Again God's Word speaks. John 11 has so many powerful truths for us today. The thought hit me, could we be experiencing a Lazarus moment? Over the past several months, I, like thousands upon thousands, have cried out in prayer and fasting for God's grace and mercy to pour out over this election and our nation. It's almost like Martha and Mary in John: 1-3, who sent word to Jesus about their brother, Lazarus, "whom Jesus loved" letting Him know that Lazarus was very sick and to the point of death. How Jesus responds literally swept me off my feet... v.4 He responds, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."
WOW! Could what is happening today be so that Jesus will be glorified through this election and ultimately shine His Light in the darkness of all that is taking place?
Oh, as you read on please keep in mind, that Lazarus' name means "WHOM GOD HELPS."
In Jesus' perfect timing, He shows up in John 11:28-35! Already, Lazarus has been dead for four days and now lays in the tomb wrapped in linen burial cloth. To all the bystanders there was NO HOPE LEFT. A stench had already set in as Lazarus lay in the deep, darkness of the cave. Then Mary turns to Jesus and says, "Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died." When Jesus sees her and all the Jews with her weeping, He is deeply moved in His spirit and begins to weep with them.
A rumbling of doubt and disbelief ripples through the crowd as states like this are made... "Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?" (v.37)
Still groaning within Himself, he arrives at the tomb and says, "Take away the stone." Martha responds with, "Lord there is a stench because he's been dead 4 days." Jesus looks deep into her eyes and says, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" Then like a crescendo in the scriptures, Jesus lifts His eyes to His Father and said, "Thank You that You have heard Me and that these standing by Me might believe You sent Me." Then in a shout, Jesus commands Lazarus to come out. All of a sudden, Lazarus comes walking out of the deep dark cave bound in graveclothes with his face wrapped in cloth. Jesus said, "Loose him, and let him go." (v.38-44)
RESULT: A revival broke out and many BELIEVED IN JESUS! (v.45)
Again, this question comes to the forefront of my mind: Could we be in the middle of a Lazarus moment. For months, believers in Jesus have united in prayer as we've cried out to Him on behalf of this country and President Trump. For years, we've prayed for the Peace of Isreal, which we have seen taking place over the last 4 years. Is Jesus replying to our pleas, BUT we are refusing to believe when He responds, "This situation in America and around the world is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."
WOW! Humbleness flows. Falling to my knees, I ask God to forgive me for my unbelief and trust in His perfect timing. Once again, I am reminded that LIFE IS NOT ABOUT ME BUT ALL ABOUT HIM!
Like Lazarus whose name means "Whom God Helps," God is calling us to trust Him that He is working His perfect timing out in and through this 2020 election. Like those who wept and cried outside of Lazarus' cave, we've prayed and cried out for the Lord to shine His Light in the darkness of this election by exposing the lies, corruption, deceptions, dishonesty, and fraud. Like the aroma seeping through the cracks around the stone that covered Lazarus' tomb, are we believing the stench is too strong for Jesus to do anything about it now? Do we think there's no way Jesus could perform a miracle to bring about a mighty revival in this country? From this day forward, I'm believing like never before that God is working in His perfect timing as He is sending out a great army of prayer warriors and setting up a revival around the world... so that God will be gloried through Jesus forever and ever. Amen.
My Prayer Challenge... "This sickness (in the election) is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." AMEN