How Powerful Is Our Faith?

This is a very interesting question, Church. All of us have different Faith levels. Sometimes we can believe in Jesus to heal our colds, our cuts, our sprains, our minor or severe ailments but can our faith go as far as to believe Jesus in death?

I was reading today in John the 11th chapter about how Christ raised Lazarus and the circumstances around it. We all know the story, but do we know the underlying lesson in the story? Reread the story again for yourself, Church, but this time let The Holy Spirit move in your understanding while you are reading. (John 11:1-44)

The sisters of Lazarus, Mary and Martha, sent to Jesus to tell Him Lazarus was very sick and to come quickly.

John 11:3-4

“Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” 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.”

I believe Jesus needed His disciples to see that even though the situation or circumstance was dire it was still in God’s Plan, it had to happen. (Testing and increasing our faith in God.)

Jesus stayed two more days in the place where He was before He said, “Let us go to Judea again.” This concerned the disciples because it was here that the Jews sought to stone Him. Jesus tries to tell them of His Plan, but they did not understand.

John 11: 9-10 (Are we understanding God’s Plan?)

“Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walked in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” (Jesus “is” the Light of this world.)

Let’s stop here for a minute and think about what Jesus is trying to say to us, Church. As Born Again Children of God we “HAVE” the Light and Life of Christ “in” us by His Spirit. So as we walk we are walking in the Spirit of His Light. He wasn’t talking about the physical day or night, He was talking about the Spiritual Light of day through Him.

What Jesus says next confuses the disciples even more; verse 11:

“Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” Thinking in the natural, as we all do, His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” Jesus clarified Himself in verses 14-15:

“Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.”

By the time they got to Bethany, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days, decomposing all this time. (Keep this in mind, Church.)

As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming she went out to meet him leaving Mary at home.

Let’s take another side step here and explain who Mary and Martha were in their relationship with the man, Jesus. Earlier when Jesus was at their house, it was Mary who was at Jesus’ Feet listening and learning and being intimate with His teaching, Martha was trying to care for the physical needs of the people in her house and missed Jesus’ teaching. Back to the Word, Church.

“When Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” Jesus said to her; “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” (Martha had the ‘basic knowledge” of Christ’s teachings.) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life, He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. (Corinthians 15:22) And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the World.” Martha still only had the “basic” faith of who Jesus was. She then went to get Mary. “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.” Mary quickly rose and went to Jesus and all the mourners with her.

Verses 32-36:

“Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see” (Thinking Jesus wanted to mourn Lazarus as they were mourning him.) In verse 35 there are only two words; two Powerful, Beautiful, Love filled Words: “Jesus wept.” Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”

Church! Open our eyes! Can we not see that is how much He loves us also!! Can we not Trust and Believe in God’s Love for us?

Jesus then said to take the stone away from the cave where Lazarus was laid. Martha was the one who said, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been “dead” for four days.” Listen carefully to what Jesus said to Martha: (verse 40)

“Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”

I’d like to stop again for a moment to interject some words from F. B. Meyer’s here to help us understand what he wrote about this situation in Martha’s life:

“In educating Martha to this stupendous act of faith, the Lord gave her a distinct promise: ‘Your brother will rise again.’ He drew her attention from His Words to Himself: ‘I am the resurrection and the life!’ He forced her to confess her faith. To express it would confirm and increase it: ‘Do you believe this?’ And He compelled her to act on the faith He had created by allowing the bystanders to remove the stone. All her soul woke up as she observed these preparations for her brother’s resurrection. She believed, and in her faith she gave the Lord the pivot on which His leverage might rest.”

Now Church, get quiet and reflect on the prayer Jesus prayed to His Father before He called Lazarus forth in verses 41-42; a powerful and intimate prayer we all should take to heart!

“I know that You always hear Me….”

Do “WE” have faith enough to trust and believe in that prayer for ourselves? We can, Church, I know we can! What were Jesus’ last words in this lesson? “Loose him, and let him go.”

The bindings from the enemy have already been broken by Jesus at His death and resurrection, Saints! Then what is holding us back from receiving the rightful Blessings from our Father, God? Fear, deceptions, delusions, selfishness, our negative wills are just a few of Satan's tactics to get our eyes off of Jesus. We can increase our faith with reading, listening, and acting on what Christ has already said to us in His Word; by using that Sword of the Spirit that God has given us.

How? By:

Trusting and Believing in God’s Love for us.

All scriptures are from: New King James Version of Prophecy Study Bible, General Editor- John C. Hagee unless otherwise stated.

Quote from F. B. Myers also taken from Closer Walk 365 Daily Devotions