God's Delays Part 2

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God's Delays

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Recap of 7/22/12 (John 11:1-6):

1.  Of the seven signs (or “sign-miracles”) recorded by John in his gospel, the climatic sign is the raising of Lazarus from the dead in John 11.  As with the other signs, Jesus’ nature, power & authority is demonstrated to prove John’s thesis that Jesus is God incarnate.  Jesus authority over matter is seen in Him changing water into wine and multiplying the meager fish and bread of a small boy to feed 5,000 plus.  His authority over sickness and disease is seen in His healing of the official’s son, healing of the man at the Pool of Bethesda, and healing of the man born blind.  His authority over nature is seen in His walking on water to the disciples on the Sea of Galilee.  His power and authority over death is seen in His raising Lazarus from the dead.  This miracle “exemplifies His power over the last and most irresistible enemy of humanity—death.”

2.  The setting for this seventh “sign-miracle” is the sickness and death of Jesus’ friend, Lazarus of Bethany, brother of Mary and Martha.  He was apparently a frequent guest in their home.  This trouble/tragedy comes upon them suddenly, not because of anything they had done.  They were not “out of God’s will” for John 11:4 makes it clear that this happened so that God might be glorified.  God will let difficulties happen to us, not because He doesn’t love us, but because He does and will test our faith and drive us to the place where we find our hope and rest in Him. 

-“Jesus permits this to happen because God will get glory in it.  We need to learn that we are not the center of the universe—nor is our home, our church, our town.  The headquarters of everything are in Heaven, and everything is running for His glory.  Nothing will come into our lives without His permission, and if He permits it, it is going to be for His glory.” (J. Vernon McGee)

3.   “When distress comes to a Christian it is dangerous to assert that the purpose is some benefit, and that the explanation is found in some future blessing.  The purposes of God are beyond our [knowledge] and suffering is an unexplained mystery; but it is absolutely certain that, for a friend of Jesus, the result of suffering will be some eternal good, some manifestation of ‘the glory of God.’” (Charles Erdman).

The Unbroken Word

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Recap of 7/15/12 (John 10:31-42):

1.  If, as Jesus says, “the Scripture cannot be broken” (i.e. it is reliable and authoritative), John 10:35, then the teaching of Scripture cannot be rejected, it is vital to the believer in the following ways:

-it is vital to producing spiritual growth (1 Peter 1:23-2:2)

-it is vital to going on to maturity (Hebrews 5:11-14)

-it is vital to living skillfully (Proverbs 2:1-6)

-it is vital for equipping us for good works that should follow salvation (Ephesians 2:8-10; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17)

-it is vital to intimately knowing Jesus Christ (John 5:39; Luke 24:25-27; 2 Peter 1:3)

-it is vital to spiritual warfare (Matthew 4:1-11; Ephesians 6:10-18)

-it is vital to true worship (John 4:19-24; Acts 17:23; Romans 11:33-12:2; Ephesians 3:20-21)

-it is vital to the doctrinal purity of the church (1 Timothy 4:1-6, 11-16; 2 Timothy 1:13,14;  4:1-4; Titus 1:9-10)

-it is vital to personal and corporate purity (Jude 3,4; Proverbs 29:18; Psalms 119:9-11)

-it is vital to proper relationships both in and out of the church (1 Corinthians 13 ; “one-another passages”)

2.  “May I say this to those of you who love the Savior?  Isn’t it about time that we Christians really got down to business with God and appreciated His love and His care and His knowledge?  To think that He calls you by name individually and personally.  He love you, cares for you, knows you, and is guaranteeing that one of these days—because you belong to His flock—you will stand in His presence conformed to the image of your Shepherd, Jesus Christ.  I say, what a Savior! What a Lord!” (Dr. Mitchell)

Eternal Life Means Eternal

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Recap of 7/1/12 (John 10:22-30):

1.  The setting for John 10:22-42 is the Feast of Dedication, today called Hanukkah or the Feast of Lights.  It was not one of the Old Testament festivals but was as one writer said: “…a minor, more recent celebration.”  It was established in 165/164 B.C. by Judas Maccabeus in honor of the rededication of the Temple which had been desecrated by Antiochus IV Epiphanes who sacrificed a pig on the altar in 168 B.C.

2.  The religious leaders once again challenge Jesus about His identity.  The issue for them was not the need of more information but rather they were unwilling to believe and were just trying to trap Him.  Concerning the nature of their unbelief, Mitchell writes: “We begin to wonder about these enemies of Christ.  With all the evidence He’s presented to them, what more do they want?  They have seen His spectacular miracles.  They have seen Him heal the sick, open the eyes of the blind, and feed the hungry.  What more do they want?  When a person is full of unbelief it doesn’t matter what you do.  They won’t accept the Savior.”  “We should…consider what this section teaches as to the moral element in faith and unbelief.  It is always a matter of the heart and will, quite as much as the mind.  Men do not believe because they do not desire to believe.  The same testimony makes true disciples and deadly enemies.” (Erdman)

3.  Jesus offers eternal life to those who put their faith in Him.  Life which is not just duration of time but is a quality of life Jesus describes as “abundant.”  It is not something that is given to believers in the future but it is their present possession.  It cannot be lost for it is secured by the Father and the Son (Romans 8:28-39).