DEATH HAS NO POWER OVER ME! Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” —John 11:32-36 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I…

I AM FREE FROM THE FEAR OF DEATH THROUGH JESUS! But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” —John 11:4 After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not…

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD! So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no…

WHO AM I THAT YOU LORD WOULD CONSIDER ME Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, “Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?” —I Chronicles 27:16 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.  They will come in and go out, and find pasture—John 10:9             Who am I that my Lord would even consider me?  Who am I that my Lord would even want a relationship with me?  Who am I that my Lord would want me to be with Him forever?  Who am I that my Lord has done…

FEAR IS A SNARE (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.)  Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” —John 9:22-23             A son who was born blind and his parents did not want to talk about his healing “because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.)”  His parents did not in any way be aligned with Jesus doing anything…

UNDERSTANDING MEN ARE NEEDED IN THE CHURCH! Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command. —I Chronicles 12:32             Oh, that we would have “men who had understanding of the times.”  And that they would know what we are to do and then it would be done.  We so desperately need leadership that will do the right thing.  This is true for our nation and for the church.             In the church— “Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so…

THE STONE THROWER OR JESUS THE I AM KNOWER Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a…

GOD’S TIMETABLE So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. —Psalm 7:30             Man had a plan and that plan was that they wanted to arrest Jesus and put Him to death.  But… His hour had not come.  God had a plan and yes it did include Jesus eventually being arrested and being put to death.  But it would happen on God’s timetable, not men’s. The hour would come on God’s schedule that Jesus would be arrested and crucified and then rise from the dead.  That time was not yet and so man could not do…

OUR LORD GOD ALMIGHTY ANSWERS PRAYER! Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request. —I Chronicles 4:10             Jabez wanted the Lord God of Israel— To bless him To enlarge his territory To be with him To keep him from harm To keep him free from pain We are told that “God granted his request.  Oh, is that not our desire?  Do we not want our Lord God to bless us?  Do we not want Him…

THE BLINDNESS OF THOSE ACCUSING OTHERS OF BLINDNESS The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?”  They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises…