BEFORE LAZARUS COMES FORTH

Father, we thank you. I love you. I need you. Though my words may fail, I'll never let you go. [singing] My savior, my closest [singing] friend, I will worship you until the very end. Jesus, lover of my soul, Jesus, I will never let You took me [singing] from the miry Set my feet I love I need Though my words My savior Blessed be your name. In Jesus' name. Clap your hands and be seated. All right. John 11:43. John chapter 11 verse 43. Let's look at the screen if you have your Bibles with you. Let's read it together. John 11:43. 1 2 go. And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth." Let's take that again. And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth." I want to share briefly on what I titled before Lazarus comes forth. We hear the story of Lazarus. And the story of Lazarus is a story that blew everyone's imagination because prior to that time, it had not happened

prior to that time, it had not happened before. But as we begin to x-ray the story of Lazarus, there are certain revelations and truths that will come to our minds. Lazarus' story tells us even if it's dead, it's not gone. And even if it's buried, it's not over. The story of Lazarus tells us even if it's dead, it's not gone. With God, even if it's buried, it's not over. The story Lazarus tells us even after Lazarus died, buried, rotting, he came back. That tells us even when you get to the end, there is still a bend. The story of Lazarus [screaming] tells us only God has the final say. Not the doctors. Not the musician in the mortuary. Not any medical science. I don't care what science has told you. Only God has the final say. I don't care what you're going through now in your life. Only God has the final say. The story of Lazarus [screaming] tells us nothing is hopeless when God is

us nothing is hopeless when God is involved. The story of you see Jesus was a personal friend. I'm going to show you a lot of things to Lazarus. If you read from verse 4 and verse 5, you will discover that Jesus loved them individually. If you go to verse 5, individually. Look at this. Jesus loved Martha. What do you see there? No. What do you see there? A comma. Is that true? And a sister. What do you see again? Comma. And that tells you he loved them distinctly. He didn't love them in group. The Bible could have said he loved he loved Lazarus and the sisters. But he said he loved Martha for Martha. He loved Mary for Mary. He loved Lazarus for Lazarus. Martha was the one who appeared on serious that was everywhere. He loved her for that. Mary is the one that appeared very intimate. He loved her for that. Lazarus

intimate. He loved her for that. Lazarus was just a figure head that was actually nothing he was bringing to the table. He loved him. So, it doesn't matter how you are. God loves you like that. Tell somebody, "God loves me for me." Oh my God. Look at two people. Tell them, "God loves me for me." Say, "God loves me for me." It doesn't matter how I look. God loves me for me. Now, Jesus was faced with some I'm going to please be very attentive. We'll be very fast. Jesus was faced with a scenario when the disciples said to him that Lazarus was not well. He actually told them so they emphasize it. And Jesus said the sickness is not unto death. Before then Lazarus was sick, which was a question on the ministry of Jesus. When Jesus needed to rest, when Jesus needed a place to relax, it was this house he went to. No other place. He didn't trust his meal with anybody. Only Lazarus, Mary, Martha

with anybody. Only Lazarus, Mary, Martha that Jesus would go there, sit down, and eat in their house. That was trust. And the Bible tells us that he was sick. So, that was the first challenge Jesus was encountering. The second, Jesus gave a prophetic word and said this sickness is not unto death. Number two. The first he was dealing with was sickness. The second he was dealing with was a prophecy that appeared to have failed. Because he said this sickness is not unto death, but the man died. Now, you think that how come Jesus said it's not unto death and the man died? But God said he wasn't going to die. There is no death in God. Jesus does not see death. Nothing dies in God. nothing passes out. In God, nothing is wasted. In God, nothing can be buried. In God, nothing dies. Because Jesus loved them, sickness hit them. Because Jesus loved them, attacks hit them.

them. Satan goes for God's choices. It is God's interest that arouses the devil's interest. If God [clears throat] is interested in you, automatically Satan becomes interested. It is God. It is God's interest that the devil goes after. If God is interested in a person, God is interested in the marriage, God is interested in the home, God is interested in an individual, God is interested in the finance, God is interested in a system, God is interested in an institution, the enemies will go after that person. Satan will go after that person. Attacks will go after that person. Pain will go after that person. Don't ever think it's because God doesn't love you. Actually, it's the love of God that attracts the attack of the devil. The choice of God becomes the target of Satan. The choice of God becomes the target of the devil. But there is nothing the devil can do.

But there is nothing the devil can do. He may attack you, but he cannot finish you. He may throw an arrow, but he cannot consume you. Even if it is dead, it is not gone. Even if it is buried, it's not over. I say, even if it is dead, it's not gone. Even if he's buried, it's not over. Whatever truth I give to you, apply it to yourself. It's very important. You see, the word of As I'm preaching now, if you choose to apply it, what happens is that it becomes profit for you. Are we Are you following me? Solomon said in Proverbs 9:12, he said, "If thou be wise, for yourself. If you are a scorner, you alone will bear it." If you are wise, for yourself. If you are a scorner, you alone will bear it. If you see the message and the NLT and the NIV translations, it will it will just maybe remark your mind. Live wisely and wisdom will permit your life. Mock

and wisdom will permit your life. Mock life and life will mock you. So, it's garbage in. If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer. You are the one who will pro- profit if you have wisdom. If you reject it, you are the one So, the word of God is coming to you like that. Grab it, apply it for your good. It's for you. Am I communicating? A generation. The Bible tells me that Jesus Now, listen to this. I'm going to show you something. All [screaming] the disciples knew about Jesus was that he was a healer. They never knew he had power of resurrection. God allows certain things to happen because there's a side of God he wanted them to see that they never saw. They knew he could heal. He opened the eyes of the blind. He made the lame to walk. He made the deaf to hear. He made the dumb to speak. But, they never saw [screaming] him raise the dead. As far as they were concerned, there is

As far as they were concerned, there is an exclusive problem he cannot handle. He can do many things, but there is something in their mind they think he can't do. So, he needed to show them that he can do Somebody say, "God can do all things." Say that to somebody left and right, "My God can do all things. My God But there are certain protocols that must be in place before resurrection becomes a manifestation. There are certain things we saw before Lazarus ever came for What is Lazarus? means helped by God, helped from God. But this Lazarus died without getting help. When we say Lazarus come forth, we are saying help come forth. When we say Lazarus come forth, we are saying favor come forth. When we say Lazarus come forth, we are saying peace come forth. When we say Lazarus come forth, we are saying enlargement come forth. When we say Lazarus come forth, we are saying

say Lazarus come forth, we are saying expansion come forth. When we say Lazarus come forth, we are saying favor come forth, life come forth, illumination come forth. Everything that needs to come forth, anything that is good for you, anything that needs to happen, I call them from the spirit realm into the realm of the physical. I call them from the spirit realm into this physical realm. Let them come. Favor come. Lifting come. Progress come. Increase come. Opportunity come. Somebody shout, "Come forth!" I've discovered that when you see resurrection in scripture, anytime you see resurrection, it's attached to value. Check everybody that Jesus brought back to life, that God raised, value. The Shunammite woman, the son came back to life. Check the impact Am I talking to somebody here? that woman brought to the prophet of God. The son came back to life. Check Jairus' daughter. Jairus was a

Check Jairus' daughter. Jairus was a ruler in the synagogue. Value. Check Dorcas. was a blessing to everyone around her. They brought the clothes that she made for them. Value. Check Lazarus. Jesus sat to eat meat in their house. Value. They were valuable in their first life. So, when they died, he brought them back. If you have no value, why would we bring you back? If in the life you were living there was no value, why do we pray for you to return? If in the life you were living there was no impact, there was no value to the body of Christ, no value to the church. There are people that will not be in the service and everybody knows that they are not in the service because of their value. If they are not dancing, they are screaming, they are not screaming, they are in the instrument. When they are not around, everybody knows. But there are some people if they are

But there are some people if they are not in the church for 1 month, nobody knows. And they are blaming the people for not knowing. How come I didn't come to church, nobody knew? Why didn't you come? No, why did Why didn't you make yourself so valuable that people will know that you are not around? Value. And I look at the story and I ask myself a question. Before Lazarus, [screaming] a miracle that broke the system. A miracle that shattered everyone. If you read verse chapter 12, the Bible says people from Greece, when they heard somebody was dead, buried, rotten, came back to life from Greece. All of them [screaming] gathered to see. They wanted to see the person who had seen death, who had gone to the grave, who was under the earth for 4 days, who was going rotten, and Jesus spoke, he came back to life. They needed to see. That was a miracle that was outstanding. Just the same way after

outstanding. Just the same way after now, there are things God will do for you that people will gather to see it. I say people will gather to see it. Be seated. Before Lazarus come forth, the first thing you will go through is season of weariness. A season of weariness. I want to talk to you today, and I want you to just listen to me. A season that must first come is season of weariness. A season of what? Tiredness. A season when it's as though you are almost giving up. Bring up verse 20. John 11:20. I want to look at the screen and read this loud and clear. Want to go. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and what? But Mary You didn't understand that? Who was Mary? was one who loved to be around Jesus. If you study your Bible, Mary was that

If you study your Bible, Mary was that person. If you read Luke chapter 10 from verse 39 down, Mary was that person that when Jesus came, Mary would stay. In fact, the owner of that house, Martha was the owner of the house. She owned the house. And she had a sister called Mary. Anytime Jesus come to the house, Mary sits at the feet of Jesus. Are you following what I'm talking about? Mary actually gave broke also took a perfume. It was only Mary Magdalene. Mary also took a perfume and anointed Jesus also. If you read verse two of John chapter 11. I'm showing you how close It was that Mary which anointed Are you seeing that? and wiped his feet whose brother Lazarus was sick. I'm trying to show you how close Mary was to Jesus. If there was anybody to run to meet Jesus, it wasn't Martha. It would have been Mary. But she heard Jesus was [screaming] around. When Martha stood up to go,

around. When Martha stood up to go, Mary sat back. He knows how much I love him. I called him for help and he didn't come. So, why is why is he coming now? She sat back. Why is he coming now? Despite all the love and all my expression. This is my sister running about now. Whenever he comes to the house, I sit down, hold his feet. I thought I'm close. I thought he's close. I thought he loves me. Why is he coming What is he coming now to do? I'm going to show you because when Martha met Jesus, the first thing Martha said was this first thing also Mary said when Mary finally saw. Meaning that was the last thing they were discussing before he came. Look at verse 21. One to go. If you had been here, Look at verse 32. not 22. 32. She fell down at his feet, said unto him, "Lord, if thou has been here." Are you seeing that this was the last This is what the both of them were discussing when they heard Jesus was around.

when they heard Jesus was around. Did you call him? Yes. Did they reach out to him? Yes. Was he aware that it was Lazarus? Yes. Was he aware it's our brother? Yes. And he waited for 4 days. Is this the thank you we get after all we have done for him? After all the love we have shown him? How can this God be this wicked? In fact, is he really God at all? While they were discussing that, they heard that Jesus was around. And Martha said, "He's around." He said, "He's around for what?" "You go." "I'm not going." There are many of us who have come to that point in our life. You have confessed your wedding, confessed your marriage. You have confessed you have said all kinds of things about the fruit of the womb. You have looked up to God, [screaming] and it appears as if time is going. When they say pray, you want to sit back still.

you want to sit back still. One day Jeremiah said something in Jeremiah chapter 20 verse 9. Jeremiah said something in Jeremiah 20 and verse 9. Look at this. He said, "Then I said, I will not make mention of him nor speak anymore in his name. But his word was in my heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones. And I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay." Jeremiah said from prison to prison, "I have no time to rest. As I'm coming out of jail, I think I am excited. I go back to jail. Anytime I talk about him, I end up in prison. I got a point when I said to myself, 'You know what? I am not talking about him again. I'm not talking about the Lord again. You see, but there is a problem. When I try to close my mouth, my bone is burning. The word is burning in my bone. There are some of you even when you try to drop your Bible, when you lay down

to drop your Bible, when you lay down the Bible you try to drop is coming out of your mouth. You try to throw away that paper Bible, but thy word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against thee. Even when you try to run from God, you see yourself running to God. John tried to run from God, but John saw himself running to God. Am I speaking here? There are so many of us now, we have become weary like Mary. We say, "God, despite the love I have shown you, despite I have followed you faithfully, how come others who are not as close as you are? Look at what they're experiencing. Look at my pain. Look at my life. Look at my trouble. Look at my turmoil. Look at my hardship. [screaming] Oh God, I have called upon you over my challenge, but you are waiting to do it at your own time." One day, a man called John the Baptist sent a message to Jesus. to Jesus.

to Jesus. He said, "Please, my disciples, go and ask him, are you the one Matthew 11:3. Do you prophet a prophet a prophet? Do you know John was? John was the first person to look at soldiers. Luke chapter 3:12, Luke chapter 3:4. He said, "John preached to soldiers, military men." He looked at them and warned them, and they came, they said, "What shall we do?" Publicans came, "What shall we do?" Soldiers came, "What shall we do?" That's how much John was feared. John prepared the way of for Jesus. Listen to this now. John was in prison. Jesus Now, Jesus bringing him out of jail was a different scenario. Jesus did not even visit him. Didn't visit him. Jesus did not even visit Did he show up at all? And John said, "Are you the one? Or should we expect another? You see, are you sure you are the one? Because I can't see sympathy in you."

I can't see sympathy in you." know, many of us we try to define God in our own terminologies. We try to define God in our estimation. We try to define God based on our happenings. God is not defined by what is happening to you. God is defined by who he is. I need you to understand that. God is not defined by the happenings around you. God is defined by his sovereignty. You know, when they say something is sovereign it has no um What's the What's another word for sovereign? It's absolute. It's total. Okay? It is supreme. It's has no negotiating power. It stands alone. Nigeria is a sovereign nation. As you get independence, you become sovereign. You stand on your own. God does not need you to confirm he's God. does not need to I wish you understand this. God does not have to change your situation to confirm he's God. He's already God. Anything he does now is to confirm that

Anything he does now is to confirm that you are his own. Not that he is God. He's already God. Nobody voted him into power. He has no election. He does no campaign. Am I communicating? He's God by himself. He's the uncreated creator. He's the one that walks upon the wings of the wind as a chariot. He stretched forth the heavens as a curtain. He created the water from the land and said, "Water, don't return to land." Am I speaking here? And Mary was weary. You know what it means for being for being one who sits at the feet of Jesus to becoming one who hears that Jesus is around and you're not interested. How did Mary translate to that level? Have you seen people who are leaving the church now? Ask many of them why they leaving church. It's because of needs not met. They'll tell you that this is a scam. Bible is scam. Because they are They

Bible is scam. Because they are They were They were wrongly taught about who Jesus is. Mary, how did Mary translate from being that one who loved God so much to becoming one? Elijah brought down fire. Literal fire. As he brought down fire, he heard that Jezebel said his head will be removed from his head. He's going to kill him. And Elisha Elijah ran. Went and sat down under a tree. It was his days of spiritual low percentage. Every believer will go through the spiritual low percentage. A time will come you become too weary to pray. Too weary to speak in tongues. Too weary to call upon God. Too weary. Elijah sat down because Jezebel wanted to kill him. She was verbal about it. Open. Public about it. And said by this time tomorrow, Elijah who brought down fire for 850 men, roasted them, suyarized them, barbecued them. A woman now said, I will You know I will I will kill you tomorrow. Your head is

I will kill you tomorrow. Your head is coming off. I'll sever it. Elijah ran. And he went under the tree and began to tell God under the oak tree. He said, "Lord, I'm not better than my fathers." First Kings chapter 19 verse 4. "Take my life. I'm not better than my fathers. I want to die. Elijah was a joke. You want to die. Somebody wanted to kill you. are running from who wants to kill you and you say you want to die. Elijah ran. That was his days of low. That was what Mary got to now. Have you gotten to that point in your life ever in your walk with