the LORD always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.

 

Acts 13:36 (NKJV)
³⁶ “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption;
Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible.

 

 Psalm 16:1-11 (NKJV)
¹ Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.
² O my soul, you have said to the LORD, “You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.”
³ As for the saints who are on the earth, “They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.”
⁴ Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god; Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, Nor take up their names on my lips.
⁵ O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot.
⁶ The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.
⁷ I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.
⁸ I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
⁹ Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.
¹⁰ For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
¹¹ You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

 

Thanking Him for what He has done, and there nothing more important than being able to be with God when we die.

 

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (NKJV)
⁶ So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. ⁷ For we walk by faith, not by sight. ⁸ We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

 

Pray a prayer of Praise, Thanking Him for who He is, and thanking Him for wat He has done and will do. Those are some of the sweetest prayer times you can have.

 

Hebrews 13:15 (NKJV)
¹⁵ Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

 

When you are down, Praise Him

When things aren’t going like you like, Praise Him

When tears are pouring down your face, Praise Him

When things are going great then, Praise Him

When the world seems like it’s falling apart, Praise Him

In all things Praise Him

 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV)
¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

 

And when you do, you are inviting Holy God to come and Sit and spend some beautiful time with Him!

 

Psalm 22:3 (NKJV)
³ But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel.

 

Enthroned means to sit down with, He comes and sits with you when you are Praising Him. That’s really good company to be in. As Lazarus was one setting at the table with Jesus, after being raised from the grave. John 11, and 12 are some of my most favorite passages in the Bible.

 

John 12:1-2 (NKJV)
¹ Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead.
² There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him.

 

Setting at the Table with Jesus, it doesn’t get any better than that.

 

Ezra 3:11 (NKJV)
¹¹ And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever toward Israel.” Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

 

Psalm 7:17 (NKJV)
¹⁷ I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

 

Psalm 9:1 (NKJV)
¹ I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.

 

Psalm 35:18 (NKJV)
¹⁸ I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people.

 

Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)
⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

Hebrews 13:15-16 (NKJV)
¹⁵ Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
¹⁶ But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

 

So, that will bring us to next week’s lesson on PRAYER Part 4

How Does God Answer Prayers? YES. NO. or 

Wait, or I have something better.

PRAYER Part 2

• Prayer of petition; Asking for something.

 

 

We see, Jesus Prayed for Himself

Its ok to pray for yourself, I hear people all the time saying thing like, “I know it’s a selfish to pray for myself,” and my response is, it depends on what you are praying.

 

John 17:1-26 (HCSB)

¹ Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven, and said: Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son so that the Son may glorify You,
² for You gave Him authority over all flesh; so He may give eternal life to all You have given Him.
³ This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent—Jesus Christ.
⁴ I have glorified You on the earth by completing the work You gave Me to do.
⁵ Now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with that glory I had with You before the world existed.

 

And then we need to pray for the ones closest to us;

 

Jesus Prayed for The Disciples

⁶ I have revealed Your name to the men You gave Me from the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.
⁷ Now they know that all things You have given to Me are from You,
⁸ because the words that You gave Me, I have given them. They have received them and have known for certain that I came from You. They have believed that You sent Me.
⁹ I pray for them. I am not praying for the world but for those You have given Me, because they are Yours.
¹⁰ Everything I have is Yours, and everything You have is Mine, and I have been glorified in them.
¹¹ I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by Your name that You have given Me, so that they may be one as We are one.
¹² While I was with them, I was protecting them by Your name that You have given Me. I guarded them and not one of them is lost, except the son of destruction, (or KJV son of perdition = ruin or loss SOP the bread ) so that the Scripture may be fulfilled.

 

¹³ Now I am coming to You, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have My joy completed in them.
¹⁴ I have given them Your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, as I am not of the world.
¹⁵ I am not praying that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one.
¹⁶ They are not of the world, as I am not of the world.
¹⁷ Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.
¹⁸ As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
¹⁹ I sanctify Myself for them, so they also may be sanctified by the truth.

 

And then I say pray as Christ did for new believers!!!

Jesus Prayed for all Believers, All of US!!!

 

²⁰ I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in Me through their message.
²¹ May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me.
²² I have given them the glory You have given Me. May they be one as We are one.
²³ I am in them and You are in Me. May they be made completely one, so the world may know You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me.
²⁴ Father, I desire those You have given Me to be with Me where I am. Then they will see My glory, which You have given Me because You loved Me before the world’s foundation.
²⁵ Righteous Father! The world has not known You. However, I have known You, and these have known that You sent Me.
²⁶ I made Your name known to them and will make it known, so the love You have loved Me with may be in them and I may be in them.

 

True Prayer

The true spirit of prayer is no other than God’s own Spirit dwelling in the hearts of the saints. And as this Spirit comes from God, so does it naturally tend to God in holy breathings and panting. It naturally leads to God, to converse with him by prayer. – Jonathan Edwards

PRAYER Part 1

Three Prayers, I believe every prayer falls into one of these categories

• Prayer of penance and acceptance; (Salvation) Repent turn 180 degrees. Confession (acknowledge you have sinned) = verb feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one’s wrongdoing or sin.
• Prayer of petition; Asking for something.
• Prayer of Praise.

1. Adoration (Thanking Him for who He is)
2. Thanksgiving (Thanking Him for what He has done)

 

• Prayer of penance and acceptance; (Salvation)

 

The Sinner’s Prayer is a Christian name relating to any prayer of repentance, prayed by individuals who believe convicted of the presence of sin in their lives and have the desire to establish or renew a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

The Sinner’s Prayer in Scripture

The Sinner’s Prayer is a prayer that is said when someone seeks to repent of their sin, accept God’s forgiveness and state their belief in the life, death, and saving resurrection of Jesus Christ. The sinner’s prayer is sometimes also known as the “salvation prayer” or “Consecration Prayer.” In scripture, there is reference to a process of repentance, faith, and salvation in the book of Romans.

The “Romans” Road to the Gospel of Jesus Christ

The Problem of Sin

Romans 3:10

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:23

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”

The Wages of Sin

Romans 5:12

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Romans 6:23a

“For the wages of sin is death…”

The Love of God

Romans 5:8

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us,

in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

The Free Gift of Salvation

Romans 6:23b

“But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Accepting the Free Gift

Romans 10:9 & 13

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart

that God has raised Him from the dead,

you will be saved.

For whoever calls on the name of the LORD

shall be saved.

Millions, if not billions, have established a saving relationship with Jesus Christ through church services, friends, and family guiding them in a salvation prayer. However, it is not solely the words in a prayer that save us eternally. We are “justified by faith” in Jesus and saved by our genuine belief in Him. J.D Greerer describes it well – “It’s not the prayer that saves; it’s the repentance and faith behind the prayer that lays hold of salvation. My concern is that over-emphasizing the prayer has often (though unintentionally) obscured the primary instruments for laying hold of salvation: repentance and faith.”

The Sinner’s Prayer: Examples

A Simple Sinner’s Prayer

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness.

I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin.

You said in the bible that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved.

Right now, I confess Jesus as my Lord. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Amen.

Prayer of Salvation

Dear Lord, I admit that I am a sinner and have done many things that don’t please you. I have lived my life for myself only. I am sorry, and I repent. I ask you to forgive me.

I believe that you died on the cross for me, to save me. You did what I could not do for myself. I come to you now and ask you to take control of my life; I give it to you. From this day forward, help me to live every day for you and in a way that pleases you.

I love you, Lord, and I thank you that I will spend all eternity with you. Amen.

Sinner’s Prayer for Children

Jesus – I know that you made me and want me to obey you with all my heart. I know I have disobeyed and wanted to be my own boss. I have thought and done things against your directions. For this I am sorry. I know that you gave up his life to save me from these sins and make me your child again. I accept your promises and ask you to please save me now and forever. Amen.

Or

All you have to do is Pray and say something like this but in your own words. “God, thank you for sending Jesus to take my place and forgiving me of my wrong doings, so please I accept that forgiveness and help me to live a better life, so He won’t have so much more to pay for, and come and live in my heart, so I can be with you in Heaven someday, Amen””.

Sinner’s Prayer from Scripture

“Have mercy on me, O God,
according to Your unfailing love;
according to Your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in Your sight,
so that You are proved right when You speak
and justified when You judge.
Surely I have been a sinner from birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me…
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me and I will be whiter than snow…
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from Your presence
or take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.
Then will I teach transgressors Your ways,
and sinners will turn back to You.”

– (Psalm 51, King David)

The Sinner’s Prayer (by Dr. Ray Pritchard)

Lord Jesus, for too long I’ve kept you out of my life. I know that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. No longer will I close the door when I hear you knocking. By faith, I gratefully receive your gift of salvation. I am ready to trust you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. I believe you are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank you for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I believe your words are true. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and be my Savior. Amen.

Tell Me the Story of Jesus

Part 4

Verse 4. Tell how He’s gone back to heaven,
Up to the right hand of God:
How He is there interceding
While on this earth we must trod.
Tell of the sweet Holy Spirit
He has poured out from above;
Tell how He’s coming in glory
For all the saints of His love.

1. BEHOLD THE KING! Some 2,000 years later!

 

Jude 1:14-15 (NKJV)

14 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints,

15 to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

 

Revelation 1:7 (NKJV)

7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

 

Revelation 1:18 (NKJV)

18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

 

THE KING IS COMING…AGAIN!

Revelation 3:11 (NKJV)

11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

Revelation 16:15 (NKJV)

15 “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”

Revelation 22:7 (NKJV)

7 “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

HE IS COMING WON’T YOU COME TO MEET HIM?

Conclusion: You may remember Him as the great teacher, the gentle shepherd or the miracle worker. Let’s not forget what God taught about Him when He said: BEHOLD!

Tell me the story of Jesus. Write on my heart every word;
Tell me the story most precious, Sweetest that ever was heard.

Tell Me the Story of Jesus

Part 3

Verse 3. Tell of the cross where they nailed Him,
Writhing in anguish and pain;
Tell of the grave where they laid Him,
Tell how He liveth again.
Love in that story so tender,
Clearer than ever I see;
Stay, let me weep while you whisper,
“Love paid the ransom for me.”

 

IV. BEHOLD THE MAN!

33 1/2 years old!

John 19:4-6 (NKJV)

4 Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.”

5 Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!”

6 Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.”

 

Isaiah 53:5-6 (NKJV)

5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

 

Isaiah 53:10 (NKJV)

10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.

 

To have been-

The cup that His lips touched
The Bread which He broke
The cloth that He held as He served
The wine He poured as He spoke

To have been the road He walked upon
Or His print in the sand
To have been the door opening the tomb
BUT I WAS THE NAIL IN HIS HAND!

 

V. BEHOLD THE SAVIOUR!

Three Days Later

Luke 24:36-49

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

(John 20:19-23; Acts 1:3-5; 1 Cor 15:5)

36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.”  37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?  39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.   41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?”  42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.   43 And He took it and ate in their presence.

The Scriptures Opened

44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”  45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  48 And you are witnesses of these things.  49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”  NKJV

 

John 1:1-2 (NKJV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God.

THE ETERNAL WORD BECAME THE LIVING WORD; WHEN HE WENT BACK TO HEAVEN, HE LEFT US HIS WRITTEN WORD!

John 1:3-4 (NKJV)

3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Tell Me the Story of Jesus

Part 2

Verse 2. Fasting alone in the desert,
Tell of the days that are past,
How for our sins He was tempted,
Yet was triumphant at last.
Tell of the years of His labor,
Tell of the sorrow He bore;
He was despised and afflicted,
Homeless, rejected and poor.

Luke 4:1-13

Satan Tempts Jesus

(Matt 4:1-11; Mark 1:12,13)

4:1 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days, He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.

3 And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”

4 But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'”

Where is it written?

Deuteronomy 8:3 So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD. NKJV

 

Luke 4:5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”

Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'”

 

Where is it written?

Deuteronomy 6:13-15 (NKJV)

13 You shall fear the LORD your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name.

14 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you

15 (for the LORD your God is a jealous God among you), lest the anger of the LORD your God be aroused against you and destroy you from the face of the earth.

And

Deuteronomy 10:20 (NKJV)

20 You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him, and to Him you shall hold fast, and take oaths in His name.

Luke 4:9 Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. For it is written:

‘He shall give His angels charge over you,

To keep you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up,

Lest you dash your foot against a stone.'”

 

Now Satan is using scripture

 

Ps 91:11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. 12 In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

Luke 4:12 And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.'”

Where is it written? He had all of scripture but only used One Book Deuteronomy.

Deuteronomy 6:16 (NKJV)

16 “You shall not tempt the LORD your God as you tempted Him in Massah.

Luke 4:13 Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.   NKJV

 

Humility Cures Worldliness

James 4:7-10

7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

 

So, we see when tempted we need to do as Jesus did.

1 Pray

2 Depend on the Holy Spirit

3 Fast

4 Use the word of God.  The Bible.

 

Trust me, he will come back. And then: 1) Pray, 2) Depend on the Holy Spirit, 3) Fast, 4) Use the word of God. And make sure you know this, Satan know the scripture.

  

III. BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD!

Thirty Years Old!

John 1:29 (NKJV)

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:36 (NKJV)

36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”

The lamb that was promised way back in Genesis. …

Genesis 22:7-8 (NKJV)

7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.

Exodus 12:3 (NKJV)

3 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth day of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household.

Hebrews 9:22 (NKJV)

22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

1 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)

7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

Revelation 5:12 (NKJV)

12 saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

 

The Lamb that is given as the sacrifice for our sins.

Tell Me the Story of Jesus

Part 1

Frances J. Crosby, pub.1880
v. 4 by Leslie C. Busbee, c.2003

Verse 1. Tell me the story of Jesus,
Write on my heart every word;
Tell me the story most precious,
Sweetest that ever was heard.
Tell how the angels in chorus,
Sang as they welcomed His birth,
“Glory to God in the highest!
Peace and good tidings to earth.”

I want let a song and the “Word of God”.

Tell you that Story of Jesus.

 

Text:  Luke 2:8-14

Glory in the Highest

Luke 2:8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”   NKJV

Today we will look at what God wants us to see when in His word when he says, “BEHOLD!”

BEHOLD = To Look and to come to knowledge. see: to see or observe something or somebody (formal) (often used in commands)

 

1. BEHOLD THE BABY! vs 10 -11

Luke 2:10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

It’s a Boy!

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

1. BEHOLD THE FATHER’S SON!

Twelve years old!

The Family Returns to Nazareth

Luke 2:39-52

39 So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

The Boy Jesus Amazes the Scholars

41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.  And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. So, when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. So, when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”

49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”  But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.

Jesus Advances in Wisdom and Favor

51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.

And as he grew.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.   NKJV

ARE YOU WILLING TO BE IN THE WILL OF GOD?

Part 4

 Helping a grieving person tip

 

1: Understand the grieving process

 The better your understanding of grief and how it is healed, the better equipped you’ll be to help a bereaved friend or family member:

 There is no right or wrong way to grieve. Grief does not always unfold in orderly, predictable stages. It can be an emotional rollercoaster, with unpredictable highs, lows, and setbacks. Everyone grieves differently, so avoid telling your loved one what they “should” be feeling or doing.

 

Grief may involve extreme emotions and behaviors. Feelings of guilt, anger, despair, and fear are common. A grieving person may yell to the heavens, obsess about the death, lash out at loved ones, or cry for hours on end. Your loved one needs reassurance that what they feel is normal. Don’t judge them or take their grief reactions personally.

 There is no set timetable for grieving. For many people, recovery after bereavement takes 18 to 24 months, but for others, the grieving process may be longer or shorter. Don’t pressure your loved one to move on or make them feel like they’ve been grieving too long. This can actually slow the healing process.

 

Tip 2: Know what to say to someone who’s grieving

While many of us worry about what to say to a grieving person, it’s actually more important to listen. Oftentimes, well-meaning people avoid talking about the death or change the subject when the deceased person is mentioned. Or, knowing there’s nothing they can say to make it better, they try to avoid the grieving person altogether.

But the bereaved need to feel that their loss is acknowledged, it’s not too terrible to talk about, and their loved one won’t be forgotten. One day they may want to cry on your shoulder, on another day they may want to vent, or sit in silence, or share memories. By being present and listening compassionately, you can take your cues from the grieving person. Simply being there and listening to them can be a huge source of comfort and healing.

How to talk—and listen—to someone who’s grieving

While you should never try to force someone to open up, it’s important to let your grieving friend or loved one know that you’re there to listen if they want to talk about their loss. Talk candidly about the person who died and don’t steer away from the subject if the deceased’s name comes up. And when it seems appropriate, ask sensitive questions—without being nosy—that invite the grieving person to openly express their feelings. By simply asking, “Do you feel like talking?” you’re letting your loved one know that you’re available to listen.

You can also:

 Acknowledge the situation. For example, you could say something as simple as: “I heard that your father died.” By using the word “died” you’ll show that you’re more open to talk about how the grieving person really feels.

 Express your concern. For example: “I’m sorry to hear that this happened to you.”

 Let the bereaved talk about how their loved one died. People who are grieving may need to tell the story over and over again, sometimes in minute detail. Be patient. Repeating the story is a way of processing and accepting the death. With each retelling, the pain lessens. By listening patiently and compassionately, you’re helping your loved one heal.

Ask how your loved one feels. The emotions of grief can change rapidly so don’t assume you know how the bereaved person feels at any given time. If you’ve gone through a similar loss, share your own experience if you think it would help. Remember, though, that grief is an intensely individual experience. No two people experience it exactly the same way, so don’t claim to “know” what the person is feeling or compare your grief to theirs. Again, put the emphasis on listening instead, and ask your loved one to tell you how they’re feeling.

Accept your loved one’s feelings. Let the grieving person know that it’s okay to cry in front of you, to get angry, or to break down. Don’t try to reason with them over how they should or shouldn’t feel. Grief is a highly emotional experience, so the bereaved need to feel free to express their feelings—no matter how irrational—without fear of judgment, argument, or criticism.

 Be genuine in your communication. Don’t try to minimize their loss, provide simplistic solutions, or offer unsolicited advice. It’s far better to just listen to your loved one or simply admit: “I’m not sure what to say, but I want you to know I care.”

 Be willing to sit in silence. Don’t press if the grieving person doesn’t feel like talking. Often, comfort for them comes from simply being in your company. If you can’t think of something to say, just offer eye contact, a squeeze of the hand, or a reassuring hug.

 Offer your support. Ask what you can do for the grieving person. Offer to help with a specific task, such as helping with funeral arrangements, or just be there to hang out with or as a shoulder to cry on.

Things to avoid saying to someone who’s grieving

 “It’s part of God’s plan.” This phrase can make people angry and they often respond with, “What plan? Nobody told me about any plan.”

 “Look at what you have to be thankful for.” They know they have things to be thankful for, but right now they are not important.

 “He’s in a better place now.” The bereaved may or may not believe this. Keep your beliefs to yourself unless asked.

 “This is behind you now; it’s time to get on with your life.” Sometimes the bereaved are resistant to getting on with because they feel this means “forgetting” their loved one. Besides, moving on is much easier said than done. Grief has a mind of its own and works at its own pace.

 Statements that begin with “You should” or “You will.” These statements are too directive. Instead you could begin your comments with: “Have you thought about…” or “You might try…”

Source: American Hospice Foundation

 Tip 3: Offer practical assistance

It is difficult for many grieving people to ask for help. They might feel guilty about receiving so much attention, fear being a burden to others, or simply be too depressed to reach out. A grieving person may not have the energy or motivation to call you when they need something, so instead of saying, “Let me know if there’s anything I can do,” make it easier for them by making specific suggestions. You could say, “I’m going to the market this afternoon. What can I bring you from there?” or “I’ve made beef stew for dinner. When can I come by and bring you some?”

If you’re able, try to be consistent in your offers of assistance. The grieving person will know that you’ll be there for as long as it takes and can look forward to your attentiveness without having to make the additional effort of asking again and again.

There are many practical ways you can help a grieving person. You can offer to:

• Shop for groceries or run errands
• Drop off a casserole or other type of food
• Help with funeral arrangements
• Stay in your loved one’s home to take phone calls and receive guests
• Help with insurance forms or bills
• Take care of housework, such as cleaning or laundry
• Watch their children or pick them up from school
• Drive your loved one wherever they need to go
• Look after your loved one’s pets
• Go with them to a support group meeting
• Accompany them on a walk
• Take them to lunch or a movie
• Share an enjoyable activity (sport, game, puzzle, art project)

Tip 4: Provide ongoing support

 Your loved one will continue grieving long after the funeral is over and the cards and flowers have stopped. The length of the grieving process varies from person to person, but often lasts much longer than most people expect. Your bereaved friend or family member may need your support for months or even years.

 Continue your support over the long haul. Stay in touch with the grieving person, periodically checking in, dropping by, or sending letters or cards. Once the funeral is over and the other mourners are gone, and the initial shock of the loss has worn off, your support is more valuable than ever.

 Don’t make assumptions based on outward appearances. The bereaved person may look fine on the outside, while inside they’re suffering. Avoid saying things like “You are so strong” or “You look so well.” This puts pressure on the person to keep up appearances and to hide their true feelings.

 The pain of bereavement may never fully heal. Be sensitive to the fact that life may never feel the same. You don’t “get over” the death of a loved one. The bereaved person may learn to accept the loss. The pain may lessen in intensity over time, but the sadness may never completely go away.

 Offer extra support on special days. Certain times and days of the year will be particularly hard for your grieving friend or family member. Holidays, family milestones, birthdays, and anniversaries often reawaken grief. Be sensitive on these occasions. Let the bereaved person know that you’re there for whatever they need.

 

Tip 5: Watch for warning signs of depression

It’s common for a grieving person to feel depressed, confused, disconnected from others, or like they’re going crazy. But if the bereaved person’s symptoms don’t gradually start to fade—or they get worse with time—this may be a sign that normal grief has evolved into a more serious problem, such as clinical depression.

Encourage the grieving person to seek professional help if you observe any of the following warning signs after the initial grieving period—especially if it’s been over two months since the death.

1. Difficulty functioning in daily life
2. Extreme focus on the death
3. Excessive bitterness, anger, or guilt
4. Neglecting personal hygiene
5. Alcohol or drug abuse
6. Inability to enjoy life
7. Hallucinations
8. Withdrawing from others
9. Constant feelings of hopelessness
10. Talking about dying or suicide

It can be tricky to bring up your concerns to the bereaved person as you don’t want to be perceived as invasive. Instead of telling the person what to do, try stating your own feelings: “I am troubled by the fact that you aren’t sleeping—perhaps you should look into getting help. “

Take talk of suicide very seriously

If a grieving friend or family member talks about suicide, seek help immediately. Please call a suicide helpline:

How to comfort a child who’s grieving

Myths and facts about grief and grieving

Myth: The pain will go away faster if you ignore it

Fact: Trying to ignore your pain or keep it from surfacing will only make it worse in the long run. For real healing, it is necessary to face your grief and actively deal with it.

Myth: It’s important to “be strong” in the face of loss.

Fact: Feeling sad, frightened, or lonely is a normal reaction to loss. Crying doesn’t mean you are weak. You don’t need to “protect” your family or friends by putting on a brave front. Showing your true feelings can help them and you.

Myth: If you don’t cry, it means you aren’t sorry about the loss.

Fact: Crying is a normal response to sadness, but it’s not the only one. Those who don’t cry may feel the pain just as deeply as others. They may simply have other ways of showing it.

Myth: Grieving should last about a year.

Fact: There is no specific time frame for grieving. How long it takes differs from person to person.

Myth: Moving on with your life means forgetting about your loss.

Fact: Moving on means you’ve accepted your loss—but that’s not the same as forgetting. You can move on with your life and keep the memory of someone or something you lost as an important part of you. In fact, as we move through life, these memories can become more and more integral to defining the people we are.

 

Copied from a friend. I thought all of us could benefit from this.

It’s interesting to be on the other side of cancer…

To be standing on the side that claims “survivor” while you

Watch helplessly as your fellow fighters desperately swim to shore.

It’s an interesting thing to be on the other side of cancer…

Knowing the fight after the chemo has ended, but the quiet

under diagnosed battle begins within.

It’s an interesting thing to be on the other side of cancer…

To wrestle with gratitude and grief

To urgently try to do all the things while attempting to quietly just “be”

To stand on the dock watching the turbulent waters or turn and walk

towards the shore of “normal” again.

No one told me about this cancer after cancer.

The cancer of grief, of loneliness, of anger, of fear, of quilt.

No one told me about the messy, hard and quiet fight from survivor to thriver.

The who you become when the fight outside of you is over but the

fight within you rages on.

I think it’s left unspoken because even I struggle to explain it, to find the words for

it, to understand it.

But what I can tell you is, on the days the battle feels hard, feels lonely, or the waters

Crash onto the dock, there’s a quiet place.

It’s like a peace that surpasses all understanding as if joy and grief stand with me on

That dock, both invited guests.

I’m finding it’s this peace that permits me

That where I’ve been in the path

For where He

Can call me to go. How beautiful is that?

I love that peace.

 

Whatever you’re fighting, whatever cancer you carry, or peace you seek…

Stand on your dock and remind yourself that your mess is His message.

He’ll always bring you the peace.

 

 

ARE YOU WILLING TO BE IN THE WILL OF GOD?

Part 3

 

The Anointing at Bethany

 (Matt 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9)

 12:1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead.

2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, (worker) but (NOW HERES YOUR JOB THIS WEEKEND) Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him.

3 Then Mary(worshiper) took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

 

4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said,

5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”

6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.

 7 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. 

8 For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.” 

 

 The Plot to Kill Lazarus

 (Matt 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-40)

 9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. (that’s why we are here this weekend so you can lead others to Christ)

10 But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, (just because you are sitting at the table with Jesus doesn’t mean Satan is going to give up but that he will come at you even harder)

11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus. (WITTNESS) and your job when this weekend is over.) NKJV

Remember 11:4

4 When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 

Lazarus was not let in on what was going to happen.  But… because on account of him many …went away and believed in Jesus.

 

When Death Becomes Birth
by Max Lucado

You, as all God’s children, live one final breath from your own funeral. Which, from God’s perspective, is nothing to grieve. He responds to these grave facts with this great news: “The day you die is better than the day you are born” (Eccles. 7:1). Now there is a twist. Heaven enjoys a maternity-ward reaction to funerals. Angels watch body burials the same way grandparents monitor delivery-room doors. “He’ll be coming through any minute!” They can’t wait to see the new arrival. While we’re driving hearses and wearing black, they’re hanging pink and blue streamers and passing out cigars. We don’t grieve when babies enter the world. The hosts of heaven don’t weep when we leave it.

Oh, but many of us weep at the thought of death. Do you? Do you dread your death?

Is your fear of dying robbing your joy of living? Jesus came to “deliver those who have lived all their lives as slaves to the fear of dying” (Heb. 2:15).

If Scripture boasted a list of the famous dead, Lazarus would be near the top. He lived in Bethany, a sleepy hamlet that sat a short walk from Jerusalem. Jesus spent a lot of time there. Maybe he liked the kitchen of Martha or the devotion of Mary. One thing is for sure: he considered Lazarus a friend. News of Lazarus’s death prompts Jesus to say, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up” (John 11:11).

And now, four days after the funeral, Jesus has come calling. Literally calling, “Lazarus, come out!” Can we try to picture Lazarus as he hears those words? Heaven-sent Lazarus. Heaven-happy Lazarus. Four days into his measureless days. By now he’s forming fast friendships with other saints. King David shows him the harps. Moses invites him over for tea and manna. Elijah and Elisha take him for a spin in the fiery chariot. Daniel has promised him a lion of a Bible story. He’s on his way to hear it when a voice booms through the celestial city.

“Lazarus, come out!”

Everybody knows that voice. No one wonders, Who was that? Angels stop. Hosts of holy-city dwellers turn toward the boy from Bethany, and someone says, “Looks like you’re going back for another tour of duty.”

Lazarus doesn’t question the call. Perfect understanding comes with a heavenly passport. He doesn’t object. But had he done so, who could have faulted him? His heavenly body knows no fever. His future no fear. He indwells a city that is void of padlocks, prisons, and Prozac. With sin and death nonexistent, preachers, doctors, and lawyers are free to worship. Would anyone blame Lazarus for saying, “Do I have to go back?”

But he doesn’t second-guess the command. Nor does anyone else. Return trips have been frequent of late. The daughter of the synagogue ruler. The boy from Nain. Now Lazarus from Bethany. Lazarus turns toward the rarely used exit door. The very one, I suppose, Jesus used some thirty earth years earlier. With a wave and within a wink, he’s reunited with his body and waking up on a cold slab in a wall-hewn grave. The rock to the entrance has been moved, and Lazarus attempts to do the same. Mummy-wrapped, he stiffly sits up and walks out of the tomb with the grace of Frankenstein’s monster.

People stare and wonder.

We read and may ask, “Why did Jesus let him die only to call him back?”

To show who runs the show. To trump the cemetery card. To display the unsquashable strength of the One who danced the Watusi on the neck of the devil, who stood face to clammy face with death and declared, “You call that a dead end? I call it an escalator.”

“Lazarus, come out!”

Those words, incidentally, were only a warm up for the big day. He’s preparing a worldwide grave evacuation” ________, come out!”   Grave after grave will empty. What happened to Lazarus will happen to us. Only our spirit-body reunion will occur in heaven, not Bethany Memorial Cemetery.

When this happens—when our perishable earthly bodies have been transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die—then at last the Scriptures will come true:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
(1 Cor. 15:54-55)

With Christ as your friend and heaven as your home, the day of death becomes sweeter than the day of birth.

From
Come Thirsty
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2004) Max Lucado

If you are experiencing any of these emotions following a loss, it may help to know that your reaction is natural and that you’ll heal in time. However, not everyone who grieves goes through all of these stages—and that’s okay. Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to go through each stage in order to heal. In fact, some people resolve their grief without going through any of these stages. And if you do go through these stages of grief, you probably won’t experience them in a neat, sequential order, so don’t worry about what you “should” be feeling or which stage you’re supposed to be in.

 

The keys to helping a loved one who’s grieving

• Don’t let fears about saying or doing the wrong thing stop you from reaching out
• Let your grieving loved one know that you’re there to listen
• Understand that everyone grieves differently and for different lengths of time
• Offer to help in practical ways
• Maintain your support after the funeral