GOD’S PLANS FOR ALL OF OUR SITUATIONS (2)

Post date: Sep 24, 2020 11:21:22 PM

Don’t think that it is over for you; don’t surrender to fears in your heart or the intimidation about your present and your future; the confrontations around you or the intended actions to bring you to shame. Don’t surrender to the devil's antics, Satan’s unrelenting attacks, lies about you and the ones against you; don’t surrender because of the humiliations and the uncertainties; don’t in any way surrender your faith or substitute the word of God for anything else because of delays or unanswered prayers. Don’t surrender your trust in Christ Jesus because of the disappointments and the frustrations in waiting. Christ Jesus will do the unthinkable in and for you and He will do what no one had ever done or will ever do.

Remember the scene at the tomb of Lazarus where everyone had gathered to mourn his demise, to cry for the loss, to show their sympathy to his family and his sisters; where everyone in the town had given up hope of ever seeing him again; where everyone had believed it is over in this life to have any contact with him until after the resurrection day. It was a scene that his sisters and everyone else never expected a miracle could happen, and it was a scene where Jesus Christ was present after waiting for four days. Christ was there not to cry with them, not to sympathize with them, not to tell them stories of the resurrection, He was there to give them the comfort that was beyond their imaginations, beyond their beliefs, far beyond what any man could ever give to them in that situation. A comfort that did not only restore Lazarus back to life, but also restored the joy, the hope, the confidence, and the trust of the two sisters, the family, and the entire town. He turned their mourning into a celebration, a dance, and a renewed confidence. That is what the presence of Christ Jesus in your life will do for you also.

“Jesus once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. Take away the stone He said. But Lord said Martha the sister of the dead man, by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days. Then Jesus said, did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God? So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me. When He had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, Lazarus, come out. The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, take off the grave clothes and let him go. Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him” John 11:38-45. And Lazarus came back from the dead, the grave clothes removed from his body, new clothing given to him, a new life given to him and it was evident before everyone present that Lazarus was restored to life.

At the tomb, there was no other the expectation from the people than to mourn, cry and lament, but to Christ Jesus, it was a place to restore lost hope and confidence in the faith of the sisters and trust to others watching. With His voice, Christ commanded the stone used to physically seal the tomb be rolled out; with his voice, He gave thanks to the Father in heaven for always hearing Him when He calls; with a loud voice He commanded the dead Lazarus to come out of the tomb and immediately the power of death loss its hold on him and Lazarus walked out from the tomb to the full view of everyone standing, watching, mourning, and crying. Instantly, the scene changed from that of mourning to shouts of joy, to confirmation of seeing the impossible happen with their own eyes and an endless celebration of the restoration of Lazarus, restoration of lost hope, restoration of confidence in the faith, and elevation of trust in Christ Jesus. It also brought a restoration of confidence in salvation, in following Jesus Christ and relying on Him. The voice that brought restoration at the tomb of Lazarus will be heard in your case; it will restore your lost hope, confidence, and trust in the Christian faith in Christ Jesus. For prayers, Click here