Sermon Notes

“What Can Separate Us From His Love?”

By Parrish Lee

October 3^rd, 2010

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John 11:1-5     Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus…

            Our text begins today with a certain man named Lazarus being sick.  The scripture goes on to tell us that he had two sisters, one of which had ministered to Jesus in the anointing of His feet with ointment, and drying His feet with her hair.  That same Mary, along with her sister Martha, sent for the Lord because their brother was so very sick.  Finally, in verse 5, the scripture tells us that the Lord Jesus loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus.  Their relationship was one of love.

            The Bible doesn’t identify when exactly Jesus came into Lazarus’ life, but we can safely say that Jesus was no stranger to Lazarus, and that Lazarus was no stranger to Jesus, for the Bible says that Jesus loved them.  By this time in the Scripture, the Lord Jesus had done many things; He had already fed the multitude, and done so many other miracles.  As fame of Him spread throughout the country, Lazarus himself had to be privy to His miracle-working power.  It probably was not unusual to call on Him when they needed a healing.

 John 11:20-30             …I am the resurrection, and the life…

             Martha met Jesus.  By this time in Lazarus’ life, the Lord had done so many things:  Jesus had brought a little girl back from the dead, and a young man who was the only son of a poor widow; so I’m sure that when Lazarus fell sick, he said, “I wish Jesus could have gotten here, after all, I know Him personally.”  And as his sisters saw him die, no doubt they were sorrowful and heartbroken and wondering, “Why didn’t God come through for us?  He knows that we love Him and follow Him—Lord, we just don’t understand…”  Martha knew that she was not some fly-by-night follower of Christ; she knew that He knew that she and her siblings were among those that He could depend on.  But their assumption was that the story was over.

            And, of course, a parallel is simple enough to draw:  How many times in our lives have we been faced with physical sickness, or emotional problems that need a move of God, or financial pitfalls that try to wipe us out, or maybe even spiritual valleys that we just can’t see how to be delivered…  Satan likes to tell us that He won’t come through for us; that your relationship with God isn’t what you think it is.  Sometimes you feel like nobody’s really helping you, but He still comes through.  He said that the very hairs of your head are numbered, and that you are more valuable than birds…  Do not take lightly the love that God has for us.

 John 11:37-44             …but because of the people which stand by I said it…

             If we look at the words that Jesus spoke, “I am the resurrection and the life,” not could be, not would be if, not sometimes, but “I am” and My ways are so much higher than yours…  And He looked to heaven and said, not for me, but for those who stand by I said this.  Now, what of Lazarus?  The Bible doesn’t tell us what Lazarus said after he was resurrected, but what kind of stories do you suppose he could have told?  Maybe, “Let me tell you what it’s like in Abraham’s bosom…” maybe, “Let me tell you what the voice of God is like; it’s powerful enough to pull you out of the grave.  Now I know why the sun and stars—and that tree—obey Him…” saints, that’s why we go through things, so that we can testify about God’s greatness.

            You know, as I was studying for this lesson, the Lord really showed me how much their lack of faith really grieved Him.  In verse 38, it says that He groaned.  I’m sure as when His children today lose out faith in Him, it must make Him feel.  If we were to listen, I’m sure we could hear Him say, “After all I’ve done for you, you still have a problem trusting me?”  Some people would say, “I would believe in Your deliverance, but I just can’t get up on that…”

            The L.A. Times did an article about a survey, conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life which purported to show that atheists know more about religion than members of most faiths.  They concluded that people who reject faith often do so after growing up in a religious household, and studying and deliberately trying to keep the faith; also, that once a person accepts a faith, they stop examining it.

 Hosea 4:6        My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…

             But the L.A. Times left one thing out:

 Jeremiah 29:13           …when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

             This has been one of the major dilemmas of the human race:  Should we turn back to God, and, if so, how much?  50%?  75%?  80%?  90%?

 Nehemiah 1:9              But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments…

             So, you see, saints, it really gets quite simple:  If the world would turn back to God, then God would gather us to Him; and if our nations would turn back to God, then God would gather the nations back to Him; if our cities and communities would turn back to God, then God would gather them back to Him; if our families would turn back to God, then God would gather them back to Him; saints, if we turn ourselves back to the Lord our maker, He will gather us to Him.  He will fulfill His promises faithfully.

And I’d like to sum up this message with this last Scripture:

 Romans 8:31-39          …Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?...

                             Sermon notes by Pete Shepherd